The Winning Pony and the Templar

One week later...

Tornado tapped his hoof impatiently against the boards of the train stations floors, standing then sitting again as though there were a tack under his haunch. Tilting forward, he looked down the tracks, and seeing nothing in the distance, let out an annoyed snort before leaning back.

Sighing, Atticus removed the watch from his pocket, and studied it a moment.

“Calm down sir, it should arrive any time now.”

Scowling, Tornado turned his head to glare up at his subordinate, and opened his muzzle to put the human in his place. Suddenly, a blare of a horn in the distance stilled his wrath, and snapping his jaw and ears perked to their fullest, he hopped onto all fours. The train barreled down the tracks, and began to slow as it came around the bend. Grinning like a foal at Heartswarming, he waved eagerly at a figure in the window. As the train slowed, then stopped, the carriage doors flew open,  and a squeal of excitement hurt all ears present as a white and lavender blur streaked out.

Tornadokicker acked as the streak collided with his neck, knocking up on his hindlegs a moment, but he maintained his balance to fall back on his forehooves. Still catching the breath knocked out of him, he laughed as he wrapped his forelegs around the giggling, squirming foal nuzzling his neck as she clutched him tightly around his neck.

“Daddy!”

Gently undoing her grip, Tornadokicker set Alula back down onto the  platform. Staring down at her a moment, he felt his usual warm fuzzies in his heart whenever he saw one of his foals, and leaning forward, he nuzzled the top of her head, letting a paternal rumble. Giggling at the somewhat silly big cat sound her sire made from time to time, Alula leaned into the affection.

“Oh, its soooooooo good to see you daddy!”

Chuckling, the stallion leaned back, regarding the filly.

“By the diarchy child, you’re growing like a weed. What are you aunt and uncle feeding you?”

Giggling, Alula shrugged her wings, then made a scrunched muzzle look of annoyance.

“A lot of vegetables and milk… “

Snickering at his foals look, the stallion nuzzled her head again.

“It builds character my love.”

Rolling her eyes, Alula quipped, “I think I’ve got enough character thanks.”

Still smiling, though his eyes suddenly sad,  Tornadokicker muttered, “Your mother would have been so proud…”

Seeing her tilt her head up then to the left, and the look in her eyes, Tornadokicker cleared his throat. Looking back to the train, he said cheerfully, “So, where’s Eli?”

Looking down again, Alula said softly, “Umm, still on the train. He’s grabbing my books and stuff..”  casting her upwards and putting them into puppy mode, Alula asked, “Umm, dad? Is it okay if I go and see if Dink’s home? I haven’t seen her in awhile…”

Smile fading that his little foal didn’t want to spend her fathers last day in town with him, it lifted again as he remembered why Eli and Swiftblade were moving to this town with Alula in the first place. Nodding, he said, “Of course. I have to talk to your uncle anyway. Atticus here will take you, and I’ll pick you up later.”

Nodding excitedly, the filly walked up to the human, and ducked her head slightly in shyness.

“Umm, Its very nice to meet you sir.”

Nodding, the human replied warmly, “And it is my sincere please to meet you, Ms. Alula.” As he watched his daughter warm up slightly to the larger being before her, Tornadokicker chuckled softly. Turning his head back to the train, he regarded the human walking down the steps. Carrying a suitcase in one hand, the stallion knew that across the clenched hand was the word love tattooed across the knuckles, and briefly Tornado glimpsed hate tattooed across the opposing hand. Both sleeves of the humans white shirt were rolled up, revealing a skull on one arm, the other being bare. Atop the mans head was a blue yarmulke, the hair under it a black combed neatly into place. Both bottle green eyes regarded the equine warmly.

“Yo.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Eli and Tornado sat contentedly next to each other, watching as the parade of life passed them by, neither saying a word since they’d gotten there. Deciding to fill the void, the stallion asked, “How’s she been? Alula, I mean.”

Eli rubbed his chin a moment, then replied simply, “Not so good. She’s been happier since she heard she was moving here, but before… She just threw herself into school. And when she outdid students and teachers alike, she just closed herself off in her room with her books. It scared me.”

The stallion looked down.

“Sorry Eli. I’ve tried, you know?”

Smiling warmly, Eli clapped the stallion on the back.

“I do. And so does Alula. She such a fine young lady, and its been and honor you letting me and Swift take her in. And we all know what a beast the military can be on families. But just know, me and my wife will do all we can to make sure she’s happy and healthy, and has the best education we can give her.”

Chuckling, the stallion nudged Eli with a wing.

“I’d imagine Cheerillees not exactly thrilled with a homeschoolers in her territory.”

Rolling his eyes, the human replied curtly, “She insists on seeing our credentials, workbooks, and surprise inspections.”

………………………………………………………………………………

Tornado yawned as he walked to the front of Rainbow’s house, and as he raised his hoof to knock, it opened. Blinking at the sudden movement, he nodded at Sparkler, who made shush noise. Leaning forward, she whispered, “She’s asleep…”

The stallion tapped his hoof to his chin a moment, then smiling, whispered something back. Eyes wide, Sparkler asked, “You sure?”

Shrugging one wing with a sheepish grin, the other still in its wrappings, the stallion whispered back, “Pretty soon, she’ll be to big to want too anymore.”

Rolling her eyes, Sparkler walked back in, the equine behind her tiptoeing into the living. Suddenly, the unicorn’s horn lit up slightly, and covered the pegasi filly in its aura. Slowly lifting the pony and floating her through the air, she gently laid her across her father’s back. Smiling in her sleep, Alula nuzzled into her father’s mane, and sighed contentedly. After making sure she was on somewhat securely, Tornado gave a soft thank you, and then walked back to his daughter’s new home.

……………………………………………..

“Dad…?” Alula fluttered her eyes open, and smiled at her father as he laid her blanket over her. Squirming under the covers, she yawned, and smacked her lips.

“Will… will you be here when I get up?”

Shaking his head sadly, Tornado replied, “Sorry sugar cube. I gotta get up real early to catch my train to Canterlot.” He wiggled his bandaged wing slightly, eliciting a slight giggle. “Gotta get this fixed up.”

Leaning his head down, he made the same growling purr of contentment he did at the train station, and said “Good night. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Giggling temporarily postponed on account of exhaustion, Alula gave a tired nuzzle in return.

“Bye dad. I love you.”