My Filly, Nightshine

Chapters

Desperate for Change
Jumping Through Hoops
First Contact
Endless Possibilities
Going Home
Dreams
A Small Setback
First Steps
Becoming Closer
The Brewing Storm
Jason's Decision
Jason's First Steps
Bat Snuggles
Lily
Getting Closer
The Flicker of a Flame
Snuggles in the Storm
A Hopeful Heart
Nightshine's Question
Lily's Confrontation
Home
The Day Before the Gala
A Close Call
Wishful Thinking
Jason's Mistake
Lily's Big Save
Lily's Nuzzles
At the Gala
Suspicions
The Revelation
Night Terrors
Defiance
A Wary Encounter
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Epilogue

Desperate for Change

Jason woke up with a low groan. Rolling over to lay flat on his back, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then tugged the comforter up to his shoulders. The sun was barely peeking over the tops of the surrounding houses in Ponyville, casting a steep shadow through the two windows in his bedroom. He ran a hand through his brown hair and scratched the side of his face as the sounds of ponies setting up shop for the day in the market came through the window. His house was a couple of buildings down from the entrance of the market, and while it was a very convenient place to live, he was never able to sleep in for as long as he was used to.

Glancing at the clock on his nightstand, he saw that it was just after eight. Back in South Carolina, he would never get up before ten in the morning. After coming to Equestria, it had quickly become apparent that he wasn’t going to get to sleep in like he was used to. It didn’t matter anymore though, for he had made the commitment to go to bed early, a feat not easily accomplished by the night owl he was.

He sat up and blinked blearily. Unfortunately, since he was already awake, there was no way he’d be able to fall back asleep again. “Might as well take a shower and get that out of the way,” he muttered. The sheets slipped from his shoulders as he crossed the short distance across his room to the bathroom in the hall. Stripping the clothes from his back, he turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat up.

His house was disappointingly empty, both of sound and decorations. He missed having a television, but he had gotten used to other ways of entertaining himself. He’d given reading a good shot but couldn’t find the patience to finish any book. The hoofwritten books that he always got from Twilight Sparkle had been interesting to try and read, but since he was used to typed words, it was more of a struggle than it was worth. The local newspaper was the most he ever read, and if he was lucky, it would be sitting on his doorstep by the time he got out of the shower.

As he stepped under the stream, he wondered what he was going to do that day. It was always the same old routine: take a shower, eat breakfast, and walk around town. After coming to Equestria, he found that sitting inside was incredibly boring, so he made it a point to spend as much time outside as possible. Back on Earth, he used to be a couch potato, playing video games all day.

After drying himself off, he put on his favorite pair of blue jeans and a green T-shirt. Silence met his ears, save for the ponies outside. He threw on his socks and shoes, then made his way through the small cottage to the front door. Throwing it open, he smiled and took a breath of fresh air.

Heh, sure is nice outside... Might be a good idea to open some windows later... Leaning against the door frame, he spotted Pinkie Pie walking to the market with a platter of sweets on her back. She looked his way, so he smiled and waved at her. She paused to wave back with a rather large smile on her face, then resumed walking towards the market with an extra pep in her step.

With a small chuckle, Jason snatched the newspaper from his doorstep and closed the door behind him. He sat down on the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table, then unrolled the newspaper. The front page held a large picture of Twilight Sparkle with Mayor Mare in front of the new library. He had heard from some ponies at the local watering hole that the old one had been destroyed a few months or so before his arrival when some terrible monster had tried to take over Equestria. Naturally, that had shocked him a little to hear such things, especially when he learned that the old library used to be Twilight’s home.

Jason grinned as he saw how happy Twilight was in the picture. He had been at the grand opening of the new library last week, and even had been mentioned in the list of those who had helped make it happen. In addition to filling in the role of a carpenter, he had also spent a lot of time cleaning up after the construction ponies, though he considered his contributions not big enough to warrant a thank you from the princess herself.

The new library was a work of art. A beautiful stained-glass window sat above the entryway of Princess Twilight herself, her wings spread wide as if she was inviting everyone inside. Cities from all around Equestria had donated books after they received word of Ponyville’s loss, and ponies in town had even given up their old books that they no longer read so that others could enjoy them as much as they did. Jason would have gladly donated some books, but sadly enough, he had not brought any back from his old home on Earth.

Flipping to the next page, he saw a coupon for half off any sweets at Sugarcube Corner. He made a mental note to save that, for he particularly liked the vanilla cupcakes that Pinkie made every Thursday. Whenever he came in, she’d always give him extra frosting, just how he liked. He saw a few articles that looked pretty interesting, but the rest of the newspaper was full of ads that he didn’t care about. So after ripping out the coupon, he folded up the rest of the newspaper and tossed it on the coffee table.

Once he had the usual breakfast of bland oatmeal and a fresh apple, Jason looked in the mirror, made sure his short hair wasn’t a mess, grabbed the newspaper, and stepped out onto the street. Due to habits that he brought back from Earth, he locked his front door. Knowing fully well that there wasn’t any crime in Ponyville, keeping his possessions secure gave him peace of mind.

Looking both ways, he wondered what he should do for the day. Taking another deep breath, he tucked the newspaper under his arm and turned right, walking away from the center of town. There was a nice park that he liked to frequent on the south side of Ponyville. It had a lot of benches, so he was almost always guaranteed a seat. This park was the only one in Ponyville that had a playground for all of the school fillies and colts, save for the one at the school.

Grateful that he lived near the center of town, the walk to the park took him just under five minutes. He had a lot of choices in terms of finding a good seat, so he simply picked his usual one and sat down. Unfolding the newspaper, he crossed his right leg over his left and lay the paper on top of them, then picked up from where he had left off from back home.

After he finished reading the article about how Minuette was moving her dentist business down to Ponyville to be closer to her family, Jason decided that he’d read the rest of the paper later. It was simply too nice of a day to keep his nose buried in the newspaper, so he folded it so that it’d fit in his pocket. He laid his arms on the back of the bench and looked around, wondering if there was anypony he could strike up a conversation with. He spied Bon Bon and Lyra cuddling on their usual bench, the farthest one to the right from his position, then glanced left to find a few mares whose names he could not remember. They waved at him, so he waved back.

Looking back ahead, he cocked his head to the side as he laid his gaze on a family of three ponies. The filly, a blue pegasus, was swinging back and forth while her father pushed her from behind. The mother simply sat to the side and out of the way, a loving smile upon her face. Jason smiled softly and watched as the filly’s wide smile grew the higher she went.

“Watch me fly, Daddy!” she called out. The filly swung back one more time, then when she swung forward and reached the highest point, she slipped from the swing and opened her wings wide. She held herself aloft for several seconds, then clumsily flew back over the top of the swing set and flew down in tight circles until she collided with her father’s chest. Both of them collapsed in a heap, giggling. Jason watched as the stallion ruffled his daughter’s mane lovingly, then let her slide off of his chest to the ground. The mother, a soft yellow unicorn, held out a hoof to help her daughter up. Once he stood back up, the stallion let his filly hop onto his back, then they trotted back towards town.

There were several other colts and fillies left on the playground, but Jason was only able to remember the names of a couple: Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. It was a lazy Thursday morning, and since it was near the end of summer break, he knew that they would all be back in school in a week or so.

His mind drifted back to his original problem. Waking up to an empty, silent house had grown old really fast. Back in the small city that he came from, he had had a few roommates that he shared an old, run-down apartment with, so he’d always had someone to hang out with. But here in Equestria, he had nobody that meant a lot to him.

After letting loose a yawn, he rubbed his eyes and cleared his throat. “What to do, what to do...” he said to himself, drumming his fingers on his leg. His mind drifted away as his eyes glazed over like they usually did whenever he daydreamed. He thought back to how happy that blue filly had looked when she was with her father. Jason had dated a few women, but never got anywhere close to getting married and having kids. From an early age, he’d always wanted to have a happy family, but because of him being in Equestria, he had lost that option.

“Heh, what if I just adopt a pony?” he asked to nobody in particular, joking to himself. “It sure would be interesting... but would they let me adopt a pony? How would I even go about doing something like that?” Jason shook his head and chuckled as he let his mind drift away.

So many possibilities played out in his mind. Hehe, let’s just think things through real quick... he thought with a shake of his head. If he chose to adopt and raise a unicorn, there was no doubt in his mind that they’d look to him for guidance on how to use magic. Naturally, that’d be a problem because he couldn’t use magic, though it wouldn’t stop him from trying his hardest to teach them with books and all that. If he chose to raise a pegasus, he was sure they’d be out in the park, having them practice flying.

And after a long day of playing, he imagined laying on the couch back in his little cottage, the imaginary filly curled up on his chest. Jason closed his eyes as he let his daydream play out, a small smile slipping onto his face.

In his mind’s eye, he scratched them behind their flicking ears, watching as they pushed their head into his hand. He toyed with the idea of an earth pony, then a unicorn. Part of him wondered how sensitive the horn was, then he imagined a pegasus. He blushed slightly as he imagined massaging the pegasus’ wings, scratching just where they’d like it.

Jason normally wasn’t one for thinking of such adorable things like that, but... he couldn’t help it. His smile widened as he imagined them snuggling closer to him, trying to wrap their short legs around his chest. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as his heart sped up. Jason opened his eyes and looked back at the playground, watching all the colts and fillies gleefully run around.

It was, at that moment, that he knew in his heart, that he wanted to adopt a pony.

The problem was that he had no idea how to even start such a process.

He knew of no orphanages in Ponyville, and Ponyville was the only place he really knew. Wondering who would really know that sort of stuff, his thoughts drifted straight to the top: Princess Twilight. The new library was only a few blocks away, so he stood up and set off, hoping that she would be there. He could think of no other pony, save for Mayor Mare, that could help him, but to see her, he’d have to set up an appointment that could take up to a week.

He simply could not wait that long.

Jason set off at a brisk pace. He tossed the newspaper into a nearby trash bin and found that he couldn’t stop smiling. The idea of adopting a pony was simply too great. He wouldn’t have to wake up to an empty house anymore, and raising somepony would surely fill the void that he’d felt for quite a while now. He had two bedrooms in his cottage. The one that he wasn’t using was empty, save for a couple boxes of things he hadn’t gotten around to unpacking.

The new library came into view. Jason made a beeline for the entrance and pushed open the front door. He found Twilight near the back of the first floor, hovering in midair as she placed some books back into their rightful place near the top of the bookshelf. As the door shut behind him with a loud click, Twilight turned to look at him.

“Oh, hey Jason! Give me a few seconds to finish up!” Twilight threw the last few books onto the shelf, then flew down to meet him. “You come to try a new book or three?”

“Actually, no.” Jason scratched the back of his head. “There was something I wanted to talk to you about, and now that I think about it... it might sound a little strange. Is there somewhere we can sit?”

Twilight cocked her head to the side. “Yeah, I have a couple of couches on the second level. This way!” She turned around and walked to the left, then made her way up the staircase that hugged the wall.

Jason followed close behind her. They walked in the tight space between a couple of bookshelves before they emerged out in a more open area. Two small couches sat on either side of a coffee table, similar to the one that he had back home.

“Please, take a seat!” Twilight said, motioning with a wing for him to pick a couch.

Jason took a deep breath to calm his racing nerves, then chose the one on the right. He sat down and sat up straight, his posture rigid. Drumming his fingers on his leg again, he waited for Twilight to sit down across from him.

“So... what’s on your mind?” Twilight asked curiously. “I’d offer you some tea, but we don’t have a kitchen like the old library did.”

Jason bit his lip and failed to meet Twilight’s gaze. Now that he had to explain his idea to someone else, he realized that he should probably have prepared some more before coming here. “Well... life here in Ponyville is great and all, but things have gotten kinda... slow? I guess that’d be a word close to what I’m trying to say.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

Jason cleared his throat and looked back into Twilight’s eyes. He pushed a cushion behind his back and slumped down to make himself more comfortable. “It’s like... every single day is the same routine: I wake up, shower, have breakfast, then walk around town. I’ve already done quite a bit of exploring, and I’ve met a lot of ponies, but...”

“But what?”

“It’s hard for me to really explain this, but I feel like there’s a void in my life, like... there’s a hole that I can’t fill. And until today, I didn’t know how to get rid of that feeling.”

“Oh, really?” Twilight smiled. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. Might I ask what you came up with?”

“Uh...” Jason chuckled and scratched his cheek. “How hard would it be for me to adopt a colt or a filly?”

A look of sheer surprise slid onto Twilight’s face. “A-adoption, huh? I can’t say I saw that one coming...”

“Hehe, yeah...” Jason chuckled again, his tone wavering slightly. “I was at the park a while ago, and I saw this really adorable filly on the swing set being pushed by her father, right? She looked so happy, and, uh... well, I kinda want to do that too. I’m just so tired of waking up to nothing every day, and I want some variety in my life. I don’t want to move or anything like that; I’m perfectly happy where I am now. And... um...”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow as her ears flicked up. “What?” she asked, her voice soft and caring.

“I know picking one out of the rest would leave the ones I didn’t choose depressed and all that. If I was in their place, I can’t imagine the pain of not being picked, but... if I can make a difference in at least one of their lives, then why shouldn’t I?” He finished with a determined look upon his face.

“Well... you are a completely different species, for one. I don’t know how the adoption process back from where you came from is like, but from what I can remember, you have to go get a background check, your household has to be inspected, plus a bunch of other things that I can’t remember right now. All of that can take a few weeks, sometimes up to a couple of months, but... Is this really what you want? I’ve heard that raising somepony is quite a lot of work.”

Jason didn’t even have to think twice. “Without a doubt in my mind, yes. How do I get started?”

Twilight grinned slyly at him as she slid from the couch. She trotted over to the wide desk that lay in front of the sole window on that wall, overlooking the street below with her castle off in the distance. She pulled out a piece of parchment, found a quill and a pot of ink, then shot a glance over her shoulder. “Gimme a few minutes to throw something together, okay?” Her smile widened as she turned back around.

As the soft sounds of a quill scratching against paper filled the room, Jason asked, “Uh... okay?” uncertain as to what Twilight had in mind. “What are you writing?”

“You’ll see!” came Twilight’s excited voice.

Jason glanced about the room as he waited for Twilight to finish writing. Another minute passed in silence before she finished.

“Aaaand done!” Twilight stamped her royal seal on the parchment, rolled it up, and tied it shut with a cute little purple ribbon that had her cutie mark every half inch or so on it. She used her magic to place it on the center of the coffee table, then she took her place back on the couch.

“Um... what is this?” Jason asked with a chuckle, looking down at the sealed scroll.

“Well, I’m glad you asked!” Twilight lay down on her stomach and crossed her forelegs. “So listen, remember how I mentioned you needing to get a background check and all that extra stuff? I’ve known you for a while, and I know you are of good character. As a Princess of Equestria, I am allowed by law, within reason of course, to make judgement calls like this. This document, signed by me, will bypass the necessary background check. I’m going out on a limb doing this for you, and I hope you know that I’m doing a really big favor for you, but I’m certain you won’t let me down.”

“I give you my word that I won’t.” Jason leaned forward to grab the document, but Twilight tugged it out of his reach with her magic. “Hey, what gives?”

Twilight levitated the scroll beside her. “Since it sounds like you just came up with this idea, I think it would be wise if you slept on it to see if that’s what you truly want.”

Jason lowered his outstretched arm and sat back, smiling sheepishly. “Oh, uh... yeah, I guess that makes sense. You kinda had me going there for a minute, though.” He chuckled, then laid his right arm across the back of the couch.

Twilight giggled, covering her mouth with a hoof. “Come back around five in the afternoon tomorrow and we’ll talk about this some more. That’ll give me time to do some research on the topic for you, and it’ll give you time to really think this out.” Sliding from the couch, Twilight tucked the scroll into a drawer in the desk and locked it with a key. “But in the meantime, would you like to accompany me to watch Rainbow Dash give Scootaloo flying lessons? I heard she’s becoming quite the flyer!”

Rain poured down from the heavens in thick sheets, though Nightshine was still able to see the shapes of three ponies close the door to the orphanage behind them. The mare lit her horn and opened up an umbrella, one large enough to shield them from the rain.

Her closest friend at the Canterlot Orphanage, Sea Stride, had just been adopted.

She hadn’t even been able to give him a proper goodbye earlier because she had been eating dinner with everypony else in the cafeteria. She wrapped her soaked forelegs around the rusty iron fence as tears streamed down her face. Nightshine pressed her face up against the bars as hard as she could, ignoring the pain as she tried to get one last look at her only friend before he disappeared forever to his happy new life.

If anypony saw her at that moment, they would not have been able to distinguish her tears from the rain.

She felt cold, though it wasn’t from the rain but from the knowledge that she had been passed up for adoption yet again. Nightshine had lost count of how many times ponies had ignored her. Every week was the same: a couple or two would come in looking to adopt somepony, and even though she tried her hardest to be the most perfect little filly in all of Equestria, most of them simply paid her no mind. Nightshine had no idea why nopony wanted her, and that cut right into her heart, a wound that never truly healed. All she wanted was to live a normal life, but her dreams of doing exactly that weakened each time somepony else was picked.

“Can I call you Mommy and Daddy?” she heard the newly-adopted colt ask, his words barely making it through the sound of rain hitting the street.

“Of course you can!” a deep, male voice replied. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Nightshine saw him ruffle her friend’s hair. She closed her eyes tightly and sobbed for several moments. Knowing that this was the last time she would ever see him again, she forced herself to open her eyes just in time to see them start walking down the street towards her. Her ears flicked to lay flat on her head as she laid her sodden tail around her flank, her eyes never leaving the three as they passed by her. Nightshine ruffled her wings a couple of times, then let loose a soft, pathetic-sounding whine as she watched the three of them disappear into the rain down the street.

She hit the fence with a hoof as tears streamed down her face. “Why does life have to be so unfair?” Nightshine slumped down to the ground in a heap, the side of her face still pressed up against the fence.

“Mom, Dad, can you... a minute?” she very faintly heard Sea Stride ask down the street. Her ears perked up as she heard hoofsteps approaching her, so she lifted her head. Nightshine stared in the direction of where the sound was coming from, and even though she couldn’t believe her eyes, Sea Stride came trotting into view. She sat up immediately, banging her head against the low, horizontal bar on the fence. Pain lanced through the side of her face, nearly making her close her eyes.

Doing her best to ignore the pain, Nightshine threw on a fake smile as Sea Stride stopped in front of her, mere inches separating them. She was so happy for him, though she couldn’t help but feel immensely jealous. If it wasn’t for the fence, Nightshine would have already pulled him into a fierce hug. She stuck her left hoof through the fence and smiled for real when he grabbed it with his own forelegs. He held onto her hoof tightly and gave her the most reassuring of smiles.

“Hey Nightshine...” A look of guilt slid onto his face. His ears flicked back, he bit the side of his cheek like he always did when he was nervous, though he never looked away from her. They stared at each other for a few moments in silence before he reached through the fence to wipe away her tears. “Listen, I’m really sorry that yo—”

“Thank you for coming to say goodbye... I thought I was never going to see you again...” Nightshine muttered, her gaze falling to the ground. She felt Sea’s hoof on her chin, gently lifting her head back up.

“Hey, buck up and never give up, okay?” Sea Stride briefly tightened his grasp on Nightshine’s hoof, then let her hoof slip from his. “Maybe we’ll see each other on the outside?” Nightshine nodded sullenly. “If I can be adopted, I know you can too! I’m just some earth pony, but you’re an awesome bat pony, the coolest around!”

Nightshine closed her eyes for a few seconds as fresh tears threatened to break loose. She had to look strong for her friend, for she surely didn’t want the last memory he would have of her was of her crying.

“And ‘Shine? You will get adopted; don’t ever forget that. I...” He heard his new parents calling his name. “I have to go now, so... Goodbye, Nightshine.”

Even though she desperately wanted to believe her friend’s words, part of her knew she’d never be adopted.

Author's Note

Jumping Through Hoops

Jason pulled the door to the library open and stood in the entryway, looking for Twilight. The door shut behind him, then a few moments later, he heard somepony muttering upstairs. “Twilight, that you up there?” he called out, cocking his head to the side.

“Yeah, come on up!” came Twilight’s voice.

Jason heard a particularly large book slam shut as he jogged up the stairs. He made his way to the back and found Twilight looking at him, sitting at the desk. “Mind if I sit down?” He gestured at the couch he sat on yesterday.

“Sure, go ahead.” As Jason sat down and relaxed, Twilight stood up and walked over to the other couch. She lay down on her side and let her front hooves dangle over the edge. “So after doing a good bit of research, I’ve formulated a list of questions that I need you to answer truthfully, okay?”

“Um... okay? To be honest, I wasn’t expecting an interview sort of dealio.” Jason chuckled and scratched his shoulder.

“Well, if you still plan to adopt a foal, you have to expect the unexpected. Also, I...” Twilight bit her lip and glanced off to the side for a few moments, her gaze resting on the scroll she had written for him yesterday. “I wrote that document for you rather hastily yesterday and...”

“Woah, hold on here... You going back on your word?” Jason asked, pursing his lips.

“No, no! Of course not, like I said, I just need to ask you some questions. I don’t know if you know anything about writing or not, but there’s this little phrase that says that showing is better than telling. Do you...” Twilight’s eyes narrowed as she inspected his face for any sign of recognition. “Do you know what I’m trying to say?”

Jason nodded and relaxed back into the couch. He crossed his right leg over his left, then said, “Yeah, I do. Back where I come from, we say that actions speak louder than words.”

Twilight smiled and let the tension melt from her shoulders. “Exactly. So here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to ask you some questions, and then we’re gonna go over to your house for a quick inspection.”

“An inspection of my house?” Jason sat up and rested his chin on his fists. He propped his elbows up on his legs and sighed. “Why do we have to do that?”

“Well... you have to show me that your house is suitable to raise a foal. If I’m to give you this document, I need to be one hundred and ten percent certain that you’re qualified to adopt somepony.” She slid off of her couch and started pacing. “In my research, I found a few issues that could prevent you from adopting. Your answers to my questions should clear things up.”
“Uh, okay?” Jason asked nervously. “Like what?”

Twilight lit her horn and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill from her desk, then stopped in place and held it up before her. “Well, the first question I have on my list is pretty easy. Do you have a job with a steady income? Having a job with a steady income is crucial to be able to adopt somepony.” She lowered the document just enough to catch Jason’s eyes with her own. “Do you have a steady source of income?”

Jason nodded twice. “Sure do! Well, it’s not steady like a twice a week paycheck, but I do get some good business every now and then.”

“Define every now and then.”

Jason shrugged. “I mean, somepony always comes knockin’ on my door asking for help to repair something of theirs or to commission me to build something for them. I’ve built cabinets, shelves, bed frames... you name it, I’ve probably built it. I do get enough to live comfortably on, and I do have a significant amount of money saved up, too.”

“Okay. So would you say you’re a carpenter, then?”

“Yeah, I suppose. My friend had hooked me up with a construction job building houses back on Earth, and they started me off with some of the more easier things, like building the things I already mentioned. I’ve actually gotten pretty good at it, too.”

“Great, that sounds good.” Twilight checked off the first box. “Do know that Princess Celestia does give out a monthly stipend to help take care of the adopted foal, and even though it’s not a large amount of bits, it still helps. Now, this next one isn’t a question, but I still need you to answer nonetheless.” Twilight cleared her throat. “Adopting somepony is a big financial commitment. You should expect to pay double your grocery bill every time you go shopping for food.”

“Gotcha. I had already thought of that last night, and it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Perfect.” Twilight checked off another box. “So have you thought about schooling?”

“...No? Is that bad?” Jason laughed and scratched behind his ear. “You know, that is a good point. I probably would have to put them in school... The one here in Ponyville is good, right? I don’t know much about it.”

“Yeah, it is a good school. Miss Cheerilee, the teacher, does a wonderful job. Anyways...” Twilight glanced back down at the parchment for a brief moment. “So you’d put them in school?”

Jason scoffed at that. “Yeah, of course!”

“Alrighty... Now would you be able to be home when they’re done with school for the day, and on the weekends? They would need constant care and affection as they adjust to their new life, and you being absent from that would be detrimental to their development. They would need their own room, plus furniture. Are you able to provide all of the above?”

“Definitely,” Jason said with a smile. “So... what’s next?”

Twilight bit her lip and took a deep breath. She scribbled something down onto the parchment and looked Jason right in the eyes. “I already know how you got here, but could you please just reiterate it for me so I don’t make any mistakes please?”

“Uh... sure?” Jason folded his arms and thought for a moment. “Well, after a particularly long day of working, and lemme tell ya, we were out in the sun for the entire day. Heh, I was pretty roasted... anyways, let’s get back on topic. I didn’t have any form of transportation, and since I had offered to clean things up after everyone had left, I decided to just cut through the forest to see if I could get home faster. My feet were absolutely killing me from standing all day, and the weight of my toolbelt wasn’t helping things at all.” He scratched the back of his head. “Twilight, you have no idea how exhausted I was. It was really dark out, and I had left my flashlight back at home that day. I closed my eyes for just a few moments as I trudged through the forest, and when I opened them, I saw a bright flash of light suddenly appear in front of me. Something made me trip, and I fell into the light. I felt like I was falling from a fairly high distance, and then I felt nothing. I guess I either fell asleep, or something knocked me out. You know the rest after that.”

“Yeah... I’m still sorry that I couldn’t figure out a way to send you home,” Twilight said with no small amount of regret. “The portal you came from, which has rarely been documented in our history, only appears at random times in strange locations. At least, that’s what one of the oldest books in Celestia’s library said...” Twilight bit her lip and glanced away for a moment. “I just wish I was able to see it.”

“I’m just glad I didn’t appear in the bottom of the ocean,” Jason said with a laugh. “Anyways, my home is here now. I didn’t have much back on Earth anyways, but here? I own an actual house, I get paid pretty well for what I like to do, so... I guess things turned out okay in the end. Have any more questions?”

“Actually no, that’s it for the questions. Just give me a couple of minutes to write this all down. Even though I know how you came here, the adoption agency has to know as well.” Twilight stayed silent as her quill darted all across the parchment. “Now we have to go to your place. Part of this background check requires a household check as well. Since I’m a princess, I can technically perform this household check for you. Since my word can be trusted, my document will get you past the first inspection, which could take months before the orphanage would be able to send somepony out to inspect your home. If you still want to adopt somepony, you could take this document into any orphanage and walk out the same day with a foal of your own. However! The orphanage will still send somepony down to your home at the end of the first month, and then three months after that to check up on things.”

“Gotcha. So how long is this inspection of yours gonna take?”

“Oh, not long at all, I promise.” With that said, Twilight turned and trotted towards the stairs leading down to the first floor of the library, levitating her saddlebag onto her back. She tucked the document and her checklist inside of it, then buckled the strap. “You coming?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Yup!” Jason stood up and followed Twilight out of the library. “Is the library going to be alright with you gone? I mean, what if someone needs help or something?”

“Spike’ll take care of it. He’s off cleaning the back room. So... which way is your house again?”

“This way,” Jason said as he pointed behind him. “Come on, it’s not far.”

The two of them walked in silence for a minute before Twilight spoke up again. “So are you sure about this? Making the commitment to adopt somepony is a really big decision.”

“Yeah, I gave it a lot of thought. Wondering what it would actually be like to have someone else living at my home kept me up pretty late last night. I know that I want this because I’ve never felt so strongly about something in my life before, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I did a lot of cleaning, and after doing some calculations with my finances, I saw that I have enough money saved up to live for two full months without working, and that’s with me and a pony.”

“That’s good to hear.” Twilight said as she and Jason stepped up to his house. Jason unlocked the door, and the two of them walked inside.

“If I knew that I’d have company over, I’d have done a better job,” Jason said sheepishly. He hurried over to his couch and straightened the pillows that sat in each corner.

“Oh, it’s perfectly fine!” Twilight closed the door behind her and glanced around. “Now, could you please give me a little tour? Like I said, this shouldn’t take long. All I have to see is that your home looks suitable for a foal.”

“Yeah, sure. As you can see, this is the living room. I got a comfy couch, a solid coffee table, and that’s about it for this room. The kitchen is just through that entryway, and further down the hall is the bathroom, then the two bedrooms.”

“Can we start in the bedrooms first and work our way back?” Twilight set her saddlebag on the floor and retrieved her checklist and quill.

Jason shrugged. “I don’t see why not.” As they stepped down the hall to the master bedroom, Jason heard Twilight’s quill scratching against the parchment. “Say, how are you writing without an inkwell?”

“Oh, I placed a spell on this so that it’d never run out of ink. Funnily enough, the spell wears off after a day or two, so it’s not like I have unlimited ink at my disposal.”

“Heh, I was gonna say...” Jason opened his bedroom door and gestured for Twilight to go first.

“Say what?” Twilight cocked her head to the side as she stepped in.

“Never mind, it was just a saying us humans use back home.” Jason leaned against the open door and crossed his arms. “So yeah, this is my bedroom. The closet is pretty empty, save for some old clothes of mine. All of the windows in my house have locks, same with the front door.”

“Good, good... The inspector would be happy to see that when they come down.” Twilight checked off another box on her checklist. “I’m curious... Why is your house so empty? You don’t have any pictures, you don’t have any rugs... I guess you don’t really like to decorate, huh?”

“Actually, I’ve just been trying to save up as much money as possible. Living frugally was something that my parents taught me from an early age, and it’s been a bit of a hard habit to break. I think it’d be fun to have some help decorating the place with a foal to raise, ya know?”

Twilight smiled and chuckled. “Totally. So what about the second bedroom?”

Jason pointed back down the hall and to the right. “Yeah, right here.” He uncrossed his arms, took a few steps, and opened the door for her to stick her head in. “I don’t really have anything in here. No furniture, the closet is empty, and, well... yeah,” he finished lamely.

“Hm... okay. I would suggest outfitting this room with the proper furniture before you adopt. Bringing somepony to their new home, only to give them an empty room would be a little... cruel. Getting their hopes up only to have them dashed when they see this wouldn’t be fair, and it’d be a bad start to your relationship with them.”

Jason frowned, then smiled a couple of moments later. “Hey, what about this? What if, when I get back from Canterlot or wherever there’s an orphanage, I take them furniture shopping so that they can pick and choose what sort of furniture they’d like for their room? It wouldn’t just be a present, it would show them, without any doubt, that they’re about to embark on a new, better life. I think the thought of actually being in a family would mean so much more than getting some present.”

“Yeah, I like that! I’d do that as the very first thing you do when you get back to Ponyville, though. Having the colt or filly sleep on the couch would most likely make them feel like a guest in a stranger’s home, and we definitely do not want them to feel like that.”

“Exactly. And if we can’t find something that they need, I can just build it myself!” Jason lifted his hands up and wiggled his fingers. “Also, I think it’d be a good idea if I included them in the building process, too. Probably’d be a good way to bond, right?”

“Yeah, that can work...” Twilight rubbed her jaw as she sat down. She looked up at him with a smile and used her magic to check the last box off on her checklist. “Now, I think I owe you a certain piece of parchment!” She trotted back to her saddlebag near the front door, opened it up, pulled out the rolled-up document, and held it up in the air for Jason to grab. “Well, after careful consideration, Jason, I am pleased to say that you have passed my inspection. Just be sure to buy some furniture for them as soon as possible,” she said with a small giggle.

“So all I have to do is show this to the pony in charge at the orphanage, and everything’ll be taken care of?”

“Well, not everything, but yeah, it’ll get you through the more tedious parts. And...” Twilight turned to look back at her saddlebag, then pulled out another piece of parchment. “Pack your bags, because you’re going to Canterlot! The train leaves in a half hour.”

“Oh wow, uh... you serious?” Jason asked in disbelief. He grabbed the train ticket and saw that it was indeed for the train scheduled to leave in a half hour, just like Twilight had said.

“Yup! There’s only one orphanage in Canterlot, and since it’s already late in the day, I was thinking it’d be a good idea for you to go and find a hotel there tonight, and then go check out the orphanage tomorrow morning!”

“Huh... yeah, okay.” Jason glanced between the train ticket and the document, then looked back at Twilight. “Looks like I’m going to Canterlot!”

Author's Note

First Contact

Nightshine sat by herself in the cafeteria, one of a few other ponies that were taking their time eating. A half-empty cup of applesauce sat neglected next to the small salad on her tray. Her head was laying on her hoof as she absentmindedly played with the salad, twirling the fork back and forth as she thought about Sea Stride. He was the last of her orphan friends to get adopted, leaving her with all of the other younger foals. To her knowledge, she was the oldest orphan there at the institution, leaving her with no peers to relate to.

She had never felt more alone in her life.

“Nightshine, please report to the headmistress's office at once!” she heard somepony bark out over the intercom.

Nightshine groaned and dropped her fork, burying her face into her foreleg. After a few moments, she slid from the bench with her head hung low. She trudged down the hallway as slowly as she possibly could, her ears flicked back. Part of her wanted to get there as quickly as possible to get this over with while the other part of her feared for what was to come, making her push meeting with the headmistress off for as long as possible.

Even though she would rather have been doing anything else than meeting with the headmistress, Nightshine knew that she’d have to do it sooner or later. So, after a particularly nervous gulp, she ran a hoof through her mane and shuffled her wings a bit, then knocked on the worn, oak door.

“Come in!” she heard Serenity, the headmistress, call out.

Nightshine licked her lips and pushed the door open. “Y-you called for me, Miss Serenity?” she asked softly, poking her head around the door. She prayed that it was just a mistake. She saw the headmistress writing something, not even bothering to look at her.

“Yes, I did. Can’t you hear?” Serenity asked, her voice high-pitched and gravelly. She was an older unicorn, and a grumpy one at that. Time had not treated her well, for her face held too many wrinkles to count. Her graying mane hid some, but not all. She placed the quill down and placed her right hoof on top of her left, now focusing her attention on Nightshine.

“I... yes, I can, but...”

“But what? And why are you hiding from me? Come in, shut the door, and sit down. We need to have a talk.”

“Okay...” Nightshine squeaked out. Her hind legs trembled, and as much as she tried to keep them from doing so, she could not hide her fear. She swallowed her nervousness, stepped the rest of the way inside, and following the headmistress’s order, she closed the door and sat down on the left cushion in front of the desk. Nightshine was now old enough to see over the top of her desk, though just barely. She knew that none of the other colts and fillies here could do the same. Her heart warmed ever so slightly with that knowledge, for it felt like a small achievement to her in a world that got darker each day.

“So listen...” Serenity pursed her lips and frowned.

Nightshine cocked her head to the side and flicked her ears up. “What is it?” Her tail swished back and forth behind her in nervous apprehension.

Serenity pushed what she had been writing on to the side. She took a deep breath and looked Nightshine dead in the eyes. “How old are you now?”

“Twelve and a half, ma’am!” Nightshine chirped. “I’ll be thirteen in—”

“I don't care. I don’t have much time for this, so I’ll be blunt.” Serenity ran a hoof between her eyes and sighed. “Fillies and colts your age don’t get adopted. Typically, they get adopted between the ages of two and ten, which means that you’re past your prime adopting age, and, well...”

“W-what are you s-saying?” Nightshine’s ears flicked back as her lower lip began to tremble.

“I take no pleasure in saying this, but the chances of you getting adopted are slim to none at this point, Nightshine. I’ve seen too many couples pass you by without even so much as a second thought. You’re just too different from what ponies want in a potential adoptee.”

“B-but I’m special...” Nightshine’s ears fell flat on her head as she flicked her tail to lay around her flank. She grabbed her tail with a hoof and held it tightly.

“If you were as special as you think you are, Nightshine, somepony would have adopted you by now!” Serenity snapped at her. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she saw tears bead up in Nightshine’s eyes. “So with that being said, when you become of legal age to leave the orphanage, we can set you up with a job.”

Nightshine tuned out everything Serenity said after that. Several minutes passed as she stared ahead with nothing more than a blank stare on her face, simply nodding whenever she heard Serenity pause. She wanted nothing more than to leave to go wallow in self-pity, but she didn’t want to get punished for blowing off Serenity.

“I’m sorry, but this is how things are around here,” Nightshine heard Serenity say, her tone changing enough to show that she was wrapping things up. “Now, off to bed with you! Lights out is in ten minutes.”

“Y-yes, Miss Serenity.” Nightshine could not bear to look the headmistress in the eyes, for the pain in her heart was much too great. She dragged her hooves along the old wood floor, her muzzle nearly touching the ground. Nightshine walked past the cafeteria and stopped to look inside. Her stomach grumbled, for she hadn’t eaten nearly enough to sate her hunger. All of the benches had been cleared and the lights were off, which only meant one thing: dinner was over. As she mentally kicked herself for not eating more, she started walking again.

As she neared the double doors that led to the sleeping quarters, Nightshine pushed open the one on the right and stepped inside. Nopony acknowledged her presence as they all slid under the worn-out sheets on their beds. Nightshine shut the door behind her with a little more force than necessary and walked to her bed, avoiding making eye contact with anypony else.

Nightshine stopped in front of her bunk bed that she used to share with Sea Stride. She stared at the bottom bunk where he used to sleep, eyeing the neatly-made bed. Wondering when she was going to get a new bedmate, she glanced over her shoulder to make sure the door was shut and to see if there were any supervisors around. When Nightshine saw that the coast was clear, she opened her wings and flapped them awkwardly, barely getting any lift. “Woah!” Nightshine flew too close to the bed frame, and when she saw that there was nothing she could do, she closed her eyes and braced for impact.

Her right shoulder slammed into the metal bedpost halfway between the two beds. She flapped as hard as she could to try and right herself, but that only resulted in her right wing smacking against the same bar, making her tumble to the ground. She landed on the hardwood floor in a heap, her shoulder and wing tingling with pain. Nightshine stood up, shook her head, then looked around to see if anypony had noticed her. She saw a few ponies look away from her, neutral expressions on their faces.

One of the biggest rules of the orphanage was to not use any magic outside of the classroom. The headmistress didn’t want things going all crazy in her business, after all. Furthermore, flying was outright banned. Being caught doing, or attempting to do so, was met with the worst of punishments: having recess being taken away for a week.

Nightshine winced as she flexed her shoulder. She rubbed it with her left hoof and opened her hurting wing. Thankfully, it wasn’t bleeding and nothing was broken. It looked the same as it always did, though she knew it was going to be sore for the next couple of days. Eyeing the ladder on the side of the bed with disdain, Nightshine clambered up to her bed and collapsed on the creaky, lumpy mattress. The day had been very emotionally draining, and all she wanted to do right now was to fall asleep so that she could escape from this cruel world.

Unfolding her wings, Nightshine wrapped them around herself, pinning her curled-up forelegs to her chest. She desperately wished that she had someone to hold her, to comfort her, to tell her that everything was going to be alright. As tears began to drip down her face, she wiggled under the sheets and used her teeth to pull them up past her shoulders. Lifting her right wing just a little bit, Nightshine flicked her tail around her flank so that she could hold it in her forelegs, like she always did when she was nervous.

Nightshine buried her face into her sole pillow, silently pretending that it was an actual pony who unconditionally loved her. She tried to imagine a mare holding her close in a tight, secure, warm winghug, but even though she tried as hard as she ever had, the headmistress’s words kept ringing in her head. As sleep tugged at her weary mind, Nightshine rolled over and groaned loudly, knowing that she’d be crying herself to sleep that night.

It wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last.

“Nightshine, what are you still doing in bed?!” The harsh voice of the headmistress pierced through her dreams, making Nightshine sit up in a flash. “I have just received a letter from Princess Twilight herself that someone is coming early today, and they have plans to adopt somepony!”

“Huh?” Nightshine groaned and rubbed her eyes with her front hooves. Morning already? Her mane was a mess, and her tail needed a good brushing, too. Her eyes were bloodshot due to the fact that she had barely slept at all that night. “But you just told me yesterday that...” A small yawn forced itself past her lips. “That I’m too old to be adopted...” Her ears flicked back and she glanced away from the headmistress as her shoulder tingled with pain.

“Yes, well, be that as it may, I still can’t have anypony lazing about in my orphanage, especially when those who potentially want to adopt are coming!” Serenity tightened her grasp on the metal bar she held in her hoof and started to hit it against the bed frame. “It’ll make me and the orphanage as a whole look bad, and I will not have that!”

Serenity’s shrill voice, combined with the sounds of metal banging on metal, was starting to give Nightshine a headache. “Okay, okay! I’ll be there in a minute!”

Serenity stopped banging on the bedpost. “Good! Even though there’s a big chance of you not getting adopted, I still expect to have you there to make the other orphans look good!”

“Fine...” Nightshine muttered, avoiding Serenity’s harsh gaze. “I just need to brush my mane and tail first, and I’ll be there.”

“Good.” Serenity smiled in a sickly sweet way that made Nightshine want to throw up. She turned, tucked the metal bar into her saddlebag, and promptly trotted from the room.

Nightshine slumped back down and sighed. She rolled over onto her legs and stood up, and after she made sure that the headmistress was truly gone, she opened up her wings and moved to the end of the bed. She sat perched on the metal railing at the foot of the bed, and once she was reasonably sure that the coast was clear, she jumped into the air with her wings spread wide. Nightshine banked sharply to the right and glided down to the floor, landing several feet away from the dresser. She touched down rather smoothly and folded her wings as quickly as she could in case somepony came back.

As she cracked a small smile at her achievement, she sat down in front of the dresser and opened up the top drawer. Flicking her tail over her right hind leg, Nightshine pulled out one of the many brushes and ran it through her tail until she’d pulled out all of the knots. She flicked her tail a few times, and when she was satisfied with the results, she ran the brush through her mane. Looking over to the floor mirror in the corner, she tossed the brush back in the drawer and pushed it shut.

Nightshine stood up and moved to sit in front of the mirror. She placed her forelegs between her hind legs and flicked her mane so that it fell around her shoulders, just the way she liked it. Happy that she looked decent enough, Nightshine stood up and flared her wings, then folded them back to her side.

She trotted from the sleeping quarters and passed the cafeteria. Her stomach grumbled loudly, reminding her that she had missed breakfast. With her head hung low, she stopped in front of the closed door that led to the viewing room and listened. She heard a bunch of the colts and fillies clamoring for attention, and as the headmistress’s words about not getting adopted rung in her head yet again, she sighed and walked away. The door leading outside to the playground was unlocked, so she pushed it open, wistfully glanced over her shoulder one last time and walked outside, giving up on the thought of getting adopted for good.

Jason paused right outside the orphanage’s door, his hand resting on the handle. He knew that opening this door would open up a new chapter in his life, and of course, if he found somepony to adopt, a new chapter would begin in their life as well. Unlike most of Canterlot’s structures, this building was rather run down. Old, rotting wood made up most of the one-story building. A playground sat behind a fence to his right, and what looked like an abandoned warehouse lay mere feet from the orphanage’s left wall.

Feeling rather giddy, he looked down at the document in his left hand, took a deep breath, then stepped inside. A small door chime sounded off above him, making him glance up. A moment later, he heard a chorus of tiny hooves galloping, coming closer by the second. He shut the door behind him and grinned, knowing exactly what was to come.

Jason walked forward and through the only doorway to find at least thirty or so colts and fillies of varying ages. They all screeched to a halt and looked up at him in awe. Jason heard a bunch of hushed, excited whispers from the group, making him feel rather embarrassed. “H-hey there,” he said with a little wave.

Wide smiles broke out from every single pony in the group. They all rushed him at once, making him take a step back in mild shock. A light brown colt with an orange mane and tail hopped in place right next to his right foot, his gaze running all over his body. “What are you? You definitely aren’t a pony!”

“Quite right, little one,” Serenity said as she trotted from further down the hallway. Looking up at Jason, she smiled lightly and made her way around the horde. “Hello, good sir! My name is Serenity, and I welcome you to my orphanage.” She dipped her head in a light bow, then stepped up to him, extending her right hoof.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Serenity.” Jason stuck out his right hand and shook Serenity’s. “Believe it or not, but I am here to potentially adopt one of these adorable little ponies.”

Serenity’s eyes lit up at that. “We’ll have to have a small discussion before I allow you to make a decision, you and I.” Her smile grew as she turned around to face everypony. She cleared her throat and tapped her right hoof on the floor three times, making the crowd of colts and fillies grow silent. “So we are in for a little treat, everyone! Does anyone here know what species Mr. Jason is?”

“Please, just Jason.” Jason laughed lightly. “That’s what everyone calls me back in Ponyville, at least.”

“Fair enough.” Serenity nodded once and looked back at everypony. “So? Does anyone know the answer to my question?” She waited for several moments, seeing nothing but blank, curious stares. “He’s a human. From what I’ve heard, humans hold no magical ability. They cannot fly, nor can they use magic. However, they are just as intelligent as you and I, and Jason must be treated with the same level of respect that you would show anypony else. Is that understood?” The crowd nodded. “Good. Now, before I let you all interact with Jason, I must first have a word with him.”

Jason smiled inwardly as he watched everypony grow excited. “I, uh... I look forward to speaking with you all.”

“This way, Jason.” Serenity nudged his leg with a hoof and nodded in the direction she had come from. “My office is just down the hallway.”

“Gotcha.” Jason followed Serenity down the hallway and into a rather sparse office. A large desk sat near a broad window. Two thick, worn cushions sat before the desk. “Um... may I sit?” he asked.

“Of course you can!” Serenity moved behind her desk and sat down, waiting for Jason to do the same. “So... I received a letter from Princess Twilight herself this morning through the overnight express saying that I should expect a human to come today. Is this true?” Jason nodded once, sitting down on the right cushion. “Excellent. She said you had a document with you, detailing that she herself performed the house inspection for us, which is a huge load off of my shoulders. She also vouched for you, saying that you were of good moral character, and that you have just as much right to adopt somepony as a, well... a pony. May I see this document she spoke of in her letter?”

“Yeah, it's right here.” Jason leaned forward and placed the sealed document on her desk.

“Thank you...” Serenity used her magic to undo the ribbon holding it shut, then unfurled the parchment. She laid it down on her desk and took several moments to read it. “Well, everything does appear to be in order. I’ve never had an actual princess vouch for anyone before, so this is definitely a first.”

“Heh, yeah, I bet.”

Serenity let go of the document, letting it curl up on its own as she pushed it aside. “So, I assume you already have a species of pony in mind that you’d like to adopt? We have all three here. We have earth ponies who’ll grow up to be strong, unicorns that’ll become experts at magic, and pegasi who’ll be able to fly like the wind!” She thought to mention her one exception, Nightshine the bat pony, but decided to leave her out. “At my orphanage, we have both colts and fillies, as I’m sure you were able to see, ranging in age from two years old to nearly ten years old. Now, did you have anything in mind? I would be pleased to hear your preferences.”

“Well...” Jason scratched the back of his head. “To be honest, I don’t really have any preference.”

“Maybe I could help you weed out some of the options? Surely talking to each and every colt and filly in here would take a lot of time.”

“Actually, I was sorta looking forward to talking to all of them.”

Serenity pursed her lips and nodded slowly. “Okay. So there’s this trend for those wishing to adopt. Usually, couples like to adopt foals that haven’t developed their own personality yet, shaping them as they wish as they grow up. On the other hoof, some couples wish for somepony who already has their own unique personality. Do you prefer either option?”

Jason shrugged. “Not really.”

“Very well, then! Let us get started!” Serenity stood up and trotted to the door. With a flash from her horn, she pulled open the door and stepped aside. “All of the little ones are waiting for you, Jason. Shall we not keep them waiting?”

“Let’s not.” Jason stood up and followed Serenity from the room. “Um... where are they all?” The hallway was devoid of both ponies and sound.

“Oh, they’re just in the next room. That’s where we let them socialize with those who wish to adopt. They’re just through this door here!” Serenity walked a short distance further into the orphanage, stopped in front of a closed door, and stood aside. “I’ll be with you the entire time to supervise things.”

“Ah, okay then.” Jason took the last step towards the door and pulled it open to find all the colts and fillies running about in what looked to be a game of tag. “Hey everyone!” he said, making everypony stop in their tracks. Every single head turned to look at him a moment before they all ran at him, begging for attention. “Woah, woah, one at a time, okay?” He saw several smiles turn to frowns. Thinking quickly, he smiled and said, “Okay fine, five at a time! So, who wants to go first?”

A few hours later, Jason stepped outside the room and wiped his brow. “Phew! They sure do have a lot of energy, don’t they?”

“More than you know...” Serenity sighed, smiled gently, and stuck her head around the door. “Jason and I will be back in a little bit, little ones!” she said in a sing-song voice. She closed the door and glanced up at Jason. “So have you come to a decision?”

“Sorta. I only want to adopt one, but I’ve narrowed it down to a couple of them. A colt and a filly... I only remember one of their names though. Is one of them named Short Stroke?”

“Ah, yes, the brown earth pony. He sure is a lively one, bound to grow up strong! Do you remember the name of the other one?”

“Um... I know it starts with an ‘H’...”

“Was it Honeycomb? The sweet little pegasus that didn’t want to leave your lap?”

“Yeah, that’s the one! She sure loves ear scratches, doesn’t she? Whenever I stopped, she just pushed her head back into my hand, and I could have sworn I heard her whimper a couple of times.”

“Oh yes, they’ll... do that from time to time.”

“What, whimper?”

Serenity nodded slowly. “You see, they don’t get much love around here, so whenever anybody shows them any sort of affection, they can’t get enough of it.”

“Huh...” Jason frowned and thought for a couple of seconds. “Why don’t you show them affection?”

Serenity rubbed her eyes and groaned. “Celestia knows I want to...” she muttered. “I simply can’t show affection to all of them. If I showed affection to a few, I know that would make those few feel good, like they were loved. I know that’s what they all want, but here’s the thing... if I show affection to a few, then the rest would feel left out. I don’t want that at all. On top of that, if they get attached to me, then they won’t want to leave if they get picked for adoption! It pains me greatly, but...” She looked up into Jason’s eyes. “It’s all worth it to see the smiling faces of those that get adopted. It makes my heart warm to know that they get to have a better life. You must understand that by not showering them with affection, I am able to let them live a decent life without any false hopes.”

“Yeah, I understand. Hopefully, I’ll be able to adopt somepony, but first... Do you have files on each pony? I’d like to go over them if that’s alright with you.”

Serenity glanced up as she thought for a moment. “I... suppose that can be arranged. Follow me back to my office, please!” Serenity trotted back to her office with Jason following close behind. She opened up the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a ton of manila folders. “Here you are! I’ll be watching over the colts and fillies in the other room, and I’ll be back in, say... fifteen minutes?”

“Sounds good!” Jason grabbed the first folder and opened it as Serenity left him alone. He looked at it for a couple of seconds, then placed it back on top of the stack. He grabbed them all, sat down on one of the cushions, and set his back against the front of the desk. As he tuned out the sounds of happy foals from the neighboring room, he went through each of the files, setting aside the ones he liked the most to his right.

As he neared the bottom of the stack. Jason opened up yet another file and saw a picture of a filly that he hadn’t seen yet. Nightshine... he read at the top. The attached photo showed her sitting in front of a light blue backdrop with a soft smile on her face. She was blushing and her wings were held wide. She had a grey coat with a beautiful dark green mane and tail that went well with her coat color.

Jason looked closer. “Her wings... they’re not feathery like other pegasi...” His interest piqued, he set her folder on top of his other top pick, Short Stroke, and tossed Honeycomb’s folder with the rest of the remaining folders back on Serenity’s desk. With only a couple of minutes left on the clock, Jason opened up the two files and spread them out in front of him, hoping that he’d be able to come to a decision before Serenity came back.

The sound of hoofsteps stopped outside of the door. “Jason?” Serenity poked her head around the door and stepped inside. “Have you made your choice yet?”

“I’m sad to say that I have not.” Jason closed the folders, stood up, and handed them to Serenity. She sat down and lifted them from his grasp with her magic, eyeing the names on the top of each folder. “I was wondering... Would it be too much trouble to talk to those each of them separately? I think that’d help me make a choice better than looking at their files.” He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head. “Also... I noticed that a filly named Nightshine wasn’t included in the viewing a while ago. Was she adopted already?” he asked with a small amount of nervousness in his voice.

