One Little leather winged Filly
Author's Note
Trying something new with this one. Be aware that some of the grammatical errors in the last scene are intentional.
One Little leather winged Filly
I crept on my hooves, one, by one, by one, nearly dragging by tummy on the hard floor until I'm too close to remain hidden, I stop. The moon light from the window just a hairs breadth from my hoof. I look up at the bed covered in white sheets. I know he's there, sleeping unaware of the danger I present. I ease myself onto the end of the bed, careful not to stir the sleeping mass. My prey only a carefully calculated pounce away. I feel my blood rush in hot waves under my skin. My wings extend slowly, positioning to launch forward with the simplest of motions. A hot breath snakes out between my sharpened fangs. A twitch from my tail as the anticipation grows.
I see an opportunity. He's turned away, the fool. I leap forward. A rush of wings and wind carry me to my desire. My mouth wide, baring fangs until, at last, landing on the pitiful creature as I sink each pointed tooth deep into its flesh.
* * *
"L-lily?" he woke with a start. His eyes flew open and half bolted up. He saw the little pony latched onto his hand then let out a sigh and laid back down. She held his hand in her teeth, "Lily, why are you up?" he said softly.
The little filly released her toothy grip and smiled up at him. Her little golden, slitted eyes shining in the moon light. She mimicked a word, "Fuud!" and licked and smacked her lips.
"Lily. It's too early." he told her, groaning and ran a hand through his raven hair.
She gave a rejected frown and hung her head quite pitifully. "Nungy..." she said softly, which he assumed meant "Hungry."
With a sigh he sat up straight and pulled her into his arms. Her soft, velvety grey fur tickled him bare skin. She smiled brightly at him. He hugged her tightly, carefully, against his chest and she nuzzled him against his white night shirt. He yawned then tossed the covers off sleepily. He slipped his legs over the side of the bed and placed his feet against the cold wood floor.
He chuckled softly, "What am I going to do with you?"
She looked up into his soft brown eyes and smiled hopefully. "Fuud!" she said, and held her hooves into the air like a cheer.
"Alright, alright." he said, smiling softly, and stood up and began walking to the kitchen, "Let's get you some food. But this is the last time tonight. Seriously, Lily. You're getting a pudgy belly, Ms. Pudgy Belly" he teased and tickled her tummy with his fingers. She giggled and scrunched her abdomen. He stopped, then nuzzled his nose against hers. She huffed at him and pawed at his face playfully.
"And just what are you upset for?" he asked her. He smiled down at her, "Don't worry, I am getting you something to eat." He tickled her tummy again and she laughed, feeling his fingers poke her sides. She squirmed and turned in his arm.
He stopped tickling her once they entered the kitchen.
* * *
When they got to the kitchen, Lily watched her daddy fumble around for a button on the wall. When found it, he pushed it and a light came on over head. Lily couldn't understand why he did this. She could see just fine in the dark, couldn't he? Maybe he's just being silly.
Daddy set Lily down on her cushion on top of the table. To Lily, the table always seemed really high. Her daddy was taller than everyone else so maybe he just needed a high place to put her down. She sat on the soft pillow that he kept there for her when she ate with him. Sometimes Daddy would put food down on the floor and eat with her when she played down there. She liked when he gave her meals. He always seemed to know when Lily wanted to eat, even before she did. So, why did she have to wake him up in the dark when she wanted food? She couldn't understand what made daddy forget about her when he slept. But, daddy never forgot about Lily, so, maybe dreams of feeding Lily made him forget. Lily would dream of eating sometimes, and, maybe Daddy dreamed of feeding her. Dreams were naughty! They were making daddy forget! Lilly huffed.
Lily watched daddy as he turned around to get her meal from the cold box. Clouds of cold air falling on the floor when he opened it only to stop once he closed it. He turned and put her meal into the noisy box that made light and hot food. When he didn't put it in there and just gave her a meal from the cold box, it was just that. Cold. Daddy makes so many different meals. Sometimes he shares his meals with her too. He eats weird stuff sometimes. Lily has to sniff his food before she can eat it. Hot broccoli... never again!
