The morning sun, hit Luna's eyes and made her flinch at the blinding light that she wished would come later in the day she oh so loved sleeping and believed that there is no pleasure greater. However, before she could again embrace the sweet bliss known as sleep she remembered something or somepony that was with her the night before the creature that peaked both her curiosity and her worry she gasped as she remembered his name and felt that he wasn't there beside her "Where's Daniel?"
Luna now wearing her all her armor except her helmet wandered around looking for the young colt trotting quickly looking into each of the tents until she came across the tent where the guards ate their meals and saw Daniel sitting down with Commander Scratch eating a large amount of watermelon, grapes, and eggs with a large amount of orange juice. Luna quickly trotted up to him "Daniel are you alright?" She asked still worried.
Daniel only nodded in response and Luna sighed in relief, "Daniel...if you were hungry you could've woken me and we could've ate together."
Daniel looked down sadly, Luna could only assume he felt guilty but, was too hungry to wait.
Luna sighed, "Well....as long as u remember to do it next time and that your safe it's ok I suppose I should've told you this before you went to sleep"
Vinyl gave a little cough to emphasize her presence "I'm sorry your highness when I saw him wondering the camp I thought he was lost so I asked him what he wanted and he pointed to his stomach and I heard it growl so I brought him here."
Luna nodded, in understanding of the situation *he must've gotten lost looking for food but didn't wanna go too far from me* she waved her hoof "it's quite alright Commander scratch"
Vinyl shook her head bowing slightly, "Please, your highness call me Vinyl after all we aren't in battle at the moment."
Luna nodded, "Of course, forgive me Vinyl but I must ask the same of you to just call me Luna as well it's only fair."
"Of course Luna." She bowed her head slightly smiling widely "By the way Luna watch out for this one he's a BIG eater I think that's his third serving" she states, pointing at Daniel and chuckling under her breath.
Luna chuckled as well and stood up now feeling hungry herself "Well if you don't mind watching Daniel for a moment longer while I get myself some food."
Vinyl shook her head "Of course not your highness you go on ahead he's very well behaved."
Luna nodded, in thanks and trotted off to the stands to grab her breakfast while Vinyl watched over Daniel eating greedily.
SPlAT!! A very large half of a watermelon hit Daniel right on the head making him panic and hide under the table. The ponies all inside the tent stopped their conversations and their meals to observe this some chuckling and others with stern looks.
"Hehe what's the matter FREAK afraid of a little food fight." Chuckled, a guard with steel armor that looked much newer than most indicating the lack of battle experience he had.
Vinyl could only scoff at the ignorance of the guard as stood up and stood muzzle to muzzle with him *they'll let just about anyone join the forces huh?* "Look rookie leave the kid alone he won't be causing any trouble."
The guard smirked at the comment, "Look yourself COMMANDER he's a monster and he's probably under the control of the enemy as we speak."
Vinyl stood her ground, "If that WERE true which it obviously isn't." she gestured to the cowering form of Daniel under the table "What would have to gain from it they obviously tortured him to the point where he is afraid of his own shadow."
Daniel still frightened by the sudden hit by a watermelon peeked his head out from under the table slightly looking at Vinyl from behind in astonishment. This is the second pony in his life to ever show him kindness like this and, quite frankly he was happy but still unable to fully show it.
The guard shook his head "Nonetheless, that THING could still be working for them in order to avoid getting hurt any more."
Vinyl simply rolled her eyes at the idea "If that were true wouldn't you think he would've been fighting along side them instead of being strapped to a medical table being experimented on."
The guard backed off obviously surprised by this information but, still tried to defend himself although it was clear to him that he miss stepped "They could've been-"
"What's the meaning of this?" Called, a voice filled with an unmistakable royal tone making all the guards around him stand, and salute along with Vinyl.
The guard turned around to see Princess Luna and visibly started shaking in his armor but, still saluted out of habit.
"Your highness this young recruit had something to say about the young colt we saved from the enemy." Vinyl states, very calmly like she's giving a status report. "He says that the young colt could be an enemy spy sent to somehow report on what he finds out about us."