“Actually, no. She was supposed to be in the viewing, but I’m not sure where she went after I woke her up this morning... Nightshine’s probably outside or something.” Serenity cocked her head to the side as she looked up at Jason. “I see you’ve also picked Short Stroke. He’s a mighty fine choice, which makes me wonder why you’d want somepony like Nightshine...”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Short Stroke is obviously the better choice. He’s half her age, which means that he’s still impressionable. He is a very smart colt, outperforming nearly everypony else, including Nightshine, in all of the classes I teach. He is well-mannered and will be a very good colt. I can assure you that he won’t cause you any problems.”

“Okay... and what about Nightshine?” Jason rubbed his chin, already knowing where this was going.

“She’s very... different. She isn’t like any other pony here, for she is a bat pony. She’s an outcast, she’s unsociable, and she is depressed all the time. Where any other colt or filly would smile, she doesn’t. I don’t know what her issue is, but I know from first-hoof experience that she can be quite the burden at times. Besides, ponies don’t go for colts or fillies that old.”

“Well, I’m not a pony.” Jason didn’t like how she described both ponies. It was more than obvious that she was trying her hardest to get him to pick Short Stroke, making him curious as to what she was hiding from him. “Nevertheless, I would still like to talk to both of them in private.”

“Very well. If you could wait here a moment, I’ll let them get some fresh air out in the playground, then I’ll be back with your first pick, Short Stroke. How long were you wanting to talk to them?”

“Oh, only five to ten minutes at most.” Jason tried as hard as he could to keep his neutral face from turning into a scowl. He particularly didn’t like how she had worded that. My first pick, Short Stroke... As Serenity left him alone again, he leaned against the desk and sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

A couple of minutes later, he heard two sets of hoofsteps approaching him. He threw a confident smile on his face and crossed his arms as he waited. At the last moment, he sat down, thinking that it would put the colt more at ease rather than looking up at someone who dwarfed them in comparison.

Short Stroke and Serenity walked through the office door a couple of seconds later. “Is it true you’re going to adopt me?!” Short Stroke bounced all over the room, running about as if someone had just given him an entire pot of coffee to drink.

Crap... how do I handle this? Jason looked up at Serenity who just stared back at him with a look of expectation on her face. One of her eyebrows was raised, and as he held her gaze, she nodded down towards the colt as if to ask, Well?

“Um... hey there! I’m thinking about it, yeah. I haven’t decided between you and Nightshine, though.” Jason leaned forward and folded his legs. As Serenity sat down in the doorway, Jason asked, “So why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”

“Okay!” Short Stroke jumped in front of Jason and placed his front hooves on his shoes, propping himself up. “I like to play soccer, board games, and I love to take naps! I’m super duper awesome at everything, and I love playing outside! Do you wanna go play outside? Like right now? Huh? Huh? Huh??”

“Calm down, Short Stroke, I think you’re frightening our guest,” Serenity said, her voice stone-cold.

“Nah, nah... it’s alright.” Jason beckoned for Short Stroke to sit beside him. He lifted his hand up and scratched Short Stroke under his chin.

“Mmm...” Short Stroke’s right hind leg started thumping the floor. He pressed his head down into Jason’s hand and smiled as he closed his eyes. “That feels so good! Please don’t stop, sir!”

“Hehe, you guys really like getting scratched, huh?” Jason laughed and scratched him behind his ears for a few moments, then let his hands fall to his lap. Short Stroke’s smile faded almost instantly. He lay down next to Jason’s leg and laid his head down on it. Jason felt rather uncomfortable as the colt put on his best version of puppy dog eyes. He smiled sheepishly and glanced up at Serenity, rubbing the back of his neck.

“So do we have a match? It seems he really likes you!” Serenity stepped forward with a hopeful smile.

I wonder if she says that to every couple that comes in. “Uh, I’d still like to meet Nightshine first, if that’s alright with you.”

Serenity’s expression hardened. She pursed her lips and sighed. “Very well. Come with me, Short Stroke! Time to go out to the playground.”

“Okay...” Short Stroke took his time getting back up. He trudged from the room, his tail tucked in between his hind legs. As he passed through the doorway, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. He looked Jason straight in the eyes for a couple of moments, then sighed. “See ya...” he said with a little wave of his hoof.

“It was n-nice meeting you!” Jason said. He waved back at Short Stroke, then watched as he trudged around the corner.

Serenity nudged Short Stroke along with her muzzle. “Go on, little one. I’ll be there in a second!” She looked at Jason. “I’ll be back shortly with... Nightshine.” And with that, she was gone.

Jason twiddled his thumbs for a few minutes while he waited. He glanced at Nightshine’s file and read through it again, and as he heard another set of hoofsteps approaching, he set it aside and glanced up just in time to see Nightshine.

Their eyes met. Nightshine paused in the doorway, her right hoof held up in the middle of a step. Her lips formed a small ‘O’ as her eyes widened. “H-Hello...” she ventured, sheepishly hiding behind her mane for just a moment. She flicked it out of her face and cracked a small smile at him. She stood up a bit straighter, fluffed her wings, and said, “I’m Nightshine! What’s your name?” Nightshine approached him cautiously with no small amount of curiosity.

“I’m Jason!” He smiled and beckoned for her to come closer.

Nightshine stopped a few feet from him and sat down, her tail swishing back and forth behind her. “So...” She blushed and flicked her tail and mindlessly started twirling it around her hoof. “What are you?”

“Well, I’m a human. If you don’t mind, what species of pony are you?”

Nightshine licked her lips and fluffed her wings again. “I’m a thestral, but most ponies just call me a bat pony!” She smiled and flared her wings for him to see. “See? I love flying, but we’re not allowed to here at the orphanage.” Her smile faded as she folded her wings. Nightshine glanced over her shoulder at Serenity, then looked back at Jason.

“Wait, why not? If I had wings, I’d be flying everyday!” Jason saw Nightshine smile wistfully at that, but she stayed silent.

Serenity took a step forward and cleared her throat rather obnoxiously. “The rules here are pretty strict on that. I cannot risk any pegasi, or in Nightshine’s case, any thestrals, flying away from the orphanage. They are not allowed to leave the premises without my direct supervision, and I will not allow them to risk hurting themselves. The same goes for unicorns, too. I do not allow them to use any sort of magic outside of class. It just isn’t safe for everypony else.”

“Huh... okay, I guess that makes sense,” Jason said slowly, his eyes never leaving Nightshine. She was staring at the floor, her head hung low. It was quite obvious to Jason that she loved flying. “So how old are you, little one?” he asked softly.

“I’m, um... twelve, sir,” Nightshine said, glancing up at his face. His smile was infectious, making her forget about Serenity’s strict rules. Her heart warmed as she let a smile slip on her face, and she felt butterflies start to flit about in her stomach.

“Please, just call me Jason.” He held out his right hand, his palm facing upwards. “That’s what my friends call me, at least.”

Nightshine looked at it out of curiosity for a few moments, eyeing his fingers. She stood up and took the last few steps to sit beside him and held out her right hoof, then she tentatively placed it in his hand. His fingers tickled her hoof as they curled around it. Jason shook her hoof twice, then let go. Nightshine opened her mouth to ask a question, but was cut off by a light cough from Serenity.

“Well, I think it’s about time we wrapped things up!” Serenity said as she stepped forward. “I have a lot of work to do, and I can see that you two are pretty much done talking.”

“Huh?” Nightshine’s ears flicked back and her smile quickly faded. She turned around and looked up at Serenity, tears brimming in her eyes. “But we were just—”

“Jason’s been here for most of the day, and I think he might be getting hungry.” Serenity jerked her head towards the door and shot a stern look at Nightshine. “Now, go off and play, Nightshine. We’re done here.”

Nightshine sighed as her shoulders slumped. Why? Why do you have to do this to me? She couldn’t bear to look at Jason, for she did not want him to see her crying. As the tears began to fall down her face, she sullenly walked from the room, her head hung low.

“Hey, Nightshine?” Jason asked as she crossed through the doorway. He stood up as she looked back over her shoulder at him. He threw on the most reassuring smile he could. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”

“Yes, yes it was...” Nightshine whispered. She turned and walked out into the hallway.

A couple of seconds passed before Jason heard her start to cry, fading as she walked away from them. His throat tightened up as he bit his bottom lip. “You know, I really would have liked to have talked with her some more,” he said, his voice dripping with as much disappointment as he could muster.

“Yes, well, she would have just talked your ear off for hours and hours and hours if you’d let her. Trust me, I helped you out.”

Jason shook his head. “Whatever.” He took several moments to think, then said, “Tell you what... I’m gonna go get something to eat, since you think I’m so hungry, and I’ll be back in the morning with my decision.”

Serenity sighed heavily and looked away. “Listen, it’s fine if you don’t want to adopt somepony. I hear couples say that they’ll be back all the time, but they never do.”

Nightshine tuned out everypony else as she walked outside. Her heart boiled with rage from what Serenity did to her, keeping her from making a real connection with Jason. She had really felt the beginning of a bond with him, and to have her chance at being adopted torn away like that was crippling.

As the tears streamed down her face, Nightshine walked all the way to the farthest corner away from the orphanage. The road, freedom in her eyes, sat mere inches on the other side. She slumped down in a heap and buried her head in her hooves. Nopony came to comfort her, for nopony had any comfort to give. Everypony who’d spent a good deal of time at the orphanage knew the pain would come and go, but now, Nightshine knew that pain would last for quite a while. Knowing that she’d come so close only to have Serenity rip away her biggest chance of getting adopted, only cemented her words, and the fact that she’d never get adopted, into her brain.

Nightshine could not bear to spend another day in this horrid place.

A minute later, she heard footsteps come close, then they started to fade. Nightshine looked up to see Jason walking away, already a good distance down the road. Nightshine whimpered as she sat up and wrapped her forelegs around the bars in the fence. Jason stopped and looked behind him, their gazes locking for a few moments. Nightshine stared back breathlessly, then lifted a hoof to wave goodbye, knowing that this would be the last time she’d ever get to see him.

Much to her disbelief, Jason smiled, winked at her, and waved back.

Endless Possibilities

Jason stood at the front door to the orphanage, his hand resting on the doorknob. He had taken the long way there so that he could think through his options, and in that time, his mind had come to the same conclusion that his heart had made yesterday. Since he had come up from the south, nopony had seen him coming, making his arrival a complete surprise to those at the orphanage. He wondered if Serenity would be shocked that he came back.

Closing his eyes, Jason took in a deep breath and held it in, then relaxed. His heart raced in his chest much like the time that he had first stepped into Equestria. He knew that in making this big decision, he was about to change his life and that of the orphan he picked. Jason lifted his hand from the door and held it up in front of him. Even though he tried as hard as he could, he could not stop it from shaking.

So after a few moments, Jason ran that same hand through his hair and chuckled. He wiggled his arms and threw on a small yet confident smile. As he wondered what his pick’s reaction was going to be like, he figured that he shouldn’t waste any more time. He stepped inside and pushed the door shut with a little more force than what was necessary. The bell chime was much louder than the time he had walked inside yesterday, making him feel a bit self-conscious.

A few moments passed before he heard hoofsteps coming from further inside the orphanage. Serenity emerged from around the corner a second later, and as she looked up at him, she paused.

“Told you I’d be back, didn’t I?” Jason asked.

“I, well... yes, you did, but... Nobody’s ever come back after saying what you did.” Serenity smiled and moved to stand in front of him. “So...” She cocked her head to the side and looked up at him with a hopeful smile. “Have you made a decision?”

Jason grinned widely. “I have.”

“Excellent! Everypony’s playing outside, so I think we should go and see everypony. It’d be a treat for them to see you again.” She turned around and began walking away.

Jason caught up to her, staying silent as they walked down the main hallway. They came up to a small door set in the right-hand side of the wall which Serenity laid a hoof on. “Before we go out, might I ask who you have picked to adopt? I think I already know the answer, but I would like to hear it from you.”

“Short Stroke seems like a fine little colt, full of energy and all that. I have no doubt that someone will come and adopt him, but he isn’t the one that I want. I want to adopt Nightshine, and I feel it would be both a pleasure and an honor to call her my daughter.” Jason leaned against the wall and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Heh, I can only wonder how she’d react when I tell her I’d like to adopt her.”

“Well, why don’t we find out? I’m sure she’d be happy to see you again.” Serenity smiled and threw open the door, then trotted just outside with Jason right behind her.

Nightshine lay on her back on the thickest, lowest branch of the tree out in the playground. In stark contrast to the past few days, the sun shined brightly. A few clouds hung in the sky, making Nightshine wonder what it would be like to nap on them. Her favorite branch was just about as comfortable as her bed, though at least she had a nice breeze to keep her cool here.

All of the other colts and fillies ran about beneath her, playing a game of tag that she had no interest in. She had grown tired of that many months ago, for her eyes had always been set on the open sky above her. Her heart yearned to fly, to be amongst the birds and the clouds, but the fear of punishment had always kept her grounded. There was no escaping the piercing gaze of Miss Serenity, who usually lay near the door to the orphanage with a book. She had thought that she had heard the bell above the door to the orphanage ring, but the cacophony below her had drowned it out rather quickly, making her wonder if her mind was playing tricks on her.

Her tail swished back and forth as it hung over the right-hoof side of the branch. She peered up through the leaves of the tree, her eyes locked on a nearby cloud. As Nightshine closed her eyes, her thoughts drifted to that of Jason, and what life could have been if he had picked her yesterday. Even though he wasn’t a pony, he had been able to make her feel something that she hadn’t felt in years: hope.

Having that hope ripped away had been one of the worst things she had felt in her life, far outweighing the times that she had been passed over for adoption. Getting adopted meant that she would be able to fly as much as she wanted to, so long as she got some proper practice in. Getting adopted meant that she would finally get to live her life, but that wasn’t the most important thing to her. What truly meant the most was that she would finally have someone to love her, and she had so much love to give.

Nightshine sighed as her tail stilled. Several moments passed before she noticed that everypony running around the yard was galloping back towards the orphanage. We have to go back inside already? But I didn’t hear the whistle... Instead of hearing all of them groan like they usually did when it was time to go back inside, Nightshine heard cries of surprise and joy. Curious as to what all the commotion was about, Nightshine carefully rolled over and let her legs dangle over the branch, hanging loosely in the wind. She glanced up just in time to see Jason step outside as everypony rushed up to him, clamoring for attention.

She lifted her head up from the branch, her ears flicking up and her eyes going wide. Nightshine stared breathlessly, unable to believe her eyes. She rubbed her eyes with her hooves, then looked again. Her heart sank as she saw him reach down to scratch the ears of several of her fellow orphans.

Then, right as she was about to give up hope for what felt like the hundredth time, Jason looked around the yard until their eyes met. Nightshine stared at him, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Much to her disbelief, Jason ignored the rest of the other orphans and started walking towards her. Her mind went blank and her tongue felt as dry as sandpaper as he finally stood beneath her, looking up at her with the most comforting of smiles.

“Y-you came back?” Nightshine asked softly. She saw Serenity move to stand beside Jason. Nightshine tore her gaze away from him and glanced at her, her eyes pleading the question that danced on the tip of her tongue. Serenity smiled warmly at her, which was quite the surprise in and of itself, then nodded once.

“Yes,” Jason said, making Nightshine look back at him. “I came back for you.”

Nightshine’s vision turned blurry as tears formed up in her eyes. Her ears flicked back and her muscles went slack. “I... I...” She pushed herself up with her front legs to get off of the tree, and as she opened her wings to glide down, the tip of her right wing hit a branch and threw her off balance. Nightshine tried to grab onto the branch that she was just laying on, but it was just out of reach.

Resigning herself to a painful fate, she tensed up, waiting to hit the ground. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jason lunge forward, his arms outstretched. She fell into his arms mere inches before she hit the rocky ground with a slight ‘oomph’, her stomach facing upwards. Her forelegs curled up to her chest. She flicked her gaze up to meet his as he pulled her against his chest, his arms curling upward. His right arm held her rump while his other arm wrapped around her shoulders.

As he held her against his chest, she got a whiff of his scent. Slight earthy tones filled her nose. “Th-thanks for catching me...” Nightshine murmured as a slight blush turned her cheeks pink.

“Nightshine, you should have been more careful!” Serenity barked as she stepped around in front of them. As Jason put Nightshine down, her tone became softer. “I really wouldn’t want to see you, or anypony else for that matter, get hurt under my watch.”

“Sorry, Miss Serenity, I promise it won’t happen again.” Nightshine brushed herself off and looked up at Jason. She sat down, flicked her tail around her flank, and rubbed her right foreleg with her left hoof. “So... are you really going to adopt me?” she asked, putting the smallest amount of hopefulness into her tone.

Jason kneeled down and brushed a few hairs out of her face, tucking them behind her right ear. “Yeah. That is, if you would like for me to adopt you.”

Nightshine nodded as tears of joy dripped down her cheeks. Her ears flicked back as she stepped up to him. She stood up on her hind legs, and as she closed her eyes, she wrapped her forelegs around him and pulled him into as tight a hug as she could. Nightshine nuzzled him over and over as relief soared through her. Endless possibilities of what her new life would be like flew through her mind, and even though she had no idea what the future held for her, she knew that she couldn’t wait.

She felt Jason scratch her behind her ears as he rubbed her back, just like she had always imagined her adoptive parents would. “Are we leaving now?” Nightshine finally asked as she let him go. “I... I don’t have anything to pack.”

Serenity cleared her throat in that obnoxious way that meant that she had something to say. “He has to sign some documents first, and it’ll take a while. Why don’t you go on and play with everypony else while Jason and I wrap things up?”

Nightshine glanced between Serenity and Jason a few times, then looked up at Jason. “If it is okay... c-can I stay with you, Jason? P-please?” I don’t want you to leave me again...

Jason chuckled at that. “Of course you can. You might get bored, though, and like Serenity said, it might take a while.”

Nightshine smiled and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter! As long as you’re there, I’ll always be happy.” As they started walking back to the orphanage, Nightshine nuzzled his leg and whispered, “Thank you...”

Going Home

Jason stepped out of the orphanage with Nightshine a couple of hours later, glad that he’d signed out of the hotel that morning. The sun was already beginning to set, leaving them with only a few hours left of daylight. Serenity had informed Jason that a representative from the orphanage would be down in a month, give or take a few days, to inspect their home, giving him more than enough time to get everything sorted.

Nightshine smiled as she closed her eyes, standing on the front steps of the orphanage. She took a deep breath and tilted her head back, then let it out as she opened her eyes. The sun at her back and Jason at her side, she felt like nothing in the world could hold her back anymore.

“You coming?” Jason stood at the bottom of the steps and looked back at Nightshine. “Surely you want to get to your new home as quickly as possible, hm? Come on, maybe we can catch the next train home!” He beckoned for her to follow him.

“Okay!” Nightshine trotted to keep up with Jason, a noticeable pep in her step.

Jason grinned as he looked down at her. She beamed with a radiance that he’d never seen before, and he hoped that he could replicate that in the future. So many ideas of what they could do together swirled around in his mind, but as much as he would have liked to keep fantasizing, he forced them back so that he could focus on the task at hand: getting them home.

Eyeing the open sky above her, Nightshine fluffed her wings as the urge to soar through the clouds popped into her mind. “Hey... can I fly real quick? It’s been way too long since I’ve had any fun.”

Jason felt a rather strong breeze come from behind, helping him make up his mind. “You know... I’d rather wait until we got back to m—our house.” He saw Nightshine’s shoulders slump in disappointment. “However, if you’re still up for it when we get back home, I’ll take you to the biggest field we can find and let you fly as much as you want, okay?”

“Okay!” Nightshine perked up at that.

“And if you want, I can get you flying lessons. I just so happen to know a certain pony who claims to be the fastest flier in all of Equestria, so maybe we can have her show you some pointers? How’s that sound?”

“That sounds awesome!”

As they made their way down the streets, Nightshine’s stomach grumbled. She’d missed lunch because she had been adamant in staying at Jason’s side all throughout the finalization of her adoption. She didn’t regret her decision in the slightest, but as they passed a bakery that had the most delectable of scents wafting out, Nightshine paused.

Jason didn’t notice that she’d stopped until he was four paces ahead of her. He saw her gazing into the bakery, biting her lower lip. With a chuckle, he asked, “Hungry?”

Nightshine glanced between Jason and the bakery a couple of times, then walked back to his side, her head hung low. She didn’t want to upset him minutes after getting adopted, so she pushed her hunger pangs out of her mind and threw on a fake smile. “N-no, I’m fine, sir. I, uh... I heard something strange, that’s all.”

Jason stepped up to her and kneeled down. Nightshine sat down and held his gaze, and even though she had said that she was fine, Jason saw the longing in her eyes. “Really?” He heard Nightshine’s stomach grumble, making him grin in realization. “Aww, you heard your stomach grumble, eh? Come on, let’s get something to eat.” Jason lifted Nightshine up and cradled her in her in his arms just like how he had caught her. “Before we do, though, I just want to make a couple of things clear...”

Nightshine curled her forelegs up to her chest and flicked her tail once, wriggling to get more comfortable. “W-what?” she asked rather meekly.

“You can just call me Jason, or, uh... Dad, if you want to, I guess.” Jason walked up to the bakery’s entrance and crossed through the threshold. As he made his way up to the counter, he threw on the most reassuring smile he could and told her, “And you don’t have to lie to me. If you need something, or if you need to talk about something, you can always come to me. Okay? I promise I won’t get angry.”

Nightshine relaxed in Jason’s grasp. “Okay. I’m sorry about lying to you, Jason, but... I just really want you to like me...”

“Haha, I already do! I think you’re as cute as a button, and...” He dropped his voice down to a whisper. “I liked you more than everyone else at the orphanage.” Jason angled his left hand so that he could scratch her behind her ears, knowing that she’d like that.

“Thanks...” Nightshine nuzzled Jason’s chest, then noticed that they were already at the counter. The mare working in the back saw them and started trotting up to them.

“So whatcha want? It looks like they have muffins, cookies, and a bunch of other yummy-looking stuff.” Jason let go of her hind legs and wrapped his free arm under her forelegs, letting her see all that the display case had to offer as she dangled in his grasp.

“Oh, they have chocolate chip muffins?” Nightshine’s eyes went wide as she spotted her favorite treat. “Can I have one? Pretty please? I haven’t had one in years!” She pointed at the treat with a hoof as she looked up at him.

“Of course!” Jason lowered Nightshine down to the ground. “Wait, years? How often do they take you guys outside of the orphanage?”

“Um, maybe twice a year? But it’s always for dumb stuff like old dusty art museums.”

“I... see.” Jason looked up to see the mare working the bakery waiting patiently with a smile on her face. “Hey, how’s it going?” he asked, returning her smile.

“Very well, thank you! What can I get ya?” The baker was a light-cream unicorn with a pink mane that just barely reached her shoulders. She looked rather young, though she was easily old enough to hold a job.

Jason looked down at Nightshine. “Hey, what else do you like? You can have anything you want.”

Nightshine stared at Jason in shock. “R-really?” Jason nodded. “Well... I do like chocolate chip and sugar cookies, too.”

Perfect! My favorites... Jason looked back at the mare and said, “We’ll take six of those big chocolate chip muffins, a dozen chocolate chip cookies, and a dozen sugar cookies!”

“Alrighty then! Give me a couple of minutes, and I’ll have them all ready for you! Will this order be for here or to go?” The baker turned and paused as she waited for his answer.

“Um... can we have the two dozen cookies and four of the muffins to go, please? The little one here is pretty hungry.”

“Of course! Your total is twenty-seven bits, by the way.”

“Cool...” Jason shoved his hand in his right pocket to grab the bag of bits, but stopped when he felt Nightshine tug on his pants. “What’s wrong?” he asked, noticing the look of regret on her face.

“That’s way too much money, Jason... I just, um... I just wanted a muffin.” Nightshine grimaced as she looked at his feet.

“Hey... it’s all right.” Jason kneeled down so that they could see eye-to-eye better. “I like to treat myself from time to time. Besides...” He placed a finger on the bottom of Nightshine’s chin and gently lifted her head up. “You’re worth it.”

Nightshine stared into Jason’s eyes before she closed her eyes and nuzzled into his hand. She felt the beginnings of tears form up in the corners of her eyes, but she forced herself to keep herself from breaking down. She smiled as the urge to hug him overcame her. “Th-thank you...” Nightshine had not known what to expect, but being showered in love and affection just minutes from leaving the orphanage made her heart warm, even if it was in the shape of expensive treats.

“No problem, sweetie.” Jason tousled her mane before he stood up to pay.

Nightshine shifted closer to him until only an inch separated them. He had a way of making all of her fears and shortcomings simply fade away into nothingness, a sensation she had never felt before. She felt the beginning of a bond form between them as she started to trust him, letting her drop her guard even more.

“Twenty-seven bits, right?” Jason asked as he counted the bits out.

“Yup!” The baker nodded as she pushed three boxes tied shut with a soft-pink ribbon. She took Jason’s bits and put them in the cash register, then smiled at them. “Thanks for your business! See you two next time!”

“Yea—” A train whistle cut Jason off. “Uh-oh...”

“You two getting on the last train of the day?” The baker asked. “If you go through the alley just outside and to the right, you should make it! You have about a couple minutes before they leave.” She took the two chocolate chip muffins that she hadn’t packed and put them into a separate bag.

“Thanks!” Jason tossed a couple of extra bits down to show his gratitude, grabbed the baked goods, then jogged outside, Nightshine hot on his heels.

“Are we gonna make it?” Nightshine asked with a hint of worry in her tone.

“I hope so!” Jason broke out into a run as the train station came into view around the corner. Nightshine had to gallop to keep up with him, and as the buildings flew past them, the thought to fly popped into her mind. She opened her wings to take flight, but Jason’s words from before popped into her mind, making her fold them back to her side.

The two of them hopped onto the train just as it was leaving the station. Jason collapsed into the closest seat in the nearly-empty train car and placed the boxes of goods on the empty seat in front of him. Nightshine hopped up next to him, picking the seat by the window.

“Hey, don’t we have to pay for tickets? I don’t want us to get thrown off...” Nightshine frowned as she saw the conductor punch a pony’s ticket further up the train car.

“Yeah, but we can just buy the tickets from the conductor. Don’t worry, I’ve done it before.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out his bag of bits, then when the conductor asked for their tickets, he simply handed him eight bits for the two of them.

Nightshine stared out of the window as the last few buildings of Canterlot passed them by. They went through the final wall of the city, then a vast amount of space opened up. Her eyes went wide as she stood up to get a better view. “Woah... I never knew there was so much space...”

“Well, you guys were up on the side of a mountain.” Jason reached for the bag containing the two muffins and opened it up.

“Yeah, but... I’ve never been outside Canterlot before...” Nightshine sat back and fluffed her wings, itching to go and take flight.

“Here.” Jason held out one of the muffins for Nightshine, already free of the wrapper. “So I take it you haven’t travelled much?”

Nightshine shook her head as she took the muffin from Jason’s hand. “Thanks. And no, Miss Serenity never took us out of the city. I think it was because there were just too many of us.” She bit into the muffin with gusto, making crumbs fly all over the place. It only took her a few seconds to devour the entire thing, and that was no small feat, for the muffin was bigger than her hoof. “That was so good...” she said with a satisfied sigh.

“Dang, you’re already done?” Jason hadn’t even taken the first bite out of his own muffin. He chuckled and grabbed the box of chocolate chip cookies and placed it down between them. “Here, have as many as you want!”

Nightshine ate to her heart’s content, cramming so many cookies into her mouth that both of her cheeks bulged out. After swallowing what was in her mouth, she eyed the last cookie like a predator would look at their prey. She had just devoured the first eleven without taking a moment to think about Jason. As guilt made her shrink in her seat, she guiltily offered the last cookie to Jason, holding up the box for him with an apologetic smile on her face. “Want the last one? Sorry I ate the rest...” Her ears flicked back as she waited for him to be disappointed with her.

“Nah, you can have it.” Jason propped his legs up on the seat across from him, the other box of cookies on his lap. “Thanks though.”

“Y-you sure?” Nightshine asked, unable to keep a bit of hopefulness out of her tone. She really wanted that last cookie, for they simply melted in her mouth in the best of ways.

“Of course! I bought these for you, remember?”

Nightshine smiled her thanks and set the box down, then took the last cookie. She looked at Jason, then at the cookie, then back at Jason. Then, Nightshine split the cookie in half and offered the left half to him. “Would you at least share it with me? I don’t feel good eating an entire box of cookies that you bought.”

“Yeah, sure, but only if you help me eat this sugar cookie.” Jason split a cookie of his own in half and held it out for her. They exchanged their halves and promptly ate both halves at the same time. “Woah... that’s pretty good, right?”

Nightshine nodded with a large grin on her face. “Yeah, that really was good! Too bad we don’t have anymore of those awesome chocolate chip cookies left...”

“Hm... well, we could bake some when we get back home! I love cooking, and I’d be happy to teach ya if you want.”

“Okay.” With a full tummy, Nightshine pushed the empty cookie box onto the floor. The sun was beginning to set off in the distance, and after years of being made to go to bed nearly immediately after sundown, Nightshine felt herself become sleepy. As a yawn forced itself past her lips, she curled up into a ball on her seat and laid her head on her hooves.

“Getting sleepy?” Jason rubbed her back with his hand, scratching her between her wings as she nodded. “Probably would be a good idea. We’ve got at least another three hours before we get back to Ponyville...”

Nightshine cracked her eyes open and looked up at him. “Oh, really?” As she felt Jason’s hand travel up her neck, she laid her head on his right leg and gently nuzzled his belly. She curled her forelegs up and shifted so that she could sleep on her side. Her ears occasionally flicked as she felt his fingers massage each one.

Jason smiled down at her as she shifted again, this time flicking her tail around her flank. “I can’t wait to show you your new home, Nightshine... I don’t have your new bedroom set up yet, but the first thing on the list, after getting breakfast at one of the best little restaurants in Ponyville, is to go to the furniture store. I’m gonna let you pick out whatever you want.” He heard her hum in satisfaction. “You can get a desk, as big a bed as you want... anything. And believe it or not, but I heard that you can buy a mattress made out of clouds! Wouldn’t that be awesome?”

Nightshine nodded again as she felt sleep starting to tug at her weary mind. She snuggled a bit closer to Jason, then sighed happily as she felt him rest his hand on her side, right next to her wing. The swaying of the train car mixed with Jason’s warmth lulled her into the world of dreams a few moments later, leaving her with a small smile on her face.

Dreams

A few hours later, the train slowed to a halt back at Ponyville’s train station. Jason had stayed awake throughout the ride home, always keeping an eye on his new daughter. Nightshine was still fast asleep, her head still on his lap. As the other passengers began to stand up and gather their belongings, Jason scratched Nightshine behind her left ear and wiggled his right leg, trying to rouse her. “Hey little one, time to get up...” he murmured. Nightshine groaned and simply curled up into a ball, then mumbled something inaudible.

Jason gathered the rest of the treats and tossed everything back inside of his backpack. Then, noticing that they were the last ones left in the train car, he lifted Nightshine up and held her so that her head was laying against the front of his shoulder. He cradled her in his arms as she instinctively snuggled closer to his warm body, a small smile tugging her lips upward. Jason took great care to not wake her up as he left the train car.

Leaving the dimly-lit train station behind, he felt a cool breeze welcome him back home. He took a deep breath and grinned as he felt Nightshine wiggle about in her sleep until her head was resting under his chin. Jason tightened his grasp on her, for dropping so precious a filly while they slept would be a horrible way to start their new life, especially when they trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms.

A couple of minutes passed in silence as he walked through the empty streets. He met nopony, even though it really wasn’t that late. His house came into view after passing through the market, and as he neared his front door, he stopped. “Hey...” He tickled her belly with the tip of his index finger, but she pushed it away with a light groan. “We’re home.”

Nightshine’s eyes flew open as she tensed up. Her ears flicked straight up, smacking against Jason’s jaw. “R-really?” She pulled her head out from under Jason’s and peered up at him. Nightshine twisted her head around until her gaze fell upon the building in front of them. They were standing in front of a single-story house. The front door sat near the left side. One window sat on either side of it, though it was too dark inside for her to see. More of the house lay to the right, nearly equal in size to the portion in front of them.

“Want to go inside?” Jason asked softly. When he felt her nod, he set her down as gently as he could.

Nightshine stepped up to the door, her legs trembling from nervous excitement. As she heard the sound of Jason’s keys jingling as he unlocked the door for them, she closed her eyes, fighting to hold back the tears of joy that threatened to slip down her face at any moment.

She was about to see her new home.

The door swung open a couple of seconds later. Nightshine slowly stepped inside, struggling to remember how to walk. She saw a light-green couch decorated with a pair of blue fancy-looking pillows, then saw a coffee table that held a couple of magazines. Off to the right lay a kitchen, complete with a refrigerator and a full table set. Past that was a hallway that led deeper into the house, no doubt to the bedrooms. Unable to hold herself up, Nightshine shakily sat down, wiped her eyes, then sniffled. She heard the door close behind them, then heard Jason step up to her.

“So what do you think?” he softly asked, his voice light and comforting.

Nightshine looked up at him right before her forelegs collapsed out from under her. She curled up and covered her face with her front hooves as her tears soaked into her fur. Nightshine heard Jason gasp in shock from her sudden outburst, but she couldn’t help herself. A few moments passed before she felt his soft, gentle hands caress her, then he lifted her up into his embrace. She cracked her eyes open to see him sitting down on the floor with her, his legs folded. He cradled her in his arms and rocked from side to side ever so slightly. Nightshine curled up in his arms and nuzzled him over and over before she wrapped her forelegs around his neck.

“What’s wrong, Nightshine?” he asked. His voice, though light and gentle, was full of concern. His hand came to rest on the back of her head as she pulled away from his chest, wiping her muzzle with a hoof.

“It’s just so... so... so p-perfect!” Nightshine’s ears flicked back as she buried her muzzle into his chest, just under his neck. Her forelegs curled up as her tears soaked into his shirt.

“I’m so glad you think so...” Jason said, feeling rather relieved. For a moment, he had feared that she regretted being adopted by him, but he had realized that that was a silly fear. He gave her as much time as she needed to calm down, then when her sobs faded out, he asked, “So... want to get ready for bed? You’ve had such a long day...” When Nightshine didn’t respond, he looked down to find her fast asleep. “Oh, hehe.”

Making his way through the dark house, he opened his bedroom door and walked over to the bed. Jason pulled back his sheets and placed Nightshine down in the middle, laying her head down on his favorite, softest pillow. He tucked her in, then gently tousled her mane as she rolled over onto her side. “Sweet dreams, little one...” A small part of him wanted to plant a loving goodnight kiss on her head, but he decided against it. There would be time for more affectionate displays in the future, but for now, he just wanted her to get accustomed to her new home.

Jason went over to his closet, grabbed his spare blanket, then tip-toed out of the room. He wondered if he should close the door all the way like he always did, but decided to just leave it cracked open. After walking back to the living room, he double-checked that the front door was locked, made himself comfortable on the couch, then fell asleep.

Nightshine woke up in the middle of the night. She yawned and stretched her wings, then her legs. She rolled over onto her other side and smiled as she remembered Jason adopting her. Wondering where he was, she opened her eyes and immediately tensed up.

She was back in the orphanage.

Rows and rows of bunk beds met her eyes, full of sleeping colts and fillies. Nightshine looked down at her blanket in shock, recognizing it as the one that she’d used her entire life at the orphanage. Everything smelled the same, and she even heard the familiar sound of a foal crying out of hopelessness near the other end of the room.

W-was it all just a... dream? Nightshine stood up and glided to the floor. Nopony looked up at her, for surprisingly, they were all fast asleep. “No...” she whispered as she looked around. Instead of seeing her new home, she saw the same thing that she’d seen her entire life: walls that kept her from living a life filled with joy and love. “No!” she yelled.

Nightshine darted from the sleeping quarters and ran down the hallway. She stopped in front of the door leading outside and stared at it, her bottom lip trembling. “Jason!” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “Where are you?!” Nightshine tried to open the front door, but it would not open. If I could just open it, I could fly to Ponyville and find him! Her hooves scraped against the door as she tried to open it.

“Nightshine...” she heard Serenity’s voice come from the other side of the room, but she paid her no mind. Nightshine backed up, then ran at the door as fast as she could, ramming her shoulder against it. “Ow...” she muttered. As tears streamed down her face, she took a few steps back, then ran at the door again only to be stopped by Serenity’s magic. Her magic hit her right on the chest, knocking most of the breath from her lungs. A moment passed before she was lifted into the air, floating in front of the headmistress.

After she caught her breath, Nightshine looked up to see Serenity staring down at her. “What the heck are you doing, Nightshine? And why are you up so late?!” she heard Serenity demand of her.

“I... I... was adopted!” Nightshine spat out. “Jason came and adopted me, and we were going to live in Ponyville!”

“Oh, not this again...” Serenity ran a hoof over her muzzle as she let Nightshine stand on her own. “Nightshine, you were just dreaming again!”

“Huh?” Nightshine shrunk down and bit her lip. “W-what do you mean?”

“Come on, we both know that you were just dreaming! This ‘Jason’ doesn’t exist, and—”

“Yes he does!” Nightshine stomped on the floor and glared at Serenity with narrowed eyes. “He’s a human, and... and...”

“And what, pray tell, is a human?” Serenity asked with a sneer. “Come now, let’s stop making up fantasy creatures and go back to bed, okay?” Her voice lost a bit of its edge as she nudged Nightshine’s side, guiding her back towards the sleeping quarters. “Go on, before I decide to take away your recess privileges for a month for waking me up!”

“B-but... but Jason is real, I promise! He’s tall—”

“Nightshine...”

“He stands on two le—”

“Nightshine.”

“And he has a smile that just makes you feel all happy ins—”

“That’s it, you! Detention for a month!” Serenity barked. “Now go back to bed before I make it two months!”

Nightshine stared at Serenity in shock, her mouth agape. “I... I...” Her head drooped down towards the ground. “Yes, ma’am...” Ignoring Serenity’s huff of disapproval, Nightshine closed her eyes and wept openly, trudging through the hallway. She heard Serenity’s bedroom door slam shut, surprising her just enough to trip over her forelegs.

Right before her head hit the ground, Nightshine woke up with a start. Her chest heaving up and down, her head whipped around to see not the walls of the orphanage, but an unfamiliar bedroom. She took a deep breath and immediately recognized Jason’s scent. That was... just a dream? Standing up on shaky legs, Nightshine pushed the sheets off of her and trotted to the door.

She pulled the door open, wincing as it creaked. Nightshine saw nothing but darkness, but her need to see Jason outweighed her fears of the unknown. With a shake of her mane, she stepped out of the bedroom and heard someone snoring straight ahead, further down the hallway. Her ears flicked up as she paused for a moment, then she kept going.

Jason came into view out of the darkness as she entered the living room. He was fast asleep on his side with his back to her, snoring softly. Nightshine bit her lip as she moved to sit between the coffee table and the couch. Her right hind leg thumped against the carpet as she flicked her tail back and forth. She did not want to anger him by waking him up in the middle of the night, but she so desperately wanted him to tell her that everything was going to be okay.

Nightshine laid her head on the edge of the couch and whined softly. Her bottom lip stuck out as she pouted, listening to Jason snore.

As she felt a shiver run up her back, she made up her mind. Praying that he’d forgive her if she woke him up, Nightshine moved to the far right side of the couch where his feet were and used her wings to help her get up on the couch’s arm. Eyeing the small space between the back of the couch and Jason, she froze as he rolled over onto his back. She saw him scratch his stomach with his left hand, then he placed it behind his pillow.

Seeing what might be her only opportunity, Nightshine crept forward. Her hooves sank into the couch cushions as she placed each one in front of the other. As soon as she reached his chest, his left leg pushed up against the back of the couch, cutting her off if, for some reason, she wanted to leave him be. With bated breath, Nightshine stared at Jason and bit her cheek. She pushed her side into the back of the couch, then lay down as gently as she could, hoping that she wouldn’t wake him up.

Nightshine laid her head on Jason’s chest, tucking herself into the crook of his arm. She took comfort simply from feeling his chest rise and fall with each of his breaths. A few moments passed in silence, making her think that she got away without disturbing him, but she noticed with a hint of regret that he wasn’t snoring anymore. Nightshine lifted her head from his warm chest and looked up to see a look of confusion on his face. “H-hey...” she whispered as a frown formed on her face. “I, um... I had a bad nightmare and... I just wanted to see you.” She laid her head back down on his chest, though her eyes never left his.

Jason scooted over a bit to give her a little more room. He used his left hand to rub her back, then asked, “What was it about? Everybody knows you always feel better after talking about nightmares...”

Nightshine whimpered. “It was... I woke up back in the orphanage...”

A look of realization slid onto Jason’s face. “Oh...” he murmured. “Was it really bad?”

Nightshine nodded and snuggled closer. “Miss Serenity told me that I should stop making up fantasy creatures or something like that when I told her about you adopting me.” A sole tear formed in her left eye. “Just to think, even for a second, that getting adopted was just a dream, it... it...”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay...” Jason wiped away Nightshine’s tear with his right thumb, then pulled her onto his chest. He sat up a little, pulled the blanket over her back, then wrapped his arms around her.

Nightshine smiled gratefully at him before she tucked her head back under his chin. She took a deep breath and let it out, sighing happily. “I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”

“Yeah, I can definitely get that... “ Jason chuckled. “Tell you what... After we get some breakfast tomorrow morning, we can spend as long as you want flying out in the park like I said a bit earlier, okay? And after that, we would go shopping for all sorts of stuff.”

“Like what?” Nightshine asked softly, already feeling her exhaustion pulling her back to sleep.

“Oh... ya know, furniture, sheets, toys, all that good stuff.” Jason tousled her mane. “And then there’s somepony special I want you to meet...”

A Small Setback

Nightshine woke up to Jason scratching her behind her right ear. Still on the verge of falling asleep again, she grinned as she pushed her head up into his hand. The scratches stopped, making her crack open an eye. She saw Jason yawning as he stretched with a groan. Nightshine couldn’t help but giggle as she felt his chest vibrate from the low sound. After he stopped yawning, she slid off of his chest, then wiggled up into the crook of his arm and drew her forelegs up to her chest.

“Morning, Nightshine…” Jason said, his voice low and coarse. He cleared his throat and saw that Nightshine had slipped out from under the blanket. He glanced at the clock. “Geez… it’s already ten. We should probably get up.” He started to sit up, but Nightshine laid her head on his chest and pushed him back down.

“Uh-uh... five more minutes…” Nightshine mumbled with a small grin. This was the first time that she had slept next to anybody before, and it sure beat sleeping alone in a beat-up mattress. She simply couldn’t get enough of it, and she wanted for it to last a heck of a lot longer than just five measly minutes. Maybe we’ll just fall asleep again.

I guess five more minutes can’t hurt. “Yeah, alright. We did get back pretty late last night.” Jason rolled over onto his side and let loose another yawn. As he watched Nightshine drift back off to sleep, he murmured, “It sure looks like a beautiful day to go flying, though…”

Nightshine’s ears perked up in an instant. She rolled onto her belly and gazed up at him with a cocked eyebrow. “N-now? You mean it?”

“If you want to go now, sure. I do want to take a quick shower, though.” Jason sat up and swung his legs over the side of the couch. “You want to go first? Or do you want those extra five minutes?”

Nightshine bit her lip as Jason sat up. She glanced away and flicked her tail once, the words to ask him to lay back down dancing on the tip of her tongue. After a few moments of thought, she slumped back down onto Jason’s warm pillow and cracked a smile. “I think I’ll take those extra five minutes. I mean, if that’s okay?”

“Of course it is.” Jason tousled her hair, stood up, and walked down the hallway towards the bathroom. “Oh, and when we’re done, I’m gonna take us to a nice little bakery just down the street.” He ducked inside the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

“A bakery?” Nightshine’s stomach grumbled. She pulled the blanket over her head and curled up, trying to ignore her stomach. I must have been pretty tired from the trip… home? Nightshine used a hoof to push the blanket off of her head. “Home…” she whispered to herself as she looked around the room. “This is my home…” I’ve waited too long to hear myself say those words. Nightshine felt a tear well up in her right eye, but she paid it no mind. “I can’t believe I actually have a home now...”

She heard some fillies run past outside, laughing as they went. I wonder where Sea Stride ended up… I hope he’s doing okay with his new family. Nightshine heard the shower turn on, so knowing that she’d have a few minutes to herself, she closed her eyes and flicked her tail up between her legs to hold onto. She let her mind drift away to all of the fun times that they had shared back at the orphanage. While she was ecstatic that she had been adopted, she realized that she had absolutely no friends in this new town, save for Jason. “Eh… I’ll find some friends later… I hope,” she said as she started to doze off.

Jason washed himself as quickly as he could, and as he grabbed his towel, he froze. Not only did he just have one towel, he had forgotten to bring some clean clothes into the bathroom to change into. “Darn it all…” he muttered, looking back and forth between his old T-shirt and his towel. With a roll of his eyes, he decided to dry himself off with his shirt. Once he was as dry as he could make himself, he pulled on his pants, eased open the bathroom door, and poked his head out, praying that Nightshine wasn’t looking in his direction.

When he saw the back of her head, Jason whipped open the door and darted inside his bedroom. He locked the door behind him and blew a sigh of relief, slumping against the wall. As his racing heart slowed, he went to the closet and threw on some clothes. Walking back over to his door, he made his way down the hallway and shook Nightshine’s shoulder. “Time to take your shower, Nightshine,” he said with a warm tone.

“I don’t wanna…” Nightshine yawned. “get up…”

“Not even for a fresh muffin and an open field to fly in?” Jason chuckled as he fell onto the couch next to Nightshine. He pulled the blanket off of her and tickled her belly.

Nightshine’s eyes flew wide open as a surprised squeak left her lips. She tried to roll onto her stomach to escape Jason’s ticklish fingers, but she only succeeded in letting him tickle her just under her left foreleg. Doing the only thing she could think of, she flapped her wings and ended up rapping Jason on the arm.

“Ow!” Jason recoiled and rubbed his stinging arm, his eyebrows furrowing as he sat back. As the pain started to fade away, he glanced over at Nightshine and saw her on the verge of crying.

“I-I didn’t m-mean it...” Nightshine choked out, her eyes wide with fear. She slinked up to him and settled down on his lap, then nuzzled him where she’d hit him. “I’m really so-sorry, Jason!” Please don’t send me back to the orphanage...

“Hey... it’s alright. It was just an accident.” Nightshine nodded vehemently. “There’s no reason to get upset,” Jason said. He held up his arm and turned it so she could see where she had hit him. “See? No mark at all!” He grinned and rubbed her back. “Sorry for that surprise tickle attack. My mom always did that to me when I didn’t get up in time for school when I was younger, so... yeah. I guess I’m not too good at being a parent, eh?”

“No!” Nightshine shook her head from side to side. “It’s not that at all! I was just, um... surprised is all. You sure you’re okay?” she asked, her bottom lip quivering.

“Yeah, I’m good. Come on, now, the sooner you take a shower, the sooner we can get your bedroom set up!” Jason wrapped his arms around Nightshine and walked her over to the bathroom. The last remaining wisps of steam drifted out from the door as he set her down. “I only have one towel, so... we’ll have to buy you one when we go shopping today.”

“Okay!” Nightshine trotted inside the bathroom with Jason right behind her.

Stepping past her, Jason reached into the tub and turned on the water. “You like it warm or cold?”

“Hot!” Nightshine chirped with a hop. “Really hot!”

Jason chuckled at that. “Alright then.” He turned the water on and waited several moments as it got to a good temperature. He held his fingers underneath the stream and waited till it got to the temperature he usually used. “This good?’

Nightshine tentatively stuck a hoof under the stream and jumped inside the tub. “Perfect! Thanks.”

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll just be outside if you need me.”

“Okay!”

Nightshine hopped from side to side as she watched Jason lock the door to their home. “How far away is the park?”

“It’s really not that far away.” Jason turned and nodded down the road leading out of Ponyville. “Just follow me, okay?”

“Got it!” Nightshine trotted beside Jason as they made their way out of Ponyville. She noticed some ponies stopping in their tracks to look at her, but she ignored them, her thoughts focused solely on what they were going to do. Soon enough, the buildings gave way to dense thickets of trees, then a large field opened up just a little ways further down the road. With a wide grin, Nightshine galloped away towards the middle of the field and spread her wings wide, the sun’s rays soaking and warming her leathery wings. She closed her eyes and smiled as she felt the wind run under her wings. To be as free as a bird was exhilarating, and now that she was allowed to fly whenever she wanted to, she’d be able to soar with the birds that flew with a grace she could only dream of.

Opening her eyes, Nightshine flapped her wings and ran as fast as she could, trying to get enough lift. Her front legs lifted off of the ground for a few feet, then dropped back down. She skidded to a halt in the middle of the open field, her head held low as she fought to catch her breath.

Jason caught up to her several moments later. “Dang, you can run pretty fast!” he said, panting slightly.

“Y-yeah...” Nightshine murmured, her wings clamping back to her sides. She tensed up as her confidence and excitement left her as barren as a drop of water in the desert. Her fears had been proven: the years of not being allowed to fly to her heart’s content had left her with a gift she could not use. Her tail swept down between her hind legs as they began to quiver. Nightshine closed her eyes and took a slow, shuddering breath, then bit her lower lip as she waited for her racing heart to slow down.

Jason frowned after several seconds passed in silence. “You alright?”

“Y-yeah,” Nightshine said, throwing on a fake smile as she sheepishly looked up at Jason. “I just...” She sat down, glanced away, and mindlessly ran her hoof through the dirt.

Jason sat down next to Nightshine and propped himself up with his arms. “So whatcha waiting for? I thought you said you couldn’t wait to get out to fly! You looked like you were about to take off like an airplane for a second there.”

Nightshine cocked her head to the side. “What’s an airplane?”

Jason sat up and brushed the dirt from his hands. “Well... in short, it’s a big machine that lets us humans fly. It’s kinda like the trains here, but it has wings and goes a lot faster. That make sense?”

“You have trains that can fly?” Nightshine asked, hiding her grin with a hoof. “That sounds silly!”

Jason chuckled and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t explain it that well, huh?” Nightshine nodded. “So now that we’re here, why don’t you show me what you got?”

Nightshine’s smile faltered at that. “Um... can we maybe come back some other time? I, er... you know...” She flicked her tail around her flank and held onto it, looking anywhere but Jason.

“No, I don’t know. What’s wrong? Stage fright?”

Such an easy excuse... Should I take it? He said I could tell him anything, though! But would he... understand that I can’t fly? Nightshine rubbed her left foreleg with a hoof as she flicked her eyes up to meet Jason’s. “N-no, it’s...”

“What?”

Nightshine took another shuddering breath. “I don’t think I can fly,” she said, her voice so soft she barely heard herself say it.

Jason scooted closer. “Um, sorry. I didn’t catch that.”

Many moments passed in silence, then she felt Jason scratch her ears for a brief second. She smiled at that small sign of affection, giving her just enough strength to say, “I can’t fly. I never could.” She looked up at Jason and smiled wistfully. “Remember how pegasi aren’t allowed to fly at the orphanage? Yeah, well... I was so afraid of getting in trouble that I never really practiced any.”

“Oh...” Jason’s smile faded. “So nopony ever taught you how to fly?” Nightshine shook her head. “Huh... Why didn’t you say so?”

Nightshine laid her head on Jason’s legs and shrugged. “I just thought I’d be able to fly like I had dreamed about for so long. I mean, I can glide and stuff, but that’s about it...”

“So it just sounds like you need to get stronger, then, right? My dad told me if I wanted to have big muscles like him, I’d have to work at it nearly every single day for the rest of my life. I worked out a ton for one summer, and my arms got pretty thick. I loved the way I looked, and... I stopped working out. Over time, I went right back to square one because I was just being lazy. Now... hey! I have an idea!”

Nightshine lifted her head from Jason’s leg and gazed up at him with a hopeful look upon her face. “What is it?” Her tail swished back and forth in the dirt behind her.