Lily loved Daddy so much. He gave her food, pet her ears, and played with her all the time. Even when Lily got in trouble, Daddy still loved her. She tried to always make Daddy smile. That was the best. When Daddy was happy, Lily got meals or rubs or play times.
Daddy down in the chair next to the table. He smiled at her and reached over her head to scratch her ears. Her tail wagged strongly side to side. She cooed and leaned into Daddy's soft hoof. Her hooves were like everypony else's. But Daddy's hooves were special. They could hold Lily and they helped Daddy make Lily's meals. They even moved really, super heavy things that Lily couldn't. Daddy's hooves loved Lily's ears best of all! He pinched Lily's ears softly and rubbed in little circles.
"Your bites are getting harder, sweetie." he complimented her, "You gonna keep doing that to me every night?"
"Fuud!" Lily cheered happily. Daddy laughed.
The noisy box chirped and the light went off. Lily jumped to her hooves and gasped excitedly. Daddy got up and opened the box. Hot clouds rolled off the outside of Lily's meal and she drooled, open-mouthed.
"Hahah, Lily, that's not very lady-like, is it?" Daddy's left eyebrow raised. Daddy was weird sometimes. Daddy set her meal down in front of her.
"Fuud!" Lily cried happily.
Lily lunged for her meal but when it touched her lips it hurt her. It was hot! Food isn't supposed to be hot! She squeaked softly, a wince. Daddy put his thumb over Lily's lips and rubbed them. He smiled, resting his chin on the table and then, looking from her to her food, blew on the too hot meal. She stared at him and at her food. The clouds disappearing and the hot going away. Lily sniffed at it. It smelled right and even the hot smell was going. Daddy was fixing her meal, he was magical!
Daddy smiled at Lily and then took some of the food on his "finger" and held it to Lily's mouth. She sniffed, gave it a tentative lick, It wasn't too hot any more, then wrapped her mouth around his finger, chewing on it and licking the meal off. When she got it all, he pulled his hand away to let Lily eat from the white bowl. Lily gobbled up her meal quickly, munching and snarling as she sucked down the food.
Daddy was still smiling at Lily, "Slow down, honey. Can you even taste it?"
Lily looked up at him, thinking for a second that he was going to say more, then continued munching away.
She finished quickly. She sighed sleepily when she pulled her head away from the bowl. Lily burped and tasted her meal again, a little drool running down her chin. She smiled happily feeling that her tummy was full. Daddy picked her up from the cushion on the table and used his shirt to wipe her mouth. He carried her back to bed with him, the gentle swaying and bobbing of his steps rocking her, making her sleepy.
Daddy held her close and sat down slowly on the bed, he brought his legs up and tucked his feet under the blankets, pulling the covers over his legs as he did so. He laid back slowly and turned over on his left side. He cradled Lily beside him, keeping her tucked in his arm. Lily yawned and curled up against him. Daddy was so big and so warm. Lily loved Daddy. He smelled warm and earthy to her. She continued to inhale his scent, she felt calm and... this was home. Just her and her daddy. Lily was happy. She closed her golden eyes and, feeling herself drifting into sleep, her breathing slowed.
"I love you, little Lily. My Lily." he cooed and kissed her head gently, stroking her raven mane.
"Daddy." Lily cooed softly, happily, before she fell asleep and went to play with her blue, starry-maned friend.
Little Lilly and the Night Mare
Lily looked out from under the table, the lights from around the house barely lifted the darkness, save for her hiding place. The dark wooden chairs and underside of the living room desk hid her in a warm embrace. But the warm didn't comfort her. Instead, she felt a haze of fear that gripped her mind while she hid from her daddy. Daddy was mad at Lily and stalking around the house calling her name. Lily didn't like the way he called her name when he was angry.