The princess's eyes narrow and, a stern look starts forming on her face giving the rookie more of a reason to fear for his life. "Is that so? Am I to also assume that YOU young stallion is also the one who hit the defenseless and hungry child with a watermelon?"
The stallion shot straight up still saluting but visibly sweating through his armor "Y-yes your highness it was I b-but I-"
"Do you have a problem with my decision that the boy stays with us in MY tent?" Luna asks interrupting the rookies undoubtedly horribly excuse for what he did.
"O-of course not your highness!" The guard said a little louder than intended he could only hope that he didn't piss off the princess more than he already had.
"Then tell me my little pony what should I make of this..." she point with her hoof towards Daniel still having a watermelon on his head the juices dripping from it to his face. "Because this to me makes me question your faith in my judgment."
The stallion bowed his head so low his muzzle touched the dirt floor below "P-please your highness f-forgive this lowly guard for disrespecting your wishes." He begged, hoping that his princess would be merciful toward him.
"Raise your head young stallion." She stated, very sternly as to which he obeyed quickly without hesitation. "I understand you are new to the cause of defending your country in a time of war however... this does not mean we can just ignore an injured and defenseless child no matter what species they maybe."
This caused the stallion to look back at the boy in shock "That THING is a child!"
This comment caused Luna's and Vinyls eye to twitch however, for Vinyl it was in annoyance, and for Luna it was anger more anger than she's ever felt before and she couldn't understand it.
It took all Luna's willpower not to yell at the ignorant stallion "Y-yes HE is a child and his name is Daniel so now u must apologize to HIM not to me."
He bowed again and slowly turned toward the "BOY" under the table.
At first Daniel went back to hiding under the table afraid that he would hurt him again "P-please don't hurt m-me anymore...." this cause all even the young stallion to flinch upon now hearing his voice he knew now that this boy was indeed a child and, he approached him slowly.
"Please c-come out of the table Daniel. I promise not to hurt you anymore, I j-just want to get that melon off your head." He stuttered however, not out of fear but out of nervousness that if he accidentally hurt him he'd get into an even larger world of trouble that he couldn't even imagine.
Daniel slowly came out looking to Luna, and Vinyl for help and in response they nodded, confirming that what he's saying is true. Trusting both of them he looked up at the stallion and nodded, telling him he trusted him.
The stallion slowly removed the watermelon and set it on the ground next to him "Listen, umm...I'm sorry Daniel I was way out of line and I apologize for my rude behavior I hope one day you can forgive me and my rash nature." He grabbed a nearby paper towel and started to wipe away the remaining watermelon juice on Daniels head.
After cleaning him Daniel only looked up at the stallion with a neutral expression making the young stallion uncomfortable "ummm...listen why don't we start from the top my name is Knight Shield nice to meet you." He gave a small smile and presented his hoof to Daniel which he nervously accepts.
"Let this be a lesson to all of you hear that actually agreed with what he said we are fight this war not because we want to but, because all of us want peace, and equality between all species great and small don't let the looks of another species fool your judgement in character." Said Princess Luna loud enough for all to in the tent and some outside to hear her.
They all nodded, and gave a salute before all saying "Yes your Highness!"
She nodded and looked down at Daniel who was now getting up from under the table with the help of Knight Shield and before she went to eat she stated in the same royal tone as before "After all of you are done here start packing everything up we are leaving at noon!"
All the guards including Knight Shield saluted "Yes your majesty!"
Luna nodded, and all went on to what they were doing beforehand and Knight Shield went off as she and Vinyl went to sat down at the table.
Luna quickly set her plate down and brought Daniel closer to her "Are you alright Daniel?"
Daniel nodded in response but suddenly, gave Luna a hug for what Luna could only assume is thanks for helping him yet again.
Luna smiled and nuzzled the small colt and pointed him back to his meal "Here Daniel finish your meal to your hearts content."
Before Luna could start eating she gave Vinyl a thankful smile "Thank you Vinyl for defending Daniel against Knight Shield"
Vinyl nodded and waved her hoof dismissively "Think nothing of it Luna I'm sure you would've done the same for me."
"Still, thank you my little pony." Luna said with a smile "Daniel say thank you to the kind pony who helped you." Luna told Daniel with a kind but, stern voice.