“What if we work out together? I’d love to get strong again, and I think it’d be great if you could build up some wing strength. We can keep each other on track, too, so when one of us feels like quitting, the other can steer them back on course. So whatcha think? Deal?” He held out his fist for Nightshine to bump. It might be a good idea to get her a check-up at the doctor soon.

Nightshine gazed at his outstretched arm, then bumped his fist with her hoof. “Deal!”

First Steps

Brushing some stray hairs of Nightshine’s face, Jason took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m sorry that you never got to learn how to fly...” He tousled her mane, then scratched her underneath her chin.

“It’s okay, I guess.” Nightshine laid her head back on Jason’s thigh. A cool breeze made her shiver, so she pressed herself up against his warm leg. She closed her eyes as she listened to the birds chirp as they flew overhead, and in her mind’s eye, she imagined herself soaring through the skies. Nightshine couldn’t help but let off a happy hum.

Hearing Jason clear his throat, she cracked an eye open and saw him looking at her with a soft smile on his face. “What?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow in question. Nightshine felt her cheeks warm as he chuckled.

“Nothin’. I was just thinking that you look cute taking a nap on my leg.” Jason felt his stomach grumble. “So listen... I know how much flying means to you. It’s a part of who you are, so why don’t I help you glide for a bit?” He gestured at the many trees around them. “I can help you up on one of these if you want!”

Nightshine’s eyes lit up at that. “You’d do that for me?” Her ears went straight up as her tail started flicking back and forth.

“Sure!” Jason stood up and lifted Nightshine, holding her under her forelegs. “I can even run below you in case you fall.”

Nightshine squeed, her hind legs wiggling as Jason walked her over to the closest tree. He held her up as high as he could, letting her climb onto the lowest branch. She brushed aside a few leafy branches and climbed up several feet until she found a perfect perch. “You ready down there?” she squeaked out, her legs trembling.

“Yeah, go for it!” Jason said.

“O-okay!” Nightshine spread her wings wide, took a deep breath, and when she was just about to throw herself off of the branch, she heard several chirps from below her. Looking down, she spotted a nest a foot below her as she folded her wings. “Aww... there’s a nest of baby birds up here, Jason!” She sat down on the branch and lowered her head to get a better look. “They’re so cute!” Hearing a screech come from above, her eyebrows furrowed in worry as she looked up, a bird flying at her full speed. It pecked her back, hitting her with its wings as it poked her over and over. “Ah! Stop that!”

Nightshine stood up and spread her wings again, then leapt off of the branch to get away from the angry bird. Wanting to escape its wrath, Nightshine flapped her wings as hard as she could, but found herself falling instead of flying. Her eyes going wide in fear, she plummeted like a rock.

“Don’t worry, I gotcha!” Jason yelled, holding out his arms. He stepped to the side and caught Nightshine, her wing clipping his shoulder. Jason winced as it stung. “You okay?”

“Stupid bird...” Nightshine muttered before she smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t know why it attacked me, though. I wasn’t gonna hurt its babies, I swear!”

Jason eyed the bird as it hopped from branch to branch, squawking all the while. “Well, it doesn’t know that. It saw you as a threat to its babies, so it defended them. It still looks pretty angry, so we should leave it be.” He turned around and started walking back towards the road.

“Oh... I guess that makes sense,” Nightshine said. She climbed up Jason and wrapped her forelegs over his right shoulder, then as she folded her wings, she looked at the bird and blew a raspberry.

“So tell ya what... Since you didn’t get to glide from the tree, why don’t you do it from my shoulders on the way back? I’ll get us a good running start, and when I get going fast enough, just spread your wings and jump. I’ll be beneath you the whole time.”

“Okay!” Nightshine gingerly climbed up onto Jason’s shoulders, then sat down. She felt Jason hold onto her hind legs as she propped her head up on his. “Still kinda wanted to do it from the tree, though.”

“Heh, I bet. Too bad we picked the wrong one,” Jason said with a chuckle. “We’ll just have to buy you an extra muffin.”

“Awesome.” Nightshine nuzzled Jason’s head.

As they made it onto the road, Jason stopped. “You ready up there?” he asked, letting go of Nightshine’s legs.

Nightshine stood up as best she could, leaned forward, then spread her wings. As she felt her heart speed up, she nodded. “Yep! Full speed ahead!”

“You got it!” Jason started jogging, then broke into a mad dash.

When she felt the wind underneath her wings, Nightshine jumped up, gliding for just a few brief moments before she fell back onto Jason’s head. “Hehe, that was fun!” she said as he slowed down.

“Wanna do it again?”

“Do you really have to ask?” Nightshine asked with a giggle. After opening her wings again, she tapped Jason’s shoulder. “Come on already, let’s go!”

“You got it!” Jason took a deep breath, then took off running down the path. “This time... fold your legs... when you jump! It’ll... make you... more aerodynamic!” Eyeing the hill in front of him, he yelled, “Wait till we get to the top, then go!”

Nightshine nodded, then placed her forelegs on Jason’s head as she stood up. As they reached the top of the hill, she leaned forward then jumped up and folded her legs. Clenching her eyes shut, several seconds passed as she soared through the air. Nightshine cracked an eye open and peered down. Jason was a good ten feet below her and was easily keeping pace with her. A wide smile broke out on her face as she opened her other eye. As her airspeed began to drop, her eyes went wide in fear. Part of her mind screamed at her to start flapping so that she wouldn’t fall again, but she forced herself to keep her wings level.

Nightshine lowered her head, her speed increasing as she sped towards the ground. Noticing that she was going to hit the ground several yards in front of Jason, she lifted her head and leveled out. She saw Jason speed up to keep pace with her, then when he was a few feet in front of her, she angled down again. Her wing joints were starting to feel sore, making her struggle to keep her wings spread. Nightshine smiled as an idea popped into her mind. Instead of landing on the ground, Nightshine glided just behind him, and when she felt herself start to lose speed, she wrapped her forelegs around Jason’s neck and folded her wings. As her body fell from the air, she wrapped her hind legs around his stomach and held onto him as tightly as she could.

Jason looked over his shoulder. “Have fun up there?”

“You have no idea,” Nightshine said with a squee. She nuzzled Jason’s neck, then let go, falling to her hooves. “Thank you so much for that. It... it means a lot that you would do that for me.” Nightshine smiled and nuzzled Jason’s leg as he scratched her behind the ears, just how she liked.

“No problem, sweetie... Now how about we go get some breakfast?”

Jason held open the door to Quills and Sofas, letting Nightshine trot inside. “Hey Jason? Why is this place called Quills and Sofas if they sell more than just quills and sofas?” She looked up at Jason as the door shut behind them.

“Well, you can’t expect every store to list all of their goods in their title, silly.” Jason looked around the store, wondering how he was going to get what they needed back home. “So...” Somepony opened the door behind him, so he and Nightshine stepped aside. He knelt down and smiled. “I was thinking that we get the furniture first. I can’t imagine that the couch was comfy, so we should get you a bed first.”

“It was comfy enough with you there,” Nightshine said with a grin. “You were so warm that I had to keep pushing the blanket off in the middle of the night!” She followed Jason down the first aisle to the right.

“Hehe, that was me. Whenever I woke up last night, I saw that you weren’t covered by the blanket anymore, so I made sure to tuck it back in. I didn’t know that you were trying to keep it off,” Jason said with a grin and a shake of his head.

“It’s okay. Hey, how about this bed?” She clambered up onto the first bed she saw and hopped up and down, the springy mattress becoming an impromptu trampoline.

“Hey, don’t do that!” Jason said. “I don’t mind you doing that, but let’s at least buy the bed before we jump all over it. How would you feel if somepony came and started jumping on your bed?”

“I’d join them!” Nightshine said with a giggle, but when Jason’s smile faded away, she smiled apologetically and sat down on the bed. “S-sorry, Jason. I’m just so super duper excited to get stuff of my own!”

“I can tell,” Jason waved for Nightshine to get off the bed. “Anyways, that one’s too small. I think we should get you one that’ll last a while, so it has to be pretty big. What if I wanted to read you a bedtime story, hm? I wouldn’t be able to lay next to you at all! One of us would either have to sit on top of the other, or one of us would have to be sitting on the edge of the bed, about to slip off. I’ve already thought of a few good books that I can read to you, too!”

Nightshine’s legs trembled. A sole tear formed in her left eye. “Why are you being... so nice to me?” Nightshine squeaked out, her ears laying flat on her head. She flicked her tail around her flank and latched onto it as she stared up at Jason.

“Because we’re family now.” Jason knelt down and wiped the tear out of Nightshine’s eye, then scratched her chin. “Come on, now, let’s get you some nice stuff.” Standing back up, he walked a few beds down and asked, “What about this one? It’s got enough room for you to grow into, and it’s not too tall for you to climb onto.”

Nightshine climbed up the white wood frame at the foot of the bed and curled up. She sunk so low into the mattress that she didn’t even have to lay her head on a hoof. “Woah... what is this?”

“That right there is one of the best cloud mattresses we got in stock!” the store owner said as he stepped up to them. “The name’s Davenport! And you two are...?”

“I’m Jason, and this is my daughter, Nightshine.” He heard her hum in content from the bed. “We’re here to buy an entire bedroom set of furniture, if you have it.”

“Hm...” Davenport scratched his chin as he looked around his store. “So what are you two looking for?”

Jason cleared his throat and motioned at the bed that Nightshine was laying on. “Well, we need a bed and a bed frame, sheets for the bed, and a matching nightstand, desk, and dresser. There any chance that you could offer us any sort of discount? I’d like to buy all that I mentioned if you have it, and I would need it delivered to my house.”

“Sure, we can work something out.” Davenport stepped up to Jason and nodded deeper in the store. “Just follow me and I’ll show you the rest of the set.”

“Great! Oh, hold on a sec... Hey, Nightshine?” Jason asked, watching as Nightshine lifted her head from the mattress, her ears flicking up. “Feel free to chill out for a bit. This might take a while.”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Jason sat up and said, “Hand me that yellow screwdriver, Nightshine.” Jason pointed at his tool belt that lay out of his reach. Next time I order furniture, I’m so gonna make sure it’s pre-built...

He and Nightshine had spent the past several hours putting together her new dresser and desk. Thankfully, the nightstand came in one piece, but it was pretty darn heavy. The desk was the hardest to put together, so they had tackled that one first. Nightshine had organized all of the screws, holding out the ones he needed, making the process go faster than he had thought.

The sun was already beginning to set, its light quickly fading from Nightshine’s room. “This one?” Nightshine asked, her hoof resting on a screwdriver.

“Yep, that’s the one! Bring over the last set of screws, too, and then we can finally finish everything up!” Jason held out his hand.

“Cool!” Nightshine grinned, picked up the screwdriver in her mouth, and brought it to Jason. She spat it out into his hand and looked around for the screws. “Um... where’d they go? I thought there were right next to you.”

“Huh?” Jason looked behind him and saw the set of screws he needed. “Oh, hehe, I think I just misplaced them.” He snatched them up and tore the little bag apart, then dumped the screws into his hand. He got back on his hands and knees, held up the last part of the bed frame to the headboard, then screwed them together. “And there we go!” Standing up, he stretched then walked across the room to where the cloud mattress sat propped up against the wall. “Want to help me put it on the frame, Nightshine? It shouldn’t be that heavy.”

Nightshine nodded, then trotted up to him. She placed her front left hoof on one side while Jason got the other. “Ready?” she asked. “On three! One... two... three!” Jason tipped the mattress over onto her hoof. Nightshine winced as she prepared herself for a lot of weight, but she opened her eyes when she just felt the sheets upon her hoof. “Huh?”

“I told you it wasn’t going to be that heavy.” Jason stepped back and placed his hands on his hips. “You’re holding up the entire mattress!”

“Woah...” Nightshine hefted her bed with her hoof. It floated into the air and sat there a couple of feet above the ground. Her rump wiggling about in excitement, she flapped her wings once and jumped, landing on top of the mattress. It floated towards the bed and bounced off of the wall before Jason stopped it with his legs.

“Having fun?” he asked as he secured it to the bed frame.

“So soft...” Nightshine mumbled as she rolled onto her back. Jason didn’t respond, instead choosing to throw the sheets on top of her. She wiggled her way out until her head popped out, a wide smile threatening to split her face in half. “What’re we gonna do for dinner? I’m getting a little hungry.” She rolled over onto her stomach.

“Well, now that everything’s done, I figured that I can let you in on a little secret, a rare delicacy from where I came from.” Jason picked her up and set her on the floor beside him. “Come on, we can make it together, but you gotta promise to not tell anybody about it!”

“What is it?” Nightshine asked, peering up at Jason as they walked to the kitchen. “And I promise!”

“A cheese pizza!” Jason said as he pulled open the refrigerator.

“Huh?” Nightshine lifted a hoof and cocked her head to the side. “But we already have pizza here!”

“Yeah, I know, but this recipe is special! It’s loaded with so much cheese that my Mom...”

Nightshine noticed something was wrong almost immediately. “Jason?” she asked, her voice soft. Nightshine stepped around in front of him and stood up on her hind legs, her front hooves resting on his waist. Peering up at his face, she saw him try to wipe away tears. Her ears flicked back as her smile vanished. “Wanna sit down and talk?” She gingerly returned to all four hooves. Jason didn’t respond, but he sat down and pressed his back up against the cabinets, his eyes closed.

Nightshine clambered up onto his lap and propped herself up against his chest, her head laying underneath his chin. She smiled, then purred and nuzzled his neck. Jason wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

A couple of minutes passed in silence before he spoke. “Sorry about breaking down, Nightshine... It’s just, well...”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” Nightshine pushed herself up and slid off of his lap. “Wanna just make the pizza instead?”

“She died when I was sixteen,” Jason blurted out. “We were in an accident with a drunk driver. Some guy in a truck ran a red light and slammed into my Mom’s side, killing her instantly. I was in the hospital for a few days, always hoping my Mom would just walk through the door and tell me that everything would be okay, but... she never did.” He looked off to the side and ran a hand through his hair before sighing, his breaths stuttering.

“Hey... I don’t even know my parents, so...” Nightshine lay down and laid her forelegs over Jason’s leg. She paused for a few moments, and after her ears flicked to lay flat on her head, she murmured, “I’ve always been by myself. Nopony’s ever looked out for me, or did nice things for me. I never thought that I would get adopted, but then you came.” She poked Jason’s leg with a hoof, making him look at her. A small grin slid on her face. “When I first saw you, I had a feeling that you wouldn’t just pass over me without a second thought, and...” She blinked as she felt tears well up in her eyes. “And when you came back and told me that you wanted to give me a home?” Tears dripped down her face.

Jason reached out to her and stroked her cheek, wiping away her tears. “I know...” he whispered.

“You gave me a home. You gave me my own bedroom, and more love in the past couple of days that I’ve had in my entire life. You took me away from that awful place, and you made me feel like I actually mean something.” Nightshine climbed back up onto his lap and threw her forelegs around Jason’s neck, nuzzling him all the while. “I love you so much, Jason...”

“I love you too, Nightshine...” Jason croaked out.

“I know it’s only been a couple of days, but... is it okay if I start calling you Dad? I’ve never used that word before, and... I think you’ve earned it,” she said with a sheepish smile, her cheeks flushing a deep, rosy pink.

“Of c-course it is, sweetie.” Jason smiled and rubbed her back. “Of course it is...”

Nightshine squeed, though she took care to keep her voice soft. Pulling back, she said, “You know, even though Miss Serenity was pretty harsh on us, she did teach us a few good lessons.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

“Remember the good times, and don’t reflect on the bad ones,” Nightshine recited from memory. “It helped me get through living at the orphanage, and, you know... Just remember all the fun times you had with your mom. Thinking about the bad things only makes you feel depressed, and trust me, I know from first-hoof experience.” She stood up and started hopping in place. “So how about we make that awesome pizza your Mom used to make, Dad? Wouldn’t she like that?”

Jason chuckled. “Yeah, Nightshine... That she would.”

“...and then Daring Do swung from tree to tree, slowly but surely leaving her pursuers in her dust. Once she was certain that she was in the clear, she took flight, the emerald tucked safely in her saddlebag, safe from the claws of the enemy. Though just before she was able to clear the canopy, a rope came out of nowhere and wrapped around her right wing, throwing her off balance. With a cry of shock, Daring Do plummeted to the ground,” Jason read from the book. “And that’s the end of chapter two! I think this is a good place to wrap things up for the night,” he said with a yawn. “Dang, you sure do have a comfy bed! Totally comfier than mine...”

“Oh, come on! Can’t you read me just one more chapter?” Nightshine asked as she pouted, her bottom lip sticking out.

“For you? Sure, I’ll read one more chapter, but I want to rest my eyes first. We have had a long day, after all.” Jason stretched himself out on the bed, keeping his finger inside the book to mark their place. He let loose a big yawn as he laid his head down on Nightshine’s pillow. “Man, you even got a better pillow than me! Lucky...”

“Good thing it’s big enough for the both of us... right, Dad?” Nightshine rolled over onto her side.

“That’s right, sweetie.” Jason closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I’m just gonna close my eyes for a few minutes, and then I’ll read you just one more chapter, okay?”

“Okay,” Nightshine murmured. Nearly a minute passed before she heard Jason start to snore. “Jason?” She prodded him with a hoof. “Jason? Did you really fall asleep?” When he didn’t respond, she rolled her eyes and giggled. “Hehe, when he wakes up tomorrow, I’ll just have to make him read me the next three chapters!” she whispered to herself.

After flicking off the lights with the tip of her wing, she wiggled underneath Jason’s arm. Then, before she knew what was happening, he rolled over in his sleep onto his side and pulled her up against his chest. Nightshine hummed happily as she snuggled up with him, and as she felt sleep start to tug at her weary mind, she whispered, “Thank you, Dad...”

Becoming Closer

Jason woke up in the middle of the night, his neck stiff. Nightshine was nestled safely in his arms, sleeping contentedly with her head resting on his arm. I should get back to my own bed and let her sleep on her own... Heh, it’s a wonder that I haven’t woken her up with my snoring... He rolled over onto his back and sat up, gently moving Nightshine’s head from his arm to the pillow. The moon’s light pierced through the thin curtains, lighting up the floor in a faint silver glow. Jason pulled the sheets off of him, making sure that they never left Nightshine’s body as he crawled over to the foot of the bed.

He grimaced as his feet touched the cold floor. What warmth they held dissipated in mere moments, making him want to get to the warmth of his own bed. Walking up to the door, he looked over his shoulder and watched as Nightshine rolled over in her sleep, her forelegs reaching out, searching for something that wasn’t there. He licked his lips as the seconds dragged on, knowing that she was searching for him. His feet growing colder with each second, he tip-toed up to the bed and scratched Nightshine behind the ear. Her right hind leg twitched and a content smile grew on her face as her forelegs stilled.

Jason withdrew his hand and walked back to the door. Nightshine rolled over again, this time facing him. Her smile was gone, and her ears were laying flat on her head. Wanting to make sure that Nightshine slept well, Jason started to pull the door shut, but a particularly loud squeak from one of the door’s hinges made him wince. He cracked open an eye to find Nightshine rubbing her eyes. Staring through the crack between the door and the door frame, he watched her roll over, reaching around the empty bed as she tried to find him.

“Jason?” she meekly asked as she looked around, her voice soft and timid. “Where are you?”

Jason froze, unsure of what to do.

“D-Daddy?”

Okay... I can’t take the cuteness anymore... Jason pushed the door back open and took a step inside, his hand still resting on the doorknob. “Hey, sweetie... everything okay?”

Nightshine’s shoulders drooped a little as her head whipped around. She bit her bottom lip and stared up at him, the sheets covering her hind legs. “Why’d you leave? I thought you liked snuggles with me...” She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out.

Jason chuckled as he stepped back up to the bed. He sat down beside Nightshine, who clambered up onto his lap, nuzzling into his neck. “Please don’t go... I’ve spent so much time alone that not being next to you... it’s... it’s just scary. I don’t like being alone.”

“Shhh... it’s okay, Nightshine, I’m not going anywhere...” Jason stroked Nightshine’s mane while he used his other hand to hold her against his chest. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, honestly. I didn’t mean to fall asleep in your bed, and I was planning on going back to my own after I finished reading to you. That’s what I was in the middle of doing, but I forgot that your door has some pretty squeaky hinges.”

“So... you do like snuggling with me?” Nightshine asked hopefully.

“Of course I do. But I don’t think we can do it every single night.” Jason felt Nightshine tense up in his arms.

“W-why not?” Nightshine stammered out.

“Well, I didn’t buy you all of this nice furniture just to have you snuggling with me in my bed!” Jason said with a short laugh. “It did cost me a good amount of bits, after all.”

Nightshine looked up at him. “But what if we snuggled in my bed? It’s so big that both of us could totally fit on it!” A wide grin broke out on her face. “Isn’t that why you bought such a big one?”

“Actually...” Jason scratched the back of his neck. “I bought it so that you could grow into it. It’s just another way of showing that I want you to stick around, ya know?” He scratched her behind the ear, letting a grin slip on his face when he saw her smile.

“I guess, but... I’ll stay only on one condition!” Nightshine giggled, sitting down on Jason’s lap.

“Oh? And what might that be?” Jason asked with a lifted eyebrow. “A lifetime supply of sugar cookies?”

“Nuh-uh!” She placed her forelegs on Jason’s chest and pushed him down onto her bed. Before he could sit back up, she curled up into a ball on his chest, then said, “I just wanna snuggle tonight. Hm...” When she was sure that he wasn’t getting back up, she stretched out and wrapped her wings around him, just under his shoulders. “See how comfy this is, Dad?” She felt him run a hand through her mane again, prompting her to relax. “You know, I always fantasized about sleeping under my future mom or dad’s wing. I used to tuck a pillow behind my back, then pull the sheets over me to fake it. That’s what helped me fall asleep most nights...”

“Huh... really?” Jason felt his chest warm, much faster than a blanket would have done. “Oh, I think I see what you mean, but I think I’m a little tall for this.” He scooted back until his head was touching the pillow. “Hey, if you let me get up, I have an idea I think we’ll both like.”

Nightshine’s ears perked up at that. She lifted her head and stared at him for a few moments, then slid off of his chest, falling onto her side. After folding her wings, she watched Jason sit up, then walk out of the room. She heard him fumble about somewhere in his bedroom, and when he came back, he was wearing a loose-fitting gray sweater. She sat up, placing her forelegs between her hind legs and scooted over for him. He settled down on his back, then held up the bottom of his sweater. With a smile, he said, “Here, try this. My mother used to do this with me when I was about your size, so I think it’ll work out fine.”

“You.. want me to get under your sweater?” Nightshine asked, her head cocked to the side. “But won’t you get hot underneath the covers wearing all of your clothes?”

“Nah, this sweater will keep me warm.” Jason motioned for Nightshine to come in. “I won’t have to use the blankets wearing this.”

Nightshine tentatively stepped onto his chest, then settled down onto her belly. She scooted herself up, the soft fibers of the sweater pushing her ears back. Her head popped out just under Jason’s neck, so she nuzzled into it as she felt herself warm up. “Wow...” she murmured, wrapping her forelegs over Jason’s shoulders. “I think this is better than getting a wing-hug.”

“Heh, is that what it’s called?” Jason pulled the rest of Nightshine’s mane out from under the sweater for her, then wrapped his arms around her back. He slowly rolled over onto his side, letting Nightshine pull her forelegs back under the sweater. “I know my sweater is gonna get stretched out from this, but hey, it’s old, and I couldn’t think of a better use for it.”

“I...” Nightshine yawned, then licked her lips. “I think so too...”

“Glad ya think so...” Jason whispered. “Oh, and first thing tomorrow, we’re gonna start working out. We’re gonna get you so strong that you’re gonna be able to fly for days...” He felt Nightshine kiss the bottom of his chin.

“Too bad you can’t fly with me... I’d love to fly with you.”

Jason sighed, then relaxed as he fluffed the pillow. “Me too, sweetie... me too.”

The Brewing Storm

As a skein of geese flew overhead, squawking like geese usually do, Jason wiped his brow as he watched Nightshine finish up another set of wing-ups. He was sitting with his back up against the only tree in his yard, his chest heaving up and down. Nightshine was sweating just as much, if not more than him, but he knew that her desire to fly was making her push herself harder than she’d ever done so before. The morning sun shined down upon them, bleeding through the leaves of the tree that they were working out under. Jason’s stomach was sore from doing so many sit-ups and his arms burned from the sheer amount of push-ups he’d done along with his daughter.

Nightshine strained as she lowered herself back down, her wings trembling from over-exertion. Jason had asked her to take a break thirteen wing-ups ago, but she still had a lot of energy left in her to keep going. Part of her wanted to use her legs to push her back up for this last one, but her innate need to impress Jason pushed that thought right out of her mind. The joints of her wings screamed as she pushed herself back up, inch by inch, until she was all the way back up. As soon as she reached that point, she let her legs support her weight, letting her fold her trembling wings back to her side.

With a satisfied smile, she walked over to Jason and collapsed upon his lap with a happy sigh. “See? I told you I... I could do more!” she panted

“You sure did, sweetie...” Jason held up a glass of water for her and let her chug the entire thing down. She panted a little softer now, a little bit of water slipping down her cheek. Jason wiped it away with his thumb, then as he sat back, Nightshine laid down on his chest, sprawling out on him like he was her soft bed. He ran his fingers through her mane, smiling as she hummed in content.

As he listened to the leaves rustling in the tree above, Jason scratched Nightshine’s lower back, then rubbed her back as he asked, “So... what was it like being an orphan?” Nightshine stopped humming abruptly, tensing up in his grasp. He saw her ears droop as she laid her head on his chest.

After she let out a deep breath, she stayed silent for several moments, then said, “It wasn’t fun. I feel like I had to grow up a lot faster than everypony else because I lived in an orphanage. So many couples looking to start a family passed over me, making me think that I’d never be adopted. But then you came...” Nightshine planted a tiny kiss on his chin, then laid her head back down as his fingers ran through her mane. “I had a friend, a filly a couple of years younger than me, who was almost adopted. I remember her being so happy, and even though I was happy for her, I was still really, really jealous.”

“That’s pretty mature of you to realize that, especially given your age...” Jason said softly.

“I guess... But you know what happened? The inspector found something out about the couple that was going to adopt her in the final inspection stage, which made it not possible for them to adopt her. She was... different after that. She stopped eating, stopped playing with me, and after a while, she’d lost so much weight that the headmistress had to take her to the hospital. I wanted to go with her just so that she wouldn’t have to be alone, but the headmistress would not let me go. She came back a week later, and a couple of months later, a new couple came around. The headmistress told me that they were trying to choose between me and her, so even though I really wanted to be adopted, I felt like she deserved it more. I acted like a brat the next time I saw the couple, knowing that I could be giving up my only chance, and... she was adopted.” She felt Jason kiss the top of her head.

As he wrapped his arms around her, Jason whispered, “That was very sweet of you.”

“Yeah, I know, but... I still cried myself to sleep that night,” Nightshine murmured. She fluffed her wings and wrapped her forelegs around his neck, ignoring the smell of his sweat as she nuzzled the side of his neck. “You made me the happiest filly in all of the land when you adopted me... I hope you know that.”

“Oh, I do, little one. Anyways...” Jason chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “By waiting, you ended up with a better choice: me! Right?”

Nightshine let a wide grin slide onto her face as she pulled back, folding her forelegs under her chest. “Right!” She rolled onto her back and slid back down into his lap, letting her head rest just beneath his chin. Nightshine closed her eyes as the breeze ran through her mane, cooling her off from the warmth of the sun. She hummed happily as she felt him wrap his arms around her belly.

After a couple of minutes of silence, Jason looked up, eyeing the only branch thick enough to support their weight. “Hey, Nightshine?”

“Yeah?” Nightshine lifted her head from his chest and looked up at him.

“You know, since you’re a bat pony and all, does your species ever hang upside down?” Jason asked, massaging the area where her wings met her body.

“Huh? Why would I do that?” Nightshine asked with a light giggle. She cocked her head to the side as she peered up at him with a cocked eyebrow.

“Well, where I’m from, regular bats hang upside down to sleep. And seeing that you’re a pony, I sorta figured that you’d sleep like any other pony. So after seeing that you sleep in a bed, I’m a little curious as to if you ever hang upside down.”

“Oh. Um... I dunno!” Nightshine shrugged. “I guess I never thought about it. Why do bats sleep upside down, anyways? That seems like a silly way to sleep if you ask me! You wouldn’t be able to snuggle or use your favorite pillow!”

“Well, from what I remember from elementary school, they sleep upside down to avoid predators. They weigh so much that they can’t just start flying just like pegasi, and...”

“Hey, are you calling me fat?” Nightshine asked with a pout. She tried to hold a straight face, but a small giggle slipped past her lips.

“Heh, nah, I’m not. You see, these bats hang upside down so that when they want to fly, they just let go and fall, and that gives them the speed they need to give them lift. They also sleep in hard to reach places, too, so that their natural predators won’t be able to find them.” Jason looked up at the branch again. “So yeah! Wanna give it a shot?”

“Sleeping upside down?” Nightshine looked up at the branch he was staring at. “But we just woke up, silly!”

Jason tousled Nightshine’s mane. “I know, sweetie, I was talking about just the hanging upside down part. I’m still waking up, after all, and I haven’t even had my cup of coffee yet!”

“Coffee... that’s what the headmistress used to drink all day! She said it was just for older ponies like her, and she wouldn’t let me and my friends have any. Can I try some? I wanna see if I like it or not!”

“Sure, I can give you a little when I make some later! Too much and it’d give you a tummy-ache, though.” Jason motioned for Nightshine to get up, and after she slid off of him, he stood up, wondering what would be the easiest way to climb up. He noticed that the tree’s base didn’t have any footholds, so he did the next best thing.

He jumped up and was just able to grab onto the branch. Jason hung there, his arms feeling like they were about to snap off when he felt Nightshine wrap her legs around his feet. He chuckled as he felt her climb up him, and as she stood on his head, he groaned as he lifted himself up, letting her clamber up onto the branch. With his chin resting on the branch, he saw Nightshine bite down on the back of his sweaty shirt, pulling with all of her might, giving him just enough help to let him swing a leg up onto the branch.

Jason panted, sitting next to his daughter. They were high enough to see over the top of their fence, though it was just a view of his next-door neighbor’s backyard and the surrounding buildings. After he caught his breath, he asked, “So uh... I guess I didn’t really think this through, but... how would a pony hang upside down? With the way your legs are, I don’t really see a way for you to do this!” Making sure the backs of his knees were locked around the branch, Jason leaned back all the way, letting himself swing back and forth upside down.

“With my tail, duh!” Nightshine said with a giggle. She wrapped the end of her tail around the branch and threw herself back before Jason could catch her.

Jason watched her fall from the branch in slow motion. His eyes went wide as he tried to reach out to catch her, but it was too late. Nightshine swung back and forth, just like him, with a wide grin on her face. “Ugh...” Jason relaxed with a deep sigh. “Can you not scare me like that? I really thought you were going to fall and hit your head.”

“Oh... sorry! I guess I was too excited.” Nightshine giggled again as she swung back and forth. “Hehe, this is fun! I don’t know why I didn’t do this before!”

“Doesn’t that hurt your tail? The horses back home hated it when someone tugged on their tails, and more often than not, the tugger got bucked!”

“You know, I didn’t think about that.” Nightshine unfolded her wings and flapped them, propelling herself forward, then folded them as she swung back. “Whee! This is fun, Daddy!”

“Yeah, it sure is!” He heard somepony knocking on his front door, so he yelled, “Out here!” He heard his front door open, then shut, and as they waited to see whoever it was that came knocking, Nightshine started swinging back and forth again a few moments before Twilight and Spike emerged from his house.

“Oh, hey guys!” Jason leaned up, grabbed the branch with his left hand, then unhooked his legs, letting him fall to the ground. Wiping his hands on his shirt, he stopped Nightshine from swinging, then let her grab onto his arms. She unlooped her tail from the branch with a quick flick, then looked over at their guests. Jason leaned down and let Nightshine stand on her own, who promptly shuffled behind him. “How’s it going?” He noticed a lack of a smile on Twilight’s face.

“Well enough,” Twilight said as she sat down. She looked at Nightshine and smiled. “Ah, you must be Nightshine!”

“Um, yeah...” Nightshine half-hid behind Jason’s legs, only sticking her head out. She cautiously came out with a sheepish smile, then sat in front of Jason, flicking her tail around her legs. Her eyes flicked between Twilight’s wings, then her horn, then back to her wings. Her eyes went wide as her jaw dropped. “Oh my gosh, are you a princess?” she asked so quickly her question sounded as if it was all one word. She stood up, then bowed, her muzzle nearly touching the dirt.

“That I am!” She lowered her head to look Nightshine in the face. “And aren’t you a cute little filly!” She giggled as she saw Nightshine blush. Glancing up at Jason, she asked, “I trust you didn’t have any problems adopting her?”

“Nah, not at all! I really cannot thank you enough for your help.” Jason sat down beside Nightshine and scratched her behind her ears. As she clambered into his lap, he said, “There were so many ponies to choose from, but she stood out from the rest.”

“Just like how you stand out as a human amongst ponies, right?” Spike asked, sliding from Twilight’s back.

“Yeah, I guess so!” Jason said with a laugh. “I never thought of it like that.” He looked down at his daughter. “Nightshine? This is Spike!”

“Huh?” Nightshine lifted her head from his leg and looked over to find a small dragon, standing on his two back legs much like Jason did. “Woah, a baby dragon? That can talk?” She jumped up from Jason’s lap and walked up to him, then cocked her head to the side, eyeing him up and down with a curious gaze.

“Heh, I’m not a baby anymore, but yeah, I’m a dragon! The name’s Spike!” He held out a closed fist for her to bump, which she did in record time. “I saw you yesterday in the market, but you guys looked so busy that I felt it wasn’t a good time to introduce myself.”

“That’s fine!” Nightshine giggled. “So are you Twilight’s friend or something?”

“Actually, she’s my mom, but that story’s for a later time.”

“Woah, that’s so cool!” Nightshine’s smile widened. “You wanna play sometime? I haven’t made any friends here yet, so do you wanna be my first?”

“Sure, that sounds great!” Spike looked up at Twilight and asked, “Say... is it okay if we go to Sugarcube Corner for some treats so you can talk with Jason?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Spike.” Twilight fished out a few bits from her bag and levitated them to him. “Can you be back here in a half hour?”

“Sure can! Come on, Nightshine, I heard Pinkie’s got some freshly-baked cookies!” He and Nightshine walked back into the house with a pep in their steps, leaving Twilight and Jason all alone.

“So... the reason for my coming was to talk about some... things with you. Can we go back inside?” Twilight asked as she stood up.

“Sure, what about?”

“...A few things, but I’d like for us to have some privacy back inside, if that’s okay.” Twilight’s smile faded from her face as she looked away.

“Yeah, okay.” He followed Twilight back inside, then sat down on his couch. “So what’s up?” he asked as Twilight climbed up next to him. She bit her lip, then looked up at him.

“I stayed up really late last night doing some research about finding you a way back home. The portal you came through was highly randomized, and it’s a wonder that you didn’t appear on top of a freezing cold mountain all the way up in the northern reaches. To have you appear on the outskirts of town was a blessing, but... anyways, to find a portal that would send you back to your planet is just not feasible. There’s no way to predict when and where it’ll show up, and for how long. I wouldn’t even know if it’d send you back to your planet, either.”

“So what you’re saying is that I’m pretty much stuck here?” Jason chuckled as he spread his arms out on the back of his couch. “It’s been so long that I’ve already accepted that. It’s also one of the reasons why I bought this house and chose to adopt someone.”

“I see.” Twilight rubbed her foreleg, then let her shoulders droop as she relaxed. “That‘s good to hear. I think Nightshine would hate to see you go if I did somehow find a way back home for you, and taking her with you, away from her home, friends, and her life here, probably wouldn’t work out too well.”

“Yeah, I don’t think it would. My life is here now. It is still a little weird not being a pony in a land of, well, ponies, after all. I can only hope that they won’t think less of me for choosing to raise one of their own species. I know you’re fine with it, but what about everyone else? I’m sure word spreads fast in a small town like this.”

“I doubt most would have any issue with it, but there might be some.”

“I figured as much. I’ve made a few friends around town, but I don’t get out much, so I can’t really say how comfortable they are around me.”

“Well, we’ve seen stranger things, so you needn’t worry about being the odd one out. In time, ponies will accept you, especially when they see how well you do in raising your new daughter.”

“Yeah, about that...” Jason scratched the back of his neck as he licked his dry lips. “I’ve never been a parent before, and I’ve never been married. I’ve always been good with kids, though, so I think I’ll do alright. It’s not like I’m raising an itty bitty foal, though. Nightshine’s already a little old, so... yeah,” he finished rather lamely.

“I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Twilight shifted on the couch, then let her forelegs swing out over the edge. “So...”

“What?” Jason noticed that Twilight’s tone changed, making a small pit of worry form in his stomach.

Twilight stared at the floor for several moments, then said, “I'm just worried what everypony will think of you and Nightshine; we rarely get thestrals down here.” Twilight stopped talking as she spotted Nightshine and Spike walking back towards the house through the window. “Well, I think it's time I took my leave. Perhaps I can have you two over for dinner so we could all spend some time together next week? I have a few things I need to attend to today.”

“Sure, that sounds lovely,” Jason said. As Twilight walked over to the door, he followed her and opened it for her. “So I guess I’ll see you then?”

“Yep!” Twilight smiled up at him as Spike and Nightshine finally reached them, though Nightshine bore an even bigger smile than hers.

“What is it, little one?” Jason asked, kneeling down to her level.

“Spike said that Twilight can change ponies into different things with her magic!” Nightshine exclaimed, her tail and the tips of her wings quivering. “Back when, uh...” Her eyes narrowed as she paused. Glancing at Spike, she asked, “Who was it again?”

“Rainbow? Yeah, she was bugging Twilight about changing her into a gryphon or a dragon for like, a week or two straight a while ago. Wouldn’t stop talking about how cool it would be to breathe fire.”

“Yeah, them!” Nightshine jumped up and down in place. “So if the princess can turn herself and her friends into other creatures then that means that she could turn you into a pony, right? I always wanted a...” She stopped jumping and froze, her smile slowly fading from her face as she looked up at Jason. Her shoulders drooped as she felt a sinking feeling form in her tummy, watching Jason's smile disappear entirely. “A daddy,” she said hopefully. “And now I have one!” she recovered as she threw on a tentative smile, praying that it would make Jason smile in return. Me and my big mouth... she thought, feeling nervous tremors make her tail twitch.

Jason’s heart skipped a couple beats. “Nightshine, I don’t think that’d be appropriate to ask,” Jason stuttered out. “I wouldn’t want to impose and I don’t know if I even want to be a...” He cleared his throat, opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Twilight awkwardly cleared her throat. “F-For the record, yes, I could turn you into a pony. Temporarily, of course. I’d have to do some research to be certain.”

“Oh my gosh, yes!” Nightshine’s head whipped between Twilight and Jason, searching their faces for anything that would give away their true feelings. A few moments passed before she tugged the bottom of his pants with her hoof. “Pretty please with a cherry on top?” she asked, laying her chin upon his leg as she sought his gaze with the biggest puppy dog eyes she had at her disposal.

Jason's Decision

Jason stared at Twilight. “You can’t be serious. You could actually turn me into a pony?”

“Yes,” Twilight said slowly. "It's not too complicated, but it would require a significant amount of energy."

“But what about my job? I can’t fix things for ponies if I’m a pony, right? How would I support myself and Nightshine if I can’t make any money?”

“Those are all good points, though I’m sure we could find you something around town. On the other hoof, I can just as easily turn you back into a human after a few days, a week, a month; however long you want."

Nightshine’s ears perked up at that. As a smile formed on her face, she licked her lips, then bit her bottom lip as she poked him with a hoof. Jason looked down at her with a lifted eyebrow, staying silent. “Um... I can think of one,” Nightshine squeaked out with a light blush, her ears laying flat on her head. She glanced away as her rump wiggled in excitement.

He smiled down at her and scratched her between her wings. “Oh? And what might that be, little one?”

Nightshine glanced at Twilight for a second, then looked back up into Jason’s eyes. “Winghugs!” she said, pushing herself up off of his chest. Her tail swished back and forth behind her. “Back at the orphanage, I always had dreams of sleeping under the wings of my future parents. Every time I woke up, though... there was nobody there,” she said, her smile faltering a little bit. “But then you adopted me! I never thought someone like you would adopt me, so...” she trailed off as her smile returned in full force.

“So you’d like for me to become a thestral so that we could snuggle some more? But we already snuggle a ton, sweetie,” Jason said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, but I just know winghugs would be so much better! ” Nightshine hopped from side to side, her wings spread wide. “Snuggling with you is still awesome, though. Doesn’t it feel great when I wrap my wings around you? And... Oh! I just thought of another reason!”

“Do tell,” Twilight said with a small smile and a fluff of her wings.

“You and I can learn how to fly together!” Nightshine said, her voice filled with utter glee. “Just imagine us flying! Wouldn’t that be really awesome?”

“Huh... yeah, that would be pretty cool,” Jason said. He scratched his chin, then closed his eyes for a few seconds as he imagined soaring through the clouds with Nightshine right beside him. “Say, Twilight?” he asked, looking at her. “Can thestrals stand on clouds?”

“Yeah, they can.”

“Can I... have some time to think it over? This isn’t a decision I can make on the spot,” Jason said as he leaned against the door, pushing his hands into his pockets.

“Of course.” Twilight nodded once and used her magic to place Spike on her back. “I’ll be at my castle, okay? I’m going to do some research on how to actually do this; it's going to take me some time to figure it all out, after all.” She walked a few steps away, then looked over her shoulder and asked, “Can you come by when you make up your mind? I’m sure I’ll have something figured out by then; I just need to reread my books about transformation spells.”

“Yeah, sure...” Jason said, standing back up. “See you then.” Once the door was closed, he groaned and shook his head. “I... need some time to think about this.” He collapsed upon the couch and spread his arms wide on the tops of the cushions.

“Um... okay,” Nightshine said, her ears once again falling flat on her head. “Do you need some more convincing?” she gently asked.

“Heh, thanks, but I think I’m okay. I just want a few minutes to think. That's all.”

Well, he didn’t say no... yet. All was dead silent. The sounds of the market faded away as Nightshine felt her heart sink a bit into her stomach. With a sigh, she slowly clambered back up on the couch and curled up into a ball right beside him, holding her tail between her forelegs. What if he says no? She clenched her eyes shut as she wiggled against him, pushing herself against his leg for warmth.

She felt Jason wrap his arm around her, holding her tight against his leg for a brief moment before pulling her onto his chest. She wrapped her forelegs around his neck and wrapped her wings around him, right under his armpits. He held her close as she nuzzled his neck.

Nightshine only held on to him tighter as she felt his grip loosen on her. She wrapped her forelegs around his lower arm and held onto it tightly. “So...”

“Yeah?”

“Did you make up your mind?” Nightshine asked softly. “I know it’s only been a couple of minutes since Twilight left, but...”

“Nightshine, when I adopted you, I made a commitment to better your life, and I am not going to give up on you because of an unexpected twist. While this wasn’t something that I expected, I guess I’m sorta looking forward to seeing what it’d be like being a pony. It can’t be that hard walking on four legs, right?”

“Nope! It’s super easy!” Nightshine said with a small giggle. “I’ve done it all my life, after all, so if I can do it, you can do it!”

“Yeah, I guess. I think it’d be fun to see how it’d work out for me,” Jason said softly. He took in a deep breath to finally speak the words that he knew Nightshine would love to hear, but before he could say it, Nightshine leapt from his arms.

“You mean it?” Nightshine stared at Jason with wide eyes, her rear end wiggling back and forth as she let her forelegs bend. She opened her wings and threw on a huge smile that made her fangs become exposed.

“So yeah, let’s give it a shot for a week I guess. I—oomph!” Nightshine tackled him, wrapping her legs around him as she nuzzled him over and over. “Heh, so I guess you’re pretty happy about this, huh?”

Standing before Twilight in her castle’s library, Jason looked down at Nightshine and saw her beaming up at him. He tousled her mane, making her hum happily in content as she nuzzled his leg. Looking up at Twilight, he asked, “So, uh... this isn’t going to hurt, is it?”

“I don’t think so; my books never said anything about this being painful,” Twilight said as she reread the spell one more time. “Are you ready? I’m actually curious to see what you’d look like as a pony.”

“Yeah, I guess I’m ready.” Jason stretched, then wiggled his fingers and toes. “See you later, my little wiggly appendages,” he said, followed with a brief chuckle. “Okay yeah, let’s do this. I’m good to go.” He felt his heart rate increase as Twilight’s horn started to glow, then a stark realization hit him. “Woah, hold up. What about my clothes? Am I going to be naked?”

“Uh... if you define naked by not wearing any clothes, then yes, you’ll be naked. You’ll have a nice coat like the rest of us ponies, though, and we don’t typically wear clothes all the time.” Twilight let her horn’s light fade away. “If you’re having second thoughts or want to spend more time thinking about this, I am perfectly happy to have you come by another time.”

“Nah, it’s okay,” Jason said, looking down at Nightshine with a small smile. No clothes? That’s gonna take some getting used to!

“Nightshine, you need to step away for this to work,” Twilight said, waving her over with a hoof. “We wouldn’t want you to get caught up in the spell, right?”

“I guess not.” Nightshine nuzzled Jason’s leg, then whispered, “Good luck, Daddy.”

“Thanks, sweetie.” Jason stretched his arms, then wiggled his fingers again. “Heh, gonna miss these.”

“Okay, here we go!” Twilight lit her horn and lowered her head, pointing her horn directly at Jason’s chest.

A bright purple light surrounded Jason as he rose into the air. His entire body went numb, then all went black. The last thing he saw before he passed out was Nightshine’s worried face as he fell to the floor in a heap.

Jason's First Steps

Nightshine rushed forward, her wings bristling in fear. “Daddy!” she cried out, nuzzling his head as she tried to get him to wake up. When he failed to move, or show any signs of life for that matter, her heart turned to ice as she feared the worst. “D-D-Daddy?” she squeaked out, her ears falling flat on her head. “What did you do to him?” she yelled, turning her attention towards Twilight.

Twilight’s eyes went wide as she stared on in shock. “I... I...” She took a step forward, but Nightshine hissed at her, making her stop in place.

Nightshine bared her fangs as she flicked her tail. She spread her wings open wide, planting her forelegs firmly on the floor. “Don’t you dare touch him!” she screamed as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Nightshine lay down behind Jason, laying her forelegs over his chest and covering him with her wings as she kept her steely gaze locked on Twilight. Her upper lip trembled as she failed to bite back a snarl.

“Nightshine, please! I need to make sure he’s okay!” Twilight pleaded as she took another cautious step closer. “This shouldn’t have happened...”

“Yeah, but it did!” Nightshine nuzzled Jason’s listless form, then lifted his head up with her muzzle, only for it to slip back down onto the floor with a dull thud. Her throat tightened up, and the possibility of Jason dying in front of her made her want to puke, for even though they’d known each other for a very short time, he’d given her a chance at life that nobody had offered before.

“Please, at the very least, let me move him to the couch,” Twilight said. “You can stay by his side the whole time, okay? Trust me, as your friend and as a Princess of Equestria, I would do nothing that would harm either of you.”

Nightshine glared at Twilight for a few seconds, then her ears flicked back. She wiped the tears from her eyes, then stood up on trembling legs. “F-Fine,” she muttered, glancing away.

“Thanks.” Twilight lit her horn, then lifted Jason up into the air. As he floated by her, she couldn’t help but notice the two fangs that poked out from between his lips. She set him down on the couch, but before she could even approach him, Nightshine leapt up in front of her and curled up on top of his side, gazing at her with suspicious eyes. “Can I at least check to see if he’s alive?” Twilight asked in a strained voice.

Nightshine glanced at Jason’s head, then looked back up at Twilight. She flicked her tail up into her forelegs, and after a few seconds of deliberation, she nodded slowly.

Twilight walked forward and sat down next to the couch. She lowered her head and placed an ear right at his lips and held her breath, praying that he was still alive. When she felt the sensitive hairs in her ear begin to tickle, her shoulders drooped in relief. “He’s alive,” she said with a sigh of relief, shooting a reassuring smile at Nightshine.

“Good,” she muttered back. “So, uh... is he sleeping or something?”

“I think he’s unconscious. Changing species like that is a bit drastic, and I guess his body wasn’t able to handle the sudden change. I’m pretty sure humans don’t have any magic in them, so transforming them into a species with magic probably caused him to pass out like this.” Twilight stood up and took a deep breath. “He should be fine, but nevertheless, I think we should keep an eye on him until he wakes up.”

What, does she think I’m just gonna leave him here? Nightshine rolled her eyes. “Probably a good idea, yeah.”

Jason blearily cracked an eye open, then closed it as the sunlight nearly blinded him. Ugh... what happened? And why do I have such a bad headache? he thought, laying stock-still. Oh, yeah... the transformation... He tried to move his fingers, but found that nothing in what used to be his arms moved whatsoever. Figuring that it’d be the same way with his toes, he flexed his neck. mentally balking at the feeling of it being much longer. A wondrous warmth covered his side, making him want to just go back to sleep to hopefully get rid of his headache, but a small part of him knew that Twilight and Nightshine would be worried about him. He licked his dry lips and gingerly lifted his head from the pillow. “N-Nightshine? You there?” he croaked out, his mouth and throat terribly dry.

“Daddy!” Nightshine squeed as she wrapped her forelegs around his neck. “You’re okay!”

“Ugh... sorta...” Jason coughed, then rolled over onto his stomach. He began to look over his shoulder, but paused halfway as his vision started to go blurry. Even though his headache felt like it was starting to get worse, he finished looking over his shoulder to shoot Nightshine a reassuring smile. “Hey there, sweetie. I didn’t worry you too much, did I?”

Nightshine’s ears flopped down. “Um... kinda. When you fainted, I thought that...”

“We thought that something had gone terribly wrong,” Twilight said, sitting down in front of the couch. “Thankfully, that is not the case. So... how are you feeling, Jason?” she asked, biting the bottom of her lip.

Nightshine pushed herself off of Jason’s back and slipped down to lay belly-up between his forelegs. Jason smiled again as he looked down upon her, stroking her mane with a tentative hoof. His first few strokes were a little rough, so he took a deep breath, concentrated really hard, then as gently as he could, brushed a small bit of her mane behind her ear. Glancing up at Twilight, he said, “Well, I have a pretty bad headache. Other than not being able to feel my fingers and toes, I think I’m fine.”

“Okay... while the headache was unexpected, I don’t think you should face any other side effects. Is your headache kinda small, or is it something like a migraine? Did you get those while you were a human? Does your family history have any sort of issues like that?” Twilight levitated a scroll and a quill over and started scribbling down some notes.

“It just feels like a regular headache.” Jason licked his lips and pulled Nightshine up against his breast. “So, what do you think of me as a bat pony?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.

“I think you look perfect; exactly how I imagined my daddy would look like back when I was at the orphanage! But...” Nightshine glanced away as she fidgeted in his grasp. She tried to hold back a smile, but couldn’t help let it slide onto her face.

“What is it?”

“I... might miss your fingers for ear scritches,” Nightshine admitted with a light blush.

Twilight stood up, then paused as she swayed from side to side. “Um, if it’s okay with you guys, I think I’m gonna go take a nap. That transformation spell took a lot more out of me than I thought it would,” she said, wiping a few beads of sweat from her brow. “Is that alright? I’d like to come over in the next day or two to study how well you adapt to your new body, by the way.”

“Sure, that’s fine with me. Ready to go, Nightshine?” Jason asked, pushing his hind legs off of the couch.. His hind legs wobbled back and forth, and he dared not take a step back for fear of falling. “Uh... wanna give me lessons on how to walk?” he asked rather sheepishly.

“I got this!” Nightshine said with a squee.