Suddenly, daddy stopped in front of the kitchen table and turned to look at where Lily had been hiding. His whole body was cast in shadow surrounded by the kitchen light that shown around his back. She couldn't see his face but she could imagine the anger on it. He stormed toward her like a thunder storm and, kneeling down, he shot his arm under the desk to grab her, and when she felt his hand wrap around her tiny body she screamed. Lily's skin felt cold compared to his hand, her heart pounding in her ears, all her legs were rigid and her wing flapped furiously.
"Lily," a voice called, and suddenly Lily was somewhere else. She looked around her only to see that she now stood on a path made of stars and stardust. Above and around her was the blackness of the night sky and the stars she was so used to seeing every night. Her fear began leaving her in this place that seemed so calm and quiet.
"Lily?" the voice called again. Lily turned around and saw the moon floating down towards her. It gently touched the starry trail then changed into the prettiest mare she'd ever seen, like the moon had never been just a light in the sky. The mare's blue coat reminded Lily of the ocean under the rising moon, her mane and tail were like the gentle rivers near Lily's house under the night sky, and her eyes shown like starlight and gems. The mare smiled gently at Lily and she bent down to look at Lily, face-to-face.
"What's wrong, little one?" she asked in the most beautiful voice Lily had ever heard. It was soft and low, Lily couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful mare from the moon. Lily leapt from the path and wrapped her shaky hooves around the mare's neck. Her soft, blue coat reminded Lily of something she couldn't quite remember but loved and missed the feeling of.
The mare wrapped her hooves around and under Lily, cradling her and humming softly. When Lily finally pulled away from her, she spoke to Lily again, "What troubles you, little filly? Why do you shake and cry this night?"
Lily hopped down and stood of her rear hooves, "Daddy," she said sadly, and began miming her daddy storming through the house with an angry scowl on her face, "Mad at Lily."
Lily plopped down on her haunches and hung her head. Her wings drooped from her sides and touched the starlight path below her.
"Oh, you're having one of those dreams," the pretty mare said, she smiled a sad, happy, sorry sort of smile Lily had only seen a few times on other ponies and several times on her daddy, "Why is he mad at you you, Lily?" she asked, again bringing her face down to meet Lily's.
Lily shrugged her shoulders, she didn't quite know what words to use to tell the pretty mare about daddy. In truth, she really didn't know why her daddy was angry at her. It didn't make sense, but, Lily just knew he was angry at her. The sound of his voice scared her when he said her name like that, loud and demanding her to show herself.
"Can you show me?" the pretty mare asked.
Lily's head shot up and her eyes were wide. She shook her head quickly, afraid to go back to that place, "Scared!"
"Doesn't he love you?" she asked Lily, her kind smile and soothing voice had a calming effect on the little filly, something that Lily thought was strange. Nopony ever made her feel this way. Only her daddy ever made her feel this safe.
Lily nodded her head, "Daddy loves Lily." she said as though it were obvious to everyone.
"Does he care for you? Wash you, feed you, play with you?" she asked, still radiating that sense of calm. Lily felt that indescribable sense of safety growing the longer she listened to the pretty mare.
Lily nodded again, memories of all the times she and her daddy spent playing, eating together, and how gently he was when he gave her baths and brushed her mane and tail. Her foal sitters were never quite as gentle, one of them had made her cry. Lily smiled, a smile that could only come from loving another, a smile that only her daddy could make appear. She shown brighter than the pretty mare in that moment, her love for her daddy filling her like hot cocoa on a cold morning.
"Then let's see why your daddy is mad. Don't you want to make him happy again?" she said to Lily.
Lily's happy smile turned down into a worried frown, "Yeah..."