Daniel looked between Luna and Vinyl not sure what to do however, with a little nudge from Luna he spoke as best he could, "T-thank y-y-you M-miss V-Vinyl."
Luna nodded and nuzzled Daniel once again proud of him.
"It's quite alright Daniel it was no trouble, and please call me Vinyl as well ok?" Vinyl said, with a small grin on her face.
Daniel could only nod in confirmation, and went back to eating nearly done with his plate.
"Luna do you mind if I ask you something?" Vinyl asked curiosity in her gaze.
Luna looked up at Vinyl already finished with her meal "Of course Vinyl, what would u like to know?"
"It's just... with the way you have been treating Daniel since we found him will you be.....keeping him?" Vinyl asked, with genuine curiosity in her voice.
"I don't understand what you mean Vinyl, could you elaborate?" Luna responded confused and a little concerned on what she meant by "keeping" him.
Vinyls response was delayed from her trying to come up with the suitable words "Well Luna what I mean is you treat him as if he were your own so would you consider "adopting" him?"
Luna's eyes widened she hadn't thought of that at all however, it did make sense thinking about it the castle back home already, had enough orphans that when she counted last made her depressed and adding more would only hurt her heart more. *And who knows how my little ponies would react to his UNIQUE appearance.....* she thought worriedly.
Although, she knew in time they would get used to him she also knew that even after that he would be subject to a lot of verbal and maybe even physical abuse and just the thought of that made Luna's blood boil.
"Luna!?" Luna's thoughts were interrupted by Vinyl calling her name a concerned look on her face.
Luna shook her head of her thoughts "y-yes I suppose y-you have a p-point there...However, I want Daniel to decide this." She looked towards Daniel who had upon hearing his name turned to Luna already done with his meal.
"D-Daniel how w-would you feel a-about me be your m-mother?" Luna asked nervously causing Vinyl to look at her princess in astonishment she had never thought in all the world that after everything they had done she would be nervous to ask a child to be his mother.
Daniel looked at Luna in confusion at the question he had been asked, but more specifically the last word of the question "mo-....mo-..." Daniels eyes widened upon realizing after saying the first two letters and asked "Mama?...."
Luna's heart wrenched in her chest just hearing those words from this young colt made her so filled with happiness. "Y-yes I would be your M-Mama, b-but only if y-you want me to be..."
Daniel for the first time gave his first tooth filled smile and hugged Luna with everything he had "Mama!"
Luna got pushed back a little in her seated position, but a smile soon spread across Luna's muzzle along with a few tears of happiness at hearing him say that wonderful word to her. "Then it's settled...from today on I'll be your Mama." She said happily returning the hug Daniel gave her giving Luna what she thought she'd never have....a Son.
Vinyl who had been there to see this all transpire wiped a tear that had escaped her eye feeling so touched at the scene that was transpiring in front of her feeling really happy for her princess.
The hug which to Luna and Daniel seemed to last forever but only lasted a couple minutes finally broke away and Luna wiped away the tears that had flowed down her cheeks. "Well then...hehe that escalated rather quickly. I'm so sorry that you had to see that Vinyl."
Vinyl shook her head "No apologies needed Luna that was very beautiful, Daniel seems like he's happy about it." She gestures to Daniel who is swinging his legs back and forth on his seat with a smile on his face.
Luna chuckles at the sight "Yes well it does look that way doesn't it."
Luna soon rises from her seat and Daniel follows suit "Well Vinyl I hope you don't mind but I'm afraid me and my Son must return to our tent to gather our things."
Vinyl nods her head "Of course your highness I suppose I'll do the same, but I'm sure we all will see each other soon."
"Of course come now Daniel we must gather our things and head off home." Luna started trotting towards the direction of their tent.
"H-home?" Daniel asks curiously, as he follows close behind her.
"Why yes Daniel I am taking you to your new home to live with me." Luna says excitedly, with a new bounce in her step.
*These will be the first steps into our new lives I just hope everypony back at home is more welcoming than that Knight Shield character.*
Luna thought hopefully as they continued to walk towards their tent.