Jason lifted a hoof to block the sun’s bright light as he stepped out of Twilight’s castle. He squinted as he let his eyes get adjusted to the light. “Heh, everything feels a lot weirder...” he muttered under his breath. Never thought I’d get lessons on how to walk as a pony from a pony...

“Huh?” Nightshine cocked her head to the side as she sat down in front of him, her tail swishing back and forth on the steps behind her.

“Well, I never had to walk on four legs, for starters.” Jason set his leg back down and moved to sit beside Nightshine as he looked towards Ponyville. Glancing over his shoulder, he wiggled his butt, trying to make his tail swish like Nightshine’s, but it barely moved. “Humph...” He focused with all his might, but he still failed to make his tail move. With a roll of his eyes, he gave up and looked back as Nightshine sat down between his forelegs. She pushed her rump back until her back rested against his belly, and then she laid her head against his right leg.

“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to do this,” Nightshine whispered. “When I was a foal, Serenity never let any of the orphans get attached to her. She... didn’t like it when I tried to do this, and I...” She felt her throat tighten up.

“What?” Jason asked, wrapping his left foreleg around her.

Nightshine cast her gaze towards the ground. “I’m sorry I brought that up. Can we not talk about it?” she muttered.

Jason’s eyebrows furrowed. Feeling his neck grow rather stiff, he let go of her and lay down next to her. “Hey...” he whispered, leaning in close. He nuzzled her cheek and pulled her close with a hoof, making her sit down between his forelegs. “What’s wrong?” he murmured, resting his head on top of hers as he rubbed her left foreleg with his.

Nightshine bit her cheek and squirmed. She watched as a few chirping birds flew by, giving her a few moments of peace before she sighed. “Serenity had some pretty mean rules. She told us all that we weren’t allowed to grow attached to her, and even though I tried to follow her rules, I... couldn’t help myself sometimes.” She twitched as a shiver ran down her back.

“Oh, I see.” Jason lay there for several seconds, keeping his mouth shut tight as he felt Nightshine tense up. “If you don’t mind me asking, what’d you try to do?”

Nightshine scoffed. “This, actually. She told me that if she let me do this with her, then the other foals would feel sad because she wouldn’t show them affection. So...” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “She made an example of me one time after lunch in the yard... made me sit in timeout for an hour in the farthest corner where I could see families walking by. I... never did that again.” Nightshine curled up in between Jason’s forelegs and laid her head on his foreleg. “So... thank you,” she whispered.

“Good thing I adopted you, huh?” Jason asked, feeling Nightshine nod on his leg. “You wanna go get some ice cream?”

“Is it okay if we go home?” Nightshine squeaked out. She stood up and glanced over her shoulder. “You know... I’ve waited years to see how awesome winghugs are while snuggling, and it’d give you a chance to learn how to use your new wings!”

“What, you don’t want to go and immediately start teaching me how to fly?” Jason stood up and took his time walking down the steps that Nightshine so easily trotted down.

“Nope, not yet! We gotta take foal-steps first!”

Jason chuckled at that. “Heh, fair enough. So now that I’m a bat pony, do you think I should change my name to something more normal?”

Nightshine paused as she cocked her head to the side. “Nah, I think your name is just right!”

Bat Snuggles

“Grr... how do I get this darned thing open?” Jason muttered, his hoof fumbling with the knob on his front door. His eyebrows furrowed as he bit back another growl, the knob barely turning from his efforts. “Uh... Nightshine?” he asked, looking down between his two forelegs.

“Yes, Daddy?” Nightshine shot a smirk up at him as she tried to stifle a giggle.

“...How do ponies open doors with their hooves?” Jason asked with a small chuckle.

“Well, this kind of door knob is usually meant for unicorns. They can just grab it and twist it with their magic, so it’s not a problem for them. Did a unicorn use to live here or something?”

“I wouldn’t know. I got the house when it was empty, and they didn’t tell me anything about the previous owners, so you’re probably right about them being unicorns.” He rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof, trying to scratch an itchy spot with his fingers. “Oh, heh...” His eyes went wide. “Hey, Nightshine? Guess who forgot to grab the house keys back at Twilight's?”

“You? Hehe, it’s okay though!” Nightshine nuzzled his left foreleg and purred, loving how his soft fur felt against her cheek. Her eyes drifted shut as she let a soft smile slide onto her face. “I’ve waited too long for this...” she whispered. “Oh, and...” Nightshine grinned as she turned to face him. “You forgot your clothes at Twilight’s.”

Jason’s entire world screeched to a standstill. All of the noise from the market and from ponies trotting by faded away in a split-second. His ears flopped down of their own accord as his eyes went as wide as they could. Jason glanced over his shoulder, his head whipping back and forth as he searched the faces of ponies walking by, searching for any of them giving him odd looks. A few ponies were looking his way, some with inquisitive looks upon their faces. He heard soft murmurs of, “Is that a bat pony?” and, “Woah, no way! Look at him!”

Picking up Nightshine with a hoof, he hastily made his way to the door in the fence, then pushed Nightshine on top of it. “Quick, hop down and open the latch! I gotta get inside before more ponies see me naked!” he said in a hushed voice.

“Huh?” Nightshine cocked her head to the side as she balanced herself on the fence. “But all ponies are already—”

“Nightshine, I don’t have time to argue, and I can’t fly over the fence! Please, can you just open the dang door?!” Jason hit the door with a hoof, ignoring the bit of pain that exploded from the soft part of his leg.

“Hmph! Fine...” Nightshine said, rolling her eyes as she spread her wings wide. She glided down to the ground, then trotted back to the door. Spotting a little bit of rope hanging down from the handle, she wiggled her butt and crouched, then jumped up, biting down on the rope with all the strength she had. She dangled back and forth, then after a ferocious yank, the latch popped open.

As soon as he heard the latch click, Jason pushed the door open, letting it slam against the fence, walked as fast as he could into the backyard, and went straight for the sliding glass door. “God, I hope it’s unlocked...” he muttered, though right before he lifted a hoof up to the handle, he heard a sound that made his heart freeze.

Nightshine was crying.

His ears perking up, his head whipped around and found Nightshine sitting near the corner of the fence in the dirt. “Nightshine!” he cried out. Throwing caution to the winds, he tried to gallop, but tripped over his own hooves and fell flat on his face. Pain erupted from his tongue as his vision grew slightly blurry, but he ignored that. He forced himself back up on shaky legs, then walked as quickly as he could to where Nightshine sat. “N-Nightshine... I’m so sorry,” he whispered as he flopped down beside her. Each of her sobs pierced his heart, feeling as if someone was driving a hundred needles into it. He ran a hoof through her dirty hair, brushing away as much of the dirt and dust as he could. “C’mere, you...” he whispered, spreading his forelegs.

Nightshine lowered a hoof from her tear-filled eyes and saw a sweet, loving, and caring smile upon Daddy’s face. After a couple moments of hesitation, she pushed herself up on trembling legs, and after she shot a wobbly smile back up at Jason, she buried her face into his chest as she curled up in his forelegs. She wiped her tears on his soft fur and tucked her head in the crook between his leg and chest. Moments later, she felt something wet and prickly run down her back, making her jump a little. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Jason licking her back clean of all the dirt. When his tongue brushed against her folded wings, she couldn’t help but let out a giggle. “H-Hey, that tickles!” she said, playfully swatting his leg with a hoof.

“I wouldn’t know, sorry. Isn’t this what daddy ponies do, though? Licking their little ones clean?”

“Well yeah, when they’re little itty bitty babies! But when you get around my age, they just toss us in the bath tub. Speaking of which...” She stood up and brushed herself off. “Can we go take a bath? I don’t wanna snuggle with you all dirty and icky like this!” She trotted away and sat down by their back door. “Waiting on you, silly!”

“Uh, you sure you’re okay? I didn’t mean to hurt you, really. I guess ponies are a lot stronger than humans, huh?”

Nightshine shrugged. “Sure looks like it, and I was just a little surprised. It didn’t hurt that bad. Besides, I’ve taken harder hits falling out of the tree at the orphanage!”

Jason lifted an eyebrow as he cocked his head to the side. “And what were you doing up in that tree, hm? Didn’t Serenity tell you not to do that?”

“Uh... yeah, but she got tired of telling me that over and over when I just kept doing it.” Nightshine snickered. “So she kinda just glared at me, but... maybe that was why she didn’t like me that much...” She glanced at the ground, her ears folding flat on her head. “Oh well! Doesn’t matter now, does it?”

“Yeah, I guess not.” Jason pushed open the back door, letting Nightshine scamper inside. She hopped up on the couch and patted the seat next to her. “What?”

“We need to have a little chit-chat,” Nightshine said with a giggle.

“Alright, just give me a few minutes to throw on some clothes. I can’t believe I walked home completely naked...” He managed to take just one step before Nightshine cleared her throat rather obviously. He glanced over his shoulder, his right leg raised to take another step.

“That’s what we need to talk about, Daddy!” Nightshine said with a light smile. “Now, come on, stop dilly-dallying!” She waited until Jason hopped up onto the couch beside her, and as soon as he settled down, she pushed herself between his forelegs. Letting her own forelegs curl up on her chest, she snuggled a little bit deeper into his embrace as he pushed his legs together, holding her tight.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked softly, nuzzling her cheek with his own.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I think you just wanted to get inside quicker so we could snuggle!”

“Heh, sure, let’s go with that...”

“Yeah... Anyways...” Nightshine laid her head against the side of his left leg. “Haven’t you noticed that ponies don’t wear clothes? That’s why I was a little confused when you were acting so nervous.”

Jason’s words caught in his throat as Nightshine’s words clicked in his mind. “Uh... Yeah... I guess you’re right.” He looked down at his butt and sighed. “How am I gonna get used to this?” he asked, gazing down upon his daughter.

“I dunno, in foal-steps? Maybe we can have you just walk around town tomorrow morning when everypony is still waking up or something...” Nightshine murmured, her eyes already drifting shut. Daddy’s warm legs were gently lulling her to sleep, but as she rolled over onto her side, laying a hoof on his foreleg to pull it in and snuggle with, her eyes shot open. “Hey!”

“What?” Jason cocked his head to the side.

“You were gonna let me fall asleep like this, weren’t you?” Nightshine demanded, letting loose a short yawn as she pushed herself up. “You know I wanted to try snuggling with wings tonight!” With that being said, she hopped off of the couch and gently bit down on Jason’s hoof. “C’mon!” she said with glee, a smile forcing its way onto her lips as she struggled to pull Jason off of the couch.

“Oh, okay then.” Jason gently pulled his hoof free from Nightshine’s mouth, then slipped from the couch. He lifted his left leg, and nearly lost his balance as Nightshine jumped onto it, wrapping all of her legs around it. Steadying himself, he grinned as he slowly walked across the room, listening to Nightshine squee with every step he took. Pushing open the door to her bedroom, he held his leg above the bed and let Nightshine fall onto the soft sheets. He jumped up onto the bed, then lay down beside his daughter. “So, uh... how can we make this work if I don’t know how to use my wings yet?”

“Hm...” Nightshine rubbed her chin as she squinted at Jason’s wings. “Well first, which wing would you want me to snuggle with, Daddy?”

“Whichever one you want, sweetie,” Jason said, rubbing her back with a hoof. Frantic knocking on his front door made him pause for a moment, his ears flicking up in the direction of the sound. “Looks like we’re gonna have to put snuggling on hold for a couple minutes... You want to get comfy? I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Okay!” Nightshine chirped, wiggling beneath the sheets.

With a soft sigh, Jason pushed himself off of the bed and walked to his front door. More insistent knocking came, making him hurry up. “I’m coming... Jeez...” Now standing in front of the door, he tried to grab the knob, but found the same problem from just a few minutes ago. “Uh... It’s open!” he said loudly, taking a couple of steps back. The door swung open a second later. “Ah, Twilight!” Jason said with a smile. He bowed before her, then lifted his head. “Care to come in for some coffee? I think I have decaf around here somewhere.”

“No thanks, I’m just here for a couple of things. I was rudely woken up by Spike saying that an urgent letter from Princess Luna had come in concerning you,” Twilight said, a small shiver running down the back of her neck. A small breeze ran through her mane, making her wish that she’d grabbed a scarf before coming over.

“How did you guys know it was for me? Isn’t it like, kinda rude to read other ponies’ mail or something? It’s against the law where I’m from.”

“Well...” Twilight blushed a little bit as she glanced away. “Spike just thought it was another letter from Celestia asking when she wanted to spend some time together, but it was the complete opposite. I do not know why Princess Luna sent you a letter through Spike, though my best guess is that she wanted it to reach you as quickly as possible. Short of delivering it herself, sending it through my assistant was the quickest way to send a letter, so... yeah.” Twilight paused to take a breath. “I don’t know what you’ll think of this, but...” She fished a rolled-up scroll from her saddlebag and held it up, letting Jason read it. “Turns out that that FPS inspector is going to be here by the end of the week. Seeing that it’s only Tuesday, that means that they’re going to be here on either Thursday or Friday.”

“I see...” Jason let Twilight roll the scroll back up, bit down on it, then placed it on the small table beside him. “Is there anything I should know about this inspection? My place is already kinda clean, though I could maybe do a little sweeping and tidying things up here and there... You think my place looks okay?”

“It’s not just how your place looks, Jason, it’s a bunch of other things, like how well you can provide for them, how your financials look like... all that kind of stuff.” Twilight fluffed her wings and idly kicked a single rock from his front porch before looking back up. “So in the interests of giving you the best chance of passing, I asked Princess Luna to send down one of her guards to help you become accustomed to being a thestral, and even though I thought she wasn’t going to do it, she sent me another letter saying that she’s sending down one of her best! Isn’t that awesome?”

Jason’s eyebrows furrowed at the thought. “Yeah, I guess... But what about when I signed Nightshine’s adoption forms? I mentioned that I was a human, not a thestral, and they still let me adopt her. Are we going to have an issue if the inspector shows up and finds a bat pony instead of a human?”

“Uh... We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, I suppose. I’m pretty sure it won’t be an issue." She smacked her forehead with a hoof. Twilight looked up at him with a sheepish smile. “I kinda forgot to bring your clothes back, so maybe you can come by and pick them up later in the week?”

“Yeah, that’s cool. I don’t really need them right now,” Jason said with a smirk. "At least that's what Nightshine says."

“Yes, well...” Twilight blushed as she realized what he was implying. “So... I guess I’ll see you around? It is getting rather late, after all.”

“Yeah, okay. See ya.” Right before Jason closed the door, he said, “Oh, hey! Wait a minute!”

Twilight looked over her shoulder with a warm smile. “Yes, Jason?” she asked rather quickly.

“Any idea how I can open my front door? The handle is, uh... round, and I can’t really open it on my own,” Jason admitted with a sheepish smile. “If I can’t do it, then I’m sure Nightshine would have some trouble getting back in, too.”

Twilight’s ears flicked down. “Oh, sure, I can handle it. Just gimme a few seconds, and...” She lit her horn and focused her magic on the door knob. “Good pun, right?” she asked, pausing for just a moment.

“Yeah, it was pretty solid.” Idiot! Surely you could have come up with something better... Jason took a step back as the knob slowly turned into a handle, the metal flowing like water as it assumed its new form. As Twilight’s magic faded away, he tested the new handle and grinned. “Hey, thanks! That’s exactly what I had in mind. Seriously, thank you. I, uh... had a bit of a freak out when I realized that I was naked in public. We had a bit of an accident trying to get back inside, but we’re fine now.”

Twilight forced herself to smile. “Good. Well... good night. I’ll be back with Luna and her guard to help things along tomorrow, okay?”

“Sounds good! You know what time? Nightshine wants to snuggle with my wing or something like that tonight, so I don’t think that she’s gonna want to get up bright and early.”

“Probably around noon, if I had to guess.” Twilight felt another shiver run down her back, the tips of her wings trembling in the cold breeze. She looked up at the bright full moon and shot it a wistful smile. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. Getting kinda cold out, so I think I’ll be heading back to bed,” Twilight said, opening her wings to fly back home.

“Yeah, probably a good idea. Sure is getting cold out, yeah?” Jason asked. Twilight smiled at him, nodded once, then flew away into the night sky. He pushed the door shut with a soft click and turned around to find Nightshine standing behind him with a smug smile on her face. “Uh...” Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “What’s up?” he asked, speaking the first words that came to his mind.

“Oh, nothing...” Nightshine giggled as she turned back around to go back to bed. “You wanna snuggle? You were kinda taking a while, so I came to see what was keeping us from snuggling.”

Jason grinned. “You have no idea, sweetie. C’mere, you wittle cutie!” He scooped her up with a gentle hoof, then walked back to her bed. Jason tossed her down on the sheets, eliciting a squee mixed in with a soft giggle. “Ya know you make the cutest noises when you want snuggles, right?”

“I... I do?” Nightshine asked with wide eyes, her cheeks turning a furious red. Her ears flicked down as her forelegs curled up.

“Kinda, yeah,” Jason said as he flopped down next to her. “So, uh... you said something about wing snuggles?”

“Yeah!” Nightshine shot up like a rocket, her two forelegs placed between her hind legs as she beamed up at him.

“Heh, okay. So... how we gonna do this? I have no idea how to open my wings, after all.” Jason glanced over his shoulder, looking down at his leathery, dark gray appendages.”I, uh... What are you doing?” he asked, watching Nightshine as she climbed onto his back.

“Just getting into position!” Nightshine squeaked out, her legs trembling from excitement. She slipped down his other side, her tail brushing against his haunch. “So... hm.” She squinted as she cocked her head to the side. With a smile and a quick shrug, she pushed herself forward, nuzzling his right wing away from his body. It came away after a few insistent nuzzles, giving her the opportunity she was looking for. She slid in, nuzzling her way further and further until her head popped out on the other side of his wing. “Hm... almost there, Daddy!” she said with a loud squee.

“Good, because I just found out that I’m pretty ticklish right there!” Jason said with a laugh. “There anything you need me to do? Maybe roll over or something?” Please say yes... Please say yes...

“Nah, I think I’m good. Well... almost!” She pushed herself up a little more, used the rest of her strength to push a hoof out, tucked the tip of Jason’s wing below her belly, then finally snuggled in for the night.

“Um... Nightshine?” He felt his daughter’s ears flick against the tip of his wing as they perked up. “How do ponies usually sleep? I always slept on my side when I was a human, so sleeping on my belly might be a bit of a problem...” He bit his lip, worrying what Nightshine would say next. She was wondrously warm against his side, not too hot to make him sweat, and after a few moments of silence, he felt his eyelids starting to droop.

“With their eyes closed, silly...” Nightshine mumbled, already half asleep with a soft smile upon her face.

“...Fair enough. I guess it won’t hurt to try sleeping like this,” Jason said, nuzzling the top of Nightshine’s head. “Sweet dreams, little one...” He pulled a pillow over and plopped his head down upon it, letting his eyes drift shut as he placed his right hoof over his left leg.

“Love you, Daddy...” Nightshine whispered, nuzzling the inside of his wing.

“Love you too, Nightshine...” Jason murmured back. He turned off the light, letting the moon illuminate the room in a soft glow. Settling back down, he closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep, but after a minute, he felt something wet upon the inside of his wing, tickling him as it trickled down to the sheets. He blearily cracked his eyes open, suddenly feeling Nightshine’s breaths come in stuttering bursts. With his eyebrows furrowing, his head whipped up. “Hey...” he whispered, nuzzling her cheek. Ignoring her tears upon his cheek, he threw on a gentle smile and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Nightshine took a few moments to sniffle and wipe some tears from her eyes with a hoof, then looked up at him with a shaky smile. “N-N-Nothing, Daddy... I’m just so... happy!” She nuzzled his side insistently, as if this was the last time she was ever going to see him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Jason pulled her out from under his wing, then rolled over onto his back, pulling her into a ferocious bear hug. She wrapped her forelegs around his neck and laid a firm kiss on his neck, then nuzzled it in with a soft squee. “I think it’s time we get some sleep, don’tcha think?”

“Yeah... but what about the wing snuggles? I had it all set up!” Nightshine said with a giggle.

“Hm... hang on a second... I got this.” Jason let go of her, then pulled his right wing up over Nightshine’s back, then his left. He held them in place with his right hoof, then rolled over onto his left side. “How’s this? It’s not the most comfortable position, but for you, we can try it out for a night and work on better snuggling positions later.”

“Perfect...” Nightshine whispered in awe. “Better than I’ve ever dreamed of...” She rolled over and pressed her back against his chest, then snuggled up against his left foreleg.

“Awesome...” Jason whispered back, letting his eyes drift shut again. “Night, little one...”

“Night, Daddy!” Nightshine chirped back. Right before she fell asleep, she laid a gentle kiss on his foreleg, then nuzzled it in for good measure. Best Daddy ever...

Lily

Jason spent all morning tidying up as best he could. Washing the dishes and putting them away was much harder than he had anticipated, so he was relieved when Nightshine had stepped up to the task. As the clock neared noon, he became more and more frantic, doing the easiest things first.

Suddenly, he heard somepony knock on his front door. His head whipped up, a few stray hairs from his mane blurring his vision. He pushed them away with his hoof, then waved Nightshine over. She scampered over to him with an excited smile, then climbed up his hind leg, using her wings to help her up. He felt her stand up on his back, then felt her two front hooves on the back of his head. “Heh, excited?” he asked, peering out the window next to the door.

“To meet another princess and another bat pony? How can I not be super excited?” Nightshine asked, followed by a quick squee. Wait... where’s the bat pony? She jumped off of his back and hopped in place, her eyes wide. “So what’re you waiting for? Open the door and let them in!” She breathlessly watched Jason trot across the room. “Wait!” she cried out with an outstretched hoof. Nightshine walked up to him, her tail tucked in between her hind legs. “How do I look?” she asked with a sheepish blush.

“Lovely, little one... fit for a princess!” Jason said with a chuckle as he tousled Nightshine’s mane.

“Hey, stop that!” Nightshine said with a giggle. “You’re going to mess my mane up!”

“Oh, you look fine.” Jason’s ears perked up as he heard knocking again. “Can’t dilly-dally any longer...” He placed a hoof on the door’s handle, took a deep breath, then pulled open the door. Looking up, he found himself face to face with Princess Luna. “My princess...” he said with a deep bow. “You have my deepest thanks for your assistance with my daughter.”

“Rise, my little pony,” Princess Luna said, lifting Jason’s head with a gentle hoof. “While I appreciate the gesture, I’m not here on business. May we come in?” she asked with a soft smile.

“Of course, of course!” Jason stepped aside and pulled the door all the way open. He nodded at Twilight as she walked in, and when he didn’t see the last member of their group, he asked, “Uh, Twilight? Didn’t you say that there would be some kind of guard or something?” He stuck his head outside and glanced around.

“My guard is securing the area, even though we are in what’s probably the safest place in Equestria,” Luna said. “She’s very committed to her job. May I sit down?”

“Please, make yourself at home!” Jason gestured at his couch with a hoof. “Would you like some tea? I made some about twenty minutes ago...”

“That would be splendid, as I am rather parched, but first.... might I ask where little Nightshine is?” Luna settled down on the couch, letting her tail and half of her forelegs lay over the edge.

Jason glanced towards the kitchen, then cocked his head to the side as he looked back. “She was here a second ago,” he muttered. Jason felt something tap the back of his right hind leg, then heard something rustle behind him. With a knowing chuckle, he looked back over his shoulder and spotted Nightshine running her two front hooves through her tail as she bit her lip. She was quivering, her ears were flicked back, and above all, she had her back pinned against the wall, using the door to hide from their guests. His eyebrows furrowed at the sight. “Hey... what’s wrong?” he asked in a hushed voice, lowering his head to her height. “What happened to you being all excited?”

“Did you... see that bat pony?” Nightshine asked, her voice a bit shaky. “She looks so scary!”

“Does she? I didn’t get a good look.”

“Yeah, I think I saw her walking around a second ago... She’s not coming inside, is she?” Nightshine whispered, peering between Jason’s legs as she used his tail for cover.

“Of course she is; don’t be silly. I’m sure she’s really nice. Why else would she be in charge of guarding a princess?”

“I... I dunno,” Nightshine said, her voice full of uncertainty.

“You wanna say hello to Princess Luna?” Jason threw on a comforting grin. “I’m sure she’s very eager to meet you.” He looked back and saw Luna pushing herself up and off the couch. “Matter of fact, she’s coming over right now!” Jason stepped back and sat down, letting Princess Luna get a good look at his daughter.

Nightshine stared up at Princess Luna with wide eyes, her breath caught in her throat. Licking her dry lips, she realized that she was in front of royalty, so she jumped to her hooves and bowed, her legs trembling from sheer nervousness.

“My, my, aren’t you a little precious pony, hm?” Luna sat down and lowered her head. “It is quite the honor to finally meet you, little one.”

“T-Thank you, Princess Luna!” Nightshine said with glee. She was about to compliment her sheer beauty when she heard somepony walk up to the front door and cough lightly. She’s back! she thought with a whimper. Her ears flicked back as she scooted behind Jason’s tail again.

“Hm?” Jason looked up and finally laid eyes on the last member of their party. His jaw nearly dropped open wide as a stunning mare in full armor casually walked past him, looking at him with an inquisitive gaze. She had a silky lilac mane that glimmered in the light and had a gray coat a couple of shades lighter than Nightshine’s. Her eyes were a brilliant shade of magenta, vibrant and full of energy. Her mane was short, though it wasn’t short like a woman’s military haircut would be like back on Earth. “H-Heya,” he said rather weakly, a nervous grin on his face. He cleared his throat and spoke more confidently, saying, “I’m Jason,” in a deeper voice. Her tufted ears perked up at that. He also noticed a small shiver run through her wings. He extended a hoof as if he was going for a handshake, and after a few moments passed in agonizingly slow silence, right when he was about to drop it in embarrassment, she bumped his hoof with her own.

Lily dropped her hoof to the floor, stood at attention, then barked out, “Area secure, princess!”

“Thank you, Lily. Please, relax and be yourself; I want our visit to be casual,” Luna said with a small, knowing grin.

“Very well.” Lily paced around Jason, hungrily eyeing him up and down. “My, my, for being a different species, Twilight did a great job picking out a look for you. You know that you could be on the cover of a magazine? A beautiful dark gray coat, a chiseled chin, and matching wings? You didn’t tell me you turned him into a stallion, Princess Twilight,” she said in a soft yet sultry tone of voice, holding Jason’s gaze with one of bridled desire.

Jason couldn’t do anything but gulp and watch as she stalked around him, much like a predator about to pounce on their prey.

“Lily, hush,” Luna said with a sly grin, a laugh, and a wave of her hoof. “That’s just his temporary form.”

“And will he keep it if he wants to stay in this better form?” Lily paused and let a warm smile grow on her face, feeling her tail swish about behind her. “On the other hoof, if this is what you look like as one of us, I’d love to see what you’d look like as a... hooman?” she asked, looking at Twilight for clarification as she started to drop the sultry predator act.

“A human, yes,” Twilight said with a soft blush. “And thanks for the compliment. I actually had no hoof in choosing his appearance.”

“Interesting...” Lily took off her armor, stored it all near the door, then stretched, pushing her wings out as wide as they would go. She looked around for a couple moments and spotted Nightshine cowering behind Jason’s hind legs, her eyes lighting up with joy as she flopped down in front of her. “Oh my gosh, you’re so adorable!” she said, her rump and tail wiggling back and forth. Nightshine shied away from her touch, making her pause for a moment before she shook her head, letting her mane regain its usual shape. “Aww... did my armor frighten you, little one?” she asked, her smile faltering a little bit. “I know, I know... it can be pretty scary, but I promise I’m a nice pony,” she admitted, her ears flicking back as a blush formed on her cheeks.

“M-Maybe...” Nightshine murmured as she hesitantly looked up at her. “Do you really think I’m cute?” she asked, her voice gaining a bit of its usual confidence back.

“Of course I do!” Lily laughed. “Just look at your mane; what kind of product do you use in it? It’s so shiny!”

“Um...” Nightshine looked up at Jason, then back at Lily. “I don't know... I just use the stuff that Jason buys from the store. It’s nothing special, really. I don’t remember what brand it is.”

“What?!” Lily sat back in shock as her ears flicked back. “No no no, that won’t do at all!” she said, shaking her head as she waved a dismissive hoof in the air. “We must absolutely go shopping and get you some product! A pretty young mare like yourself simply cannot go without!” She leapt to her hooves and looked at Luna. “Princess, can we—” She paused upon seeing both Luna and Twilight trying to stifle their giggles with their hooves.

“Yes, Lily, you and Nightshine may go. I will be fine here with Twilight and Jason.” Luna nodded at the door. “Well, what are you two waiting for?”

Lily pranced in place with glee. “Well, what do you say, Nightshine? Wanna go have a girl’s day out on the town?” she asked with a gentle, yet very excited smile.

Nightshine perked up, her wings bristling in excitement. “I’d love to! But... I don’t have any money...” She flicked her tail around and grabbed it between her forelegs.

“Oh, pshaw! It’s on me!” She glanced at Jason, unable to keep a sheepish smile from sliding on her face. “That is, if it’s okay with you, of course. I kinda brought a lot of bits for this very reason.”

“Uh...” Jason cleared his throat, then shot a look at Twilight, hoping she’d say something to help him out.

“I trust Lily with my life, Jason. Nightshine is perfectly safe with her,” Luna said, her voice soft yet powerful. “I think it would be wonderful for her to spend some time with another thestral, too, especially given her circumstances, but only if you feel if it is okay.”

“Dad?” Nightshine tugged on Jason’s tail and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Please can I go?”

Jason sighed, then smiled down at her. “I... I guess,” he said after a few moments. He rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof, then sat down. “Don’t drive her too crazy, okay? She’s here to help us out, after all. And please, for the love of all that is holy, be safe.”

“Thanks a lot, Daddy!” Nightshine leapt up, wrapping her legs around his neck as she ferociously nuzzled him into submission.

As he watched Nightshine and Lily trot outside, Jason looked at Twilight and sighed. “Can’t help but feel a little over protective of her,” he said with a sheepish shrug. As he watched them trot away, he chewed on his lip, feeling rather antsy about letting Nightshine go shopping with a stranger. “Maybe I should keep an eye on them...” he said, a hoof raised to go follow them.

“Well... I did bring a bag of bits to go shopping,” Luna said. “Could be fun to see if Rarity is up to the task of designing my next Grand Galloping Gala dress. Speaking of which...” She glanced between Twilight and Jason, then fished a couple of scrolls out of her saddlebag. “You are all invited!” Luna lit her horn and levitated both of them to Jason. “Even little Nightshine, too” she said with a soft smile.

“Sorry for being clueless, but... what’s the Grand Galloping Gala?” Jason asked, unrolling one of the scrolls. “You are cordially invited to the Grand Galloping Gala on... this weekend?”

“I am sorry that it took so long for you to receive the invitation, but I want to see Nightshine’s expression. I am certain that she knows of this special event and I thought it would make her day to allow her the privilege of attending.” She poked Twilight’s side with a sole feather. “You can thank Twilight for that; it was her idea, after all.”

“Wow... thank you, really. I’m honored.” Jason noticed two golden tickets at the bottom of the scroll. “Wait, why two?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. “Oh, is one for Nightshine?”

“No, actually,” Twilight spoke up. “The other ticket is for your plus one, if you so choose to bring somepony else as your date.” She glanced away, crossing her forelegs. “I already got my ticket a couple of weeks ago; same with all of my close friends.” Twilight looked back up at Jason, her tail swishing ever so slightly. “Any idea who you want to bring as your plus one?”

Jason paused, looking at the scroll again. “I have no idea. I haven’t really made any friends that are that close,” Jason said with a chuckle. “Inviting somepony to the Gala is pretty much like asking them on a super special first date, right? I haven’t looked at anyone in that kind of light since I got here, so... is it okay if I don’t bring anypony? I am still getting used to being a pony, after all. It hasn’t even been a full twenty-four hours.”

“Well... while it is tradition to bring a plus one, it is alright if you don’t have anypony to bring,” Twilight said, her ears flicking back as her gaze slipped to the floor. Luna shot her an odd look, but she ignored it, biting her bottom lip as she fought to not look at her.

“I see... Well, I think it’d be pretty fun to go!” Jason said as he placed his scroll and the two tickets down on the coffee table. “Lemme go grab my saddlebag to throw Nightshine’s invitation into, and then we can go keep an eye on those two...” As he trotted past the kitchen, he realized that he had forgotten to pour some tea for his guests. “Uh... about the tea...” he said with a nervous chuckle. “Lunch is on me, okay?”

“He should not have said that,” Luna said, stifling a giggle with her hoof as she heard Jason walk further into his home.

“And why might that be, hm?” Twilight asked with a knowing smirk.

“I am going to positively eat everything at the Cakes’ bakery. Pinkie does have a knack for cooking tasty treats, and I am going to clean... them... out!”

Getting Closer

“So where are we going first?” Nightshine asked, looking up at Lily with an excited grin.

“Well, on our way into the town, I spotted a cute little shop meant for just us girls. If I remember correctly...” They walked around a corner, the shop falling into sight a few buildings down on the left side of the road. “Aha! There it is!”

“Prissy Products?” Nightshine giggled. “That’s a funny name for a store!”

“Hehe, I agree, but they have a lot of good stuff! There’s one up in Canterlot that I go to at least once a week to replenish my supplies, and it’s a very nice place with lots of smart salesponies.” Lily trotted up to the door and opened it for Nightshine. “So whatcha waiting for? Let’s buy you some product!”

“Okay!” Nightshine walked inside the store, her nose immediately assaulted by several strong perfumes. Her nose crinkled up as she paused. “Smells kinda funny in here...” she muttered.

“It always does, but that’s to keep the boys out!”

Nightshine giggled as they walked into the store. “But what if the boys wanna buy us some nice stuff from here?” she asked, nudging the side of Lily’s leg with her shoulder.

“Then... huh.” Lily paused and rubbed her chin with a hoof as her eyebrows furrowed. “Good point. So, uh... wanna start with mane products first?” She gabbed a basket with a hoof.

“Sure!” Nightshine chirped. She glanced around, seeing nothing but shelves of various perfumes.

“They’re in the back, sweetie,” Lily said, trotting deeper into the store with Nightshine following right behind her. “Ah, here we are!” Her eyes ran over the assortment of bottles before her. “Here we go!” She pulled a big, dark green bottle off the shelf and showed it to Nightshine. “Smell this one; it’s my go-to shampoo, and the cool thing is that I can also use it on my coat!” She screwed off the cap, then let Nightshine smell it.

Nightshine looked at the label before she smelled it. “Woah... tea tree shampoo? I don’t smell any tea, but I do smell mints! They’re one of my favorite candies.” She looked at the price tag, her eyes going wide as her shoulders drooped. “But it’s fourteen bits... That’s too expensive for me!” Nightshine looked at the bottles on the shelves for several seconds, then pointed at the cheapest one. “What about this one? It’s only six bits.” She lifted a hoof to grab it, but Lily’s wing blocked her from touching it.

“Hey now, no cheap stuff for you!” Lily screwed the cap back on the nice bottle of shampoo, then tossed it in her basket.

“Heh, thanks,” Nightshine said with a sheepish smile. “So... what next?” she asked, her voice full of unbridled excitement.

“Well, since we got a mane and coat shampoo... next is some conditioner!” Lily turned and trotted further down the aisle, then stopped as she peered at the bottles in front of her. “There it is! Same brand, same scent... perfect!” She grabbed a bottle, this one slightly larger than the last, and tossed it into her basket. Lily sat down and cocked her head to the side. “Hm... there anything else a young mare like you needs to look pretty?”

Nightshine shook her head, a happy grin nearly splitting her face in half.

Lily smirked. “Come on now, don’t be so humble! What about... a mane brushing kit? Do you have one of those by any chance?”

Nightshine chuckled. “Yeah, a brush would be a nice thing to have! The orphanage only had like, maybe five brushes? The colts never used them, so us girls got to use them a lot, but... they were super old by the time I left.” Nightshine’s tail swished back and forth. “Having my own would be so cool!”

Orphanage? Oh, right... “Glad to hear it, little one.” She lifted a wing and pointed down the aisle. “I think I saw the brushes near the entrance.”

“Okay!” This time, Nightshine took the lead, finding a ton of brushes in all shapes and sizes. “What would you pick, Ms. Lily?”

“Please, Lily is just fine, but you can call me Ms. Lily when I’m on duty.” She picked up a couple of different kits, comparing the contents in each one. “Hm... any preference? The brands are about the same in quality, so it really just depends on what you want.”

“Uh... which would you pick?”

“This one for sure!” Lily tossed the kit in her left hoof back on the shelf. “It has curlers, a blow dryer, a brush for your coat, and a brush for your mane and tail. The other one has the same stuff, but the bristles are kinda rough on the brushes, and we can’t have your pretty little mane looking like somepony dragged nails through it.” She tossed the kit into her basket, then fished out her bag of bits. “Looks like we have the basics, right?”

Nightshine nodded, a wide grin on her face.

“Sweet. Let’s check out the perfumes real quick; I wanna get something for myself while we’re here.” She stood up to walk over to the perfumes, but then she heard a small grumble from behind her. “Was that you?” she asked with a light smile, watching as Nightshine’s ears flicked back. “Heh, wanna go get lunch after this? I’m getting a little hungry myself.”

Nightshine’s ears perked up at that. “Sure! There a bakery nearby or something? I feel like snacking on something sweet!”

If I know Princess Luna, and I do... She’d be at that shop that Pinkie Pie works at... We’d be lucky if there was anything left! “Yeah, there’s one so awesome that even Princess Luna and Princess Celestia know about it, and it’s right here in Ponyville! Somewhere...” She paid for the stuff and led Nightshine outside. Making sure the strap on her saddlebag was tight, she opened her wings and shot a glance at Nightshine. “Let’s see how fast you are!” she said, an excited grin on her face.

“I... I don’t want to,” Nightshine said, unable to look Lily in the eyes as she sat down, rubbing her left foreleg with a hoof.

Lily pursed her lips, folding her wings back in. “How come? Your wings are big enough, at least, mine were about that size when I was your age.”

“It’s because, well...” Nightshine beckoned her in with a hoof and waited until she lowered her head. “The pony running the orphanage never let pegasi or me fly because she was afraid that we would hurt ourselves or fly away, and she would send us to bed without dinner if she ever caught us trying to fly,” she whispered into Lily’s ear.

“Hehe, she didn’t catch you, right?” Lily asked with a smirk.

“No, because I didn’t want to break her rules. We never really got enough food as it was.” Nightshine looked up at her as Lily sat down, then glanced around to make sure that nopony was within earshot. “When Jason adopted me about a week ago, our first stop was at a bakery on the way to the train station,” she said, her voice gaining a little bit of its usual confidence back. “He bought us a ton of sweets.”

“Aww, that was really sweet of him,” Lily said with an obnoxious wink, making Nightshine giggle at her cheap joke. “So only about a week, huh? How do you like living with him?”

“He’s really nice, and he’s done more for me than I could have ever dreamed!”

“Oh? Like what?”

“Well... when he first came to the orphanage to see if he could find somepony to adopt and I saw him, I felt all these butterflies appear in my stomach. He was different, and I was different.” She stood up and started walking down the street. “When he left without picking anypony, I was... I...” Nightshine stopped to quickly wipe her eyes with a hoof. “I thought that he was gonna pick somepony else...” Her ears flicked back as she cleared her throat. “When he came back the next day, I was hanging out in a tree. He wasn’t looking at anypony else but me. Believe it or not, but it felt like my heart stopped for a few seconds then! I didn’t want to hope that he was there to adopt me and take me away from the orphanage because then I’d feel let down again.”

“How’d you feel when he said he wanted to take you home?” Lily asked softly, wondering if Nightshine needed a hug.

“I, well...” Nightshine stopped walking and sat down. “I cried. All of those bad memories of me getting ignored or passed over just disappeared, and I couldn’t believe that he wanted to adopt me. I almost thought it was a dream...”

“Aww... Well like you said, you were both different, so it was only natural for him to pick you, and I’m sure your pretty looks just sealed the deal!” Lily said. “So you don’t know how to fly, huh?” Nightshine shook her head. “Has Jason done anything to help you in that regard?”

“Sorta! He started teaching me how to fly by helping me climb a tree, and I’d just glide down into his arms. That was a lot of fun, but... I want to fly.”

“We’ll just have to fix that, won’t we?” Lily shot her a comforting smile.

“You’ll teach me how to fly? Really?” Nightshine asked with wide eyes.

“Of course! After all, us thestrals absolutely need to be in the sky!”

“What about Jason? He can’t fly at all!” Nightshine licked her lips. “Can you teach us both to fly?” she asked with bated breath. "It’d be awesome if he and I can fly together!”

Hold up, Jason doesn't know how to fly? And she wants me to teach them both how to fly? Oh boy, that’s gonna be a tough one... She cleared her throat, and with a confident shake of her head, she said, “I promise I’ll do my best!”

The Flicker of a Flame

No, no, no! Jason thought as his wings lost their rhythm. He struggled with all his might to keep himself aloft, but ultimately failed like he had been doing all day. “Oof!” he grunted as he slammed into the ground yet again. Lily stifled a giggle with a hoof before she trotted up to him, holding out the same hoof for him. Jason grabbed it, letting her help him up, then brushed the dirt from his face.

“I thought teaching you to fly would be pretty easy, especially since you have the body of a full grown pony,” Lily said. She licked her hoof and rubbed Jason’s cheek, wiping away some dirt that he’d missed. He shied away from her touch, making her pause. “Heh, sorry,” she said. “I can get a little carried away sometimes.”

“It’s, uh... fine, I guess,” Jason said, rubbing his cheek where she’d just touched him, hoping to hide his rather obvious blush. “It still there?” Lily giggled, his heart fluttering from her beautiful, light laughter. He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Guess so, huh?”

“Hehe, yeah! You’re gonna need a shower after we’re done for sure! It’s kinda funny to see an adult crash again and again, especially when Nightshine is learning a lot faster than you are!” She looked behind her and saw Nightshine hovering a few feet above the ground, a wide grin on her face. “Be careful, sweetie!” she called out. “You’re getting a little close to that tree. Angle the tips of your wings forward so you don’t hit it!”

“O-Okay!” Nightshine yelled back, struggling a little as she tried to do what Lily said. After a full day of flying practice, her muscles were very, very sore, and she wanted nothing more than to go home and take a nap. She stumbled a little bit as she landed, panting heavily. With her legs trembling, she eyed the tree above her, looking for a branch thick enough to hold her weight. “Hm... Aha!” she exclaimed with glee, her eyes going wide. Mustering the rest of her strength, she wiggled her butt as she prepared to fly up, and though it was just a short distance, she hoped that she’d be able to make it. She flapped her wings down as hard as she could, propelling herself up.

The tips of her forelegs wrapped around the branch, making a wide grin break out on her face. “There we go!” she said. Pulling herself up, she looped her tail around the branch and let go, swinging back and forth. “Much better...” she murmured to herself as her eyelids drifted shut, her forelegs curling up against her chest. “Time for a...” A yawn broke her sentence in half as a smile slid on her face. “A quick nap...” she finished, her ears flicking back and forth.

Jason chuckled, hearing Nightshine softly snoring away. “I think that’s enough practice for one day. Maybe we can pick things up after that guy comes to inspect my house tomorrow?”

“Sounds like a plan to me!” Lily chirped. “Come on, let’s go get her. I’m sure she’d like some dinner before bed,” she said, trotting towards Nightshine.

“Now that’s the best thing I’ve heard you say all day!” Jason chuckled and followed Lily down the path. His eyes drifted down to her swishing tail, mesmerized by its rhythm. A few butterflies appeared in his stomach, flitting about as they searched for a way out. He shook his head, realizing that he had just been staring at her rear end, conflicted thoughts running throughout his mind. She is kinda cute... “So, uh... what were you thinking? I can cook a little bit, but I’ve never had to cook as a stallion before.”

“That’ll come with time, and I can teach you a little bit if we have time later in the week; it all really just depends on what Luna’s plans are. So... I was thinking we could go out for dinner and get something quick to eat. Know any good places around here?” Lily shot a glance over her shoulder and noticed that his cheeks were a tad bit rosy, shining a light pink through his gray coat. “Not as a date, silly!” She swished her tail back and forth at him, then gestured for him to catch up to her with a wing. Though I wouldn’t mind him asking me out... He is kinda cute, but... work always gets in the way.

She didn’t notice Jason’s shoulders slump down.

Jason trotted past Lily and sat below Nightshine. He gently booped her muzzle with a hoof, chuckling as she wiped her eyes with her little hoovsies in the most adorable of ways. “Come on, little one, we’re gonna go get some dinner!”

“Aww, already? But I was about to take a nap!” Nightshine pouted and crossed her forelegs as her ears flicked back. The wind brushed against her left side, turning her away from Jason.

“Heh, I can see that, but Daddy has crashed too many times today.” He held out his forelegs, then said, “Lily is gonna come, too!”

“Really?” Nightshine’s eyes went wide as a grin slid on her face. “Awesome!” She unlooped her tail from the branch and fell into Jason’s waiting legs. She wriggled about in his grasp until he let her down. Her legs still trembled, and her wings were very, very sore. “Um... can one of you guys carry me back into town?” she asked with a sheepish, hopeful grin.

“Do you even need to ask?” Jason lay down on the ground, letting Nightshine clamber onto his back. She settled down on his upper back, her head resting against the back of his neck. “Ready?”

“Mhm...” Nightshine murmured as she closed her eyes. She nuzzled the side of his neck and latched onto his mane, her tail hanging off of his left side.

“Alrighty... here we go!” Jason stood up with a grunt, then looked up at Lily. “What are you in the mood for?”

“I dunno, something light? We have been working out all day, after all.”

“Fair enough.” He nodded back towards town. “Shall we?”

Lily grinned, feeling her stomach grumble. “Yeah, let’s get a move on! Can’t believe you made me skip lunch...” she said, nudging his side with a wing. “But hey, it was worth it, even if you didn’t make that much progress.”

“I didn’t make you stick around,” Jason said, nudging her back, the tip of his wing grazing against her cutie mark. His mouth instantly went dry, as if he’d just eaten a bag of sand. Her eyes shot up to his. “S-Sorry! Still getting used to these darned things...” he said.

Lily’s eyes narrowed for a few seconds, then she relaxed, letting a smile grace her lips. “That’s perfectly understandable.”

Phew! “Thanks.” He shot her a grateful smile, then heard Nightshine giggle.

“Hehe, you touched her butt!” Nightshine snickered, hiding her grin with a hoof. “You must really like her, huh?”

Jason’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. “What? No, it’s not like that at all, I, uh... I mean, I do like her, but it’s not like that!” His shoulders slumped in defeat as he sighed. He lifted his head, seeing Twilight and Princess Luna sitting on a bench near the edge of the park. Jason’s eyes locked with Twilight’s, who waved him over with a wing. “Oh great, I think Twilight and Luna were watching me fail at flying...” he muttered.

“Oh?” Lily giggled. “Maybe they were just watching Nightshine learn how to fly; she is the cuter one after all!” She waved back at the princesses with a wing. “Come on, let’s go see what they want!”

After dinner, Jason sighed, a smile tugging his lips upwards as he stretched his sore wings. “How’re you feeling, little one?” he asked, feeling Nightshine scurry up his right hind leg and onto his back.

“Sleepy...” she murmured, burying her muzzle into his mane. Nightshine wrapped her forelegs around his neck.

“So, uh...” Lily rubbed the back of her neck as she shivered, a cool breeze tickling the nape of her neck. “Wanna practice some more after your house gets inspected tomorrow? Princess Luna and Twilight both wish to go shopping all day tomorrow, and Twilight said that she wants to meet us somewhere for lunch.” A yawn forced itself past her lips. “As for your flying, you did okay for somepony who never flew before. I’m sure we can make some improvements after you’ve got some shut-eye!” she chirped.

“Yeah, that sounds fine to me,” Jason said, trying his hardest not to yawn, but as always, they were always so darn infectious. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then? Want to just meet at my place?” She smiled at him, making it hard for him to hold her gaze.

Lily giggled. “Yeah, for sure! Can’t wait!” she said, flying off in the direction of Twilight’s castle.

Jason watched her until she flew out of view, then sighed, already missing her company. “You ready for bed, little one?” he asked, trotting towards their home.

“I’m ready for snuggles!” Nightshine corrected him with a light nuzzle.

“Haha, yeah, for sure.” Jason made quick time back to their home, and after letting himself in, he gently closed the door. He walked through the living room, down the hallway, and into Nightshine’s room. He flopped down onto the bed, letting Nightshine slide under the covers. “Wanna make room for me?” Jason asked as he yawned again.

“Mhm!” Nightshine scooted over, then snuggled up against Jason’s side as soon as he pulled the covers up. “Just gotta...” She squirmed against his side, pushing herself under his wing. “There!” she said as she curled up against his side, using his wing like a blanket.

“Comfy?” he asked.

“Yup!” Nightshine said, curling up under his wing. “And warm...”

Jason let out a content sigh, then pulled a pillow over for himself. Minutes passed as Nightshine’s warmth seeped into his coat, and right as he was about to fall asleep, somepony knocked on his front door. “Now who the heck thinks it’s okay to knock on my door this late?” he asked, grumbling as he pushed himself up, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep.

“I dunno. Maybe go check?” Nightshine mumbled, wrapping herself up in her blanket.

Jason chuckled and rolled his eyes. “Nah, I think ignoring them would be the best idea.” He laid a gentle kiss on the back of her head and trotted out of her bedroom. His eyebrows furrowed as he wondered who could possibly be at his front door, but he knew he’d find out soon enough. Letting his hoof rest on the door handle, he pushed it down and cracked the door open. “Lily?” he asked, opening the door the rest of the way. “Something wrong?”

“Heh, kinda.” Lily rubbed her right foreleg with a hoof as she took a hesitant step forward. “Twilight’s castle is all locked up, and I can’t get in.

“Isn’t it usually unlocked?”

“I mean, yeah, it is, but... Luna likes to sleep with her door locked. I guess she wanted to lock everything up tight? She can get a little weird sometimes.” She shrugged. “So... I know we just met, but...” She bit her bottom lip as she flicked her eyes up to his. “Any chance I can crash here for the night?” she asked with a nervous chuckle.

“Uh... yeah, I guess that’s fine.” Jason stepped aside and let her in. “Welcome to the Thestral Inn, where the blankets and snuggles are complementary,” he said in a funny voice, not even taking a second to think before he spoke.

“Awesome!” Lily trotted inside and sat down, looking about his place. “So where are we gonna snuggle?” she asked, a blush sitting plainly on her face. “I hope your bed is big enough for the both of us.”

“I, um...” Jason blushed furiously as he froze in place. “I was joking.”

“...Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Daddy?” came Nightshine’s voice.

“What is it, sweetie?”

“If she wants snuggles, then you should give her snuggles. I don’t mind letting you snuggle with her tonight,” she said. “Besides...” Nightshine looked up at Lily and grinned. “He’s the best snuggler around!”

“Heh, that’s a pretty big claim.” Lily flicked her tail around herself as she looked him up and down. “I’m a pretty good snuggler myself, but I’m a little rusty...”

Jason gulped. I hate being put on the spot, but... should I? She seems open to the idea... “I guess we could give it a shot,” he said.

“Great!” Lily chirped. “It’s been too long since I snuggled with someone as cute as you!”

Jason’s eyes went wide, his tail swishing about behind him. “Uh...”

“Is he blushing again?” Nightshine giggled. “He’s been doing that all day around you!”

“Nightshine!” Jason exclaimed, rolling his eyes. “Come on...”

“What?” Nightshine cocked her head to the side. “You are the best snuggler! And you like her! What’s stopping you?” She ruffled her wings.

“Okay, that’s enough out of you, little one,” Jason said, chuckling nervously as he gently pushed her back towards her room.

“Fiiiiine,” Nightshine said, retreating back to her room. She closed the door until there was nothing but a sliver for her to peek through, then she lay down, her eyes locked on them both.