The pretty mare glowed white again, then shrank to a filly about Lily's size. Her coat was lighter like the sky on the other side of a sun-rise and her mane was light like the sky after the sun had just set. Her eyes were unchanged, which kept her from looking like somepony else had taken her place. She walked over to Lily and laid on her tummy next to Lily. Lily copied her, wondering what she was doing, then the whole world around her changed like ripples on a pond.
Lily was frightfully aware of where she was. She was back under the desk, the fear of being found gripped her again and she started to shake. A familiar figure paced around the house, his features hidden by the light shining behind him, casting his shadow over Lily and the little blue filly next to her. The filly put a hoof on Lily's shoulder, "Is that your daddy?" Lily nodded slowly.
"Lily!" her daddy called out to her, his voice strained, "Lily, where are you?"
The filly next to Lily tapped her shoulder again to get her attention. Lily looked over to see her smiling, her horn lit up and she pointed to Lily's daddy, who'd stopped in front of the table. As he neared once again, a light shown on his face. He wasn't angry. In fact, he looked like he wanted to cry. He looked worried and afraid. Lily saw him reach out to grab her, but unlike earlier, she didn't scream. His warm hand eased her out from under the desk and his other hand wrapped itself under her front leg like the other, he'd shifted to sit on his shins. He smiled at her, holding her out before him, and then hugged her tightly. He held here there, swaying side to side and breathing deeply, he ran his fingers through her mane and down her back. Lily heard his heart beating under his chest and she smiled.
"Your daughter loves you very much," the pretty mare said to Lily's daddy. Before she'd realized it, the mare had turned back to her full size and was sitting next to her and her daddy.
"Oh! Hi, Luna," daddy said letting Lily sit up right in his arms. He looked Lily in the eyes and beamed inwardly, "I love her too. She's the most beautiful little filly I know."
Lily smiled brightly at him and put her hoof on his chest. She stood up and nuzzled her face against his. Daddy's hairless face wasn't as soft as other ponies' but it was his face, and that's all that mattered.
"She is," the pretty mare said, "She was afraid you were angry with her for something. I heard her cry and brought you into her dream. I am sorry you had to feel that dread and fear, but I thought it best to show her that you worry about her."
Daddy looked at Lily, a little surprised look that turned into that sad, happy, sorry smile Lily rarely saw, "I'm not mad, Lily. I was scared. I couldn't find you."
Lily frowned and looked down to where her tummy was touching her daddy's, "I'n sowwy, daddy."
"It's okay, my Lily. I'm sorry for scaring you too." he cooed, stroking her cheek with a hand. He pulled her into another tight hug, "I love you, Lily."
"I love you, daddy!" Lily said, burying her face in his broad chest, she did her best to hug him but her little hooves couldn't get around him.
"You are on very lucky human, Samuel," the pretty mare giggled beside Lily, "I wish you both the best of luck in your lives."
"Thank you, Princess Luna," daddy said softly, still hugging Lily, "You're welcome to stay and play with my little Lily, if you'd like?"
"That would be wonderful," the pretty mare said, "But I cannot this night. Dawn comes soon and we must return to the waking world,"
"I understand," daddy said, then pulled away from Lily gently, "Lily, say thank you to Ms. Luna,"
Lily twisted around in her daddy's arms and smiled up at the pretty mare, "Thank yu, Loona!"
The pretty mare smiled at Lily and nodded, "You're very welcome,"
Lily hopped down from her daddy's arms and threw her hooves around Luna's neck. Lily was reminded of the feeling she'd had just minutes ago when she'd first hugged the blue mare's neck. Lily pulled back and looked into Luna's eyes, then turned to her daddy, "Daddy?"
Her daddy looked at her, smiling, "Yes, Lily?"
Lily pointed at Luna, "Is Miss Loona my mommy?"
Lily's daddy started making funny noises, like he wanted to laugh but it wouldn't come out. Lily didn't think what she said was funny, and if daddy wanted to laugh he should take his hand off his mouth and let his laughs out. Lily looked back to Ms. Luna. She'd changed a different color! Her face had turned red and she looked like Lily felt when Lily broke something.