“So... we don’t have to snuggle if you don’t want to,” Lily said, casting her gaze to the floor as her shoulders slumped.

“N-No, it’s fine.” Jason stood up and nodded past Nightshine’s room. “My room’s at the end of the hall.” He heard Nightshine squee. “And little fillies should go to bed!” he called out.

Nightshine giggled, then pushed her door the rest of the way shut.

Lily rubbed her left foreleg with a hoof, then sighed, letting a soft smile slide onto her face. “I can tell you’re nervous. Heh, I know I’d be if I was put in the same situation,” she said softly. “Tell you what...” She flopped down on his couch, then yawned, flicking her mane to the other side of her neck. “If you really like me as much as Nightshine says, wouldn’t it be best for you to ask me out on a date first? After all, snuggling like lovers before we were even dating? Even Princess Luna would consider that scandalous,” she said with a giggle. “So whatcha say? Wanna ask me out on a date?”

Put on the spot twice in a matter of minutes? “Uh...” Jason gulped.

“You don’t have to decide just yet. I’m a patient mare.” She lay her head down on one of the couch cushions and pulled the blanket off of the top of the couch. “I’ll be fine here for the night.”

“So...” Jason licked his dry lips. “You need anything else?”

“Nah, I think I’m good.” Lily used her forelegs to unfold the blanket, then draped it over herself.

“Cool. I guess I’ll see you in the morning?”

“I suppose so. You want me gone before the inspector shows up? I can help you spruce the place up a little if you want me to in the morning.”

Jason yawned. “Sure, I bet Nightshine would love to have you stick around a little bit longer,” he said, walking back to his bedroom. He walked through the doorway, then paused when he heard Lily cough like she had something to say.

“J-Jason?” Lily felt herself blush as her gaze momentarily flicked to the floor. “Thanks for letting me stay the night,” she murmured.

Jason returned her smile. “No problem.”

As she watched his door click shut, she sighed. He really does like me... she thought, knowing all too well that Twilight’s castle wasn’t locked at all.

Snuggles in the Storm

Lily squirmed on the couch for what felt like the umpteenth time. A thunderstorm had appeared out of nowhere a few hours ago, and even though she would hate to admit it to anypony, she was deathly afraid of thunder and lightning. She pulled the blanket over her head as she buried her muzzle in between the couch cushions, trying her hardest to block out the terrifying sounds. A whimper escaped past her lips as a particularly loud thunderclap rang out from above, making the tips of her wings tremble.

About a minute later, she heard a door further down the hall click open, making her ears cock towards the sound. Jason? she thought as she lifted her head up, the blanket falling from her head to rest on her back. Soft hoofsteps came from further down the hallway, a brief flash of lightning illuminating the pony walking towards her. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, a sheepish smile sliding onto her face. She hoped that he hadn’t seen her squirming in fear, for such a thing was unbecoming of a guard, after all.

“Yeah. I heard someone whimper and I thought it was Nightshine.” Jason stopped in front of Nightshine’s door and pressed an ear against it. When he heard her snoring, he grinned and shook his head as he walked forward, stopping when he reached the living room. He leaned against the wall as he yawned. “She’s still getting used to living here, after all. I don’t think she likes storms that much.” He pushed himself off of the wall and rubbed the back of his neck. “So, uh... was it you I heard? Were you having a nightmare or something?”

“Yeah, it was me,” Lily admitted with a blush. Her ears flicked back as she glanced away, unable to hold his gaze. “I don’t like storms either.”

“Oh, I see...” Jason turned back around towards his bedroom. “It should be gone in a little bit, and then we can all get some shut-eye.” He took a couple of steps back towards his room before he heard Lily cough. Glancing over his shoulder, he waited for her to speak.

“Um... any chance we could stay up and talk for a little bit?” Lily asked hopefully, a light smile pulling the sides of her lips upwards.

“Heh, sure. I don’t see why not.” Jason turned around again and walked over to the couch, treading as lightly as he could so as to not wake Nightshine up. He jumped up on the couch and settled down next to Lily, letting his forelegs drape over the edge. “So you don’t really like thunderstorms all that much, huh?”

Lily shook her head as she squirmed on the couch, her wings fluttering at her sides. “Nuh-uh, and you better not tell anypony about that, either.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” Jason said with a chuckle. “So... what’s on your mind?”

“I don’t know, I just wanted some company. I don’t really like being alone; that’s why I live in the barracks instead of my own place. Living in Canterlot is way too expensive, even on a royal guard’s salary, so it kinda just works out.”

“I’m sure. That’s why I chose to live down here. The food is good, the house was relatively cheap compared to what was offered up in Canterlot, and everypony down here is pretty nice. It did take a while for them to get used to me, though. I only became a pony like, a few days ago.”

“Yeah, Luna said something about that. What were you before you were a pony?” Lily curiously asked. "I forget."

“A human,” Jason said. "Think of a hairless monkey that's a lot taller that wears clothes all the time."

"Oh, okay... that sounds weir- uh, sorry," Lily said with a sheepish smile. "I'm sure you look nice."

"Eh, I'm just average, really. Nothing too special about me."

Lily crossed her right foreleg over the other. "So... what made you want to become a thestral? For Nightshine?"

“Yeah. I also thought it'd be fun to see what living like a pony would be like. I know Nightshine is living her dream come true with me like this, but man... while she acts like a normal filly, I can’t help but treat her like she’s the most fragile thing in the universe. She’s been my daughter for a little while now, and while it already feels like it’s been forever, we’re still learning how to mesh as a family. Maybe living as a pony would help that process move along faster.”

Lily grinned. “It sounds like you’re doing a splendid job so far. Luna sure seems to think so.”

“Yeah? Was Twilight sending her letters or something?”

Lily nodded. “Mmm... maybe. And maybe she had me read them aloud to her.” She shifted back and forth on the couch. "So... you said you like to snuggle? Nightshine said that you're the best snuggler, after all."

“Yeah... I can show you if you want.” Another loud thunderclap sounded out from right above his house, making him jump a little bit. Lily let loose a loud ‘eep’ as she jerked forward, pressing up against his side. Jason’s breath caught in his throat as he felt her tremble against him. “You okay?” he asked, placing his left hoof on her back.

“Y-Yeah,” Lily said. Feeling his body’s warmth seep into her right wing and coat, her eyes went wide. With an awkward giggle, she scooted back a little bit, unable to look up at him for fear of him seeing how hard she was blushing. “Sorry about that.”

“Nothing to be sorry about. You were just scared. Hehe, it even scared me, and I like loud thunderstorms!” Jason stretched his forelegs then relaxed, listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the roof.

“Ugh! I hate them!” Lily’s muzzle scrunched up as she shook her head to and fro, like she’d just eaten a piece of sour candy. “I don’t know why anypony would like them.”

Jason shrugged. “I just think they make cool sounds,” he said.

“They make scary sounds,” Lily said, correcting him. Feeling her blush subside, she nudged his leg with a hoof and glanced back up at him. “So... you were saying something about snuggling?” she asked with a long yawn.

"Yeah. You wanna snuggle here or go to my bed?"

"Here is fine. I'm already pretty warm right here, after all," she said. "So... do you like being the little spoon or the big spoon?"

"I suppose either would be fine. What do you like?"

"...I like being the little spoon," Lily squeaked out. "But I think we should get to know each other better before doing something so intimate." She propped her head up on a pillow then held open the blanket enough for Jason to scoot in beside her. "Thanks for the company, though. I really do appreciate it..." she whispered, letting the blanket fall upon his back.

Jason grabbed a pillow to lay his head on, then let loose a long sigh, enjoying the warmth from the blanket and from Lily. A few minutes passed in silence as he listened to the storm fade away into the distance. Wondering if she was still up, he listened hard and noticed that she was breathing steadily. “Lily, you still up?” he asked softly. When she didn’t budge an inch, he chuckled. “You didn’t fall asleep already, did you?” Warmth from Lily’s body seeped into his legs. He wanted to get up and go back to his bed, but he figured that if she was scared of thunderstorms, she probably hadn’t got any sleep yet. Wanting to let her get some rest, he made himself comfortable on the couch then let sleep take him away to the wonderful world of dreams.

After several minutes, Lily cracked an eye open, glancing at his face. Perfect... she thought, feeling butterflies flit about in her stomach when her eyes confirmed that he was already fast asleep. I wonder if he'd look as cute as a human? Her ears flicked down as she grinned, happy with her good luck. I wonder if he’s going to invite me to the Grand Galloping Gala... Dear Celestia... please... I’ve never been. She heard another loud thunderclap a little ways off in the distance, and instead of it making her shiver in fright, she simply snuggled closer and closed her eyes, feeling secure and content laying next to him. At least thunderstorms have one thing going for them!

A Hopeful Heart

Lily stirred awake, her ears flicking about as she awoke from a dreamless yet satisfying sleep. A yawn forced her muzzle apart as she lifted her head from Jason’s pillow. She blinked a few times, then shielded her eyes with a wing as the sun’s light streamed in through the windows. Lowering her wing after a few moments, she found Nightshine sitting in front of the couch, a wide smirk plastered on her face. Lily tensed up, then relaxed a little bit. “Hey, little one...” she said softly, shooting her a warm smile. “You sleep well?”

“Yeah, but it looks like you slept better!” Nightshine chirped back. “Told ya snuggling with him was awesome!” She hopped up on the couch and jumped on top of Jason, wrapping her forelegs around his neck. “Morning, Daddy!” she said, nuzzling his cheek over and over.

“Ugh...” Jason opened his eyes, staring right up at the ceiling. Rubbing his neck with his left leg, he wrapped his other leg around Nightshine and held her close. “Good morning, Nightshine.” He glanced down to his left and noticed that Lily was pointedly staring at the coffee table, unable to meet his gaze. “Hey Lily...” he said as he stretched.

Lily coughed lightly. “You two happen to have any pancake mix around here? I can whip us up some killer pancakes if you do!” she said, looking towards the kitchen.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure we do,” Jason said. “You know how to cook?”

“Of course,” Lily said with a light-hearted scoff. "I learned from watching Princess Luna make her mother's recipe many, many times."

“Heh, alright then. If you wanna make us some breakfast, that’d be awesome. I should start cleaning up around here if I want this place to be presentable by the time that inspector guy comes around.” Jason stood up and looked around. “Well, all we really need to do is make sure that the kitchen is cleaned up,” he said, folding the blanket that he and Lily had shared. “And the beds have to be made. Guess I’ll start in my room.”

“Okay! I’ll let you know when breakfast is ready!” Lily called out after Jason as he walked past. Nightshine trotted after him, but stopped in front of the entryway to the kitchen. “Something on your mind, little one?” Lily asked.

“Um...” Nightshine rubbed her foreleg with a hoof as a nervous grin broke out on her face. “I know I’m only a filly, and I know I’m gonna be a mare eventually, but...” Her head drooped a little.

“What is it?” Lily asked, cocking her head to the side. She turned on the burner and rifled around in one of Jason’s cabinets until she found a large pan.

“Well... nopony ever taught me how to cook before,” Nightshine said, hesitantly flicking her gaze up to meet Lily’s. “C-Can you maybe show me how to make pancakes?”

“Oh, of course!” Lily pushed a chair over from the table next to the stove. “Here you go! Just hop on up and I’ll show you how simple it is to cook these delectable delights!” A sudden knocking on the front door made her pause.

“I’ll get it!” Jason said as he hurried over to the front door. “Everything clean over there?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Uh... yep!” Lily called back.

After taking a deep breath, Jason turned the door handle and opened the door. “Oh, it’s just you two,” he said, breathing a sigh of relief. Jason shifted from side to side, his tail swishing about as if it had a mind of its own.

“Yeah, it’s just two of the four princesses of Equestria,” Twilight shot back with a grin, then shot him a quizzical gaze, watching his wings tremble slightly. “You okay?”

“O- Of course!” Jason stepped aside, then closed the door behind them. "Just still getting used to being a pony and not wearing clothes around princesses, is all," he said with a laugh. "I'm kinda nervous about this inspection thing, too."

“So? We only wear clothes when—” Twilight laughed. “Oh, right. You always wear clothes.”

“Yeah. Gotta stay decent, unlike—”

“All of Equestria?” Luna smirked, trotted past him, and promptly flopped down on the couch, spreading herself out across the cushions. She buried her muzzle underneath a cushion. “By the way, Lily? When we get back home, pease remind me that I need a couch such as this for my bedroom.”

“Huh? Why is that?” Twilight asked. “It’s just a couch.”

“Yes, it is, my dear Twilight, but it is a comfy couch! We do not have such comforts back home. All of the couches and chairs look pretty and fancy, yes, but they are not comfy. I wouldn’t even care if it was the ugliest color so long as it was this comfy.” Luna giggled as she finally pushed herself up into a more respectable position, a light blush tinting her cheeks a rosy pink. “Pray tell, Jason, where did you happen to acquire this couch?”

“Uh... I got it used from some family that bought a new one. They gave me a good deal, so I couldn’t really turn it down.”

“Oh, I see... Hmph! It is of no matter; it is comfy nonetheless, and I require one to replace that awful thing Celestia gave me for my birthday a while ago.” She prodded the couch with a hoof, then lay back against it. “It’s pretty warm, too, not like like just one pony was using it...” Her eyes narrowed as the cogs turned in her head.

“Jason and Lily snuggled on it last night!” Nightshine chirped with glee. “I woke up and saw them this morning before they woke up, and even though I didn’t think it could happen, she was smiling in her sleep! I didn’t even know you could do that! Isn’t that cool?” Silence filled the room, making her smile slowly fade away. “Um... did I say something wrong, Daddy?” she asked, looking up at Jason.

“Uh...” Jason rubbed the back of his neck as he felt every mare’s gaze fall on him. “It’s a long story.”

“One that I would be most curious to hear back on the train ride back up to Canterlot,” Luna said, shooting Lily a deep, knowing smirk. “Wait, what are you cooking over there?” she asked, her ears perking up as she sniffed the air. "I could go for a second breakfast..."

“Well, I’m just about to start making some pancakes, and Nightshine here was gonna help me! Everypony want some?” she asked. A chorus of yesses filled the room, Luna’s reply drowning out most of the others. “Awesome! I’ll let you know when they’re ready, okay?” Looking down at Nightshine, she said, “Hey, can you go and grab some blueberries from the fridge? Blueberry pancakes are Luna’s favorite!”

“You got it!”

Luna cleared her throat. “Anyways, how’d the inspection go?”

“He hasn’t arrived yet. To be honest, I’m expecting him to be here any min—” A soft knock came from his front door. “Well, like I was saying, any minute. I guess this is him, so... act natural, I guess?”

Letting his hoof rest on the doorknob, he took another deep breath to steady his nerves and opened the door, revealing a tan earth pony. “Hello there!” he said, standing aside to let him in. “I take it that you’re the home inspector?”

They nodded once as they took a couple steps inside. “I sure am. The name is Ba—Oh my heavens, Princess Twilight and Princess Luna!” He bowed low, his right foreleg curling up as his muzzle brushed against the floor. “It is quite the honor to meet you,” he said, standing back up. “My name is Bartholomeus, and I am here to inspect this home to see if it is suitable for... uh, hang on a tic.” He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a clipboard. “Uh... Nightshine? Yeah, that’s the one!”

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Luna said, nodding once. “We came hoping to hear whether or not Jason had passed your examination, but it appears we came a little early.”

“Yes, well, be that as it may, the train was running a little late. I was supposed to be here half an hour ago,” Bartholomeus said with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck.

Jason closed the door and stepped to the side. “So how do we go about this home inspection? Do you just have to look around or what?”

“That is a part of it, yes, but I do have to interview both you and Nightshine.” He flipped a couple pages over and peered down, pushing his spectacles up. “Hm... would it be okay with you if I start with the home inspection?”

“That’s fine with me,” Jason said. “As you can see, this is the living room, the kitchen is over to your right, where Nightshine and our new friend, Lily, is showing her how to make pancakes, and if you look further to the ri—”

“Ahem! New friend?” Bartholomeus’ eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that, good sir?”

“Uh... Well, Lily is one of Princess Luna’s guards. She and Luna came down to help out around here, and Lily has been absolutely wonderful to Nightshine; almost like the mother she never had.”

“Hmph. I see... Very well, then! Let us move on.” He walked up to the entrance of the kitchen and paused. “Well, hello there, little one!” he said, a wide grin on his face as his eyes fell upon a young bat pony pouring a cup full of blueberries onto a half-cooked pancake. “You must be Nightshine!”

“Y-Yeah, that’s me,” Nightshine said, shooting him a cautious glance. “Are you that inspector pony?”

“I sure am!”

“Well, it’s, uh... it’s nice to meet you, sir!” Nightshine said, letting a little smile grace her lips.

“Well-mannered, and seems to be happy here...” Bartholomeus said, scribbling that down on his clipboard.

“I sure am! Daddy taught me that you’re supposed to be kind to strangers, too,” she said.

“Already calling him Daddy? That’s odd... Hasn’t it been a week or so since your adoption?”

“Uh... I think so. He’s my daddy, though; I just know it!” Nightshine said with glee. “When we first met, I just knew in my heart that he would take me away and give me a home! And I—” She felt Lily nudge her side with a hoof, making her look up at her with an questioning gaze.

“That is good to hear! Anyways, I assume the pantry is well-stocked?” he asked, pulling it open and peering inside. “Hm... a little low.”

“W-We have been rather busy preparing for your visit, and, uh...” Jason felt a pit in his stomach grow as he followed the inspector down the hallway.

Lily coughed to get Nightshine’s attention. “You were laying it on a little thick there at the end, sweetie,” she said, feeling a tad bit uneasy. I hope that doesn’t hurt her chances of staying with Jason...

“Oh, I know!” Nightshine said with a giggle.

“You’re a little devil, you know that?” Lily asked, returning Nightshine’s giggle as she ruffled her mane with a hoof. “So... did Jason really teach you to be nice to strangers?”

“Nope! I just said that to make him look better,” Nightshine said, her smile faltering. “Some of my friends at the orphanage actually came back because their new parents failed the home inspection. They, um... they were sad for weeks. Barely ate anything, too, and...” A shiver ran down her back as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “I don’t want Jason to fail...” she muttered, her ears flicking back. Barely a moment passed before she felt Lily wrap her forelegs around her, pulling her into a tight hug.

“That’s never gonna happen, Nightshine, and don’t you dare speak another word of that. Banish those thoughts from your mind and don’t ever let them return,” Lily said, rubbing Nightshine’s back.

“O-Okay,” Nightshine said, sniffling a little bit.

“You promise?” Lily sat back, then wiped the tears from Nightshine’s eyes as she nodded. “Come on, shall we go see how things are going? I’m sure that everything is going smoothly.”

“Alright, and... thanks,” Nightshine said.

“Anytime, sweetie.”

“Thank you for your time, Jason, Nightshine,” Bartholomeus said, tucking his clipboard back into his saddlebag. He grinned as he watched Nightshine climb up Jason’s leg, using her wings to give her an extra boost to latch her forelegs around his neck. She pulled herself up, her head appearing over his shoulder, a wide grin on her face.

“It was our pleasure, Bartholomeus,” Jason said. "Would you care to share breakfast with us?”

“Heh, while I would enjoy that, I must be off to Trottingham on the very next train to get to my next appointment!” Bartholomeus said, walking towards the front door. “I wish you two the best of luck!” he said as he let himself out.

A heavy silence filled the room, one that Twilight broke after many seconds. “So?! Did you pass?” she asked.

‘We sure did!” Jason said. “And Nightshine? I have a surprise for you!”

“Oh?” She draped herself over his shoulder. “What do you mean?”

“We’re going to the Grand Galloping Gala!”

Nightshine gasped. “Really?!” Nightshine asked, her eyes wide. “Eeeee!” She launched herself off of Jason’s shoulders, spreading her wings wide. She flew around the room a couple of times, then headed straight for Jason with her forelegs outstretched. She hit him hard, making him stumble back as she wrapped her forelegs around his neck. Jason lost his balance and fell down, his back hitting the front door, but Nightshine was too focused on nuzzling him to notice.

“The pancakes are ready!” Lily called out from the kitchen. “Come and get ‘em!”

Nightshine’s ears perked up at that. She took a few sniffs, then bolted towards the kitchen like a dog chasing a cat.

“Congratulations, Jason,” Luna said, slipping off of the couch. She held out a hoof to help him up. “I did not have a shred of doubt that you wouldn’t be able to pass the inspection.”

“Heh, thanks. I was worried sick throughout the entire thing; it felt like I was walking on pins and needles.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You think that his decision was influenced by yours and Twilight’s presence?” he asked.

Luna simply smirked at him. “Oh, I don’t know...” A grin slowly grew on her face before she couldn’t hold back anymore. “Don’t tell anypony I said this, but I think he almost peed himself when he saw me and Twilight.”

“Ha! I’m sure anypony would, given the circumstances. Anyways... there’s not enough chairs in the kitchen for all five of us, so would it be okay if you and Twilight ate out here in the living room? You could sit on my comfy couch again, as you so eloquently put it.”

“You know me too well, Jason; I was going to ask if it was alright to eat there,” Luna said with a giggle. “Celestia hates it when I do that!”

“My mom was the same way, but I still did it anyways,” Jason said. “You wanna go lay down again? I can bring you a plate.”

“That sounds lovely, thank you,” she said. “By the way, Lily and I need to get going after breakfast. I need to help my sister prepare for the Gala, and I told her that I would be back early this afternoon to assist her.”

“What, so soon? I guess it has been a few days...” He shot a forlorn glance Lily’s way.

Luna’s eyes softened. “Well, if it is any consolation, I do not think this will be the last time you and Lily will meet.”

“Yeah... One can only hope.” Stepping into the kitchen, Jason grabbed a bottle of syrup and let Lily carry in the plates of food. “You know, a little birdy told me that Lily is a good cook,” he said as he walked back towards the kitchen. He sat down at the small table where Lily was placing their plates on the table for them. As soon as Lily sat down, Nightshine immediately started scarfing down her pancake, almost as if she was inhaling it. “Woah, slow down there; you really should take little bites so you can enjoy it more,” he said with a chuckle.

Nightshine grinned. “But it’s so good!” she said, squeezing no small amount of syrup onto the remains of her pancake. “You want some?” Nightshine asked, holding out the bottle for him between her two front hooves.

“I would love some, thanks.” Jason poured some of the syrup onto his pancake, then pushed the bottle across the table towards Lily.

Nightshine suddenly gasped. “Lily! Are you going to the Grand Galloping Gala too?” she asked, staring up at her with wide eyes. “A mare as pretty as you should definitely be there!”

Lily rubbed her foreleg with a hoof. “Uh... to be honest, I don’t know. The schedule for the guards was posted yesterday, and I’ve been here for the last few days, so... yeah.” She forced herself to smile. “I sure hope I don’t have to work, though! I’ve always been scheduled to work the Gala in the past several years, though, so... I don’t think my chances are good.”

“Oh, uh... I’m sorry to hear that,” Jason said, feeling a tad bit uncomfortable. “Any chance you could get somepony to take your place?”

“I really doubt that anypony would want to take an extra shift, even if it’s for the Gala. I do have a bit of seniority, though, so... there might be a chance that I’m free,” she said hopefully.

“I see, so... Luna said you two are leaving after this,” he said softly.

Lily’s shoulders drooped as her ears flicked back. She set her fork back down on the plate and glanced off to the side. “Yeah... I heard her tell you that.” She licked her lips, then glanced back up at him, her cheeks a soft, rosy pink. “I’m, uh... I’m gonna miss you guys. I’ve had a blast hanging out with you two, and... about last night, I’m sor—”

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Jason said. “I didn’t mind it one bit.”

Lily perked up at that. “Y-Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re always welcome to stop by when you can! I’m sure that Nightshine would love that, right, little one?” he asked, tousling his daughter’s mane.

“Sure would!” Nightshine said through the half-chewed food in her mouth.

“I am very glad to hear that,” Lily said with a soft smile. Their conversation lapsed into silence as she stared at her mostly-untouched pancake. Should I ask him? This could be the last time I see him in weeks... Her heart throbbed in her chest, screaming at her to make the first move. She felt Nightshine poke her side, wrenching her from her thoughts. “Hm? What’d you say?”

“I asked if you were gonna finish that pancake,” Nightshine said. “So... are you? They’re only good for a few minutes before they get all soggy; they’re really yummy!” She wiggled in her seat, praying for a positive answer.

“Yeah, sure. I usually don’t eat breakfast anyways,” Lily lied.

Jason’s eyes narrowed. “Uh... you sure?” he asked as he watched Lily push her plate towards Nightshine.

“I’m fine,” Lily said, “I’m honestly not really hungry right now.”

Jason’s eyes narrowed further, then he relented. “Okay then. Thanks for making these; they’re great,” he said over the sounds of Nightshine gobbling up the pancake. He finished the last few bites of his own and stood up, taking away their empty plates. After he placed them in the kitchen sink, he poked his head out of the kitchen and asked, “You two finished out here?”

“Yep, and I am afraid we must get going,” Luna said, licking a bit of syrup from her lips. “Shall we, Lily?”

Lily sighed. “Yeah, but we need to stop by Twilight’s castle to get my armor; I left it in my room.”

“Very well, but we should hurry. The train to Canterlot leaves in twenty minutes, and I had them hook up my personal train car to the end so that we could relax in private,” Luna said. “And it’s stocked with your favorite snack, too!” She slipped off the couch, stretched, then used her magic to open the front door. Twilight followed her outside, though she did shoot a warm smile Jason’s way.

“Wait, you have mangos?” Lily asked breathlessly.

“What’s a mango?” Nightshine asked, cocking her head to the side.

Lily chuckled. “It’s only the bestest, most tastiest fruit imaginable! I’ll be sure to bring you some the next time I’m around, okay? They might actually have some around town down here, though they can be rather hard to find sometimes.”

“Awesome; I can’t wait!”

“Great. Well, it was really nice getting to know you two. Would you like to walk me out?” she asked.

“Of course.”

“Thanks.” Lily stood up and walked past Jason, feeling her muscles tense up as her tail brushed against his leg. A light blush appeared on her cheeks as she walked towards the front door, following Luna and Twilight outside. A light breeze blew her mane to the other side of her neck as she stepped out onto his small front porch. She felt little pinpricks form on her neck, making her wings tremble at her sides as she watched Luna and Twilight walk away.

“Are you coming, Lily?” Luna asked, pausing when she realized that Lily wasn’t with her and Twilight.

Lily’s heart throbbed in her chest. “J-Just a minute, Princess!” she called out. Taking a few deep breaths to steady her nerves, she flicked her tail a couple of times and turned around. “Hey, Jason?” she asked, looking up into his eyes, her mouth feeling incredibly dry. “I know this is a bit of a long shot, but... um... would you maybe want to go on a date with me sometime soon?” she squeaked out.

Jason’s eyes went wide, though he regained control after a couple of seconds. “Yeah, I’d like that,” he said, blinking a few times. “I’d like that a lot.”

“Really?” Lily’s eyes lit up with glee as she pranced in place. Yay! She darted forward and wrapped her forelegs around his neck, nuzzling him for a few seconds before she realized what she was doing. “Heh, sorry. I think I got a little carried away there...” she said. “Anyways, I...”

“Lily!” Luna yelled from further down the road.

“Coming!” Lily yelled back. She smiled sheepishly as she looked back up at Jason. “Guess I gotta go, huh?” Nightshine trotted up to her, stood up on her hind legs, then wrapped her forelegs around her neck.

“Promise you’ll come back soon?” Nightshine asked, tightening her grip for a few moments before she let go.

“I promise,” Lily said.

Jason took a deep breath, then licked his lips, hoping that the question that sit on the tip of his tongue wasn’t too forward. “Hey, so, uh... if you’re not working during the Grand Galloping Gala, would you like to be my plus one? I don’t have anyone else to bring, and I think that’d be a really fun first date.”

“If I’m not working, I would absolutely love to go with you, Jason,” Lily said, her rump wiggling about in excitement. “Anyways, I really gotta go now. Goodbye, you two!” She opened her wings and flew off in the direction of Twilight’s castle, waving at them until she disappeared from sight.

Jason waved back, then stepped back inside. “Heh, sure didn’t expect that coming.”

Nightshine laughed. “You kidding? I saw it a mile away!” she said, playfully nudging his side.

“What? How?” Jason asked, puzzled.

“Daddy, I’m a filly. All fillies can tell when somepony has a crush on somepony!” Nightshine said with a giggle. “You two look so cute together!” She gasped. “You think she could be my mommy one day?!”

Lily trotted back inside the barracks, a gleeful pep in her step. Making her way over to her bunk bed, she kicked open her trunk, unceremoniously dropped her saddlebag and armor inside, then shut it. She flopped down on her bed and let loose a heavy sigh of content, unable to keep a smile off her face.

“What, you’re not even going to say hello?” her friend’s voice came from the bunk above her.

“Abigale?” Lily glanced up to find her friend looking down upon her with a smirk. She pushed herself up. “Sorry, I didn’t even see you when I came in.”

“Yeah, I was sleeping; my shift was this morning,” Abigale said as she swung down to land on Lily’s bed. She lay down on the other end of the rather small bed and let her smirk deepen.

“Uh... what is it?”

“Something happened down in Ponyville, right? I can see it all over your face!” Abigale said, nudging her best friend with a hoof. Her fangs glistened in the fading sunlight streaming in through the windows. “Come on, we’re besties; we tell each other everything! Spill the beans already!” She brushed a bit of her light purple mane out of her eyes and waited with unwavering attention.

Lily giggled nervously, then leaned in close. “I met a stallion down there, and...” she said, keeping her voice soft. “I asked him out!”

“Eeee! I knew it!” Abigale screeched, her tail swishing about behind her.

“That’s not the best part; he’s a thestral, and he invited me to the Gala!” Lily said, smiling at her friend’s excitement. “He’s got a really cute daughter, too!”

Abigale’s smile faltered. “Wait, what?” Her eyebrows furrowed that. “Hold on, hun, you want to get involved with a stallion who already has a filly?” She shook her head. “No, no, and no! That’s a horrible idea! What if he gets tired of you and wants to get back with the mother? Would you really want to get hitched to him and have to deal with that in the future? Every time he looks at his daughter, he’s gonna think of his ex-wife! You really should break things off as soon as you can.”

Lily’s mouth hung open wide. “Okay... I’m gonna stop you right there. His daughter was just recently adopted from an orphanage here in Canterlot, and I really, really like this guy. I am not going to break things off.”

Abigale blinked in shock, unable to speak for a few seconds. “Oh, wow. That changes everything,” she said, a small smile returning to her lips. “I apologize for making those assumptions about him.”

“Thanks,” Lily said, relaxing a little bit. She returned Abigale’s smile, then said, “I really would like for you to meet him, Abi; he’s really sweet, and he’s pretty much everything I’m looking for in a coltfriend.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m glad to hear that! Now I just gotta find a coltfriend of my own! Oh hey, did you see the schedule for this weekend when you came in? I’m off this weekend!”

“Really? Lucky!” Lily hopped off her bed. “If you’re off, then that must mean that Celestia’s guards will be watching over the event instead of Luna’s again!” She trotted away from her friend, heading towards the front of the barracks, her eyes locked on a piece of parchment nailed to the far wall.

“Yeah, but Luna always likes to have some of her guards there, remember?” Abigale asked from across the room. “I think she likes to show us off...” she said, followed by a short chuckle.

Lily screeched to a halt in front of the schedule, her eyes darting across the page until she found her name. Her heart dropped into her stomach, unable to believe her eyes. I have to work during the Gala? B-But why? Why?? With tears brimming in her eyes, she shouldered open the doors leading outside and took to the skies.

“Lily, wait!” Abigale said, leaping up from the bed. She galloped towards the doors and kicked them open. She looked up, praying that Lily was still within eyeshot, but she was long gone.

Nightshine's Question

“Alright little one, time for bed,” Jason said, fighting to keep his eyelids from sliding shut, for if that happened, he had no doubt in his mind that he would fall asleep on the couch. Nightshine was already fast asleep on his back, her head against the back of his neck. Her body’s warmth kept trying to lull him to sleep, so knowing that if he didn’t get up right now, he was surely going to fall asleep. With a low groan, he opened his wings and used them to keep her in place as he carefully slipped off of the couch.

“Daddy? Oh.” Nightshine blinked a few times, then rubbed her eyes with her front hooves. “Was I sleeping?” she asked with a giggle. As Jason carried her into her bedroom, she let her forelegs curl up against her chest as she wiggled into a more comfortable position, though that was all for naught as he let her roll off his back onto the bed. “You know what I’m gonna ask, right?” she asked, shooting him a grin.

“If we can snuggle?” Jason asked.

“Well, duh! Of course I was gonna ask if we can snuggle! Gotta make up for all those years in the orphanage after all.”

“You have a good point.” Jason lay down on her bed and pulled the sheets open for them. He smiled at her as he patted the empty spot beside him. “I really should get a bed this comfy for myself.”

“You totally should! I'm really glad that you wanted to try being a pony like me,” she said with no small amount of hopefulness in her tone. “So... can we snuggle a little bit? Pretty please?”

“I don’t see why not.”

Nightshine squeed.

Jason rolled over onto his stomach. Nightshine squirmed underneath his right wing with glee, then let loose another yawn. “We had a pretty good day, didn’t we?” he asked.

“Mhm...” Nightshine yawned and nuzzled his leg into a better position, then laid her head upon it. “Night, Daddy.”

“Goodnight, little one...”

A few hours later, Nightshine stirred awake. It was still the middle of the night, but she felt wide awake for some odd reason. She cracked her eyes open, feeling Jason’s chest rise and fall against her wing. The moonlight was shining in through the window, its light gracing her vision. Wanting to get a better look due to the fact that the orphans were never allowed out of bed after hours, she wiggled her way out from Jason’s wing as carefully as she could, then walked over to the window.

Once she was sure that she hadn’t woken him up, she let her head come to rest on the windowsill and stared up at the moon, letting her thoughts drift about, eventually settling upon her friend, Sea Stride. I wonder how he’s been doing... she thought, her ears flicking back. He was my only friend back at the orphanage, and I don’t have any friends here, well... at least not yet. Maybe I can ask Jason if we can go looking for him? I don’t know where we could start, though... He might not even be in Canterlot.

Nightshine glanced back at Jason. Out of all the ponies at the orphanage, why did he pick me? After so many families passed me up, why did he pick me? That question gnawed at her heart and mind for countless minutes, the urge to wake him up and ask him growing ever stronger until she couldn’t bear to sit there and stir in her inner turmoil. Hoping that he wouldn’t be upset that she woke him up, she hopped back up on the bed and nuzzled Jason awake. “Daddy?” she asked. “I wanna ask you something.”

“Huh? What’s up?” Jason asked, rubbing his eyes with a hoof. "Everything okay?"

Nightshine lay down next to him, her tail swishing around. Her question danced on the tip of her tongue, and she wondered if she should even dare to ask him. She had to know, though. “Why did you adopt me?” she asked softly, unable to meet his questioning gaze. His hoof came to rest on her chin, gently lifting her head up. She glanced up at him and saw the most comforting smile sitting plainly upon his face.

“Because you’re special, little one,” Jason said. He rolled over and nuzzled her cheek. “How could I even think to adopt anypony else?”

Nightshine giggled a little bit, but a feeling in her gut told her that he was holding back. “That’s a good point, but... why me? Why not some other regular pony?”

“Uh...” Jason sat up a little straighter, feeling Nightshine’s gaze pierce his very essence. “Well...” He rubbed the back of his neck as he cleared his throat. “To be blunt, I’m an outcast here. I was born on a different planet, one similar to this one but different in so many ways. There was nopony else like you at the orphanage, and I never knew thestrals even existed, so... I felt that you were an outcast, just like me, and when we first met, I felt something right here in my chest,” he said, poking just below his neck. “And I know you felt it, too.” He poked Nightshine’s chest with the same hoof. “Right there; I saw it in your eyes the moment we met. Serenity tried to convince me to adopt another pony, but my mind was already made up. I knew I made the right choice back then, and I know I made the right choice even now. I think you’re the perfect filly, Nightshine... My only regret is that I didn’t adopt you sooner.”

He opened his wing again for Nightshine to scoot under, but Nightshine folded it back against his side with a hoof. She nuzzled it for a couple of seconds, then draped her left wing over his back. It didn’t reach all the way around, but that didn’t matter; her message rang true. She snuggled closer to him, then laid her head on one of his forelegs again.

“Thank you,” Nightshine whispered as she closed her eyes, trying to keep her tears of happiness at bay. She felt her cheeks grow wet with her tears, but that didn’t matter. She didn’t care if he saw, either, though part of her wanted him to know just how much his words made her heart thump harder with the purest of joy.

Lily's Confrontation

With the sun rising up over the horizon, Lily could not wait any longer. As the sun’s warmth graced her wings, she spread them wide and flew from the top of the highest tower, flying down in wide circles until she landed in the castle’s courtyard. The tears had long since dried on her cheeks, replaced by an overwhelming sensation of anger and confusion. She had to find out why Princess Luna had scheduled her to work at the Gala, and there was only one place Luna could be at this time of day: the kitchens.

After taking a slow, shuddering breath to calm her nerves, Lily found that such a simple act did nothing to sate her anger; only one thing could fix that: a confrontation with Princess Luna herself. She flew down in tight circles, feeling an updraft try to push her upwards, but she tilted her wings further down towards the ground, accelerating her descent.

As she neared the ground, she flapped hard a few times, stirring up some dust and dead leaves. Her hooves finally touched upon the ground just outside the main entrance to the castle. She stormed up the steps to the castle’s doors, paying little mind to the two guards that snapped to attention and saluted her as she neared the top. She outranked them, but since she was in Luna’s service, they technically did not have to salute her. Still though, she appreciated the gesture, so she snapped a quick salute back with her right wing as she walked past them.

Though while she loved her job, it kept her from starting a family, an idea that had tugged at her heartstrings for the most part of last year. And now, after over twelve years of service, and twelve years of being single due to her job, she was wholeheartedly determined to change her life for the better.

And hopefully keep her job.

Lily quickened her pace, the words that she had practiced all night long dancing on the tip of her tongue. Nearing the kitchens, she felt her stomach twist itself into a knot as it grumbled; she had skipped dinner last night. She spotted Luna turn the corner at the end of the hallway, walking in her direction. Lily’s steps faltered, though she recovered as she set her jaw. With a quick flick of her tail, she slowed down to a brisk walk, her gaze locked on Luna. As they neared each other, she cleared her throat, making her look up at her.

“Lily, I have been looking for—”

Lily hissed as she blocked Luna’s path. “How could you schedule me for the Gala?” she asked, her tone full of unrestrained anger. She needed Luna to know how badly she messed up. “I thought we were friends.” She started pacing back and forth as she spoke. “I told you Jason asked me out while we were on the train back up here yesterday, and when I got back to the barracks, I saw that you had scheduled me to work the Gala! Ugh!” She flapped her wings once out of frustration as she ground her teeth, her fangs nearly puncturing her bottom lip. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes. “Why? Why? Why?” she demanded, stomping her right hoof onto the cold marble floor as she stopped pacing, standing right in front of Luna.

Luna stared at her for several seconds, her gaze stone-cold. “Walk with me, Lily,” she said, her tone neutral. She took a few steps forward, but Lily blocked her way with her wings spread.

“No! I’ve given you over a decade of impeccable service! I’ve worked every Gala ensuring your safety for the entire time I’ve been a guard, and never has a stallion asked me to go. Never! And now that one finally has, I can’t go because I have to work; the overtime isn’t worth it! Not this time!”

“But I thought you weren’t the type of pony to enjoy the—”

Lily scoffed. “Why, because I look fearsome?” she asked, baring her fangs as she let the side of her upper lip curl up. She tried to fight back a snarl with little success.

“Will you let me speak?” Luna asked with a soft smile as she sat down.

Lily took in her relaxed posture, her smile, and the way that her expression changed. “I... uh... Sure.” She sat down and flicked her tail around her side, then bit down on her tongue to keep herself from speaking, even though her heart yearned to expel her anger in the most glorious of ways. She wondered if she had already gone too far, though Luna’s soft smile soothed her worries about being kicked out of the guard.

Which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing; she’d be free to pursue her romantic interests with Jason.

Luna cleared her throat. “First and foremost, I make those schedules weeks in advance. I wasn’t certain if you were scheduled you to work the Gala or not, but if memory serves, as it usually does, I recall that you volunteered to work this year’s Gala.” She paused as Lily’s ears flicked down. “However...” Lily’s ears perked back up. Luna took a couple of steps forward and laid a gentle wing on Lily’s left shoulder. “I think I can make an exception. You have been an exceptional guard, so I think it’s high time that you deserve a little fun.”

“R-Really?” Lily breathlessly asked.

“Mhm. You should have seen Abigale last night; she was looking all over for you. You should probably go find her and let her know everything is okay. And given the circumstances, I shall forgive your outburst. You of all ponies should know the proper etiquette when addressing a princess,” Luna said with a relaxed smirk.

“I was speaking with my friend, not my princess,” Lily shot back with a grin.

“There is one condition, however,” Luna licked her lips as she folded her wing back to her side. “If you do not attend as my personal guard, we would be one guard position short. If you can find somepony to cover for you, that would be great, but if not, then I suppose we can make do with what we have.”

“Okay! Thank you!” Lily spread her wings wide and flew out an open window, making a beeline for the barracks. She nearly tripped and fell flat on her face from her excitement as she landed, but she recovered by flapping an extra time. “Abi?” she called out as she pushed open the doors leading inside the barracks. “Abi, you in here?”

“Lily!” Abigale scrambled from her bed and trotted towards her. “Where were you? I was worried sick!” She briefly embraced her friend and sat down with a soft smile on her face.

“Sorry about that, I...” Lily pranced in place. “Oh, I just can’t hold it back anymore! Luna said I can go to the Gala, but I have to find somepony to take my place, and I—”

Abigale pressed a hoof against Lily’s lips. “I’ll do it; it’s what I wanted to tell you before you ran out of here.”

“Seriously? You’d do that? But you have that night off!” Lily said, her eyebrows furrowing.

“Well, duh! I’m your friend, and Celestia knows that you need a cute, strong stallion in your life. I do too, but that conversation is for another time and place, and—oof!”

Lily tightened her grasp on her friend and ferociously nuzzled her cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you so much.”

“Heh, you’re welcome,” she said, patting Lily on the back. “You covered for me and took the heat when I snuck those mangos into the barracks all of those years ago, so I got this.”

Lily laughed as she sat back. “Oh wow, I hadn’t thought of that in years! The look on the captain’s face was priceless when I told him I put them in your locker,” she said. “You probably would have been kicked out of the guard if I didn’t take the blame.”

“Probably? More like definitely! That was going to be my third offense, and the captain never did like me.”

“Yeah, because you put a few bad bananas in his armor after exercising one night and let them rot in there till the next day!” Lily shot back with a snicker. “You really should have put the peels somewhere else, and I mean this in the nicest way, but you could have hidden them anywhere else than under your mattress. That wasn’t the smartest thing.”

“No, it wasn’t, was it?” Abigale shot a grin at her friend. “After this, though, you can’t mention that to anybody. I think everypony’s forgotten about what I did, and I don’t want it hanging over me anymore. Nopony’s mentioned it for at least a couple of years now, so... yeah,” she said, rubbing her foreleg with a hoof as she fought back a giggle. “I don’t wanna be known as the banana mare anymore.”

“Then it might be a good idea if you stopped eating bananas altogether,” Lily said. “Wouldn’t want to remind anyone of your little stunt.”

“Ugh, but I love them so much!” Abigale said as she pouted. “They’re so tasty!”

“They sure are, so...” Lily flicked her eyes up to meet her friend’s. “Are you sure that you want to take my shift at the Gala? It’s a ton of work.”

“A ton of work? Come on, it’s not that bad! All you do is stand around looking straight ahead for a few hours, and don’t forget, I’ve done the Gala before.”

Lily rolled her eyes with a grin. “Yeah, that’s what a regular guard does, but you’d be taking my place at Luna’s side for the night. My job is not as easy as you think.”

“...Oh. Guess I’ll find out what I have to do when I report for duty, eh?”

Lily nodded. “Yep! Thanks so much again.” She stood up and flexed her wings. “I’ll be sure to bring you some food and say hi this weekend. Anyways... I need to tell Jason I can go, and the mail isn’t gonna be fast enough!”

“So you’re gonna fly all the way to Ponyville?” Abigale cocked her head to the side. “Are you sure about that?” she asked as she watched Lily yawn. “Did you even get any sleep last night?”

“Nope! I’ll be fine, though, and I can get some sleep when I get there; he’s a really good snuggler,” Lily said, averting her gaze as she blushed. “And I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a little company, either.” She trotted to the doors leading back outside, then glanced over her shoulder. “I hope Luna doesn’t make you do the thing at the Gala,” she said with a wink. She pushed open the doors and took to the skies.

Abigale darted outside. “Wait, what do you mean by the thing? Lily!” She stomped her hoof in the dirt and huffed as she grinned, shaking her head. “She’d totally pull something like that; why didn’t I see it coming?”

Home

Of course there has to be a storm... Lily thought as she glided along for a few moments, letting an updraft send her soaring high. She only had fifteen minutes of flying left, a fact she was thankful for. Relief pulsed through her sore wings as she let them rest, then she felt that familiar feeling of weightlessness take hold of her as the updraft disappeared. She leaned forward, feeling the wind push her ears back as her gaze settled on Ponyville, the small town partially blocked by tall, dark clouds that drenched everything underneath.

A loud thunderclap startled her, but just for a moment. She shook her head and slowed down to a hover as she rolled her eyes. Well, I do need a shower. I’m sure my mane’s a mess, and I probably don’t smell all that good, either. I really should have taken a shower before I left, but I guess this storm will just have to do. She banked to the right a little bit, delaying the inevitable. “Might as well get through it,” she grumbled as she flew downwards. “Let’s just hope Jason is home!”

“Geez, this is one heck of a storm,” Jason said, peering out the window. He felt Nightshine clamber up his hind leg, her forelegs pushing his head down as she planted them on it to get a good look outside.

“Yeah, I’d hate to try and fly in something like that,” Nightshine said as she sat down on Jason’s back, watching as a mare galloped down the street outside. She laid her head on his, grinning as she felt his ears tickle her cheeks. “You think we’re gonna see Lily anytime soon?” she asked hopefully. Her eyes searched the skies when a small dot off way off in the distance caught her attention. “Hey, wait! Is that her?” she asked, pointing with a hoof as the dot grew ever closer.

Jason laughed. “Don’t be silly, Nightshine. There’s no way that she’d be flying in a storm this bad.”

“Then what’s that?” Nightshine asked, gesturing at the dot.

Jason looked in the direction that Nightshine pointed out and narrowed his eyes. “Okay, I see what you’re pointing at, but I think that’s a bird. Why would she be back so soon, anyways? It hasn’t even been a full day, and the train ride to Canterlot and back takes a long time.”

“For snuggles?” Nightshine giggled as she nuzzled Jason between his ears.

“Well... I can’t really argue against that. She did seem to like them, almost as much as you.”

“Of course she did, everypony loves snuggles! You’re the snuggle king, and you need a queen!” Nightshine said with a squee. “So... wouldn’t it be faster to fly here from Canterlot than riding the train? It’d make sense for her to fly back instead of taking the train, right?”

Jason shrugged. “Probably. I’ve never flown any kind of distance before, and I don’t know how long it’d take to fly from there to here. I think pegasi just take the train because it’s easier. Can you imagine having to fly for hours straight? And Canterlot is so high up, too. You can’t be afraid of heights if you want to go up there, after all.”

Nightshine cocked an eyebrow as she felt a shiver run down Jason’s back. “Daddy? Are you afraid of heights?” she asked, puzzled.

Jason felt his mouth go dry; he was glad that she couldn’t see his face. “Uh... no? Don’t be silly, of course I’m not afraid of heights,” he said, feeling sweat drip down the back of his neck.

Nightshine hopped off of him and sat down in front of him, cocking her head to the side as she pointedly stared at him. “Daddy, it’s okay to be afraid of heights,” she said, standing up on her little hind legs to wrap her forelegs around his neck. She hummed softly in content as she nuzzled his soft fur, then she sat back, a light blush on her cheeks. “But you’re a bat pony now, and bat ponies aren’t afraid of anything!”

“I mean, yeah, that’s true, but... well...” He licked his lips as he nodded at the couch. He took a few steps towards it, then flopped down on the soft cushions. Patting the spot beside him, he lifted a wing and let Nightshine snuggle up against his side. “So... back where I came from, I was always terrified of heights,” he said with a nervous laugh. “My legs would feel like they had turned into jelly and I was so scared that I couldn’t budge an inch; everything just locked up.” Nightshine nuzzled his side as she prompted him to go on. Jason sighed, then rubbed Nightshine’s side with a hoof. “Since you’ve always had wings, you have always had something to stop you from falling. Humans don’t have wings, or horns for that matter, so if we fell, we’d get hurt pretty bad.”

“Oh... so you were scared of getting hurt?” Nightshine murmured.

Jason nodded slowly. “Yeah, pretty much. But now that I have wings?” He unfurled the wing that was draped over his daughter and eyed it for a few seconds before returning it to its rightful place. “I guess I’m gonna have to get over that fear. Like you said, bat ponies aren’t afraid of anything, right?” he asked with a chuckle.

Nightshine’s eyes lit up. “Right!” she said, nudging his shoulder with her own. “So you wanna go outside and show that storm who’s boss?!” she asked, pushing herself up under Jason’s wing. She spread her wings wide and shot him a confident smile.

“Yeah... that’s gonna be a no.” Jason’s ears perked up as he heard the rain come down harder, pelting his roof as the wind grew louder. A loud thunderclap exploded above the house, making Nightshine’s ears flick back.

“Uh, I think I change my mind!” Nightshine squeaked out.

“Probably for the best, sweetie,” Jason said as he rolled off the couch, feeling his stomach growl. “Wanna help me make some lunch? I think we have enough ingredients to make another pizza!”

Nightshine gasped with joy. “Yay!” she said as she scrambled over towards the kitchen. I’ll get the dough ready if you wanna grate some cheese!”

With her mane thoroughly drenched, Lily landed a block away from Jason’s house, her hooves sliding in the mud. She lifted her right wing over her head and glanced around as she got her bearings. Spotting Jason’s house just a little further down the road, an excited smile grew on her lips as she galloped down the road, taking care to not slip and fall. Showing up wet was one thing, but showing up covered in mud was something that Lily simply didn’t want to do.

As she neared the house, Lily slowed down from a gallop to a hurried trot. She rapped on the door with a hoof, flicking her tail from side to side. Many seconds later, she heard somepony fumble with the door’s handle right before the door swung open wide. “Jason!” she said with a wide grin. “Mind if I come in?” she asked, blushing a little bit as she panted softly. She folded her wings back in, glad that she had finally arrived.

“Y-Yeah, sure,” Jason stammered out, stepping back to let her in.

“Is that Lily?!” Nightshine yelled from the kitchen, her voice filled with barely-restrained joy.

“Yeah, she’s back!” Jason yelled back. An ear-splitting screech of excitement bolted from the kitchen, making him wince. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Nightshine speed past him to wrap her little legs around Lily’s. Noticing the rain starting to make its way inside his house, he shut the door and locked it.

“Hehe, hey there, cutie,” Lily said as she rubbed Nightshine’s mane with a hoof. “Betcha you’re glad I’m back?”

“Totally!” Nightshine said with glee, nuzzling Lily’s legs. “I saw you flying here, and Daddy didn’t think it was you, but I knew!”

“I’ll be right back with some towels,” Jason whispered with a soft smile as he trotted towards the bathroom.

“Thanks!” Lily said before looking back down at Nightshine. “So you saw me coming, huh?”

“Yep!” Nightshine sat back with that same endearing grin. “How did you manage to fly through that? The storm looks so scary!” she said.

“Well... to be a guard in Luna’s service, they put you through a ton of super hard trials and exercises to make sure that any of her guards can handle anything and everything,” Lily said, squeezing the water from her mane and tail. “Some ponies had it easier than others, but we all stuck together and got through it as a team. Storms can be very unpredictable, especially the windier ones, so you have to already be a good flyer if you want to make it through.”

“Woah... can you teach me how to fly like that?” Nightshine asked, her eyes going wide in awe.

“Yeah, in time, and when you get a lot older. Those trials are really hard!” Lily said, looking up as Jason returned. She shot him a warm smile as he held out a couple of large, fluffy towels for her. “Thanks, Jason.” Lily wrapped one of them around her mane, then squeezed the rest of the water out of it with her hooves before doing the same thing with her tail. She wiped herself down with the other towel, then handed both back to Jason, who walked them back to the bathroom. “So anything new?” she called out after him.

“Daddy’s afraid of heights!” Nightshine blurted out with a giggle.

“Oh, is that so?” Lily laughed. “You’re joking, right?”

“Nope!” Nightshine giggled again as she shook her head.

“Yeah... she’s not joking,” Jason said. “Back where I come from, when I was young, I was afraid of heights because I was scared of getting hurt,” he said, pointedly staring at Nightshine. “She just left out that little detail.” He tousled her mane. “I guess I can’t be afraid anymore because of these bad boys, though,” he said, spreading his wings wide. “Got something to catch me if I fall now.”

“That’s true.” Lily covered her mouth with a hoof as she let loose a long yawn. “So...” She blinked a few times, the warm air in the house making her feel a bit drowsy. “About going to the Gala for our first date, I—”

“You can’t go?” Nightshine asked with fear, her ears flicking back and her shoulders drooping.

“What? No.” Lily cocked her head to the side. “Gotta let me finish my story, little one,” she said. “Princess Luna had scheduled me to work the Gala, but... let’s just say we had a civil... discussion, and she said that I could go.”

“A civil discussion?” Jason couldn’t help but grin as he lifted an eyebrow. “Something tells me that you’re not telling us the whole story.”

Lily rubbed the back of her neck, then squeaked out, “Well, I... sorta kinda yelled at her when I saw that I was scheduled to work the Gala. And I mean I really screamed at her. I had stayed up all night fuming, and I, um... I don’t know. I was worried that you’d get to go to the Gala, and I’d have to stand guard and watch you two have the time of your lives, and...” Lily sighed as she glanced away. “Now that I have a chance to be happy, I felt that it was the only course of action.”

“You could have lost your job, though! What if Princess Luna banned you from going to the Gala?” Jason asked, his eyebrows furrowing. “I’m not worth that.”

You might be... Lily thought, biting her bottom lip as she stared into his eyes. She glanced away a moment later. “Nopony’s asked me to go to the Gala before, and I’ve always wanted to go; as a guest, not a guard. Everypony looks like they’re having so much fun, and as a guard, I just get to stay on the sidelines and watch. It’s not like there’s some horrible threat out there; I would know! Luna briefs us all on possible threats days before each Gala, and she always says to keep our guard up just in case, and... ugh!” She ran a hoof over her face as she groaned.

“What is it?”

“The Gala is this weekend and I don’t even have a dress!” she said. “It’d take too long for a dressmaker to even tailor one to my size!” She stood up and started pacing around the room. “I don’t have the foggiest clue of where we could even find a dressmaker!” she said with a snort. “I haven’t had to wear a dress in years!”

“Don’t worry, I don’t have one either!” Nightshine piped up. “Do we even need dresses? Like, we’re all bat ponies! We’re supposed to be fearsome and scary, right?” She spread her forelegs wide and bared her cute little fangs, shooting a grin up at the both of them.

Lily couldn’t help but grin. She stopped and sat down beside them, rubbing Nightshine’s back with a hoof. “Yeah, we do,” she said softly. “And while we might look fearsome, the princesses expect everypony to dress up for the event.”

Nightshine glanced at Jason, then looked back at Lily. “What about Daddy? He can’t wear a dress; he’s a stallion! He’d look silly in a dress!”

“Ha! Yeah, you’re definitely right about that,” Lily said with a short laugh, imagining Jason in a light pink form-fitting gown, long stockings, complete with a matching bow in his styled mane. She snickered at the thought, covering her grin with a hoof again as she glanced up at him.

“Hehe, uh... what’s so funny?” he asked, glancing back and forth between Lily and Nightshine.

“It’s nothing; I just imagined you wearing a dress, is all,” Lily said, her snickers turning into laughter. As her laughter died down, she lowered her hoof and cleared her throat. “So... shot in the dark here, but... any ideas where we could find some dresses?”

The Day Before the Gala

With the storm still thundering off in the distance, Jason flopped on the couch with a groan then pulled a couple of pillows over his head, letting his new sport coat, dress shirt, and Nightshine’s dress fall onto the coffee table. “I had no idea that getting fitted for clothes would take that long,” he said, his words muffled by the couch cushions. “My fee—, uh... hooves are so sore I don’t think I can stand for the next few days. Plus the headache isn’t helping, either.”

“But Daddy, you gotta!” Nightshine squeed and used her wings to propel herself on top of Jason, making him groan from the impact. She slid down between his side and the back of the couch, wiggling her way forward until her snoot found his cheek somewhere under the cushions. She planted a sloppy smooch on his cheek as she settled into a comfy spot, then sighed. “Thanks for the cute dress. I know I’ve already said it like, a thousand times, but I love it!”

“Anything for you, sweetie,” Jason said.

Lily gently laid her dress on top of Jason’s clothes, then sat down next to the snuggle pile. “Well, it was worth it. My dress looks amazing. I’m glad that she was able to tailor it to my size, but... I didn’t think that it would take all day. At least it stopped raining long enough for us to get back home!”

“Heh, yeah, getting our brand new clothes soaked wouldn’t be a good thing,” Jason said with a chuckle. “I don’t think Rarity would have liked us if we let her beautiful work be damaged in any way.”

Lily leaned against the back of the couch, letting a loud and ferocious yawn escape her lips. She eyed the two, wondering if the last bit of space remaining on the couch was big enough for her to join in on the snuggle pile. With the lack of sleep trying to drag her down all day, there was nothing that she wanted more in all of Equestria than to fall asleep, but her stomach grumbled in protest, reminding her that she hadn’t had anything to eat all day. “You two as hungry as I am?” she asked, prodding Jason’s back leg with her hoof as she watched Nightshine lay her head on his back, eyeing her. “Because I could definitely go for a big ‘ol hayburger right now!” She turned her head and looked outside. “Pretty sure I saw a hayburger joint when Luna and I first came here the other day on the other side of town...”

Nightshine’s ears perked up. “Daddy, Daddy, can we go? I haven’t had a hayburger in years!” she said, her mouth salivating at the thought. She scrambled off of the couch, stepping on Jason’s leg in the process. A loud thunderclap made the pictures on the walls rattle, making each of them jump.

“Geez, that sounded pretty close. You think we should get going before it starts raining again?” Lily asked, biting back another yawn. She stood up and stretched, then bounced on the tips of her hooves to keep herself awake.

“Guys, come on!” Nightshine yelled. She looked out the window and saw dark gray clouds rolling in. “It’s looking like it’s gonna start raining soon, and I don’t wanna get wet!” She flicked her mane to the other side of her neck and leaned down, as if she was preparing to pounce. Remembering how Serenity used to count down from three to make everypony do whatever she wanted them to do, a sly grin grew on her face. “Oh Daddy...” She straightened back up and cleared her throat.

“Yes, pumpkin?” came Jason’s muffled reply.

“I’m going to give you to the count of three to get up and take your beautiful date...” Nightshine winked at Lily, who promptly stifled a giggle with her hoof. “...and your hungry daughter out to get some dinner.”

“I’ll pay if that’s the issue,” Lily offered.

“No, no, I’ll pay,” Jason said, flicking his tail.

Nightshine waited a few seconds, idly tapping her hoof against the floor. “One...” Jason didn’t budge an inch. “Two...” She crept up beside him, eyeing his exposed right foreleg. Nightshine bared her fangs and got into position, then sunk her itty bitty little fangs into his leg. “Tree!” she exclaimed, her words muffled by Jason’s leg.

Jason lifted his head and lifted Nightshine up, holding her at eye level. “Really?” he asked with a soft, warm smile. Nightshine nodded, making him wince a bit as her fangs sunk a little deeper. Another loud thunderclap, this time closer than ever before, made him glance out the window. “Yeah, probably a good idea.” He looked back down at Nightshine. “You know you’re going to have to let my leg go if you want me to get up, right?”

“Mhm!” Nightshine let go of him and took a few steps back, then sat down next to Lily as she watched Jason push himself up off of the couch. She trotted over to the door then pulled it open. “Daddy, my tummy is all rumbly!”

“Heh, yeah, mine is too, little one,” Jason said as he shook his head. He glanced at Lily, then beckoned for her to go first. She smiled at him, brushed her mane with a hoof, then walked towards the door. He noticed that Lily was putting a bit more sway into her hips than usual.

“Daddy, stop looking at Lily’s butt and get a move on!” Nightshine exclaimed with a giggle before she bolted outside.

Jason’s breath caught in his throat as his eyes went wide. His ears instinctively flopped back as his cheeks burned with the strength of a thousand suns. His eyes locked with Lily’s as she looked over her shoulders, shooting him a playful, knowing smirk, her eyes telling him she knew what she was doing.

Lily beckoned him forward with a wing, then softly said, “It’s okay, Jason.” She flicked her tail at him and smiled. “I know what the stallions like...” With a short giggle, she pranced outside.

Jason stepped forward, following her out of the house. He locked the door, then said, “I-It’s not that at all, it’s this headache that I have, and I promise I wasn—”

Lily planted a light kiss on his cheek, making his words drift away in the wind. “Does that make your headache feel better?” She draped a wing over his back, letting it come to rest near his neck as she guided him down the road. When Jason didn’t respond, she slowed down, then stopped in front of him. “Um... I’m not overdoing it, am I?” She rubbed the back of her neck as she giggled sheepishly. “I don’t care if you were looking at my butt; I sometimes do or say silly things when I’m deprived of sleep or hungry.”

Jason saw Nightshine sitting on the end of the block, waving at them to hurry up. “Huh? Oh, no, you’re totally fine, Lily.” He felt a few small raindrops hit the back of his neck, making him glance up at the rather ominous-looking clouds. “We... should probably get a move on,” he said.

“Yeah, okay.” Lily settled into a trot next to him. “So you sure that I’m not making you uncomfortable?” She stepped a bit closer to him as they finally reached Nightshine, who promptly fell into step beside Jason.

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s not you, really. I haven’t, uh... what’s the word I’m looking for?” His muzzle scrunched up as he thought for a few moments. “Oh, courted. Yeah, I haven’t really courted anyone in a while, much less a pony.”

“A beautiful pony,” Nightshine corrected him with a giggle.

“Hehe, yeah, a beautiful pony,” Jason said, nudging Lily’s shoulder. “And I think I can say with one hundred percent certainty that I think you’re the prettiest in town, too.”

“Aside from me, of course!” Nightshine exclaimed, shouldering his front right leg.

“Oh, but of course, little one!” Lily said, lowering her head to Nightshine’s level. She quickened her pace so that Jason’s front legs wouldn’t block her vision, then she playfully stuck her tongue out at her while making a funny face. “So have you tried those products I bought you yet? Your mane and coat look a lot better!”

“Yeah, I know, right? I used everything you got me when I took a shower this morning; I can’t wait to use them again!” she said, shooting her a wide, thankful smile.

“Great, glad to hear it!” Lily returned Nightshine’s infectious smile, though before she could lift her head back up, the heavens released what they had been holding back, the sound of rain hitting the cobblestone road filling her ears. She stopped walking as she looked around for cover, but there wasn’t enough room for three ponies to sit under and wait for the rain to pass, and after a few seconds, she, just like Jason and Nightshine, was soaked from the tip of her snoot to the end of her tail.

Jason felt Nightshine scramble underneath him, trying to stay dry. She wrapped her forelegs around his and peered up at him through his legs. He lifted a hoof to shield his eyes from the rain, but Lily gently placed her hoof on his. She unfurled her right wing and held it over his head, keeping it shielded from the rain.

“That better?” Lily asked. “I saw a pegasus try to do this with his marefriend up in Canterlot a few moons ago, but she ended up soaked; her dress was totally wrecked, too.”

“Yeah, but what about Nightshine? I can’t exactly walk with her under me.”

“Hm...” Lily wiggled the tip of her wing under Jason’s and pulled it out, then let hers come to rest under his. She blushed a bit and avoided his gaze for a few moments, simply enjoying the warmth that his wing provided hers. “How’s that, little one?” she asked, motioning for Nightshine to try out their makeshift umbrella with her hoof.

Nightshine cautiously stepped out from under Jason, then said, “Works fine for me! Onward!” she said in a silly tone before she proceeded to march forward as if she was in the Royal Guard. She glanced up at the wings that shielded her from the elements, unable to keep an excited grin off of her face. Is this what it feels like to have a Mommy and a Daddy?

They rounded the corner, the restaurant finally falling into view. “Aha! There it is!” Lily exclaimed. She quickened her pace, her wing slipping from underneath Jason’s. “Come on, I’ll race you there!” she said as she galloped forward, leaving the other two in her dust. Nightshine followed close behind with Jason bringing up the rear, stopping when she got under the awning of the establishment.

“Daddy, why didn’t you run?” Nightshine asked, cocking her head to the side. She shook herself like a dog, then shot him a sly grin. “Oh, is it because you wanted to look at Lily’s butt some more?” she asked with a snicker, pushing her way through the front doors.

Lily shook herself like Nightshine, flicking her mane and tail every which way to get most of the water out of her coat while Jason futilely tried to dry himself off with his forelegs. “Hey, you just gotta shake yourself like how Nightshine and I just did,” she said, poking him with a hoof.

“Yeah, but I think I’d look kinda silly,” he said.

“But everyone else is doing it,” she shot back. “See?” She pointed down the street where a couple of other ponies were doing the exact same thing that she’d been doing moments ago.

Wondering if she was just playing a trick on him, he stared at her for a few moments before he did his best imitation of what they’d done, flinging water all over Lily. “Heh, sorry about that,” he said with a chuckle.

“No worries! It’s just water, after all.” She pushed the door open and walked inside, the smell of freshly-cooked hayburgers filling her nostrils. “Ah... been a while since I’ve had some junk food.”

“Wish I could say the same, but... where’s Nightshine at?” he asked, spotting her waving at them from a booth near the back. “Ah, there she is." He and Lily wove their way through the tables and sat down. “So on a scale of one to ten, how hungry are you guys? I think I’m at a solid eight and a half.”

A mare wearing a red apron showed up, levitating a small pad and quill beside her. “Hey there! What can I getcha tonight?” she asked with a smile.

“Three waters and three of your biggest burgers with all the trimmings, please,” Jason said.

“No pickles on mine, please,” Lily said.

“Extra onions on mine, pretty please!” Nightshine piped up.

The waitress scribbled down their orders, then said, “Gotcha! I’ll be right back with your drinks and I’ll put your order in at once!” before she trotted away to the kitchen.

“You know... You’re going to have to brush your teeth extra good tonight if you don’t wanna kill us with your onion breath,” Jason said, nudging Nightshine.

“But Daddy, I’m not tired!” Nightshine protested, pushing the sheets off of her. “I wanna stay up with you and Lily!” she said with a pout, crossing her forelegs over her chest floof.

“That might be, but we have a long day tomorrow. We gotta get up to Canterlot, find a hotel, get dressed, and make sure that we don’t get our clothes all dirty. Hopefully it won’t rain tomorrow evening...” he said, pulling the sheets back up with his mouth. “And Lily and I are going to go to bed as soon as you promise that you’re going to go to sleep, too.”

Nightshine’s muzzle scrunched up as she thought. “So if I don’t promise to go to sleep, then I can stay up with you guys?” she asked hopefully.

“Hehe, nope, it doesn’t work that way,” Jason said as he let loose a ferocious yawn, making Nightshine follow suit. “See? You’re getting tired just like me; that yawn proved it.”

“But you made me yawn!” Nightshine stared at him for a few seconds, then humphed. “And we’re not gonna snuggle tonight?”

“That’s up to Lily, but I have a feeling she’s going to ask if we can snuggle, so... how about we snuggle on the train ride up to Canterlot tomorrow morning? That sound fair?” He held out his hoof for her. “Deal?”

“Deal!” Nightshine bumped her hoof against his, then rolled over onto her side. “Goodnight, Daddy...” she said with another yawn and a smile.

“Goodnight, little one,” Jason said, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead. Before he closed the door, he heard Nightshine clear her throat as if she had something to say. “Yes?” he asked with a warm smile as he poked his head back through the doorway.

“I love you...” she murmured, pulling the covers up to her neck.

“I love you more,” he shot back.

Nightshine perked up. “Nuh-uh! I love you more!”

“Hm... I dunno about that; I infinity love you!”

“I infinity plus one love you!”

“Dang it, you got me there!” He started pulling the door shut but he paused, saying, “Get some sleep, kiddo. We’ll make an awesome breakfast tomorrow and we’re going to need your help making it, okay? Plus I don’t want you to be a walking zombie tomorrow night at the Gala.”

“Hehe, I wouldn’t be a zombie! Zombies smell!”

“Speaking of smelly zombies, did you brush your teeth?”

“Yep yep! See?” Nightshine bared her fangs.

“Onion breath all gone?”

“Uh...” Nightshine exhaled through her mouth, then inhaled through her nose. “I have no idea,” she said with a giggle. “Wanna check for me?”

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “Alrighty, good night, cutie pie.”

“Night!”

Jason gently closed her bedroom door and walked back out to the living room where Lily had already set up a makeshift bed on the couch where they’d first snuggled. “So...” he sat down on the other side of the coffee table, his tail swishing about behind him. “I can take the couch if you want the bed; it’s a lot comfier.”

“But I thought you and I were gonna...” Lily’s voice faltered as she glanced away, a light blush tinting her cheeks. Reign it back, girl... He’ll snuggle with you when he’s ready; don’t want to push him away because I’m feeling needy... she thought, biting her bottom lip as her ears flicked back.

What, snuggle? he thought, trying to figure out what was on her mind. “We can, uh... we can snuggle if you want to,” he said, rubbing his foreleg with a hoof. “But only on one condition.”

“Anything!” Lily blurted out, her ears perking up hopefully. “Um...” Geez girl, chill out for a darn second! “What’s the condition?”

“We snuggle in my bed. I sometimes wake up with a sore back or neck from sleeping on the couch and I don't wanna risk going to the Gala in pain,” he said. "Plus my bed is a lot comfier, too."

“Okay!” Lily said. She stood up and sauntered past him, flicking her tail against his side as she quietly walked down the hall past Nightshine’s bedroom. She sat down next to the bed, waiting for Jason to catch up. He shut the door behind them, then sat down across from her, looking anywhere but her. “Have you ever snuggled with a mare before?” she softly asked, brushing her mane behind her right ear. “And Nightshine doesn’t count; she’s just a filly.”

“N-No, I haven’t,” he admitted.

“You nervous?”

Jason shrugged, then said, “Yeah, a little bit. I guess I’m afraid that I’m gonna do something dumb and screw things up.”

Guess I’ll have to take the lead then... “Don’t be. You’ve been great so far, Jason,” she said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. “I have a good feeling about you, too.”

“Thanks.” Jason glanced up into her eyes, momentarily admiring their beauty before he glanced at the bed. “So how do you wanna do this?”

“Um... well, that depends. Are you a big spoon or little spoon?" Lily asked. Knowing she had to take the lead, she hopped up onto the bed, pulled open the covers, then wiggled her way underneath them. She flipped over onto her other side, facing him as she used a hoof to fluff the pillow her head lay upon. “So whatcha waiting for, hot stuff?” she asked, playfully sticking her tongue out at him.

“I dunno,” he said as he turned off the lamp on his nightstand. He climbed into bed beside her, then lay down on his stomach a few inches away from her. Once he wiggled underneath the covers, he asked, “So... you wanna be the big spoon or the little spoon?”

Lily pushed her snoot under Jason’s left foreleg and lifted it up, gently pushing him onto his side. She wiggled her way into his embrace, nuzzling his jaw as she hummed softly in content. “Does this answer your question?” she asked.

“Mhm...” Jason draped a foreleg over her side and tugged her closer. “You know, Nightshine likes it when I do this,” he murmured, pushing out his wing. He laid it over her, feeling a little self-conscious as he used his hoof to awkwardly tuck it in around her. His eyebrows furrowed as he felt Lily tense up.

“The Thestral’s Embrace?” Lily pushed herself out of his grasp, rolled over onto her belly, then looked down at him with a curious gaze. “H-How do you know what that is?” she asked in a flat tone that revealed little of her intentions.

“Uh...” Jason rolled over onto his belly as well. “Nightshine showed it to me; she calls it a wing hug.” He straightened up and looked her up and down. “Did I do something to offend you?” he cautiously asked. “I honestly don’t know that much about thestral culture and how it differs from pony culture, and I really—”

Lily pressed a hoof against his lips and shook her head, then dropped her hoof. “No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just...” Lily took a deep breath and haltingly let it out. She looked back into his eyes and placed her hoof over his, then said, “What you did, it’s kinda meant for those that want to show their loved one that they truly and deeply care for them. Many, many moons ago, it was commonplace for families to do so. You see...” She ran her hoof along his upper back and side. “When you put your wing over another in this case, it acts as a barrier between your vital organs and whoever or whatever is trying to do you harm while you sleep. Life wasn’t all relaxed and perfect back then as today is; us ponies have really made great strides in building a civilization here in Equestria. Most of us thestrals like to keep those old traditions alive.”

“Oh, wow...” Jason shot her a warm smile, then placed his other hoof on top of hers. “What other traditions do thestrals have?” he asked, interested in hearing what she had to say.

“I’d be more than happy to tell you all about it, but can we do it on the train ride tomorrow? I didn’t get any sleep last night because I was so furious at Princess Luna scheduling me for the Gala,” she said with an exhausted chuckle. Lily pulled a pillow close, then let her head drop on top of it with a soft thump, making sure that Jason had enough room.

“Well... even though we aren’t in danger, I’m down to try this embrace if you are. It sounds pretty cozy to me,” he said, settling down next to her.

“Y-Yeah, it is.” She extended a wing over his back and wiggled back in, smiling as she felt Jason do the same. Feeling sleep start to take hold of her body, mostly from the warmth of Jason’s wing, she let herself go limp. She struggled to keep her eyes open, but before she finally gave up to drift away into Luna’s dreamland, she placed a light smooch on Jason’s cheek, then nuzzled it in for good measure. “Thanks, cutie,” she whispered, feeling her heart thump in her chest as she rested her head on his cheek.

“What was that kiss for?” he whispered back.

“For being awesome, and...” Lily yawned again, then licked her lips. “And because you have cute fangs.”

A Close Call

Lily grinned as she woke up, cracking an eye open to find Jason yawning and rubbing his eyes. “Morning...” she murmured, letting her eye drift back shut. She rolled over to lay flat on her belly, her wing draped over his back and his over hers. All was warm and soft, but above all, she finally felt loved, something that she’d been yearning for for quite some time. All that time spent cuddling her pillow back in the barracks paled in comparison to the warmth that she felt from Jason.

“Hey, you...” Jason said, nuzzling her cheek. He shrugged the sheets off of his back, and as he made to push himself upright, Lily’s grip on his back pushed him back down.

“Did I give you permission to leave, soldier?” she asked with a soft giggle. She rolled over onto her back and pulled the sheets back up over their shoulders with her hooves, letting them curl up onto her chest. After glancing at the clock, she said, “The train doesn’t leave for another two hours or so, and we did just wake up, so why not spend some quality snuggle time together?” Lily pushed him onto his side with a wing and wiggled her way into his embrace, tucking her head under Jason’s chin.

“Because we have to get ready. We haven’t even packed our bags yet.” Jason tried to get up again, but Lily’s grip was just too strong. He settled back down and yawned. “But I wouldn’t mind catching a little bit more sleep. I’m sure that Nightshine feels the same way, too.”

“I bet she would... if she was awake,” Lily said, unable to keep herself from yawning. She closed her eyes, and as she felt Jason drape one of his legs over her, she latched onto it and smiled as she let sleep take hold once again. “Just another fifteen minutes...” she mumbled.

Nightshine paced back and forth in front of Daddy’s door. She’d already showered, packed her bags, and had gobbled down an apple from the kitchen. She had knocked on Jason’s door a few times already every five minutes or so, but she’d heard nothing aside from the occasional snore, and once she was all ready to go, she spent nearly an hour pacing in front of his bedroom door.

The ever-increasing need to make sure that Daddy and Lily were awake and getting ready combined with the fact that she could potentially interrupt some serious snuggles between the two of them ate at her, making her grow more and more antsy. She knew how important snuggles were, especially in a budding relationship, but on the other hoof lay the Gala. The train was the best way to get up there, and with their beginner level experience, there was no way that they’d be able to fly all the way there, let alone carry their fancy clothes with them.

There was no way that she was going to miss the second most important day of her life. Praying that they’d forgive her for waking them up, Nightshine ruffled her wings, took a deep breath, then sat down and raised her hoof to knock on the door again, and as she looked over her shoulder at the clock, she knew that now was the make it or break it moment. “Daddy!” she called out, fervently beating on the door with her hoof. “We gotta go!” When she heard no response, she bit her bottom lip and opened the door, hoping that Lily and Jason were decent.

She covered her eyes with her leg as she crept inside, then slowly lowered it to take a peek, though she couldn’t see what was happening on the bed. She spread her wings wide, and with a leap and a flap of her wings, she landed on the edge of the bed as gently as she could, relieved to discover that Jason and Lily were both soundly asleep, all snuggled up to each other. Maybe I could get in on the snuggles! she thought, eyeing the small amount of filly-sized space left between the two of them. “There’s no time...” she muttered, pausing in her tracks. “But maybe on the train?” Nightshine grinned at the thought, and as she spread her wings for a second time, she jumped on top of Jason, ferociously nuzzling him awake.

“Mmm, just a few more minutes, Lily...” Jason murmured, still fast asleep. He rolled over onto his other side on top of Nightshine, tugging her close with his forelegs.

“No, Daddy, it’s Nightshine!” she said with a laugh as she tried to wiggle her way out of Jason’s forelegs. “We gotta get going or we’re gonna miss the train up to Canterlot!” she said, half-heartedly fighting to escape.

“Okay... just a few more minutes...” Jason softly said, his eyes still shut tight.

It was obvious to her that he was still sleeping deeply. Nightshine gave up as the warmth from Jason’s body started to seep into hers, but she was on a mission; she had to step up and be the responsible one, so she did the only thing that made sense to her in the moment: she bared her fangs and bit down as hard as she could on Jason’s exposed foreleg.

“Ow!” Jason bolted upright and shook his hoof about, yanking it out of Nightshine’s mouth. “What was that for?” he asked, glaring at her before relenting after a few seconds.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? We gotta go!” Nightshine exclaimed. “We don’t have much time before the train is going to leave, you two are still in bed, and like I said, we gotta go!”

“I’m up, I’m up...” Lily groaned as she stretched.

“Why didn’t you say anything or try to wake us up?” he asked, shooting a quizzical gaze Nightshine’s way.

“I’ve been trying to wake you up for almost an hour!” she shot back. “Why didn’t you wake up when you were supposed to? Didn’t you hear me banging on the door?”

Lily coughed lightly, interrupting them. “Well, we did kinda wake up a while ago, but... we wanted to snuggle for a little bit longer. I know you know how, uh... nice it is, so... yeah. I kinda fell asleep on accident, and I think Jason did too, so... my bad.” She shrugged as she yawned, pushing herself out of bed. “What time is it, anyways?”

“It’s time to go! The train is gonna leave in twenty minutes and you’re not even packed!”

“O-Oh.” Lily’s mouth formed a tight circle. “Dibs on the shower!” She flung herself out of bed a split second later and bolted for the bathroom. “I’ll be quick!” she said, shutting the door behind her.

“We don’t have time to shower and pack our bags!” Jason yelled after her. A few moments passed in silence before he heard the door to the bathroom open again. Glancing at Nightshine, he said, “Gotta let me up if you want me to get ready, little one.”

“Oh, right!” Nightshine said with a sheepish smile. She backed up onto the edge of the bed, then sat down near the corner. “I’m all ready to go. I got my stuff by the door and already had breakfast.”

“Good!” Jason pushed the sheets off of him and slid out of bed, hastily making his way over to the closet. “Now, where would my bag be... ah, here it is.” He fumbled with the handle for several seconds, trying his hardest to loop his hoof into it. Jason paused and groaned, feeling rather frustrated.

“Here, I’ll help,” Lily gently said. “Sometimes I forget you’re still getting used to being a pony.” She grabbed the bag and unzipped it. “Can you hold it open for me? I’ll grab our clothes. Be right back!”

Jason collapsed upon the seat in the train. “I can’t believe we made it!” he said in between pants. “And a whole train car for ourselves? Lucky us. Everyone else might be up in Canterlot already.”

“Yeah, maybe...” Nightshine wearily climbed up beside him and collapsed against the window, letting her head come to rest against the cool surface. “Hadn’t run like that in a while,” she said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. “Thanks for carrying our bags, Daddy,” Nightshine said as she bumped her flank against his. “They sure looked heavy!”

“Yeah, they were,” he said as he threw the bags in a heap down in the area between the seats. Lily hopped up on the opposite seat and sat down, placing her forelegs in between her hind legs. She hungrily licked her lips as she heard the conductor yell something further up the platform. The train suddenly lurched forward, making her forelegs slip off the seat. As she fell forward, she opened her wings to try and keep herself upright, but it was too late. She collapsed onto their bags with a muffled groan.

“Maaaaaybe you should sit with us on our side,” Nightshine said, peering down at her. “That didn’t look fun.”

“Yeah, you okay?” Jason cocked his head to the side, a worried look upon his face. He slid from his seat and held out a hoof for her to grab onto.

“I’m okay, thanks. Just caught me off guard,” Lily said, shooting a grateful smile at him as she let him help her up.

“Ya know, I never thought guards could be caught off guard,” Jason said with a chuckle.

Lily rolled her eyes. “Ha ha, like I haven’t heard that one ever,” she said with a fake laugh.

“I bet. Do you...” He paused as the train started rolling out of the station, then walked over the aisle and pressed his snout against the glass. “Do you think Princess Twilight and her friends made it on?” he asked, looking all over the platform.

“I’m almost certain they have their own car; being a princess has its perks,” Lily piped up. “They’re probably in the private car back there.” She pointed back behind Jason and Nightshine, gesturing towards the end of their car. “You see the window shade rolled down? I bet Princess Twilight doesn’t want to ruin her surprise. I overheard her talking to Princess Luna about it,” she said, finishing in a sing-song voice as her gaze came to rest on Nightshine.

Nightshine gasped, her ears flicking up. “A surprise? What kind of surprise?”

“A special surprise!” Lily said, her tail wiggling about as if it had a mind of its own. She leaned in close and beckoned Nightshine in with a wave of her hoof, then whispered, “It’s a dress! You think the ones we got look great, right?” Nightshine nodded. “Well, this one is supposed to be super duper awesome! If I heard them right, it’s supposed to have some magical jewels on it, though I’m not quite sure what they’re for...”

“Woah...” Nightshine whispered back. “What kind of magic?”

“Now that’s a good question!” Lily said as she trotted to the front of their train car. “We’re just gonna have to wait and see!” She pulled down the window shade on the door leading to the next train car, her head whipping around to land on Jason a second later.

“Oh, I know that look,” Nightshine said, her ears perking up. “You want more snuggles with Jason!”

“I suppose you could say that...” Lily said as she eyed her prize like a lion about to pounce on its dinner: the perfect snuggle spot right next to the window. It looked a little tight, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t matter and that Nightshine wouldn’t mind, especially with what she had in store: group snuggles.

As Lily stalked towards them, Nightshine wrapped her forelegs around one of Jason’s and pushed him closer to the end of his seat. “Gotta make room for her; isn’t it obvious?”

“Oh, I dunno,” Jason said in a silly tone of voice. “I thought she was coming to suck my blood with those sharp fangs of hers!”

“I can do that too,” Lily said, coming ever closer. “You know, you did wake us up, little one. I think we deserve a little bit more quality snuggle time, don’t you?”

Nightshine’s ears flicked down and her shoulders drooped a little bit. “Oh,” she said, her voice losing a bit of excitement. “I understand.” She stood up and took a step towards the edge of the seat, getting ready to step off when she felt Lily’s wing stop her. She bit her bottom lip and groaned. While she felt disappointed that she wasn’t going to get to snuggle some more, the idea that Lily might stick around because of her sacrifices today might pay off in the future for the both of them. She figured that if she gave up snuggles with Daddy now, that Lily might stick around, potentially resulting in her dream of snuggling with both a mother and a father at the same time. Right before she hopped off the seat, she looked up at Lily and paused, a faint beating of hope humming in her heart.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Lily looked down upon her with a gentle smile. “I said we, Nightshine. That means all of us.” She clambered up onto the seat and lay down, partly folding her wing to let Nightshine settle back down. Noticing that Jason wasn’t meeting her gaze, she poked him with the tip of her wing, then draped it over Nightshine’s back.

“So...” Jason nervously licked his lips.

Noticing his nervousness, Nightshine smirked at him. “I’ll take the lead!” she happily squeaked out. Before Jason could utter another word, she nuzzled Jason’s wing open to lay on top of Lily’s wing. “Perfect!” As the train left Ponyville behind, she lay her head against Jason’s belly, happy that they hadn’t missed the train.

Wishful Thinking

“Sure feels a lot longer going back up than coming down,” Nightshine grumbled. It’d felt like several hours had passed when in reality only a couple hours had slipped by. She had moved out of the snuggle pile and into her own seat after an hour because both Jason and Lily kept shifting and keeping her awake, though she had a feeling it was more due to the train jostling back and forth than them trying to get into a more comfortable spot. On the other hoof, she didn’t mind all that much because she had a feeling there’d be loads of quality snuggle time in the coming days and weeks.

Nightshine sighed and stared out the window, watching Ponyville slowly disappear against the horizon. She tried to find her house amongst all of the other ones back in town, but even though she had found it once, the further they got made the houses grow smaller and turn into one big lump, making it incredibly difficult to figure out which one was really hers. Once the train chugged along a curve, she looked up at Canterlot and groaned; it was a lot further away than Ponyville was.

“Bored?” Lily piped up, lifting her head from her hooves. She glanced at Jason and saw him fast asleep, snoring softly. “Yeah, the train ride always takes a long time, but it’s relaxing. I always preferred flying, just like any other pony with wings does, but we have suitcases and bags to worry about. I doubt any pegasus or thestral going to the Gala would fly with their nice clothes in a saddlebag.”

“I guess...” Nightshine blew an errant lock of hair out of her eyes and let her head come to rest upon the cool glass of the window. A large yawn forced itself past her lips.

A few seconds of silence filled the train car. “Did you... did you sleep well enough last night?” Lily asked.

“Sorta... I kept waking up because I wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the train.”

“I thought I heard you stirring around. Thin walls and all. You wanna catch a few zzz’s before we get to Canterlot?” Lily asked. “C’mere, I can tell you’re still pretty tired.” She scooted over and opened up her right wing, flicking her tail to form a tight crescent, a perfect spot for snuggling. “I don’t mind staying up and watching over us. Least I can do for you waking us up on time earlier.”

Nightshine’s eyes went wide for a moment, her heart rate speeding up. “R-Really?” she asked, her ears flicking up. “If you don’t mind...” she said, and after a nod and a smile from Lily, she leapt from her seat and landed right next to Lily, teetering on the edge of the seat for a couple seconds before Lily pulled her in with a hoof. She gingerly turned around and lay down next to Lily, letting her head rest on top of Lily’s right foreleg.

An overwhelming urge to nuzzle Lily as a silent sign of thanks came to the front of her mind, though another part held her back and made her tense up. She so dearly wanted to fulfill her fantasy of having a mother and a father, and even though she was already halfway there, she didn’t want to ruin Jason’s chances of finding somepony to settle down with. As she bit the inside of her cheek thinking, she felt Lily’s wing drape over her back, its warmth purging all those uncomfortable thoughts from her mind, replaced by an ever-growing sense of warmth and comfort that coaxed a smile onto her face.

Lily noticed that Nightshine hadn’t fully relaxed. “Something wrong, little one?” She lifted her wing and peered down, wondering what the matter was.

Nightshine took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she forced herself to relax. “Nah... thanks,” she said as Lily’s wing came back down.

“Ya know, Jason’s still fast asleep... Is there something on your mind?” she asked.

“I... I dunno. I mean, yeah, there is, but I don’t know how to say it,” Nightshine mumbled out. “Thanks for this, though. I always dreamed of having a—”

Lily’s breath caught in her throat as she realized what Nightshine was talking about. “Oh, a mother...” she whispered, barely loud enough for the two of them to hear. She frantically thought for something to say, then softly said, “Well, we can, uh... pretend for a while until...” She trailed off as she struggled to figure out how to finish her sentence. A few moments passed as she stared into the seat cushions of the seat in front of them, unable to figure out what to say. She felt Nightshine relax a little.

“Until you have to go back to work in Canterlot?” Nightshine asked, unable to keep her voice from sounding a little depressed. “I know you live up there and have a job guarding the princesses and we live so far away.”

Lily’s ears flicked back and forth as she pondered what to say, a light smile forming on her face as she came to a grand conclusion. “Until it’s real,” she whispered into Nightshine’s ear, following it up with a light giggle to put her at ease and to show her true intentions.

“B-But you two just met. You’re not my m—”

Lily felt her tail aimlessly flick back and forth. “While I’m not your mother, who says I can’t treat you like my own while Jason and I see if the relationship between us can work? I know it’s still something new but I have a good feeling about this. Isn’t it the point of any relationship to put your best hoof forward?”

Nightshine thought for a couple seconds. “Yeah, I suppose.”

“I know so. You don’t get into a relationship hoping for the other pony to take care of you and do all the work, after all. Both ponies have to put in a lot of work to make the relationship grow.”

“Yeah, so... each pony has to put in fifty fifty, right?”

Lily chuckled. “You’re on the right track, but no, it’s actually one hundred one hundred. You see, if both ponies put in only fifty percent effort into the relationship, their love and their relationship will eventually grow stagnant, but if both ponies put in one hundred percent effort, the relationship would grow and flourish into one that would hopefully last a lifetime.” Lily felt a light blush warm her cheeks as her own vision of growing old with a strong stallion popped into her mind, coincidentally being rather similar with how Jason looked like as a thestral. “That makes sense, right? I used to think that too until my own mother told me about that.”

“Yeah, it does! I like it!” Nightshine said with glee, her fears put to rest. She finally let herself relax, and after taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she nuzzled Lily’s side and got comfortable. As her breathing slowed, she felt sleep start to tug at her mind, gently coaxed along by the small rising and falling of Lily’s side. “I think you’d make a great mother...” she whispered, followed by a quick yawn.

Jason's Mistake

As the train began to slow, Lily nuzzled the back of Nightshine’s head. It had been a rather uneventful ride back up to Canterlot, one that she had spent fantasizing about the future with Jason as her lover to keep herself occupied. She had dared not move because she was afraid that it would wake her little companion up. Jason was fast asleep as well. She’d wanted to chat with him on their little trip, but she was content to let him rest against her side.

She was a guard, after all. Guards had to guard.

“Huh? Whereweat?” Nightshine mumbled as she lifted her head just high enough for her to see out the window. As the train chugged along one of the last remaining curves, Canterlot came into view. “Oh!” Her ears perked up. “We’re back at...”

Lily watched Nightshine’s ears flick back down, this time to lay flat on her head. “Something wrong, little one?” she asked.

Nightshine thought for a few seconds. “Nah, it’s just...” She pushed herself upright with her forelegs. “I just remembered about the orphanage.” Nightshine glanced up at Lily. “We don’t have to go near there, right?” she asked.

“Oh, no, of course not,” Lily said with a warm, comforting smile. “There’s no need for us, or even you, to go back there.”

Nightshine sighed in relief. “Good.” Her ears perked up again as she looked back up at Lily. “Hey, do you know where we’re staying?”

“In a hotel, right?”

“Yeah, but which one?” she asked, nervously drawing circles on the cushion with the tip of her hoof.

“Wait, did Jason not make reservations somewhere?” Lily groaned. “Oh dear.”

“Nuh-uh.” Nightshine shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think he was so wrapped up in trying to ask you to the Gala to even think about details like that. Why? Is that bad?”

Lily ran a hoof over her eyes, then sullenly nodded. “Yeah... maybe.” She nudged Jason awake with her left foreleg. “Hey, did you make any reservations with a hotel up here?” she asked as he stirred awake. She had a sinking feeling in her gut that she already knew the answer.

“No, not yet.” Jason yawned and pushed himself up. He pushed his forelegs out straight as he stretched. “I was just gonna find a nice one when we got up there. Can’t be that many ponies going to the Gala.” With the train slowing down as it approached the station, he glanced behind Lily’s head. “How’s it going, cutie pie? Sleep well?”

Nightshine nodded back. “Sure did! Where are we going to stay, though, Daddy?”

“Uh...” Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “In a hotel, of course. I was gonna find a fancy one for us while you two hung out at a café somewhere.”

“With our bags?” Lily asked. “In public? You’re kidding, right?”

Lily humphed and crossed her forelegs. She and Nightshine were sitting inside a café, left by Jason so that he could find them lodging, proving that he was in fact, not kidding. It had been well over an hour since he’d left them with some bits and their luggage, promising to be back as soon as he could find a place for them to rest. The Gala was scheduled to start at seven in the evening and it was already almost one, meaning they didn’t have that much time to get ready for the Gala.

“Well, this is working out great,” Nightshine said, her chin resting upon their table. They’d already eaten a small salad and a slice of cake, graciously paid for with Jason’s bits. “I wonder if he’s found a place for us.”

Lily sighed. “I don’t think so. The Gala isn’t just some big party held once a year, it’s an event that sprawls the whole weekend. Even though it’s held just one night, all the rich folk up here host numerous afterparties and get-togethers, meaning that ponies from all over come to Canterlot for the weekend. For the last several years, every single hotel room has been sold out. I don’t think that he’s gonna find a spot.”

“Well, where do you stay? Can we stay with you?”

“What do you mean?” Lily cocked her head to the side. “Oh! I stay in the barracks. Trust me, you don’t want to see them. It’s nothing special.”

“Isn’t it your home?”

“Technically yes, it’s where I sleep, but I wouldn’t really call it a home. It’s just a room where I share a bunk bed with my best friend, Abigale.”

“Oh... that doesn’t sound nice.” Nightshine tensed up. “About your room, that is. I can see why you were so happy when Jason asked you to the Gala and when he asked you if you wanted to snuggle.”

Lily felt her cheeks warm. “Yeah, it sure beats sleeping in the barracks.”

“I bet it does...” Nightshine took a sip of water. “So... about those parties... do the princesses get to go to them?” Lily nodded. Nightshine’s ears perked up at that. “Oh, cool! So does that mean you got to go partying with Luna all weekend?”

Lily nodded, a smile growing on her face. “Yeah, in a way, I suppose. Abigale and I would volunteer to keep her safe; sure beats standing guard in some hallway or in the throne room.”

“Did you get to wear anything fancy?”

Lily’s smile faltered a bit. “Sadly, no. Well, actually, if you count our uniforms, then yes. We always had to be in our full guard uniform, including our armor. Gotta be ready for anything.”

Nightshine giggled. “Did you ever have to bare your fangs at anypony that got too close to Princess Luna?”

“Like this?” Lily bared her fangs and hissed, doing her best to look as fearsome as possible. Interestingly enough, it only made Nightshine giggle more, drawing attention to them. She quickly closed her mouth and flicked her head to the right, letting her hair fall down to cover most of her face.

“That was so cool! Can you teach me to be scary like that?” Nightshine asked, her voice full of unbridled excitement. She stood up and placed her front hooves on the table, her tail swishing about behind her like a dog’s.

Lily waved her down with a hoof, making Nightshine’s smile fade away. “Of course, but not now. In time, though,” she said, feeling bad that she ruined Nightshine’s fun. “I gotta teach your dad to be scary if he’s gonna stay a thestral, too. Daddies gotta keep their littles ones safe, after all.”

“You can teach us together!” Nightshine said, her smile returning in full force.

“Sure, I don’t see why not.” Lily noticed the door to the café opening, recognizing that familiar shade of gray out of the corner of her eye. “Looks like he’s back.” She waved him down with a hoof, and as he finally made his way to them, he slumped down beside Nightshine and groaned. “That bad, huh?" she asked.

“There’s literally no openings anywhere,” he said, his eyes locked on the table. “You were right, Lily,” he said. With a sigh, he glanced up at her, ready for a verbal lashing of ‘I told you so's.’ Instead, he saw her smiling at him, a smile that wasn’t born out of malice or contempt.

“I... I might have an idea. It’s risky, but it just might work,” she said. She pushed herself out of the booth and stood up. “You mind hanging out for a bit while I go find a certain pony? It shouldn’t take long.”

“Who?” Jason and Nightshine asked at the same time.

“I’ll tell ya if it works!” Lily called back over her shoulder as she trotted out of the restaurant.

Jason’s gaze followed her out of the door, then he looked down at Nightshine. Draping his wing over her, he asked, “So... who’s she going to go see?”

Nightshine shrugged. “I don’t know. She didn’t tell me.”

“You sure?” he asked again, wondering if she was hiding the truth from him.

“Yeah, really. She and I just talked about bat stuff.” Nightshine scooted closer to him and lay her head against him.

“Oh? Did she... Did she say when she’ll be back?” Jason asked.

“Nah, I don’t think so. I guess she’ll get back when she gets back,” Nightshine said. With her head hung low, she glanced up at Jason and asked, “Do you think we’re even going to get to go to the Gala? We already came all this way, and to be so close...” She let her head come to rest on top of the table.

“Of course we’re gonna get to go! Like you said, we already did come all this way. Let’s see what Lily has to say when she comes back.”

Lily's Big Save

Lily nodded to the two guards standing watch at the front gate as she trotted past them. The castle was already adorned with its usual decorations for the grand event, and as she made her way up the stairs and down one of the hallways breaking off from the main room, her pace quickened as she looked everywhere for the one pony that could make or break their night. She made a beeline to Princess Luna’s part of the castle, knocked on her door, then let herself in once she heard nothing but silence. “Princess?” she called out, her voice echoing in the rooms. She took a few more steps inside and cocked her ears up, listening for any sounds. Luna’s dress and jewelry for the event were spread out on her bed, showing her that Luna was still out and about, most likely helping Celestia with preparations.

Once she’d secured Luna’s quarters, she made her way back down the long hallway without a single guard in sight, that is, until she made her way near the kitchens. Luna always had had a penchant for sampling all the sweets for the event since her return. She always had a silly reason for doing what she did, though Lily knew nobody would tell a princess that she couldn’t do what she wanted to do.

A guard from each force always stayed in the kitchen to ensure that the food prepared for their princess was not tampered with in any way, so hoping she’d find a friendly face, she trotted inside and recognized her friend Abigale from behind. Even though she was wearing all of her armor, there was no mistaking the color of her mane. Part of her wanted to sneak up and pounce on her, but she thought it better to play it safe. “Hey girl,” she said as she nudged her friend. She sat down next to her and smiled. “How are you dealing with ‘the thing’?”

Abigale glanced at her, then looked back at Luna just in time to see her wolf down three cupcakes at once. “Oh, hey Lily.” Her shoulders drooped in relief as she sat down. “I’m so glad you’re here; what’s ‘the thing’? She hasn’t said anything about it and I don’t want to ask. Is it something I should know?” she asked, her tone filled with worry.

Lily laughed, attracting Luna’s attention. She stood up for a quick bow, then sat back down when Luna waved back with a friendly wave of her hoof. “Nah, it was something I made up. There’s no thing.”

“Phew! Thought I was gonna be in for a rough night,” Abigale said.

Luna walked up to them with a little bit of frosting still on her lips. “You two talking about ‘the thing’?” she asked as she wiped her lips with a towel. “I’m really looking forward to this year’s ‘thing’. Is it ready?” she asked, looking over at Abigale.

“A-Almost, your highness!” Abigale stammered out as she shot a weird look at Lily.

“Excellent! Let us find my sister to see if she needs any help,” Luna said. “Oh, I almost forgot!” She turned back around and grabbed a to-go bag filled with treats. “I’m certain that she hasn’t eaten anything all day, either. She can get a little... specific about how things should be on this special occasion, after all. I think she’d love to sample these cupcakes; they’re truly one of a kind.”

“I think she’d love that, my princess,” Lily piped up. “Before you leave, there’s a favor I’d like to ask of you.”

Luna paused. “Oh? What might that be?”

She fidgeted in place for a few seconds. “Well... I suppose in our excitement and with Jason’s unique situation, we, uh... didn’t really make any reservations for a hotel. Jason thought he could find us a place when we got up here, but I don’t think he realized how large of an event this is.”

“Ah, I see. And since you didn’t know you were going to the Gala until the week of, you didn’t book a room yourself. Is this right?” she asked.

Lily nodded. “Everything is sold out and I can’t exactly bring Jason and his filly to the guard barracks. It’s against regulations and it’s not exactly appropriate to bring your date and his daughter into a restricted area.”

Luna giggled. “Of course, that would not be proper.” She paused as an idea struck her. “On the other hoof, perhaps our favorite little thestral would like to hang out with more of her kind... Maybe we could set something up with the guards in the future? Do you think they’d like that?”

“They’d like whatever you tell them to like, my princess,” Abigale said. A smile grew on her face to show she was joking.

Lily glanced up at Luna, trying to gauge her expression. “So... and I know this is a huge ask, but is there even the smallest of chances that we could stay in one of the bedrooms in the castle?” she asked, silently pleading with her eyes. “We truly have nowhere else to go.”

“Oh, of course!” Luna said without skipping a beat. A sly smile slid onto her face. “I know you and Jason just met, but, and pardon me for being this forward, but would you like one or two rooms?”

Lily’s face went beet-red, making Abigale snort. “Oh, she’ll need two rooms alright!” Abigale said with a laugh, earning a nudge from Lily. “A mare’s got needs, after all.”

“Abi, shush!” Lily hissed as she glared at her, unable to keep herself from smiling. She took a few moments to let her gaze soften before she looked back up at Luna. “But y-yes, two rooms would be lovely,” she said, her voice soft yet still betraying her true intentions and desires.

“Oooooo!” Abigale said, making Luna giggle with her.

“It is settled! I’ll have the staff tidy the rooms and get them ready at once.” She looked at one of the servants that was helping to make the food for the event behind them. “Will you please have the staff upstairs make sure that two rooms are prepped for some special guests, please?”

The yellow pegasus nodded once. “Of course, Princess. I’ll see to it at once,” she said. She washed her front hooves then trotted out one of the exits.

“Excellent!” She ruffled her wings then looked back at Lily. “I can’t wait to see what, and who, you’ll be wearing. Is it perfect?” she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

“More than you could ever imagine,” Lily said. “I think you’ll love it.”

“I can’t wait! I’m sure you’ll look lovely.” Luna used her magic to levitate the bag of sweets into Abigale’s waiting grasp. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must find my sister! Do you think I can make her eat enough of these to make her dress not fit?” she asked as she trotted down the hall, her devious laughs echoing off the walls.

“Wow, this is so cool!” Nightshine dropped her bags to the floor and scurried around the room. There was a large bed with a dark blue canopy with matching sheets, flanked on either side by two nightstands with a few candles on each. A fancy matching rug lay in the middle of the room near the base of the bed, nearly covering the cold stone floor.

She screeched to a halt beside the bed, crouched, then leapt up as high as she could before belly-flopping upon the bed with a soft ‘oomph’. She took a deep breath and relaxed, letting her eyes drift shut for a few seconds. With weary limbs from climbing so many stairs, she was glad for a little respite.

“Oh, that bed looks comfy!” Jason said as he placed all their bags down on the floor next to the door. “Incoming!”