"Are yu my mommy? Yu feel like mommy." Lily said and Ms. Luna turned more red, Lily thought she might be glowing, Lily wanted to glow like that too!
"N-no, child -uh- Lily. I am not your mother," Ms. Luna said breathily.
Daddy reached over and petted Lily's head, "Lily's mother... never mind. Would you like to be Lily's godmother? I'm sure Lily would be happy to have such a special mare as her guardian?"
"What's'at? Lily asked, "Gardee ann? Gawdmovver?"
"It's means Ms. Luna would be a second mommy to you. She would protect you like I do, Lily," daddy said slowly.
"Oh!" Lily said happily and turned to look at Ms. Luna. Ms. Luna was smiling softly and giggling, her face was still red but not as much as before. Lily watched the pretty mare, hoping she would say yes and be the things daddy called her.
"I-I would like that. Is it really okay? To be her guardian?" Ms. Luna said and looked at daddy.
"I would be honored, Princess Luna. And, I think Lily would be happy as well." daddy said.
Daddy uses really funny words sometimes. Lily thought.
"Then I'll have to stop by some time," Ms. Luna's red face turned more red again.
"We'd be happy to have you," Daddy said, "Hey Lily? Would you like Ms. Luna to come visit us when we're awake?"
"Yeah!" Lily jumped excitedly, dancing between daddy and Ms. Luna,
"Then I'll be sure to come by soon. I'll see you again soon, little Lily." Ms. Luna said smiling, then the whole world faded away and Lily opened her eyes. The soft light of the early morning sky came in through the window next to her daddy's bed. She could see the growing orange and yellow light from the sun behind the mountains and trees stretching across the tops of the distant land.
Lily looked back around herself to see the white sheets still covering her daddy's lower body, and his white shirt was bunched up around himself. His arm was still laying around her like a cradle while his other arm was draped over where she lay.
"Good morning, my little Lily Lullaby," her daddy said softly. Lily looked over at his face and saw him smiling at her.
"Daddy!" Lily cried and jumped up, wrapping herself around his face. She nuzzled him, giggling and licking his cheeks. She snuck in a few loving nibbles every so often.
Daddy laughed and stroked Lily's mane, "Love you too, honey,"
* * *
Lily's day was pretty normal. She'd had her meals, played with her daddy after he picked her up from Ms. Flitter and Ms. Cloudchaser's house, and now they were getting ready for their last meal before they went to bed, with Lily sitting on her little cushion atop the kitchen table. Daddy set the plates and cups down, but before he could get the spoons and forks a knock came at the door. Lily looked at her daddy and then at the door, then back to her daddy who was now walking towards the door.
Why's somepony here this late? Lily thought. It was strange that anypony would knock on the front door this late.
Daddy opened the door and a familiar flowing blue mane that reminded her of a river at night slipped in towards her daddy. Lily's eyes widened as she saw the pretty blue mare from her dream.
"Good evening, Samuel," she said sweetly, looking at her daddy, "Do you remember me?"
Daddy took a second to bow and then looked back at the pretty mare, "Of course, Princess Luna. I honestly didn't expect to see you so soon, though."
"We love surprises," Ms. Luna said, she gave a short giggle and smiled brightly at daddy before looking over at Lily sitting on the table.
"Loona!" Lily hopped up excitedly. Lily jumped off the table, gliding down gently and ran over to Ms. Luna. She jumped up and wrapped her hooves around Luna's blue neck.
Daddy chuckled softly, "I think I speak for us both when I say we're happy to have you. Please, won't you come in? We're about to have dinner, it's nothing special, but I hope you'll accept,"
"We'd be delighted," Ms. Luna said happily. Lily dropped down from her neck and smiled up at Ms. Luna, "Have you been a good little filly, Lily?" and nuzzled Lily's cheek.