Nightshine barely had time to lift her head and scoot out of the way as Jason flopped down next to her. She glanced to her side, then looked back at Jason with a grin. “I dunno if this bed is gonna be big enough for the three of us, but we can make it work!”

“Oh, um...” Lily bit her bottom lip as her ears flicked down. “Actually... this is your own room, little one. Jason and I have our own room across the hall.”

“Really?” both Jason and Nightshine asked, their tone of voices different from the other. Nightshine’s tone was one of glee while Jason’s was one of surprise.

“Mhm.” Lily locked eyes with Jason for a couple of seconds, then threw open the drapes covering the windows and the balcony door, revealing a wondrous view of the city far below. The mountain lay to their left with the city spread out below.

“Whoa!” Nightshine hopped off the bed and trotted over to the window, then pushed open the door with her snout. “I knew we were pretty high, but I didn’t think we were this high up! They almost look like ants!”

“They sure do, don’t they?” Lily asked. She walked out onto the balcony with Nightshine and sat down beside her, the two of them watching all of the ponies below walk about their daily lives. “Hey, let’s see if we can spot anyone coming to the Gala; they’ll be wearing their best clothes...” she said as she peered down between the bars. “Do you see anyone?” she asked.

“Oh, there’s one! And two!” Nightshine exclaimed, pointing down with her hoof. “Him in the gray suit and her in the orange dress!”

“Hey, yeah, you’re right!” Lily said. “Good job.” She leaned in a little closer. “You know, I think you might have better eyes than me,” she fibbed.

“I think I can see my home from here, too!” Nightshine squinted and leaned in. “There! Right?”

“Yep!” Lily nodded. “That’s Ponyville, alright.”

“And you...” Nightshine peered up at her. “Flew all the way from here...” She tapped her hoof upon the stone balcony, then lifted it to point at Ponyville. “To there?” she asked. “That’s so far!”

Lily giggled. “Yes, yes it is.”

“How did you fly that far?” Nightshine asked.

“Actually, it’s not as hard as you might think. This high up, there’s a lot of updrafts and winds that keep you up, so there’s really not a whole lot of flapping more than there is just gliding.”

“That’s so cool,” Nightshine said as she looked back towards Ponyville. Her smile faded away as she looked down towards one of the further areas of the city. “And then there’s the... orphanage,” she murmured. “I wonder if anypony else found their forever home.”

“Hm? O-Oh... I’m sure every last one of them will find their forever home.”

“You think?”

“I know it.” Lily lay a wing over Nightshine’s back and held her close. “If anyone is half as cute as you are then they shouldn’t have any problems getting placed with a family.”

“T-Thanks. That means a lot,” Nightshine murmured. “Say, don’t we have to get ready for the Gala? Doesn’t it start real soon?”

“I don’t see a reason why not,” Lily said. “We lucked out with these rooms, didn’t we?”

Jason cleared his throat from his spot on the bed. “Yeah, thank Celestia you found us a place to stay, Lily.”

“Thank Celestia?” Lily winked at him. “Nah, thank me.”

“Yeah, thank her, Daddy!” Nightshine chipped in, following her statement with a raspberry for good measure.

“Yes, Daddy, thank me!” Lily smirked. “Actually, we’ll have to thank Luna because she’s the one who gave us these rooms for the event.” Lily turned around and walked back towards the bed, a sultry yet restrained predatory look in her eyes as she let a smile slide onto her face. “Although I’m sure you can think of some way to thank me.”

“Uh...” Jason squirmed under her gaze as he felt his cheeks grow red.

“She wants snuggles, Daddy!” Nightshine called out over Lily’s shoulder.

“I think she might want more than that, dear!” he yelled back. He glanced back up into Lily’s eyes, her expression proving in an instant that she had noticed his cheeks flush. Her smile deepened as her right eyebrow rose, silently coaxing him for an answer. “Yeah, I suppose I can think of something. You sure saved our biscuits, after all,” he said with a grin as he drummed up his confidence. He pushed himself up off of the bed and brushed his hair with a hoof, his mind racing for anything to say to change the subject. “Shall we get our own room situated while Nightshine unpacks and gets ready for tonight?”

“Good idea,” Lily said, playfully flicking Jason’s side with the tip of her tail. She lifted her own bag, threw it onto her back, then trotted across the hall, pushing open their door with her shoulder. She placed her bags onto the bed in a heap then opened the balcony door, letting a gust of fresh air flow inside. Her eyes slid shut as the breeze teased the inside of her wings. A warm, genuine smile formed on her face as her wings started to open, imagining herself and Jason taking to the skies to fly not as friends, but as partners and lovers. She opened her eyes when she bumped against the railing of the balcony, the sudden touch bringing her back down to reality.

Jason grabbed his own set of bags and followed Lily into their room. It was very similar to Nightshine’s, though their windows showed a view of the valley, unmarred by the mountain that sat at their backs. He set his bags down on the bed and followed her onto the balcony, staying quiet as he admired the view. “Beautiful...” he whispered as he sat down next to her.

“You talking about the scenery, or... me?” she slowly asked.

“Y-You, of course,” Jason stammered. He stood up and held out his hoof. “Shall we get ready for the Gala, my date?”

Lily took his hoof with a smile. “Yes, I think we shall.”

Lily's Nuzzles

As Lily got ready in the bathroom, Jason got himself dressed. Well, at least he tried to. Putting on clothes as a pony was something he’d never thought to practice back at home, and after much time had passed, and as the sun started to near the horizon, he felt a bit of panic grow within him. It’d already taken him twice as long to put on his cologne and it was quite a struggle brushing his hair and tail, too. All that was left to do was to put on his clothes.

“This darn shirt...” he muttered under his breath. For what felt like the twentieth time, he placed his white dress shirt on the bed belly down, then pushed up the back of the shirt. He pushed his snout through the opening, only making the shirt slide across the bed. “Hey, uh... Lily?” he called out, feeling ashamed that he was going to have to ask for help putting on a simple shirt.

“Yes?” Lily called back.

“Are you almost ready? I... might need a little help.” Jason groaned again.

“Okay, I’ll be out in a few minutes! Just putting on the final touches!”

“Okay!” he called back. “Lemme try this one more time...” he said, this time sitting down next to the bed. He held the shirt up above him, doing his best to keep it from slipping from the tips of his hooves as he slowly held the bottom opening of the shirt above his head. With a slight push, he dropped his forelegs back down just in time for the shirt to fall down onto him, and with a little bit of wiggling, he managed to push his legs through the sleeves. As the shirt fell into place, he let loose a sigh of relief and wiped away the sweat that had accumulated on his brow. “Crisis averted...” he said with a chuckle. “Nevermind! I’m good,” he called out.

“What was it?” Lily yelled back. “I’m almost ready; I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Nothing; I just had a little trouble with my shirt.” Jason stared at his reflection in the mirror and groaned once more upon realizing that he had a few buttons to button. He lifted his right hoof and glanced between it and the buttons in his reflection, trying to figure out a way to push them through the holes with no fingers. “Man, I really didn’t think this through.” I’m just glad Lily came through with these rooms. I’ll have to figure out a way to show her our thanks...

He bit his bottom lip as he thought, trying to figure out a way to button his buttons without looking like an absolute fool. “How do ponies grab things with their hooves? There’s nothing to grab with!” he muttered once more as he stared at the flat part of his hoof. Was this shirt made for a unicorn? Because how else could any non-magic pony do this? He heard the bathroom door’s latch open, breaking him from his thoughts.

“How do I look?” Lily asked as she walked out into the middle of the room. She was wearing a form-fitting dark gray dress just a few shades darker than her fur that wrapped around one of her shoulders. Her hair had a bit more curl to it than before and her tail was brushed to perfection. Her wings faintly trembled with an unbridled excitement, their tips adorned with silver that matched the necklace draped around her neck. A small silver pin of Princess Luna’s cutie mark lay near her breast to signify her status of a Lunar guard, matching her wingtips and the necklace in a manner that exuded a humble yet respected honor. Her ensemble was completed with dark gray stockings with silver lace tips.

Jason’s jaw dropped to the floor as his eyes darted all across his date. “You look... amazing. The dress, the jewelry, and the stockings? Just... wow!”

Lily blushed and smiled at him, letting part of her hair cover her eyes as her ears flicked down. “Glad you like it! Maybe you could help me take it off later,” she said with a sly wink.

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind that,” he said without thinking as he felt himself smile. As Lily walked closer, a wondrous scent tickled the inside of his nose, the scent getting stronger and stronger with each step Lily took towards him. He took a deep breath in through his nose and shot her a quizzical look yet one that showed her she had his full attention. “I’ve never smelled a perfume so... What’s the word I’m looking for? And what am I smelling? It’s...” He looked her up and down once more as his mind raced trying to figure out what he was smelling.

“Exotic, perhaps? It’s a rare perfume that’s exceptionally suited for... our kind.” She sat down across from him and flicked her tail around herself. “It was a gift from my mother when I first joined the Lunar Guard. She always told me to save it for a very special circumstance and I think my first date in years deserves the best. Care to guess what you smell?” She cocked her head to the side, her ears flicking back up.

“Uh...” He leaned in and sniffed a couple of times. “Definitely something fruity, but with... is that vanilla? I can’t really place the other scents, but they’re almost intoxicating.”

Lily nodded once. “As they should be. You’re right about the vanilla. However, the other scents are oranges and... Remember how I said it’s suited for our kind?”

“Yeah. For thestrals?”

“Correct. The other main scent is of... mangos.” Lily stood up and while she held his gaze, she took a step forward and nuzzled his cheek, subtly marking him with her scent. “Do you smell it now?”

Jason licked his lips as he felt his mouth water, the scent stirring something that he couldn’t place within him. “Y-Yeah, I do. Your mother has fantastic taste. I don’t think I could find a perfume that suits you better.” Lily nuzzled his cheek again. Man, she’s coming onto me real hard... he thought, feeling her ear flick against the side of his head. He glanced down and gestured at his loose shirt. “So... about these buttons...” he said. A small part of him wanted to give in to those feelings stirring around inside of him and explore them with Lily, but he forced himself to remain in the moment.

Lily dropped her sultry predator act and giggled. “Oh, I can help with that,” she said as she took a step back. “You’re in a totally different body so it’s perfectly understandable. At least you have my dream bod,” Lily said as she helped him do his buttons. “You know, I think we might have picked the wrong style shirt, but...” She noticed a puzzled look on Jason’s face. “Oh, sorry! Don’t get me wrong; I only meant it like these kinds of fancy shirts are usually meant for unicorns. We don’t really see anyone wearing fancy button-up shirts if they can’t use magic. It would have been easier to get you a shirt without buttons, but I like how it looks on you; it makes you look really, really handsome,” she said, pushing the final button into place. She grabbed his sport coat from the bed, sat down, and held it open for him.

“What would I do without you?” he asked with a laugh as he turned around. With Lily’s help, he pushed his forelegs through the holes and let her tug it into place. “Thanks.”

Lily nodded. “So... are you ready for this?” she asked, unable to keep a smile off her face as she walked around him.

“I sure am! Are you?”

“Y-Yeah. I think you look great.” She leaned in and sniffed a couple of times, her nostrils flaring and her eyes going wide for a split second. “And you smell great, too...” she said, once again assuming her predatory gaze and gait. “Good choice on the scent. It suits you well.”

“I’m glad you like it. It was something I picked up while I was out searching for a place for us to stay.” He stood up and cleared his throat, then looked in the mirror hanging on the wall. “Dang, look at us! We look great together,” he said as he looked at their reflections. “Crazy to think I look this, well... awesome. I almost look fearsome.” Jason bared his fangs at their reflections, earning a quick smooch on the cheek from Lily. “What was that for?”

“What, I can’t kiss my date on the cheek? If I can’t do that, you’re going to be surprised with what I want to do later!” she said with a laugh. “I thought you looked cute, too.”

“Cute? I was trying to look scary!”

“We’ll have to practice that later. But for now, let’s just have fun with each other. Oh, and with Nightshine, of course.”

“Yeah, speaking of which, we should see how she’s doing.” Jason leaned in and nuzzled Lily’s cheek on a moment’s impulse. “You really do look great,” he said.

“As do you,” Lily said. “I want to do something first,” she said with a warm smile. She walked out onto the balcony, her stockings softening her steps. “Come,” she said, gesturing him forward with an open wing.

Jason walked up to her and sat down beside her, letting his racing heart slow. A few seconds passed in silence as they watched a long line of ponies slowly make their way inside the castle, then he felt Lily lay her head against his neck. He heard her let loose a soft, content sigh, and as a cool breeze made her shiver against him, he draped a wing over her back and tugged her in close. Her trembling stopped as she melted into his embrace. She nuzzled the side of his neck and placed her wing across his back, holding him nice and snug like he was holding her.

After a couple minutes, Lily gently cleared her throat. “I’ve dreamt of this moment for far too long,” she said, her voice barely louder than the breeze that ran through their hair. She felt him latch onto her right hoof. “Thank you,” she whispered. She let her head slip underneath his chin and nuzzled him once more with an earnest love, doing so with the knowledge that Jason wouldn’t understand the significance of such an intimate act. It still provided her with an overwhelming sensation of being loved, of contentment, and of a happiness she had only fantasized about when she read those trashy romance novels back in the barracks. “I—”

A light knocking came from the door. “Excuse me, but I’ve been sent to escort you to the Gala!” Abigale said as she pushed open the door. She glanced up, her eyes locking on the two of them holding each other with their wings as Lily nuzzled her stallion’s neck. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude!” Abigale stammered out as she covered her eyes with a foreleg.

Jason’s eyebrows furrowed as he felt her wing’s grasp loosen, his gaze darting between the guard and Lily. “What? She was just nuzzling me.” He glanced down at Lily and saw her blushing furiously. “It’s not like we were doing anything naughty,” he said slowly, hoping to defuse the tense situation.

“Of course, of course. Uh...” Abigale awkwardly cleared her throat. “I’ll be outside,” she quickly said before closing the door behind her.

“What was that all about?” Jason asked.

Lily bit the inside of her cheek and flicked her eyes back up. As her cheeks felt like they were about to catch on fire, she licked her dry lips. “It’s just... what I was doing. Holding each other with our wings, me nuzzling you... it’s considered something pretty intimate for our kind.” She took a deep breath. “It’s just like...” She trailed off as a few birds flying by caught her gaze.

“Oh, like that embrace thing you told me about last night? Did your nuzzling have some sort of cultural significance I’m not aware of?”

“Just now, yes. Rubbing our cheeks together is something common that everyone does, but when I nuzzle your neck like I did, it... means something more. I’m sorry for not explaining it, but it just felt right.” She let her gaze fall back down to the floor in between them, only to feel Jason’s soft hoof grace the side of her cheek. She looked back up with a hopeful gaze.

“Yes, it did feel right,” Jason said, hoping to reassure her and put her at ease. “Look, I know I may not know everything about being a thestral, but I’m gonna do my best for you and Nightshine. I’m more than happy to help fulfill your emotional needs and I’d love to learn more about thestral culture from you.”

Lily took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “R-Really?” she cautiously ventured.

Jason shot her a reassuring smile and leaned in for a quick nuzzle. “Of course! I’m sure Nightshine would love to learn, too.” He took her hoof in his, then said, “Plus your fur is like, super soft. I kinda like getting nuzzled like that, like, uh… like a lot.”

Lily grinned as she bit back a squee. With her fears put to rest, she easily fell back into the sultry predator act. She stood up and nuzzled him under the chin again, then placed a light kiss right below his left ear. “Thank you...” she whispered. How did I get this lucky? she thought. “I think it’s time that we see how Nightshine is doing. You wanna go check up on her? I want to have a quick word with Abigale.”

“Is that the guard’s name that barged in a minute ago?”

Lily giggled. “Yeah, she’s my best friend. She’s also the reason why I was able to go to the Gala with you tonight. She took my place as guard for the event.”

“Then I’ll have to thank her for giving us this opportunity,” Jason said. “I’ll be right back.” He took a few steps back into the room, then paused and looked over his shoulder and saw her wiping her eyes with the tip of her hoof. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Y-Yes, thank you for asking,” she said. “I just want a few moments to gather myself.”

He nodded once, then opened the door to find Abigale standing guard to the left of the door. “H-Hey,” he said as he walked in front of her.

Abigale’s expression and stance softened as she shot him a warm smile. “Hey there, yourself! I’m super sorry about barging in like that,” she said with a sheepish look. “I wasn’t really expecting Lily to be all over you. You guys look awesome, by the way.”

“Thanks. Have you talked to Nightshine yet? She’s getting ready in the room behind me.”

Abigale shook her head. “No sir, I have not. I heard she’s a cutie pie, though!”

Jason chuckled. “Yeah, she sure is. I need to check on her, so… it was nice meeting you,” he said, still a little shook from earlier. He walked across the hallway and knocked on Nightshine’s door. “Sweetie? Can I come in?”

“Yep!” came Nightshine’s voice.

With a grin, he pushed open the door and found Nightshine sitting in the far corner of the room in front of a tall mirror, running a brush through her tail over and over again. “Hey, are you ready?” he asked as he sat down next to her, looking at their reflections in the mirror. She wore a conservative lilac piece with a single blue gemstone embedded in the front of the dress at the base of her neck.

“Sure am! Are you and Lily ready?” Nightshine asked as she looked up at him with an excited smile. She placed the brush on the table to her side and stood up, twirling in place a few times. “How do I look?” she asked.

“You look great! I already know you’re gonna be one of the best looking fillies at the Gala,” Jason said, smiling as Nightshine stood up on her hind legs to wrap her forelegs around his neck. He pulled her into a hug and held onto her for a few seconds. He let go when he heard voices out in the hallway. “You know, I think it’s time for us to have the best night of our lives!”

“Second best night of our lives,” Nightshine piped up. “The best night of my life was when you adopted me and I knew I finally had a home, so… thanks again.” She nuzzled the side of his leg.

“Of course, little one.” The two of them trotted back to the door and with a deep breath, he opened it and found Lily and Abigale chatting in the hallway, their conversation lapsing into silence as their door clicked shut behind them.

“Awww, don’t you look precious?” Abigale asked as she smiled down at Nightshine. She settled down on her belly to get on Nightshine’s level and looked her up and down in an almost comical fashion. “You must be the adorable little thestral that I’ve been hearing so much about! You look like you’ve been to a ton of these events; who made your dress?”

“Miss Rarity! She’s a boutique designer back home, and this is my first Gala ever!” Nightshine piped up, her voice full of excitement. “Lily helped me pick it out, too!”

“Wow, is that right? Well, with a dress like that, you’ll have everyone’s attention the moment you arrive!” Abigale straightened back up and glanced at all three of them. “Now that everyone is here, please allow me the honor of escorting you all down to the Gala.” She stepped back and to the side, then bowed with a graceful wave of her hoof. “Let the prettiest of ladies lead the way, young one,” she said with a warm smile, beckoning Nightshine forward with a quick nod.

Nightshine squeed as she trotted forward, prancing along like the lovely little lady that she was.

Abigale snuck a look at Jason as he walked past them, following Nightshine down the hallway. “Geez girl, you sure know how to pick ‘em,” she said with a playful nudge. “That is one serious hunk of a stallion right there.”

“Thanks, I really lucked out finding him.” Lily nudged her back as they followed Jason and Nightshine. “I wouldn’t have been able to be this lucky without you and Princess Luna, too.” She noticed the pair waiting for them at the end of the hall. “So...” Lily shot her a funny look. “Did you ever get ‘The Thing’ ready for Luna?” she asked with a giggle.

“No!” A look of frantic worry drifted across Abigale’s face for a few moments before she was able to collect herself. “What is it? Come on, you have to tell me! I’m doing this huge solid for you, after all!” she hissed out, letting no small amount of desperation fill her tone. “Please?”

“Um... okay.” Lily cleared her throat. “It’s a surprise,” she simply said.

“Ugh! Yeah, I know it’s supposed to be a surprise, but what is the surprise?” Abigale asked.

“No, no, you misunderstand. ‘The Thing’ can be anything. It’s just a little surprise to help make Luna’s night special. Last year I had the cooks make a delicacy from her youth that she and Celestia grew up with, so it has to be something special like that.”

“Can you tell me what you had made so I don’t fumble tonight? You know I’m really trying to get that promotion!”

Lily laughed once more. “Sure, but this is between us. Luna likes to eat... ...Understand?”

“Yup, thanks!” Abigale said with a great sigh of relief as they caught up to Jason and Nightshine. As they traversed the last few hallways and walked down a great spiral staircase, the sounds of the Gala grew louder and louder along with Nightshine’s sounds of excitement. The end of the corridor in front of them was roped off with a regal-looking white rope, so with a few quick flaps of her wings, Abigale flew ahead of them, unhooked the rope from one of the poles, and allowed them through before sealing the corridor off once again. “Alrighty, everyone! The Gala is just ahead! I have that ‘thing’ to attend to, so I’ll see you in a little bit. Hope you all have a wonderful night!”

At the Gala

As the sounds of the Gala grew louder and louder, Jason started to feel his fur stand on edge, though he chalked it up to being in a new environment in a whole new body. A shiver ran down the back of his neck as they slipped into the long line of ponies waiting to gain entrance into the event. Everyone walked across a long red carpet that stretched up a wide flight of stairs, moving towards a large archway that stood tall at the top of the stairs. Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight stood on the right side of the carpet as they welcomed everybody in, speaking with each pony one by one.

“Oh, wow…” Jason said under his breath as his eyes settled on Princess Twilight. Her dress was a mix of the colors akin to the setting sun, the leading edge shining in a radiant orange color that faded to a dark purple further up her back. Her wings were freshly-preened and had been coated in a shimmering blue and purple glitter, sitting outside her dress. Her mane was freshly-done and styled in a way that exuded royalty, matching her outfit with ease. Princess Celestia wore a similar dress in white, its edges containing every color of the sun. She was adorned with her usual regalia, complete with a pin of the sun on her breast.

Jason looked back over his shoulder, wondering if he’d recognize anyone else from back home in Ponyville. He shook his head as he felt another prickling sensation tickle the back of his head, sending a shiver down his spine.

Lily peered up at him. “You okay?” she murmured, keeping her voice soft enough to keep Nightshine from hearing. “Hey, are you still with us?” she asked, nudging him with her shoulder when he didn’t respond.

“Y-Yeah, I think so. I feel–”

“We’re getting close!” Nightshine squeed, drawing the attention of those around them.

Jason noticed some looks from a few ponies further up the line. His eyebrows narrowed momentarily before he glanced down at his daughter. She was prancing in place, unable to contain her excitement. Thankfully, she was blissfully unaware of the stares ponies shot their way.

“Yeah, we sure are, sweetie!” Jason replied. He looked around and noticed a light-green stallion murmuring to his partner a few groups in front of them. His eyes narrowed as he flicked his ears forward, barely able to hear the words ‘thestrals’, ‘kid’, and ‘doing here’ slip from his mouth. He nudged Lily with his shoulder, only noticing that her ears were flicked forward as well after the fact.

“Yeah, I know,” she said. “It’s okay; it’s pretty rare for a thestral to attend the event, much less three, and especially with a filly. They’re not saying anything rude… yet.”

Jason relaxed a little bit. “Okay, good. How can you hear them from all the way back here?”

Lily smirked. “Training. It’s easier to understand what they’re saying when you learn how to read their lips.”

“Oh yeah? Let’s see!” Jason chuckled then mouthed the words, “You look beautiful.”

Lily felt her cheeks warm as her ears flicked back. “Thanks,” she said. Noticing that the green stallion was looking back at them again, she lifted her head and nuzzled underneath Jason’s chin in front of everyone, then let her gaze come to settle upon him as she tried to scare him off. The green stallion glanced away then pointedly looked forward again, making her smirk deepen. “You know, they might think we’re a family.”

Nightshine’s ears perked up at that. With her eyes going wide, she turned around and glanced between the two of them. “Hey, so…” She rubbed the front of her right leg. “I know this is your first date and all, but…” Her ears flicked down as her smile faltered. “I, uh… never mind.”

Lily cocked her head to the side. “What is it?” she asked.

“Yeah, what’s on your mind, sweetie?” Jason asked.

Nightshine’s eyes flicked back between the floor, Jason, and Lily. “Lily just gave me an idea, is all. Don’t worry about it.”

Did she hear someone say something that I didn’t hear? he thought with worry. They all walked forward several steps, then stopped as the line progressed further. He lay down beside her, feeling that same tickling sensation come back on the back of his head. Ignoring it, he shot Nightshine a warm smile and nuzzled her cheek. “Is something the matter?”

Nightshine giggled. “Nah, I just had a silly idea. It’s…” She glanced up at Lily with a wistful look.

“You wanna whisper it to me?” Jason asked, flicking his right ear towards her. “I’m all ears!”

Nightshine leaned in close, then whispered, “I know it sounds kinda silly, but… can we pretend to be a family? With Lily?”

Jason’s eyes lit up. “Of course we can!” he said without a moment’s hesitation. “I figured we already were,” he said as he stood back up.

“What’d she ask?” Lily asked as Nightshine hopped up and down in place.

Jason leaned in close and whispered, “She wants us to pretend that we’re a family tonight.” He chuckled, then said, “I hope that includes a few smooches for me later on. Ya know, for the whole image of us being a family.”

Lily gestured forward with her head, prompting them to move forward with the line again. “Of course, but only if you promise to show me a good time tonight,” she said with a sultry smirk.

Their conversation lapsed into silence as they made their way up the grand staircase. Jason’s stomach started to grumble, earning him another look from Lily. As they neared the top of the stairs, he locked eyes with Twilight and watched her smile falter. She excused herself from the group in front of them and hurried over to him and his group. “Hey, is everything alright?” he asked as she walked up to them, drawing murmurs from the crowd.

“Uh… kind of. Can I speak with you in private?” Twilight asked. She beckoned back behind her with her wing.

“Yeah, sure.” He looked at Lily and asked, “Can you watch her? I shouldn’t be more than a minute or two.”

“Of course I will. I’ll just have Nightshine tell me silly stories about you,” Lily said before nodding after Twilight. “Go, we’ll be fine,” she said with a wink.

Jason followed Twilight into the corner of the room behind Celestia, far away from prying ears. “What’s going on?” he asked, feeling a headache form out of nowhere. He groaned and rubbed the back of his head, that same tickling sensation growing twice as strong.

Twilight turned around, made sure her dress wouldn’t get in the way, then sat down with a guilty look on her face. “I… I think I made a mistake. I noticed that you’re not feeling too well. Do you feel any kind of pressure?” she asked, looking him up and down with worry. “Perhaps in your head or neck?”

“Yeah, I just got a headache and it felt like someone was tickling the back of my head. Why?” Jason shook his head, trying to feel just how bad his headache was. And on tonight of all nights, too… Why’d it have to be tonight?

“Years ago we had an… incident. Canterlot was invaded by creatures that could change their appearance at will called Changelings. Ever since then, we’ve put up an anti-changeling shield that prevents them from impersonating anyone. It’ll force them to revert to their old self,” she hurriedly explained.

“And the headache and tickling feelings are all just warnings to not come any closer?” Jason asked with a groan. “So what, if I go into the Gala am I going to turn back into a human? Without any pants?”

“Well… Celestia could try to create a temporary opening. She’s the one in control of the shield, so… I don’t think it’d be that big of a deal. On the other hoof, you might not even be affected by it. She knows all about you and your situation as a temporary thestral, too.” She peered up at him then cocked her head to the side, looking up at him with a look of guilt. “Are you… feeling okay?”

Jason grimaced and rubbed the side of his head as he felt his headache worsen. “No. No, I’m not. If we’re gonna do this, we probably should do it quickly. My head is starting to kill me.”

“Right!” She stood back up, then motioned for him to follow her as they walked back towards Celestia and the grand archway. “Lily and Nightshine look great, as do you. Rarity always finds a way to make everyone’s inner beauty truly shine through her work.”

“She sure does. Both Lily and Nightshine have been looking forward to attending this event for quite some time.”

“For someone who watched over the Gala only to never attend? I can only imagine how she’s feeling right now.” Twilight slowed to let him catch up to her. “And to catch someone like you? She’s a lucky gal.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were just hitting on me,” Jason joked, earning a nervous laugh from Twilight. His tone lost its mirth as he watched her face for any hints. “Are you hitting on me?”

“Oh, no, of course not!” Her gait slowed momentarily as she shot him a sheepish smile. “It would be so incredibly rude of me to try to step in on your date. I hadn’t even considered the notion of dating someone like you.” She froze, then looked up at him with her ears flopped back. “N-Not that you’re not a total catch, either!” she stammered before she caught herself. “Sorry. My mouth can run away from my brain sometimes.”

“Don’t worry about it, I was just teasing you,” Jason said with a grin, though it wilted under another stabbing feeling from his head. He winced from the pain, then felt Twilight tug him forward towards Celestia.

“Princess Celestia?” Twilight glanced back at Jason as Lily and Nightshine finally walked up to them. “As I suspected, Jason isn’t faring too well because of the shield. Can you drop it or create a small opening for him?” she hopefully asked. “I think it’s safe to say he’d have a major wardrobe malfunction if he walked through the shield,” she said in a softer tone of voice.

“Daddy, what’s wrong?” Nightshine asked.

Princess Celestia sighed. “I am afraid not. Lowering the shield for even a moment might put us all at risk. However, since he’s not a changeling, I do not think that he would be affected by the shield. Did you use changeling magic or spells similar to their magic when you gave him this form?”

Twilight shook her head. “As far as I know of, no, I did not.”

“Then why does my head hurt this bad?” Jason asked.

Celestia’s eyes narrowed momentarily. “That is a good question, though I suspect that your ailment will fade once you step through the barrier.”

“Really? I sure hope it does.” Jason blinked, then looked around Celestia and into the archway. The light shimmered, slightly blurring the inside of the event. He took a deep breath, then walked up to the shield. He heard a light humming sound. As he stood there drumming up his courage, he felt Nightshine nuzzle his leg with her cheek.

“Do you need me to go through it first, Dad?” she asked. “It’s okay to be scared. We can be scared together!” she said, trying her hardest to make him smile again.

“I-It’s not that, I–” Before he could finish, Nightshine jumped through the barrier.

“See, Daddy? It’s nothing!” Nightshine hopped back back through the barrier, then hopped through it again.

Lily walked in front of him, sat down, then sighed. “How’s your head?” She lifted a wing and brushed some stray hairs out of his face.

“It feels like nothing I’ve ever felt before,” he said, trying his hardest to smile for his date. He noticed her smile fade away, then come back with a reserved acceptance. She stepped near him once more, her lips mere inches from his ear.

“It’s okay if you can’t go in,” she whispered. “We can go somewhere else for dinner,” she wistfully said in a near-whisper as she looked over her shoulder, gazing upon the partygoers. She looked back up into his eyes as her ears flopped down in shame. “I’m sorry for–”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I don’t think anyone could have foreseen this. But thanks for saying that,” he said, his mind already made up. “And we aren’t leaving.” With a deep breath, he grabbed Lily’s left hoof with his right one and pulled them through the barrier, holding his breath as he stepped through to the other side. “See, Daddy? Nothing to it!” he heard Nightshine say with glee. He opened his eyes and looked down to find that he was still a thestral, one with a beautiful partner in hoof. The pain in his head gradually melted away, leaving him feeling just a tiny bit sore. As he let go of Lily’s hoof, he felt her lips against his cheek, planting a kiss upon him that silently spoke volumes of her appreciation. “You two ready for one heck of a night?” he asked, looking between the two of them as they stood before those at the Gala.

Suspicions

Tapestries with Celestia’s and Luna’s colors lined the room, the large windows letting the moonlight mix with the light of floating candles. To their right in the back wall sat a raised platform that held four thrones, the top of each emblazoned with the cutie mark of each princess. Several cocktail tables, each covered in a white tablecloth sat to the right of the thrones. Two guards stood watch on either side of the roped-off entrance, one a Lunar guard, the other a Solar guard. A glass door led outside to a private balcony that provided a wonderful view of the city below. A quartet of musicians sat to their left, playing music for numerous pairs of ponies dancing in the middle of the room.

Lily nudged Jason’s shoulder to get his attention then nodded towards an empty table to their right near the thrones. A bowl of light snacks sat next to a candle that smelled of pine. Lily smiled in thanks as a waiter placed two glasses of champagne and a glass of water on their table.

Jason took a sip from his glass to help his nerves. He’d never been one for dancing, much less as a being with four legs. He had a feeling that that was what was expected of him, especially as he felt Lily’s eyes bore into the side of his head. As the music swelled with an increased tempo, he watched those dancing in the middle of the room, trying to learn anything that would help him not look like a fool on the dance floor. He glanced down at his glass as another thought popped into his mind: who would watch Nightshine if Lily went dancing with him? A gentle nuzzle on his cheek pulled him from his thoughts. He looked at Lily, her relaxed smile pushing the worries from his head. The pain in the back of his head subsided a little more as if her smile was the medicine that he needed. He noticed something in her eyes that put him slightly on edge.

“It’s okay, let them talk,” Lily whispered into his ear. She lifted her glass to her lips and while she drank, she looked around the room as if she was looking for threats. Her glass was half-empty by the time she set it back down. “That’s all they ever do.” With her back to the wall behind them, she had a clear view of the whole room.

“Huh?” Jason was caught off-guard. Oh, of course… The murmurs, he thought. He followed Lily’s gaze, his eyes settling on that same green stallion from the line to get in. He stood with a light brown mare near the entrance, deep in conversation with four others. Jason smirked as their eyes locked for a moment.

Lily nodded.

“Is it really rare for thestrals to attend the Gala?” he asked.

“Aside from Luna’s guards, yes.”

“I see.” Jason took another sip from his glass. He noticed Rarity trot out of the VIP section, a warm smile on her face as she made her way through the crowd to them.

“Ah, it is quite lovely to see you all here! And don’t we all look exquisite?” Rarity asked as she walked up to them. She wore a sleeveless dark purple dress that glistened in the light, something rather simple compared to what Lily and Nightshine were wearing. Jason wanted to inquire about that but thought otherwise.

“You look beautiful!” Nightshine piped up.

“Thank you, little one. You look gorgeous yourself!” Looking back up at him and Lily, she stepped back and to the side then held out her hoof towards the VIP section. “Would you three join us? There’s more than enough room.”

Jason noticed Lily’s eyes widen for a brief moment before she replied, “Yes, that would be lovely.” He wondered if it was Lily’s position as a Lunar Guard or if it was how he knew one of the princesses personally that got them access to the VIP section, though it mattered not. Nightshine was happy and that was all that mattered. They followed Rarity through the roped-off entrance and greeted everyone, then found their own table off to the side.

Jason looked down at Nightshine. “Whatcha think, honey? Having fun?”

“Sure am! When are we going to go dancing, though?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

“After we get some food; I’m starving,” Jason said with a laugh. “What do you feel like eating, you two?”

“Oh, something light for me. A salad perhaps?” Lily asked.

“Why not get something with a bit more substance? It is a special night, after all.” Jason nudged her shoulder with his own. “Come on, look around! You’re at the Grand Galloping Gala with a hot date dressed to the nines. Let’s splurge a little! If it’s a matter of cost, I’d be happy to cover it.”

“Oh, it’s not that at all; everything is free at the Gala,” she said. After a few moments of biting her inner cheek, she shot a comfortable smile up at him. “You’re right, it is a special night. Why don’t we splurge a little?”

“Great!” He did his best to lift the menu with a hoof, but Lily ended up having to hold it up for them. “Hayburger sliders, fries, and pies? All those sound good." Too bad they don’t have steaks or real hamburgers, though… He looked down at Nightshine and saw her looking out over the dance floor, her eyes locked on something on the far end. He followed her gaze and noticed that same green stallion from before. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Jason asked. “Who is that?”

“That’s one of the ponies that came to the orphanage a while ago.” Nightshine’s ears flopped down as her smile disappeared. “It was between me and four other ponies at the end. I remember I really had my hopes up because his wife was really, really nice to me.”

“Are you sure? There’s lots of green ponies.”

“I’m sure. I recognize his wife. I’d never forget her. She brought us all a big box of the best sugar cookies I’ve ever had.”

“Oh. They look wealthy. Do you see the pony they adopted here? Were you two friends?”

Nightshine shook her head. “No, we weren’t. It was hard to make friends back there. We didn’t really try to make friends with each other because we could be adopted any day.”

Lily pushed a stool over from against the wall and set it next to their table. She patted it with a hoof. “We’re here to have fun, are we not?” she asked as Nightshine hopped up onto the chair, finally able to see the menu. “Remember, everything is free and we’re here to splurge a little. Get whatever you want.”

“Some hayburgers with two sides of fries?” she hopefully asked with a joking grin.

“Of course. I think I’ll have the same thing. You?” Jason nodded. Lily waved down one of the roaming servers then gave him their order. “So dance first, eat second? With all these ponies here, it’ll take a while for the food to be brought out.”

“Sounds good!” Nightshine said. “Wait, how are we all going to dance? I only see pairs of ponies dancing.”

“You two go; I’ll watch from over here. Might even chat with one of the princesses, too. I’m sure Twilight has already told them all about me,” he said with a laugh. “I should make sure that it’s only good things,” he said when he noticed a few glances from Twilight’s friends.

Lily cocked her head to the side. “What’s wrong? You scared of a little dancing?” she asked.

Jason had expected her tone to be like Rainbow Dash’s: challenging and goading, though all he heard was disappointment in Lily’s voice. He could tell she expected him to show her a good time and show her off to all of Canterlot’s elite. “Who, me? I don’t know how to dance, much less as a pony,” he admitted. “I am, however, scared of looking like a fool.”

“Like that green pony across the room?” Lily looked over Jason’s shoulder. “He’s already drunk and making himself look bad.” She nodded towards him. “Look, but be discreet.”

Jason turned and watched the pony in question miss a step here, a step there, with his partner. He nearly bumped into a few pairs more than a couple of times. “Oh, wow… Is he going to get in trouble? Would some guards step in?”

“Only if he becomes an issue. We usually get a couple ponies like that at events like this; they just can’t seem to control themselves when alcohol is in the room. Celestia and Luna are lenient to an extent. I would have stepped in by now to warn him, though.”

“I see why you would.”

“Yeah… So! Shall we dance? I’ll lead; all you have to do is follow. It’s easy, I promise,” Lily hopefully said.

“Sure, I suppose I can give it a shot,” Jason hesitantly said. Though while he was a bit nervous about performing in front of so many, the relief and joy he saw in Lily’s eyes helped him push down those awful selfish feelings.

“What about me? I don’t know how to dance either,” Nightshine sheepishly admitted.

“Hm… okay.” Lily looked off into the distance as she thought for a few moments. “How about you watch Jason and I for the first dance, learn what you can, and then come out for the second dance? I’d be happy to show you, too.”

It only took a couple of minutes before their dancing took them within range of the green stallion, and as luck would have it, the song came to an end, allowing ponies to leave the dance floor. A brief intermission was announced stating that the music would return in fifteen minutes. As they made their way back to the VIP area, the green pony intercepted them, stopping in front of them. His wife swatted his side with a hoof and stormed off.

“Were you the ones that adopted that li'l thestral over yonder?” the green stallion asked, slurring his words. “Name’s Buck Wheat. I’m the owner of–” He held out a hoof for Jason and Lily to bump but nearly lost his balance in doing so. His hoof returned to the ground. “Of the largest farms around Canterlot. We supply all the raw ingredients that you little ones eat.”

“Jason,” he curtly said. “And yes, I did adopt her.” He turned away and placed a wing over Lily’s back to lead her away, hoping that Buck Wheat would notice he wasn’t really in a talking mood. He chose not to engage with him, choosing to ignore what he said about his job. He wasn’t there to compare titles or anything of the sort, after all. Lily felt tense under his wing but she followed his lead and started to walk away with him.

“Why?”

Jason stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “Why what?”

“Why’d you adopt her?” he asked, his tone implying that Jason had made a bad decision. “There were better options. Younger options, even. Why’d you pick the runt of the lot? Jus’ askin’, is all.”

Lily stepped in front of Jason and caught his gaze with ease. Her stern look and a discreet shake of her head kept his mouth sealed shut. She turned to face Buck Wheat, opened a wing, and used its tip to point out Luna’s pin on her dress, shooting a stern gaze up at him.

Buck Wheat’s eyes fell momentarily before he looked back up with respect, his eyes showing he knew exactly what Lily’s pin meant. His face paled. “My apologies, ma’am.”

“Leave us be,” Lily ordered, nodding away from them. Buck Wheat nodded once then left without another word, returning to his wife’s side.

“What was that?” Jason asked as they walked back to Nightshine and the VIP area.

“A display of power,” Lily smugly said. “I felt like I needed to step in since no other guard was around to hear the horribly rude things he said to you.”

Jason felt a pit grow in his stomach. “I don’t need protection, though.”

“I know you don’t. It’s a habit from years of being in Luna’s service,” Lily plainly stated. “I hope I didn’t offend you. I just wanted to keep the peace.”

“It’s alright. Probably better this way anyway.”

The sound of a microphone sounded, drawing everyone’s attention to the stage where Princess Celestia stood. Lily and Jason made it back to Nightshine’s side before she started addressing the crowd.

Celestia cast one long look over the crowd of ponies before her. “Welcome, one and all, to the Grand Galloping Gala. I see many familiar faces and many new ones,” she said.

Nightshine nudged Jason’s leg. “How is she able to speak to so many and not get scared?” she whispered.

“I bet she has tons and tons of practice.”

“I hope you all have a wonderful night tonight; I look forward to speaking with many of you. Without further ado…” Celestia lit her horn and opened the doors to the large balcony on the other side of the room. “Allow me to invite you outside for an exclusive Wonderbolts performance!”

Once the festivities began in full swing, Princess Luna had taken it upon herself to watch Nightshine while Jason and Lily spent their time dancing the night away. She’d taken her out onto the upper balcony reserved for the VIPs to teach her about her precious stars and the constellations she had meticulously arranged them into. Nightshine’s questions were many, incessant, but most of all, genuinely curious to learn and absorb as much knowledge as she could. Luna felt more than happy to answer all that was asked of her, though she felt it was high time to finally ask the question that had been dwelling in the back of her mind ever since she’d first met her back in Jason’s house.

“Nightshine, there is something I must ask of you,” Luna softly said.

“Yes, Princess?”

“Just Luna is fine, little one.” Luna nervously shifted. “What do you know of your birth parents?”

“Uh…” Nightshine cocked her head to the side as she peered up at Luna. “Nothing. Serenity, the headmistress of the orphanage, never let us see our files. She wouldn’t tell us anything about where we came from, either.”

“I see. What of your friends at the orphanage?”

“I had no friends. Well, I had a couple at first, but after they got adopted, I felt all alone.” Nightshine’s shoulders slumped as she thought back to her time at that horrid place. “I learned to not make friends with anyone because if they got adopted, we wouldn’t see each other again, and if I got adopted, I wouldn’t see them again. It was… better that way.”

“A hard choice to make for one as young as yourself…” Luna murmured. She glanced up at her tower that stood far above them, knowing the answers she sought lay within its walls. Luna had ordered a couple of guards down to the orphanage earlier that day to acquire Nightshine’s file, though her duties and responsibilities in helping her sister with the Gala had kept her from opening it. If Celestia had known what she’d done, she most certainly would have received a stern talking-to.

But Luna had her suspicions. She had to know, and by the end of the night, she would.

The Revelation

After having more than a few drinks, Jason and Lily found themselves alone on the VIP balcony overlooking the city. Luna had been gracious to take Nightshine on a quick tour of the castle; it was nice seeing her so happy and at ease. The party below hummed with activity, and though he was getting quite tired, Lily had a vibrant energy about her that made him think she had more in mind for him.

His curiosity kept him awake, nor did he want to be the first one to give in and say he wanted to go to sleep. He could tell that Lily was more competitive than he was; he was certain that she wouldn’t ever yield the game, even if it was to just prove a point. Always the gentleman, he would have to eventually give in and let her win.

Jason felt Lily come to rest against his right side, drawing his attention back towards her and pulling him from his thoughts. Her warmth seeped into his fur; he felt a nervous excitement run through her like a herd of wild horses. She trembled, not from the chilly air, but from what he assumed any beautiful female had in mind after a wonderful time at a prestigious event for the elite. Lily nuzzled his neck, just underneath his chin with an earnest and genuine sense of importance. He wondered if she was marking him with her scent, proving him as hers for any who would think otherwise. Regardless, he enjoyed her affection, even though it made him nervous for what was soon to come.

Lily stood up and stalked around him in a tight circle, her eyes locked on his. She bit his collar and tugged him to his feet, then flicked his snout with the tip of her tail as she led him back down into the Gala. “Come, Jason, I have something to show you.”

Jason gulped and followed her. Sweat grew on his brow as he tried his hardest to keep his eyes off of Lily’s rump, though he failed often. “Where are we going?” he finally asked as they started walking up a tight set of stairs. They curved up and to the left. Small candles lit the stairway.

“You’ll see,” came Lily’s sly reply. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

A minute passed as he trudged up the stairs after her. It seemed odd how lightly she walked up the steps, especially since he was starting to sweat from the exertion of climbing so high. His legs started to feel sore, but something deep down inside him pushed him on and kept him quiet, though he wasn’t sure exactly what it was. Perhaps it was the desire to not disappoint her or to give up so easily.

Another minute passed. He nearly paused to ask for a break when the top of the stairs finally came into view. A single oak door stood before them with Luna’s cutie mark burned into it. “Is this…” He heard the lock slide open.

“Luna’s bedroom? Yeah. Wanna see what’s inside?” Lily smirked at him then pushed the door open wide. She stood aside and let him in, hungrily eyeing him like a wolf would its prey. Lily kicked the door shut, though it bounced off the door frame and remained open by a few inches. She trotted past him, once more teasing his snout with her tail.

“Woah…” Jason murmured as he looked around the large room. A bed big enough for at least six ponies sat to his left. The sheets and pillows were a pure white while the comforter a deep navy blue that matched Luna’s coat. A collection of telescopes and other similar-looking contraptions sat grouped near the windows across from him. To his right lay her desk and five large floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, all totally filled with ancient books. A cough drew his attention back to his date.

“See something interesting, handsome?” Lily asked.

Jason’s breath caught in his throat. Lily had stretched out across the bed, looking him up and down with a look that left little guessing room in his mind for what she wanted to do with him. “Well, y-yeah; these books look super old; is this her personal collection?” he asked, trying to think of anything to stall the inevitable. He heard Lily pout, though he stayed strong in the moment and pretended to look at some of the books in front of him.

“Yes, that is her personal collection,” Lily said curtly. “Won’t you join me in the bed?” she asked, her tone gentle yet brimming with desire.

“Have you ever looked at any of them?” He walked around Luna’s desk and shot a quick smirk at her, making it obvious that he was playing games with her, one that she would not so easily win. She leapt from the bed and flapped her wings to land on the other side of the desk. The wind from her flight blew some pieces of parchment off of the top of the desk, drawing Jason’s attention. “Can you get those?” he asked, nodding towards the few pieces of parchment that landed behind her. Lily held his gaze for a moment, turned her back to him, then took her time lifting each piece of parchment up from the ground with her mouth, letting her rear end stick up in the air.

Out of respect, he looked away, his eyes falling upon Luna’s desk. An aging folder caught his gaze. All worries of Lily pouncing on him and claiming him as hers fell away as he noticed Nightshine’s and the orphanage’s name on the top of the folder. Curious, he pulled it closer to him and managed to open it with a hoof.

“What’s that?” Lily asked as she placed the pieces of parchment back on the desk.

“A folder from the orphanage with Nightshine’s name on it. Why would Luna have this?” he asked as he looked up at her.

“I’m… not sure.” Lily craned her neck to get a better look as she walked around the desk. She pulled the first sheet over to the left so they could look at what was underneath.

“Lily, it says–” Jason froze, his eyes locked on the page in front of him. Thinking of how Nightshine looked like today, he took in Lily’s cheekbone, the curvature of her snout, her eyes, and even her wings, unable to believe what the file said. Even so, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He closed the file and tucked it under his right wing, pinning it against his side.

“What?” she blurted out. “What did it say?”

With his mind going a million miles a minute, Jason took a step back away from her, eyeing her with a newfound look of distrust. “What are you playing at?” he asked. “Is this your doing? Luna’s?”

“What do you mean? What does it say?”

Lily took a step towards him but he took a step back towards the door. “Why does this say you gave up a thestral foal over twelve years ago?” he asked.

Lily’s face paled. “How could you possibly know that?” She stomped up to him and yanked the file out of his grasp, then slammed it back down on Luna’s desk. “There’s no–” Her eyes darted over the pages as she took it all in. A minute passed in silence, then two before she looked back up at Jason with fear in her eyes. “I swear I had no idea. I thought my baby had been sent back home to my family, not–not here!” Tears brimmed in the corners of her eyes as they searched his face for any hint of what he was about to say next.

“I think we need to talk to Luna,” he said in a cold tone. “to get to the bottom of this.”

Lily scoffed at that. “And have her find out that I brought you to her room to have s–”

“Better that then let the two of you get your story straight.” He gathered the documents together, closed the folder, then placed it back under his wing. Lily hastily walked backwards towards the door, blocking the only way out.

“Please; let us think about this for a moment! If Nightshine is truly the foal I gave away so many years ago, then… then–”

“Lily, please get out of my way.”

“I know you’re feeling really protective right now, but can we–” Jason’s look hardened. “Don’t you trust me?” she feebly asked.

“I’d like to, but I need answers. I have to ask Luna why she has a file that says you’re Nightshine’s mother.” He noticed a pair of eyes and a familiar tuft of dark green hair over Lily’s shoulders through the half-open door for a split-second before they dashed away, running down the stairs at a breakneck pace. His eyes went wide, his grasp on the file loosening just enough to let the documents within flutter to the floor.

Lily whimpered as she looked over her shoulder just in time to get a glimpse of the unknown pony’s tail. Her strength finally wilted as she put two and two together. “You don’t think that was–”

“Yeah,” Jason grunted as he gathered the pieces of parchment on the floor. “I do.”

“Oh dear…”

Night Terrors

“Nightshine, wait!” Jason called out. He pushed past Lily and hurried down the stairs as fast as he dared, worried that he would trip and fall down the rest of them if he tried to run. Nightshine’s hoofsteps grew softer and softer as she was able to run a lot faster. He heard Lily hurry after him, though the stairs were too narrow for her to push past him to take the lead. Worry grew within his heart as he yearned to quicken his pace. He didn’t know what Nightshine had heard nor did he know where she was going; the fact that she was running away from him made his worries double.

He reached the bottom of the stairs and emerged back out into the hallway. His head whipped both ways, though the only pony he found was Abigale trotting up to them. Her eyes fell on them and their disheveled appearances before they went wide, already making assumptions about them.

“Um… You two weren’t doing what I think you were doing… were you?” Abigale asked Lily, looking at her with an uncomfortable look.

“No, I’m not that lucky.” Lily closed the door to Luna’s tower and locked it. “Abi, did you see Nightshine run past you?”

“The little filly that was with you two earlier? No, but I heard someone crying a few hallways back. Go three halls down and hang a left,” Abigale said.

“That’ll lead back to our rooms…” Lily muttered. “Thanks! Are those Luna’s treats that we talked about earlier?”

“You mean ‘the thing’?” Abigale asked. “You know it!” She opened a pink box to show a neat stack of cookies. “Just like you said, peanut butter cookies with a piece of chocolate in the middle! Don’t tell Luna but I’ve already eaten four,” she said with a sheepish smile. “Would you two like one?”

We don’t have time for this. Jason cleared his throat. “I don’t think we have the time. Maybe later?” he asked in a strained tone of voice. “Lily?” He nodded down the hallway that Abigale had just come from then started trotting away.

“Right!” Lily looked back at her friend. “Next time, I promise,” she said as she started running to catch up with Jason.

“You two need help?” Abigale called out after them.

“No thanks!” Lily said as she caught up to him. “So… you think she went back to her room?”

“I hope so. I don’t want her getting lost in the castle.”

“I’m sure she remembers the way back to our rooms.”

As they neared the bottom of the stairs that led back up to their rooms, he stopped Lily with an outstretched hoof. “Look…” He cleared his throat again. “If what this folder says is true, I think it would be best if I just went and talked to her first.”

Lily looked at him like he’d just said he had five heads. “But… I’m her mother. I think I should at least be there to–”

“I’m her dad. Listen, if–”

“Of what, a couple weeks?” she blurted out. Lily’s expression changed to horror the moment the words left her mouth.

Jason’s expression hardened. While Lily looked really apologetic, her words still stung. He wanted to put her in her place, but he couldn’t waste any more time arguing. He noticed that she was about to speak again. “I’ll be back soon, I promise,” he said as he looked away from her. He couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eyes.

“At the very least… could you tell her I’m sorry?” she cautiously asked as Jason trotted upstairs away from her.

He paused several steps up. “...Maybe. Look, I’ll talk things through with her, put her to bed, then come back down so we can figure this out. You’ll be able to talk to her soon, just not right now.”

It looked as if Lily was going to argue more, but she relented mere moments later. “That works,” she said.

Her words of malice followed him up the stairs as he climbed, echoing in his head. Once he reached the top of the stairs, he silently counted the doors that he passed in his head until he reached Nightshine’s door. He took a quick peek in his door just to make sure he was in the right spot, then stopped in front of his daughter’s door. “Hey sweetie, it’s me,” he said to the closed door. Silence met his ears as he waited for a response. “Can I come in?” he asked. When she didn’t respond, he opened the door and walked inside. Nightshine’s dress lay on the floor in a heap. The balcony door hit the outside wall every few seconds, buffeted by the wind.

Jason darted forward as fast as he could. “Nightshine?” He screeched to a halt on the balcony as he looked all over. “Nightshine!” he called out at the top of his lungs. He ran back into the room, then nearly knocked the bathroom door off its hinges as he barreled into the smaller room. Nightshine was nowhere to be found. He walked back out on the balcony and looked up. A low rumbling came from higher up. Little flashes of lightning illuminated the inside of a storm slowly but surely making its way towards them.

Jason’s eyes went wide as the storm’s wind teased his wings open just enough for them to snap open wide. His front hooves lifted off the balcony as another gust of wind tried to pull him over the railing, though he caught himself by wrapping his front legs around the iron railing just in time. As he stood there in shock, the fact that Nightshine didn’t know how to fly popped into his head. A feeling of horror filled him as he assumed the worst. He tightened his grip on the rail and looked down, though thankfully he saw no trace of his daughter. He looked back up at the storm in fear, its wind throwing his hair all over the place as he wondered if Nightshine suffered the same fate he almost did.

Five minutes earlier…

Nightshine slammed her bedroom door shut as hard as she could. “Ho-How could she?” she stammered out, her mind racing a million miles a minute. The beautiful, friendly pony that Daddy was dating was actually her birth mother. She couldn’t settle on how she felt about that. She felt angry at first, then a deep sadness, then a decade of pent-up rage pushed itself to the surface. Nightshine felt ashamed to have run away from them, but she was terrified of the question that stood on the tip of her tongue.

Why did Lily give her away like she was nothing more than trash all those years ago?

Her vision grew blurry as she struggled to breathe. All those years of suffering alone, unable to make or even keep friendships as each of her friends were adopted, never to return. All of the parents that had passed her up in favor of better ponies, all of it meaningless when she could have lived a much better life had Lily not gotten rid of her. While Lily had shown her much affection, she wondered if it was all just an act to make her forgive her for ruining her foalhood.

Even the sheer joy she felt from being adopted to Jason was overshadowed by Lily’s deceptions.

Knowing that Jason and Lily would be right behind her, she stopped as she pondered on her next course of action. Only then was she hit with another troubling realization. What if Daddy knew that Lily was my mother? Why was he talking about it with her in such a far away room? Why was he hiding from me?

She couldn’t trust anyone.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tore the dress from her back, flinging it to the ground. Nightshine whimpered as she looked at the dress that had once made her so happy. It represented so much more than a grand evening out, it meant the world and more. It pained her to throw it off her like it meant little to her, but it reminded her too much of Lily and her lies. She wondered if she could ever find it in herself to forgive her, but that was future Nightshine’s problem.

As a large, terrifying storm grew outside, Nightshine kicked the balcony door open, her chest heaving up and down with the monumental task before her. She couldn’t be scared, especially not in this moment. She was a thestral, a terror of the night. Even though she barely had any flying experience, she knew deep down that her instincts would take over once she was airborne. She just had to get away from them to think things through. She felt she was old enough to be on her own, after all.

Nightshine walked onto the balcony and placed her forelegs up on the railing. She spread her wings wide, feeling the wind from the storm tickle the sensitive underside of her wings. Right before she was about to jump into nothingness, she paused, feeling a bit of guilt surge within her. Daddy would be so worried… She took a step back from the edge, dashed inside the room, and scribbled a quick note.

See you back home.

I’m sorry.

-Nightshine

She folded it once then placed it on top of her dress. Nightshine set her eyes on Ponyville all the way off in the distance. Even though it was dark and sheets of rain covered the plains, growing ever closer, she figured that if Lily could fly through the rain, so could she. Spreading her wings wide, she leapt from the balcony and pointed her head towards Ponyville then angled the rest of her body towards home. A strong updraft threw her a couple hundred feet higher. She felt weightless for a brief moment before her wings caught the wind and her weight again.

As Nightshine neared the edge of the city, she looked down and gulped. The plains below were so far down below her that she started to have second thoughts. The moment she drifted over the edge of the city into open air sent a pang of terror into her heart, scaring her so deep that she knew she’d made a terrible mistake. She banked to the right to fly back to Canterlot, but dipped down so steep that she fell fast, far below the edge of the city. In desperation, she flapped as hard as she could to at least make it to the lowest level, though it was nothing against the mindless strength of the storm.

Heavy raindrops pelted her back and her wings, stinging with each hit. She couldn’t see farther than a few pony-lengths in front of her as the storm overcame her, making her strength feel as miniscule as a mouse against a giant. Feeling as guilty as sin, she braced herself for the long journey ahead and kept her wings spread wide, resigning herself to gliding wherever she might end up.

“Daddy, help!” she managed to squeak out, her voice devoid of all strength and resolve as the storm swallowed her whole.

Defiance

“She’s gone,” Jason muttered as he walked past Lily. She hadn’t moved from her spot at the base of the stairs.

“Huh?” Lily scrambled to catch up to him. “What do you mean she’s gone?”

“From what I can tell she jumped off her balcony and flew away. I need to go look for her.”

“What, in the rain? Alone? I’m coming with.”

Picking his words carefully, he thought long and hard before responding with, “Fine, we can look together.” The last thing he wanted to do was push Lily away if she was indeed telling the truth that she had no idea Nightshine was her daughter. Until he could get to the bottom of all this, he would have to hold her at arms-length.

“Good. We should go and tell the princesses and get them to help. Their forces have been training for all sorts of situations, including stuff like this.” She stopped in front of him. “We should go back to our room and get out of these fine clothes if we’re going out into the rain; I don’t want to ruin our outfits.”

“I don’t care about our outfits, Lily!” he yelled. “We don’t have time!” They emerged back out into the Gala. The voices quieted down and the music came to a halt, though the musicians started playing again after a few moments.

“Time for what?” Princess Celestia asked from his right.

Jason gulped. He pushed past Lily and kept his gaze low as he made his way back to the VIP section. He felt Lily’s eyes bore into the back of his head, but he had to know. Princess Luna was looking at him with a curious look, surely wondering why he walked with such importance. He stormed up to Luna, pulled Nightshine’s file from under his wing, and slammed it down on a table. Documents slipped from the folder, spreading out across the table. “Did you know?” he demanded.

The guards, alarmed at his actions, turned and took a few steps towards them before Luna waved them off. Princess Twilight walked up to him and stood between him and Luna, a look of great concern on her face. “Jason, what’s gotten into you?” she asked in a hushed tone. “You can’t address the princesses like tha–”

“Did you know that Lily was Nightshine’s mother?” he asked, raising his voice to be louder than the noises of the party behind them. “What sort of scheme is this?”

“Scheme? I hardly know what you mean,” Luna said with a dismissive wave of her hoof. “I would advise you to lower your voice. You might upset our guests.”

“Did you set Lily up with me so that she could be near her daughter? What sort of backhanded trickery are you playing at?” Luna looked down upon him with suspicion, though he didn’t give her a chance to respond. “How could you possibly think that this was the best way to handle a delicate situation like this?”

Princess Celestia opened the file with a quick spell from her horn, allowing herself, Luna, and Twilight to look through the file. “If all of this is true, then Lily is indeed Nightshine’s mother…” Luna mused. “I had my suspicions, but I had to make sure before I told anyone anything.”

“So you knew all along?” Jason demanded.

“I suspected. I had a couple of my guards look for the file down at the orphanage earlier today. I haven’t had the time to look at it myself.”

“Well, because of this file, Nightshine is missing! She overheard us talking about how Lily is her mother, ran away from us, then somehow, without knowing how to fly, might I add, decided to fly back to Ponyville from her room!” Jason yelled. His voice sounded deeper than normal; he figured it was due to him being a thestral.

“Wait, how do you know she flew back to Ponyville?” Lily asked.

Luna’s eyes narrowed and her demeanor grew cold. “Where, pray tell, did thee procure this file?” she slowly asked. Her eyes fell upon Lily who wilted under her stare. “That file was locked in my private quarters,” she said, answering her question for everyone else.

All eyes fell on Lily and Jason.

“What were you two doing in her bedroom?” Twilight slowly asked. She looked at Lily, then Jason, holding his gaze for a brief moment before he looked away, embarrassed and unable to say what everyone assumed. Jason’s face burned with the heat of a million suns.

Luna’s nostrils flared as she put two and two together. “You didn’t–” she snarled.

“It was my idea; he had nothing to do with it,” Lily blurted out. She stepped forward a step past Jason, drawing everyone’s attention to her.

“It takes two to tango,” Luna said.

“I brought him upstairs,” Lily said, her voice holding strong. “But that doesn’t matter. Nightshine isn’t good at flying; she could be lost outside and in need of our help.”

“I agree. Deploy the garrison,” Princess Celestia ordered, addressing the guards that stood at the VIP entrance. “Shining Armor, I’m placing you in command of the search. Organize and send out search parties immediately.” She glanced at Cadence. “Would you be so kind as to assist him?” Shining bowed, then galloped away with the two guards.

“Of course, Auntie,” Cadence said. “We won’t rest until we find her.”

“I’ll come with!” Lily said as she started to follow Princess Cadence.

“No, you won’t,” Luna said as she walked up to Lily with a look of disgust on her face. “You not only broke some major rules, you broke my trust and my friendship.” She shook her head as her gaze turned into steel. “You are hereby confined to quarters until I come for you. I need some time to figure out a suitable punishment.”

“But we didn’t do–” Lily looked up at her with pleading eyes. “I won’t sit around while my daughter is in trouble, Princess.”

“Are you defying a direct order, Guard Lily?” Luna’s tone became serious in a heartbeat.

Lily stared up at her. A single tear slipped down her right cheek. “N-No, but–” Her head hung low. “I will obey, my princess,” she muttered.

“Good.” Luna waved Abigale over. “Guard Abigale, you are hereby ordered to not let Guard Lily out of your sight until I render her punishment. She is confined to quarters. Is that understood?”

Abigale saluted. “Yes, Princess. It shall be done.” She looked at Lily with a curious look, though Lily didn’t meet her gaze. “Come on, girl,” she whispered, placing a wing over her back as she led her away.

“Abi, what am I going to do?” Lily asked as she paced around the room they shared. She’d been walking back and forth for the last five or so minutes, unable to sit still.

“Well, let’s be realistic about this. You brought a stud up to our Princess’s room to have… relations and Luna found out. What did you think was going to happen?” she asked. Lily stayed silent. “Look, as your best friend, I’m on your side one hundred percent, but come on, girl, you really messed up.”

“I know,” she muttered. “You don’t need to remind me.” She stopped in front of their only window and watched as her fellow guards roamed the grounds below. “I hope Nightshine is okay… Oh, why did she run away?”

“How would you react if you were given up at birth and found out that the guy who adopted you is dating your mother?” Abigale asked. She started taking off her armor piece by piece before she flopped on her bed.

Lily felt her throat tighten. “I’d probably freak out.”

“Exactly. She just needs time to cool down and work things through, right?”

“I guess.” Lily groaned.

"Why did you give her up for adoption? I have to admit I’m a little curious.”

“I couldn’t give her the life she deserved. I wasn’t ready to have a foal yet, either. It’s just… ugh.” Lily ran her front hooves over her face. “I was only thinking of myself back then. I thought she was going to get a much better life back home with the rest of her kind, not at some old janky orphanage here in Canterlot!” She resumed pacing back and forth.

“Who did you give the foal to?” Abigale cautiously asked.

Lily held her friend’s gaze for a few seconds. “The hospital. I don’t remember the doctor’s name; I was in such great pain. All I did was sign some papers at the hospital and she was to be adopted. I thought she was going to be sent back home, but… You remember how competitive things were back then? I thought I was making the best choice for the both of us!”

“At the time, you were probably right. I don’t think you were ready to be a mom back then.”

“I wasn’t. I was a fool.” Lily stopped pacing and stared out the window again. “A silly, love-addled fool.”

“Did you…” Abigale made her way over to sit next to Lily. “Did you try to keep tabs on her?”

“I couldn’t bring myself to. I considered it when I was recovering from giving birth, but since she was already gone, I thought that it was best to push on with my life and put the past behind me.” She looked at her friend with pleading eyes. “Am I a bad pony?”

Abigale shook her head almost instantly. “No, I don’t think so. Raising a foal is so much work and you just weren’t ready for it. Weren’t we just privates back then?”

Lily nodded once. “Having no seniority or rank meant that we always got the worst shifts. I didn’t have a house, an apartment… I had nothing. Nothing for her.”

“What makes you want to be in her life now?”

“Because she is precious and priorities change. Plus Luna thinks that Jason and I had–you know.” She blushed. “But we didn’t,” she said, feeling Abigale’s eyes bore into the side of her head. She met her gaze and held it. “Seriously; we didn’t do a thing.” Abigale’s smirk deepened. Lily’s smile faded, her tone turning serious. “Really. I swear on our friendship.”

“Fine, I believe you,” Abigale finally said. “Still kinda funny how you blew your chance with a hot stud.”

Lily rolled her eyes at that, but didn’t take the bait. “Since Luna thinks that I took advantage of her–”

“You did.”

“I know. I had too many drinks and thought only of myself, just like back then.” Lily couldn’t help but loose a soft whimper. “Since Luna thinks I took advantage of her, I lost her trust, friendship, and I might very well be dishonorably discharged from the service that I spent so many years devoting my life to.”

“Yeah… that’s a very real possibility.”

“And then Jason doesn’t trust me; I couldn’t go stay with him if I did get kicked out of the Lunar Guard. Nightshine would hate me if I pursued a relationship with him, too.” She lay her head on the windowsill and idly watched raindrops hit the window.

“So… what happened up there?” Abigale finally asked.

“Well… I brought Jason up to Luna’s quarters and got comfortable on the bed. Jason was acting all nervous and stuff so I played things slow and let him get comfortable with the idea of us doing… you know, and that’s when he found that file with Nightshine’s name on it. Now he thinks that Luna and I conspired against him and Nightshine to get me back into her life as her mother.”

“Were you?” Abigale slowly asked.

“No!” Lily shook her head. “We tell each other everything; I wouldn’t have–couldn’t have–hid something like this from you.”

“I guess. So what are you going to do?”

“I know what I’m not going to do; I’m not going to sit around and mope. I need to get out there and look for her.” Lily stood up, slung a satchel over her right shoulder, then started gathering her armor and some supplies.

“But you got confined to your room! If you leave, I’ll get in trouble, too!” Abigale stood up and blocked the door leading outside.

“Abi, my daughter is missing and it’s all my fault. If anything happens to her, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. I’m going whether you like it or not.”

“You could lose your job! You could be locked away for disobeying a direct order from Princess Luna!”

“Yeah, you’re right. That won’t stop me from doing what a mother should,” Lily said as she started putting on her armor. “Will you help me or not?”

Abigale fidgeted in place for a few moments before she grew still. “I was ordered to watch you, so… if you’re not gonna let me stop you, then–then I’m going with you!” Abigale said with a humph. “Just give me a couple minutes to suit up, okay?”

A Wary Encounter

Nightshine woke up with a start. She’d landed in the middle of a small forest a couple hours before the sun had risen. She hadn’t felt safe on the ground, especially with all the little critters and not so little creatures making noises all around her, so she had wearily climbed up into a tree just like the one back at the orphanage and had fallen asleep rather quickly. Her muscles were so sore and tired that she was barely able to make it up there.

She made sure to keep a good grasp on the thick branch she had slept on as she stretched. Her wings felt so sore, especially since she had been forced to keep them open for so long. For one as inexperienced as her, she had no idea what to do going that high so she had kept them open the entire time. She hadn’t even tried to flap for fear of losing altitude. A thestral with a fear of heights was surely unbecoming, but she had tried her best to remain brave. Being brave meant never giving up.

She couldn’t help but let loose a big yawn as she rubbed her eyes. Nightshine stretched her sore wings out as far as she could and winced; she figured she would need many days before she could recover and try to fly back home. For now, though, more pressing matters were at hoof. For starters, as the sun started to set, its light shining on a slant through the leaves above, she felt her stomach grumble loudly. She brushed some of her mane out of her face with a hoof, then slunk back down to the ground, taking care to stay as silent as she could.

She found an old trail not so far away. It looked like it hadn’t been used in quite some time as the forest had already reclaimed some of the path. With her view of Canterlot and the sun obscured, she didn’t know which way to go. Everything looked the same either way; nothing but more bushes and trees.

Hoping to figure out where she was, she looked around until she found a tree tall enough to see over the rest of them. Even though her limbs were weak from hunger, she still found the strength she needed to haul herself above the canopy. She pushed aside a couple branches of leaves, finally feeling the warmth of the sun grace her fur. Nightshine smiled at the small comfort, though it faded once her eyes fell on what she thought was the mountain that Canterlot rested upon.

Nightshine squinted and leaned forward, using her other hoof to shield her eyes from the setting sun.

She knew she was far from home with how far Canterlot was off in the distance; she could barely make out the mountain that the city sat upon. She looked at the mountain to the right of what she thought was Canterlot, then looked back at the one before, trying to figure out which one was which. They all blurred into one mass so many dreadful miles away.

She felt her tummy growl; it felt like she’d last eaten ages ago even though it’d been at most a day. She climbed down as carefully as she could then found her way back to the path. Small red berries lined the opposite side of the path, making her eyes go wide. She scrambled over to them and held them up to her eyes. She’d never seen them before, but food was food in her eyes; she’d eat anything if it would quell the pain in her tummy.

However, right as she was about to shove some in her mouth, a stick breaking a little ways down the path behind her startled her. With only a couple seconds to spare, she leapt behind the berry bush, scrambled up the closest tree and wrapped her legs around a thick branch, the berries once in her hoof laying across the path. Nightshine winced as she realized her mistake much too late. She prayed that the one around the corner would pay them no mind. She hid her face and tried her hardest to still her nervously-twitching tail.

She heard the hoofsteps come to a halt beneath her. Nightshine peeked over the edge of the branch. She saw a long shadow from the setting sun lay upon the path just beneath her, the shadow of the pony’s head encapsulating the berries she once held.

The pony chuckled, revealing a deep, seasoned voice. “You know I can see you, right? You can come down from there,” they said. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”

Nightshine inwardly groaned. “What gave me away?” she asked, looking down at him with suspicion. He was an older sort of fellow that wore a short gray beard and a large brown saddlebag that looked stuffed to the brim. She didn’t move from her spot in the tree as she eyed the black pegasus up and down.

“Though I may be getting a bit old in years, mine eyes are still as sharp as a spear!” he said with a grin. “And it was your twitchy tail; not many things your size live in the trees in these parts.”

“What is this path? Where am I?”

“You don’t know? You’re in one of the many forests outside Bitsburgh. Where did you come from?” he curiously asked. “We don’t see much of your kind around here.”

“C-Canterlot,” she admitted.

“Canterlot! That’s quite far for someone such as yourself.”

“How far away am I?”

“Many days on hoof, two by train, and one by flight. I take it that you flew here?” Nightshine nodded. “Quite a feat for one as young as you. What brings you out this far?”

“It’s, uh… a long story. I’m a little lost.”

“I’d say!” He glanced down at the berries that lay before him before he looked back up at her with a great look of concern. “Pray tell, you did not eat these berries, did you?”

Nightshine shook her head. “Nu-uh. Why? Are they poisonous?”

“Quite. Are you hungry? I have bread, some fruit, and water. It’d be a much better option than the alternative.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” Nightshine warily asked. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Ah, but of course, of course! My name is Star Shadow. Quite an ominous name, I know, but my father had high hopes for me and gave me a name fit for a warrior. Seeing how I turned out, I would say that it is quite ironic!” he said with a comforting smile.

“What do you mean?” Nightshine slid down the tree, though she stayed her hoof and kept her ground instead of approaching him. While she was very, very hungry, she still felt a little wary of the newcomer.

“Well, I am a weather pony! I’ve been leading my town’s team of pegasi in creating storms to keep our lands fresh and fertile.” He rummaged around in his saddlebag and pulled out a large blanket which he set upon the ground. “Will you join me for dinner? I usually read during my meals though it will be nice to have some company for a change.”

“Did you make a storm yesterday?” she asked, remembering her terrifying experience from the previous night. Her tone grew wary and cold.

“Sure did! We made it as big as we could and sent it on its way, just like every other storm.” he said. “I believe it went west-ish somewhere.”

She was hungry enough to not mention that Star might have had a hoof in her predicament; she didn’t want to upset him and lose out on the chance of having some food. She still felt wary of the pegasus in front of her, but he seemed friendly enough. “I suppose I’ll accept your generous offer so long as you give me directions back to town afterwards.”

“I can do you one better than that; I can take you myself!” He pushed half a loaf of bread with a couple apples over the blanket in front of her. “Once we’re done eating, of course. I know a place that serves the best hot chocolate in town, too.”

She sat down on the edge of the blanket and grabbed the food with a grateful smile. “Thank you, sir,” she said. Wait, if he made a storm far from Canterlot, he couldn’t have made the storm that brought me here… she figured, looking up at him with a bit more trust. My storm came from the south and blew me north-east if I remember my map studies correctly. “I’m Nightshine, by the way.”

“It is nice to meet you.” Star asked after a few bites of his half of the food. “So what’s your story?”

“Someone adopted me and I just found out that the pony he started dating is also my mom who gave me away at birth like I was nothing more than dirt on the road.” She fought back a fresh set of tears for the thought was almost too much to bear. “I just needed space, you know? To figure things out. I left a note saying I was going home, but… I was blown way off course.”

Star Shadow froze for a brief moment. “I see…”

“I want my daddy to be happy but I want to be happy, too. I don’t know if I can be happy around her knowing what she did.”

“Well… I can’t really speak to that. But could you live with yourself if you threw away the chance to reconnect with your mother forever? Could you really live the rest of your life with hate in your heart? It’s always easier to love than to hate.”

Author's Note

Map of Equestria for Reference
S: https://www.deviantart.com/keenkris/art/Map-of-Equestria-And-Beyond-790278917

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Lily looked in through the windows of Jason’s and Nightshine’s home, cupping her front hooves around her head to get a better view inside. They had dodged more than their fair share of lightning bolts on their flight to Ponyville, though this time Lily had the foresight to wear some bad weather gear. A warm hooded waterproof poncho sat upon her back, blocking most of the rain.

The front and back doors were still locked tight and it appeared as if nobody was home. “She said she’d be here in her note…” she mumbled to herself. It was still dark out and no light came from within. Lily knocked on the door once, then twice. “Nightshine, are you home?” She waited a minute, looking in through the windows for any sign of movement. She knocked again, this time harder.

Abigale nudged her on the shoulder. “I don’t think she’s here,” Abigale said. “Based on how the storm is moving, she’s probably somewhere between Detrot and Foaledo.”

“That far? What makes you think that?”

Abigale snatched some grass from the road beneath her and tossed them high into the air. “Based on the estimated speed of the wind and the height of Canterlot, if she glided like you think she did, she could easily have made it that far.”

“If she was strong enough, sure, but…”

“But what? She seems like a tough little filly, just like you. I’m sure she’s fine.”

“But–”

“No buts! She’s fine, we’re going to find her, and you’re going to stay in the guard.”

Lily smiled at her friend’s kind words. “I might get demoted, you know.”

“Yeah, and you’re gonna spend a year cleaning the toilets, too!”

“Hey, you came with!”

“Yeah, but I’m not disobeying a direct order like you are. Princess Luna ordered me to keep an eye on you so that’s what I’m going to do.” She shook herself to get rid of the rain pooling on the back of her poncho, then stretched her wings out wide. “You ready?”

“Sure am.” Lily and Abigale flew northeast, stopping every couple of miles to look around and ask some of the locals if they’d seen a thestral filly. They’d spent all morning and afternoon looking all over, but the further they went, the more they feared that they were looking in the wrong direction. However, Abigale was sure of herself, just like she always was, and kept reassuring her that they were on the right path.

Detrot was devoid of any thestrals. Some were shocked to see two of Luna’s guards in their armor so far away from Canterlot, especially without the princess, but the two of them paid that no mind. They were on a mission and they would not stop until little Nightshine was returned, safe and sound. Foaledo too was of a similar result: Nightshine had not been seen anywhere. In fact, she and Abigale were the only two thestrals in the area, according to the locals.

After another few hours of flying northeast, as the sun started to set behind them, Lily glanced at her friend. Abigale had been lagging behind her, flying at a slower pace than what she wanted. By the pained expression on her friend’s face, she could tell just how weary she was. “Hey!” she called out to get her attention as she pointed towards the ground ahead of them.

Her armor weighed heavily on her head and back. With an empty stomach and sore muscles, Lily nearly stumbled as she landed. Bitsburgh was off in the distance by just another few minutes of flight, but her wings were so sore that they felt like they were about to fall off of her. With the promise of a warm bed, warm food, and the company of her friend, she waited for Abigale to land beside her.

Abigale panted hard. “Dang, girl… I knew you could fly, but…” She took a few more deep breaths. “I didn’t know you had it in you to go that far.”

“I can’t quit. I won’t quit,” she said.

“I know you won’t, and I’m not saying we should, but… whew!” Abigale took another deep breath and collapsed upon the soft ground.

Lily felt a bit of anxiety grow within her. “Come, Abi, we’ll find a hotel to stay in tonight. Dinner is on me, too.”

“Can we rest a minute?” Abigale hopefully asked.

“Sure, but then we gotta get a move on.” Lily let her friend catch her breath for a few minutes, patiently waiting for her to recover. Truth be told, she needed more than a couple minutes to recover herself, but she would never admit it. Abigale stood up and followed her along the train tracks that led into town.

“I spy with my tired eyes a little tavern up on the corner. You think they have some open rooms?”

“I sure hope so because my hooves are beat!”

“This is the place?” Nightshine asked. The sun had long set but they were safely within the confines of Bitsburgh. They stood before an old three-story building. A sign hung above the porch identified the place as The Prancing Puppy, quite an odd name. “It looks… old,” she carefully said, hoping to not offend Star.

“Sure is! It’s kind of our only place to go out and eat in town,” Star Shadow said. “So long as you have bits, that is…” He looked down at her, then sighed. “Here, there’s enough in here for a few meals and a bed if you choose to stay the night.” Star pulled a small bag from his saddlebag and tossed it to her. “I hope you fare well, young Nightshine, for I now must return to my own family.”

“Thank you. I won’t forget your kindness, sir,” Nightshine gratefully accepted the bag of bits with a smile, then tucked it under her right wing.

“Just pay it forward when you can, will ya?” he asked over his shoulder as he walked away.

“I sure will,” she called out after him. Nightshine turned back to face the dilapidated building, mustered her strength, then walked inside. Warmth washed over her as she stepped out of the cold. She closed her eyes for a moment as she smiled. She felt safe.

Nightshine cleared her throat as she walked forward to the bar. She hopped up onto an empty stool between a couple of townsponies. An empty seat sat to her left while an older stallion unicorn sat to her right.

The barkeep, a dark brown pegasus, walked up to her. “How may I help you, young miss?” she asked with a warm smile.

“A room if you have it, please,” Nightshine said, placing her bag of bits on the counter.

The barkeep’s smile faltered. “I’m afraid we just sold the last remaining room to those two a little while ago,” she said, nodding towards Nightshine’s left.

Nightshine followed her gaze, her eyes falling on two Lunar Guards in full armor, save for their helmets that sat on the bar. She recognized them instantly. Her eyes locked with theirs, flicking between the two. “L-Lily? Abigale?” she asked. “What are you two doing here?” Nightshine tensed up.

“Looking for you, of course,” Abigale said from across the bar. “You’ve got most of the guards in Equestria out looking for you, you know. Even though Lily was confined to quarters, she still wanted to come out and help look for you.” She shot a hopeful smile over at her. “We have an open seat over here if you’d like to join us.”

Nightshine’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s Daddy? Is he here?” She looked all across the room and didn’t find him.

“No, he and Twilight took the train back to Ponyville to look for you at the house,” Lily finally spoke up, her tone even and devoid of any hostilities.

“How’d you find me?” she asked.

Lily waved her over. Nightshine clambered out of her stool and walked over to her, then climbed up into the open seat beside Abigale. They both reeked of sweat. “We… uh…” Her voice sounded dry.

“We followed the wind and did a lot of guestimation!” Abigale said with glee. “Just like we were taught in basic training. Isn’t that right, Lily?”

“Y-Yeah, I guess.” Lily’s gaze softened. “Can we talk? I’ve been worried sick about you.” She pushed over her bowl of soup in front of her. “Here, have some food. You look hungry.”

Nightshine looked up at her with distrusting eyes, then glanced down at the soup. Even though she wasn’t too hungry, the smell of the soup was just too tantalizing for her to pass. “T-Thanks,” she said, earning a smile from Lily.

“How did you make it all the way out here?” Lily asked.

Nightshine took a minute to herself and finished the soup in no time at all. “I flew. I sorta got lost in a big storm and ended up here.” She felt Abigale’s hoof come to rest on her back, rubbing her just like a mother would. “I thought I could fly back home, but…”

“But that big ol’ scary storm blew you off course?” Abigale gently asked, finishing her sentence.

Nightshine nodded. “I was so scared,” she whispered. A shiver ran down her back, though the cold was purged from her coat when Abigale draped a warm wing across her back.

“I bet you were, sweetie,” Abigale said. “And I bet you’re exhausted, too. I know we are. We flew all through the night and all through the day and eventually ended up here, what, forty minutes ago or so?” Lily nodded silently. “I think I can speak for both of us when I say just how relieved we are that you ran into us.” Lily nodded again in agreement.

“Me too,” Nightshine said. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to get home until I ran into you two. I knew I would figure it out, but… I don’t know.”

“The world sure can be a scary place,” Abigale said. “We heard the bartender say that they didn’t have any rooms left; you’re more than welcome to stay with us. Thing is, though, there are only two small beds so one of us will have to sleep on the floor. I guess it’ll be me since Lily is paying for the room.”

“Don’t be silly, Abi, I’ll sleep on the floor. You’ve risked so much coming with me,” Lily said. “And speaking of sleeping, I think it’s high time we get some shut-eye. I’m bushed!”

“Me too,” Abigale said.

“Me three!” Nightshine laughed.

As they all slipped from their seats, Lily leaned in close to Abigale and asked, “Can you give us five minutes or so? I really want to have a private word with her.”

Abigale nodded. “Of course.”

Nightshine’s shoulders slumped. She had been hoping to head straight to bed, but now she thought she was going to get a stern talking-to. She knew what she did was so incredibly stupid and she knew deep down that she deserved getting disciplined. She followed Lily upstairs and into the second door from the stairs. Two beds on either side of the small room lay before them with a single nightstand in between. A candlestick sat in the middle of the nightstand, its thin, flickering flame barely lighting the room.

As Lily shut the door behind them, Nightshine turned around, sat down, and flicked her tail around so she had something comforting to grab. She lifted her head just in time for her mother to rush forward and hug her, squeezing her half to death.

“You had me so worried, sweetie,” Lily softly said when her grip loosened. “When Jason said you had flown all the way back home, I… Since you can’t fly yet, I–”

“I made it all the way out here, didn’t I?” Nightshine blurted out, feeling a little offended. “I did glide a ton, though.”

“Y-Yes, you did. I’m sure you have a lot of questions, but can I speak first? I want to tell you why I did what I did.”

Nightshine warily looked up at her, then nodded. “Okay.”

Lily took a couple of deep breaths. “Back when I gave birth to you, I thought I was doing the right thing giving you up so I could focus on my career. Guards who had kids without a partner in the picture never made it high in the ranks. Growing up, I was a nobody. I wanted the respect that a high station in Luna’s service warranted. I got what I wanted, but I lost sight of what truly was important… you.” She bit her bottom lip, then said, “Once I found out who you really were and what you went through, my heart shattered into a million pieces. If I had known what you were going to experience at the orphanage, I would have left Luna’s guard in a heartbeat to stay with you, I swear!”

“Did you know I was your daughter when you first came down to Ponyville?”

Lily shook her head. “No. I didn’t think it could even be you. Do you really think that Princess Luna of all ponies, and me included, would try to sneak me back into your life like nothing ever happened? Is that why you ran away?”

“When you put it like that…” Nightshine looked away, feeling guiltier than ever before. “Everything has just been so nonstop since I left Canterlot, so I… I don’t know. Are you really my mother?”

Tears brimmed in the corners of Lily’s eyes. “Yes, Nightshine, I am. I’m not asking for forgiveness but for a chance at starting over. I know I’m not perfect and I know I screwed up in a huge way, but maybe we could start over? I know I wasn’t there for the last twelve years of your life but I can be–I want to be–around for the rest. That is, if you'll let me?” she hopefully asked.

Nightshine looked her up and down then relented, throwing herself into her mother’s grasp to hug her. “I'd like that,” she whispered. “It’s easier to love than to hate and I choose to love,” she finished with a wide smile as she sat back on the floor.

“You know, you’re surprisingly mature for your age,” Lily choked out. “I know we have a long road ahead of us but I’m more than ready for the challenge.”

“Me too. It’s gonna take us ages to walk back.”

Lily’s eyebrows furrowed for the briefest of moments. “Oh, I was talking about–never mind. We’re not going to walk, I’ll fly with you on my back.”

“With all your armor and your bag?”

“Of course.”

Nightshine looked up at her with a newfound respect and grinned. “You’re pretty strong, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, just like you.” Someone knocked twice on the door before it opened. “Oh, good, it’s you. Perfect timing,” Lily said with a grin.

“Yeah, just little ol' me,” Abigale said as she dragged her bagged armor into the room. She had a towel wrapped around her head while another one was draped on her back. “Found the shower at the other end of the hall, too.”

“Ah, perfect. I could totally go for a shower,” Lily said.

“Yeah, you should; you stink!” Nightshine said, waving a hoof in front of her nose.

Lily laughed. “I bet you need a shower, too, little one.” Looking at her best friend, she asked, “Will you watch her while I shower?”

“Of course, girl! We’ll be fine,” she said as she hopped onto one of the beds. Once Lily left the room, she stretched out and let loose a long, content sigh. “So…”

“Yeah?”

“Did you two work things out?” Abigale asked.

“Y-Yeah, we did.”

“Good! Now I don’t have to worry about you sneaking out at night,” she jokingly said.

“Yeah, I’m done doing that,” Nightshine said as she laughed with her. “While Lil–my mother is gone, what can you tell me about her? You two are best friends, aren’t you?”

“We sure are!” Abigale sat up on the bed. “She’s one of the nicest mares I’ve ever met. She’s stuck her neck out for me on more than one occasion, too. Heck, I wouldn’t even be a guard if it wasn’t for her.”

“Really? What happened?” Nightshine asked.

Abigale mischievously grinned, baring her fangs for a moment. “Well… There were a couple of things that could have done me in, but first, I must swear you to secrecy. Only Lily and I know what I’m about to tell you and I need to know that you won’t tell anyone else.”

“Sure, I swear I won’t tell anyone,” Nightshine said.

Abigale smiled, relieved. “Excellent. The first one was rather stupid of me; I knew the rules and still broke them. In basic training, they make you work out so hard that it pushes you to your limits, you know? Like, you’re gonna drop and not move for hours because you’re so tired. One night, I snuck out and stole some mangos to share with everyone in our training class but they found out where I'd hidden them. Lily took the blame and had to scrub toilets for a week.”

“Why’d she do that?”

“Because I was already on my second strike and we swore before we signed up that we would make sure that we both made it through. I was a bit of a naughty filly growing up but the Guard set me straight; Lily definitely had a helping hoof in that. That's why she’s my best friend.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “The second thing that should have gotten me kicked out is rather silly; I was so upset that I didn’t get to eat a single mango that I snuck some rotten bananas into the drill instructor’s armor a few nights later; he didn’t know until a disgusting brown banana peel slipped out of his breastplate during drill practice!” Abigale laughed at the top of her lungs. “It looked like he pooped himself in front of the whole training class!”

Nightshine laughed with her, then asked, “Did they ever find out it was you?”

“That’s the best part! They never did find out it was me, but I think he knew all along. I think that drill instructor was buddies with our first commanding officer after basic training because Lily and I had the most dreadful shifts so we got kinda even. At least I came away with an amazing story.”

Nightshine’s smile disappeared as a serious question grew on the tip of her tongue. “Do you know who my father is?”

Abigale’s smile faltered as she grew still. “Y-Yeah, I do, though it’s not my place to say. Lily told me who it was a long time ago after a huge party and I don’t think she meant to tell me.” Nightshine’s ears flicked down, disappointed in the non-answer. “I’m sure she’ll tell you when she’s ready, though! Could be tomorrow, could be a decade; that’s just how she is.”

The door creaked open. “Hey, you two, I’m back,” Lily said. Her armor was slung over her shoulder in a bag. She tossed it on top of Abigale’s bag near the door, then noticed their wide smiles. “What were you two chatting about? What’d I miss? I heard you laughing all the way down the hall.”

“Oh… nothing,” Nightshine said with a sly grin. “Just poopy banana peels, is all.”

“You told her our secret stories, banana mare?” Lily asked, looking at Abigale with a raised eyebrow. She tried to keep a straight face, but failed once Nightshine started snickering.

“It’s fine, I swore her to secrecy with blood magic,” Abigale said with a giggle.

“With blood magic?! What do you–”

“Relax, it was a joke!” Abigale said, her smile deepening. “I did have her swear to stay quiet, though.”

“...Fine.” Looking down at Nightshine, she said, “The shower and bathroom are at the end of the hall if you’d like to freshen up, sweetie.”

Once Nightshine returned from taking a shower, she collapsed on the only open bed, pulled the only pillow close, then wiggled under the sheet. Lily had taken the blanket from Abigale’s bed and had folded it twice lengthwise to form a softer bed than the hardwood floor, though it took up all of the small space between the two beds.

Abigale blew out the candle, the moonlight illuminating the smoke that drifted to the ceiling. “Good night, you two,” she said.

“Nighty night,” Lily responded.

“Good night!” Nightshine softly said, already halfway asleep. While she wanted nothing more than to fall asleep, she felt guilty that her mother didn’t have a pillow, so she lifted her head and pushed the pillow to the edge of her bed. “Here, take it,” she said, holding the pillow over the edge of the bed by pinning one of the edges to the bed with a hoof. “You need it more than me. I can sleep without one.”

Lily looked up at her, surprised. “Thank you, but I don’t need it.” She smiled up at her, grateful for her generous offer. “Sleep tight.”

“You too…” Nightshine whispered back as she pulled the pillow back over. She still felt guilty and she didn’t know what to do. Only when Abigale started snoring did an idea pop into her head. Without thinking it through all the way, she slipped from the bed and gingerly stepped over her mother. Her left legs brushed against her side. She felt her tense up, though her mother didn’t move or make a sound.

Praying that she didn’t think that she was running away again, Nightshine couldn’t help but grin as she turned around to lay against Lily’s side, letting her head come to rest against hers. Much better… she thought, finally feeling at peace.

“Hey, little one…” Lily whispered as she draped her wing over Nightshine’s back. “Everything okay?”

“It is now, Mom."

Epilogue

One month later…

As Jason washed the dishes from their dinner of a light salad and some personal pizzas, Nightshine pushed their chairs back into place at the kitchen table. A third pizza and salad sat on the counter, untouched. She flicked her tail in annoyance as she peered up at Jason wiping down the plates. Even though she was full, she still wanted to finish off that extra helping of food; it smelled too good to be left alone. She was a growing filly, after all, and growing fillies needed their food.

Cocking her head to the side, she sat down next to the counter and managed to get a look at Jason. Gone was the familiar smile that his face normally held, and he had been oddly quiet through most of the dinner, answering her questions with simple, one-sentence replies. What’s wrong with him? Does he have a tummy-ache or something? I get kinda quiet sometimes when my tummy hurts, so… that might be it. Licking her lips, she flapped once and hopped up onto the counter, the food just a mere foot away. It was so close that she could easily reach out and gobble it all down before Jason could stop her, but her respect for him stilled her hoof. She sat down on what little space she had then let her tail hang off the counter as she pointedly stared at him, waiting for him to see her.

Jason paused for a couple of moments, then glanced over his shoulder at her. He placed the rag and the plate back in the sink then crossed his arms as he leaned against it. After he let out a sigh, he smiled and asked, “Is there something I can help you with, sweetie?”

Nightshine bit her bottom lip, then flicked her tail once as she tapped the counter once with her right hoof. Her eyes drifted back to the food as she toyed with the idea of asking if she could eat it, but instead said, “You know, it’s not that hard to tell when you’re upset.”

Jason chuckled as he propped himself up with his hands. “Am I that easy to read?”

“Yeah, you are.” Nightshine hopped off of the counter and wrapped a hoof around Jason’s leg, then tugged him out of the kitchen, leaving the extra food behind. As soon as he sat down on the couch, she hopped up next to him, and to ensure that he wouldn’t be able to get up, she draped her forelegs over his legs, keeping him pinned until she got her answers. “You were really happy before you went out to run your errands but now you’re sad. What happened?” Jason wrapped an arm around her back, then used his other hand to scratch her behind the ears, just how she liked. She smiled and closed her eyes as she pushed up into his hand, then tilted her head to the right, allowing him to get her favorite spot, right at the base of her ear.

Jason sighed as he let his hands grow still. “It’s, uh…”

“How about this?” Nightshine waited until Jason looked back down at her. “I promise I’ll never lie to you if you promise you’ll never lie to me, okay?” she asked.

“Alright, that sounds fair,” Jason said carefully. “I promise I’ll never lie to you,” he said, looking down at Nightshine with a little smile.

“Good!” Nightshine chirped as a smile broke out on her face. “And I promise I’ll never lie to you, so…” Her ears flicked up. “What’s going on? Maybe I can help! It can’t be that bad, right?” Nightshine asked as she pushed away his hand, even though a small part of her didn’t want to. “I am twelve years old, after all; I’m practically a grown-up!”

“Heh, you’ve still got a lot of growing up to do, Nightshine,” Jason said with a chuckle, glancing away for a moment. When he looked back at her, he saw her glaring up at him with her forelegs crossed. He held her gaze for a few seconds, then relented. “I saw Lily in town today, we, uh… we ran into each other. Well, she technically ran into me, but I don’t think she meant to. Seemed surprised to see me as a human. Said she only recognized me because of my voice.”

Mom is back in town? It feels like I haven’t seen her in forever! “Yeah? She never got to see you as a human, right?”

Jason nodded. “Yeah. She said she needed to talk to me but she wasn’t ready yet. I think she was working herself up to talking to, well… us.”

“Oh! And that’s who the extra helping of food was for. You thought she was going to come have dinner with us?” Nightshine asked.

Jason nodded. “I thought so, yeah, but apparently she’s still working up the guts to come talk. I think it was about something important.” Before he could start speaking again, Nightshine lunged forward, startling him as she wrapped her forelegs around him. “Hey…” He wrapped his other arm around her back and placed his hand on the back of her head.

“You think that maybe Mom was gonna ask if she could live with us?” she asked, looking up at him as if he had all the answers. Her breath came in short, stuttering bursts. She felt the corners of her eyes grow wet; nothing would make her happier than to live with Mom and Daddy, even if they weren’t technically together and even if one of them wasn’t the same species.

“I don’t know. Twilight told me that Luna was really upset with Lily once she got back to Canterlot after dropping you off.”

Nightshine only whimpered in response. Jason wiped her tears away with his thumb, then held her close.

“Have you forgiven her?” she asked after several seconds. “I have.”

“It took a lot of thinking, but yeah, I have, too,” Jason said.

“Good.” Nightshine slid off of his lap and settled down between him and the back of the couch, letting her head come to rest on the top of his right leg. “So then why can’t she come and live with us?”

“Because she has her own life. Her own job. She lives in a different city and has her own responsibilities.”

“But I’m her responsibility.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “I want to see her.”

“I know you do. I’m sure she’ll come by when she’s ready,” he said, yawning as he stretched. “Worrying about her coming by all day has left me pretty tired. What about you? Are you tired, too?”

“A little, yeah.” Nightshine reached out for him as he stood up, letting him pick her up and cradle her against his chest as they walked to her bedroom. He took the utmost care in tucking her into her bed, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed. She gently nuzzled Jason’s neck when he leaned in close to kiss her forehead, then felt a yawn force itself past her lips. “Goodnight, Daddy… Love you…”

“Goodnight, Nightshine. I love you, too.”

As she heard thunder rumble far off in the distance, Nightshine glanced at the window and saw not a bit of moonlight streaming through the open curtains. She closed her eyes for the last time that night, praying that Lily would come home.

Home is where your family is, after all.

Jason woke up with a start when he heard the sounds of somepony knocking on his front door. Lifting his head from his pillow, he heard the sound of rain smacking against his window, thunder rumbling off in the distance. “I’m coming!” he called out as he pulled on some pants and a shirt. As he passed Nightshine’s room, he knocked on her door, then opened it. “I think someone special is here to see us,” he said. Nightshine grumbled something inaudible in her sleep, then rolled over.

He carefully pulled the sheets off of her and picked her up. Nightshine stirred in his grasp, latching onto his arm with her legs as she snuggled closer to him. “Hey sweetie...” Jason whispered as he stood up, his throat feeling rather dry. He scratched his messy hair with his other hand, choosing to let Nightshine hold onto the other. When her hold on his arm tightened, he lifted it up, letting Nightshine dangle beneath it. “Time to get up, Nightshine,” he said, smiling as he watched her loop her tail around his arm.

Cracking her eyes open, she licked her lips and let go with her legs, only to fall a foot or so back to the bed. “Huh?” she asked as she lay on her back, rubbing her eyes with a hoof. “Where am I?” she asked, peering around the room.

“We’re in your bedroom, silly,” Jason said as he unlooped her tail from his arm. He tickled her belly with the tips of his fingers for a few moments. “Were you dreaming?”

“Actually, yeah...” Nightshine rolled over onto her belly. “I was in the middle of a dream where we were hanging upside down on a tree in the middle of a wide open field. It felt so real; almost as if I was having a vision, but... you weren’t you. I mean, you were you, but not really.” She rolled over onto her back and stared up into his eyes.

Jason’s eyebrows furrowed at that. “What do you mean?” With his right hand, he opened Nightshine’s left wing and scratched her side normally protected by it, making her squirm away from his ticklish fingers with a surprised squeal.

With a giggle, she pushed his hand away and folded her wing back up against her side. “You were batty daddy again...” The sounds of insistent knocking on the front door broke her concentration. “Oh, is that what woke us up?” she asked with a frown, a fang slipping past her lips as she glared at her open bedroom door.

“Yep. We should go see who it is. C’mere, you!” As he stood up, he pulled Nightshine into his arms and held her like he would a baby as he walked down the hall and into the living room. With his free hand, he pulled open the front door to find Lily in a hooded poncho, shivering from the cold weather. She looked up at him with a curious gaze. “H-Hey there,” he said, trying his hardest to keep Nightshine from glomping Lily.

“Hey yourself,” she said with a light smile. “May I come in?”

Nightshine scrambled from his arms, falling to the floor in an unceremonious heap before she leapt forward to wrap her forelegs around Lily’s neck. “I missed you so much, Mom,” she said.

“I missed you too, little one,” Lily said. “More than you could ever imagine.”

Jason looked past her for just a moment, wondering if some of the princesses or guards were with Lily. He pulled the door the rest of the way open and stood aside to let her in from the rain. “Of course you can come in. Good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too!” Lily stepped inside and pulled her soaked poncho off of her back.

Jason took her poncho and placed it on the coat rack next to the door. “Would you like something warm to drink? Tea? Coffee?” he asked.

“Coffee would be amazing,” she said.

“Cool. I’ll be back in a few minutes. In the meantime, please make yourself at home.” He started gathering the stuff to make coffee when he felt a Nightshine poke his leg with an insistent hoof. She looked like she was waiting to hear if she’d won the winning numbers for the lottery. She stared up at him with beaming eyes, making it so that he couldn’t help but smile back at her. When she smiled back, her fangs slipped past her lips. He felt just how tense she was just from how her forelegs were trembling resting upon his legs.

“You think she’s going to stay this time?” Nightshine excitedly whispered. A bright flash of light shined through the windows for the briefest of moments, followed by a particularly loud clap of thunder that made the two of them jump a little.

“I’m not sure. Maybe? Let’s find out,” he said. “What are you doing back in town?” he asked as he walked back into the living room with a couple mugs of coffee. “I thought you were going to come by for dinner yesterday; even made you a pizza and a salad.”

“Oh, that would have been good.” Lily accepted a mug with a grateful smile and took care to not spill any as Nightshine snuggled up against her side. “There’s something important I need to talk to you about.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that yesterday. What’s going on? Everything okay?”

Lily avoided his gaze. “In a sense, yes and no. Princess Luna told me that I could take a demotion three ranks down or take an early retirement. A very early retirement, but an early retirement nonetheless.” She looked up into his eyes. “So I told her I was done,” she said with a calm smile.

“You did?” both Jason and Nightshine asked, their mouths agape.

Jason couldn’t help but groan. “Oh, Lily, I’m so sorry to hear that,” he said, leaning forward in his seat.

“You know, I thought I would be too, but priorities can change.” Lily rubbed Nightshine’s back with a hoof. “And I chose the option where I could have a chance to spend the most amount of time with my daughter.” Nightshine squeed at that and nuzzled the side of Lily’s neck. “I’ve already lost too much time as it is. Only if you’d let me, though. I wouldn’t dare to presume… you know.” Her voice sounded a little worried.

“Yeah, of course. I wouldn’t dare try to keep Nightshine away from you. I think she’d bite me if I tried,” he said with a laugh.

Lily’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank you for that. I must ask one more thing of you, too. Since I’m no longer gainfully employed in Princess Luna’s service, may I stay here with you two until I find a place to live? I’ve been at the hotel on the other side of town for a week trying to figure out how to talk to you two about all this, and–”

“You made the right decision,” Nightshine said, cutting her off. “Well, except for not coming by a week earlier; we could have had so much fun!”

“Yeah, you can crash on the couch until you find your own spot,” he said, sitting back in his chair.

“Pfft, like she’s going to need one!” Nightshine looked at Jason. “Your bed is big enough for all three of us to share. Plus I know Daddy is lonely at night, too. I think he really missed you; he said he had a lot of fun at the Gala before…” Her smile disappeared. “Before I did all that stuff that we’re not going to mention.” Her smile returned in full force. “You could have snuggled with him instead of moping about alone in your hotel!”

“Is that so?” Lily shot him that familiar predatory smirk. “Maybe I can change that. He sure is handsome for a human, after all. I think I could get used to him,” she said with a sly grin.