"Yeah!" Lily bounced happily on her hooves.
"Well then, please," Daddy stepped aside to let Ms. Luna in. She walked into the living room and over to the kitchen table, Lily bounding in front of her.
Daddy and Ms. Luna talked for a long time over dinner. They played with Lily too! Ms. Luna especially liked to play with Lily, she tickled Lily made her laugh, she played hide and seek, she even played with daddy! Lily enjoyed how silly daddy and Ms. Luna played for her.
Lily yawned and blinked sleepily. She swayed from side to side with a giddy smile glue to her face. Daddy picked her up and nuzzled her softly. His big, strong arms carried Lily to her bed in daddy's room and tucked her in. Lily yawned again and closed her eyes. Lily slipped into dreams before she'd realized it and, standing before her, Ms. Luna was beaming at her.
"Loona!" Lily squealed and ran to Ms. Luna.
"Now... the fun shall be doubled!" Ms. Luna yelled happily, rearing up and thrust a hoof into the air.
* * *
As he looked down at his sleeping daughter, the man couldn't begin to describe how happy he felt or how strongly he cared for her. People and ponies had told him that there was no love like a father had for his daughter. They'd never been more right. No woman or mare held a place in his heart like Lily did. No one could take her place and, Discord help them if they tried to take her from him.
A whisper broke him of his thoughts, "She's playing in a field moon lilies. I'm taking her through the rolling hills on the moon," Luna said happily.
He ran his fingers through Lily's mane, eliciting a little coo from her. He turned and walked with the princess of the night back to the kitchen. He sat in his chair while Luna sat on a cushion he'd brought out for her earlier. Luna pulled a document from thin air and laid it down across the table.
"Forgive us for our rudeness, this is but an annoying formality. We cannot give true guardianship as you know it. Our status as a ruler of Equestria complicates these matters, regardless of how much We dislike it," Luna said.
"You love kids," Samuel said, more a statement of facts that a question, "I've heard rumors about the children you saved against Celestia's will. So long as you're not here to take my child from me, I don't have any qualms with your past," Samuel said sternly, a palpable threat hidden in his words.
"We assure thee, Samuel, our intent towards your child is not to take her from thee. Lily is healthy, happy, and loved. We doubt we could do for her what thou hast. And, to put thy mind at ease, the children rescued were foals that had no home or family," Luna said, reassuringly.
"I admire your actions. Forgive me, I love my daughter. I would do anything to keep her safe, and I do mean anything," Samuel punctuated his words by looking at the kitchen knife balancing precariously on the side of the sink, it's blade covered with tomato juices. Luna had followed his gaze and after a second, the knife tipped and fell into the sink. He looked back to Luna, a look of understanding adorned her, but then he softened when he saw her shift uncomfortably, "You're quite extraordinary. Beautiful, caring, and even mischievous,"
"We know not of mischief, dear Samuel," Luna said in mock indignity, "Thou seem to be under some false pretenses,"
"Indeed?" Samuel smirked at her, "Gluing two guard's to their seats--"
"One of which said we were not 'fun loving.'" Luna interjected.
"Dying Celestia's mane, and tail, bright orange--"
"To match her sunny disposition and duties," Luna looked away smiling.
"Playing games with the night guards and calling it the night court when everypony thinks you're just trying to be responsible?" Samuel leaned over the table, grinning at her.
"We take our duty to this land quite seriously. We have no knowledge of such things," Luna huffed.
Samuel remembered some things he'd been told, he leaned in close and whispered just loudly enough for his guest to hear, "I hear you took second place a year ago to a foul mouthed guard under your command. What was it she won again?"
Luna's head snapped back towards Samuel, a deep blush discolored her all the way to her ears. She sputtered, trying to speak until finally, "How doest thou know?!"
Samuel raised a finger to his lips and shushed her. He pointed back to his room where Lily slept. Luna nodded her understanding and lowered her head almost to the table. "Her mother was your lookout that night. I got every important detail as well as a few unimportant ones,"
Luna planted her face on the table in an attempt to hide her embarrassment, "Please," she grumbled, "We implore thee never to reveal what happened that night. Our sister would incessantly remind us of it just for her own amusement,"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, your highness," Samuel said smartly, "I know nothing,"
Luna looked up smiling gratefully, defeated, but grateful, "Thank you,"
"You really do love children, thou, don't you?" he asked, giving her a change of topic. He put an elbow on the table and rested his chin on his knuckles.
Luna blushed proudly, "Indeed, we do. And Lily is no exception. She's a lovely filly. We've never seen such a happy child,"
"I'm glad you think so. I've been trying my hardest to raise her as any child should be. Happy, healthy. I'm always afraid for her. She's got so much energy and she always wants to play. She gets herself into the most ridiculous amounts of trouble," Samuel began chuckling hard, "He foal sitters could tell you some amazing stories too! They chased her around their house, Lily had one thing after another in her mouth, homework --which is now soggy paper--, a music player, a favorite hair bow, need I say more? I'm afraid I'm going to need to start paying her sitters more if this keeps up,"
Luna giggled, "I'd imagine so. Where is her mother, Samuel?"
Samuel's amusement died almost instantly. A sad smile crossed his features, "I'm sorry to say, she died. I stumbled across the two of them in the north. They were freezing in the tundra, trying to get back south to the warmth. I never did find out why she and Lily were so far north. For . . . over a week, I think. I carried them to the nearest town southward, Lily bundled up under my jacket, her mother bundled in my sleeping bag and strung across my back. By the time we'd gotten to someplace warm, Lily's mother had passed. A day earlier she'd made me swear to care for Lily if she died. I felt responsible for Lily and, well, here we are,"
"Our apologies," Luna said, an apologetic smile on her lovely face, "We did not mean to bring up such a sensitive subject. Why, however, did thee reveal to us this knowledge?"
"Nah. You're good," he gave her a dismissive wave, "You would have wanted to know eventually," Samuel felt a pang of loss at the memory to this day. He may not have known Lily's mother longer than a handful days, yet her death still affected him beyond mere sadness or pity. But loosing this mare, a total stranger to him, felt like he'd lost one of his own family. He guessed it had to do with how much he'd grown to care for Lily, and by extension, who he imagined her mother to be.
"Tis good to know thou art strong. We know very well the pain of loosing somepony precious," She placed a hoof over his hand. It was a welcome gesture, and he gladly accepted her sympathies.
"I can imagine. I don't think I could handle out living everyone I've ever known . . . I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry," he turned his hand over and gently wrapped his fingers around her hoof.
"Your sympathy is not unwelcome," Luna said smiling sadly, "We often fear the day our friends will pass, but that is what makes them special. We remember them long after they've gone and no others can take their place," a tear trailed down her cheek, though her smile never faltered.
Samuel reached forward and wiped the budding tears from her eyes, "I'm sorry, princess. I truly am. I wouldn't wish your pain on anyone," he said as he sat back in his chair, "For what it's worth, I hope you will consider me a friend,"
"Nay, we would be glad to have thy friendship, Samuel! We're honored that thou would wish to be our friend," Luna smiled brightly, "Even years from now we shall remember thee fondly, and especially, I think, young Lily,"
Samuel spent the next few hours talking with the princess of dreams. They laughed, shared stories of their lives, and --as was the reason Luna was there --filled out the paperwork for Luna to become Lily's guardian. Samuel bid her a kind farewell before too much longer and Luna returned the gesture in kind. It was off to bed for Samuel. He felt good about this new relationship with one of the princesses. His daughter now had one of the most powerful of friends she'd ever know in her life, and possibly, a future under the mare of the night.
Author's Note
So, not really sure about this chapter. I hope you all like it and keep an eye out, I've got more stories about Lily and Samuel in the works!
