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// 19 - Deep Reflection 
// Story: What Follows Hugs 
// by David Silver 
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Toby's life was one of learning, with a new step included. Every time he felt the tickle of a different color, he tried to bring it all around, to wrap himself in it like a warm blanket, which made him glow that color. He tried for even blankets, but didn't always succeed. It seemed that stronger sources were easier to shine with, so being around Luna or Celestia or Twilight meant easy shining, but easy was not always best for learning, so Toby eagerly tried to copy everything he felt.

It took him a while to even notice he had gained an ability. He could feel new magics coming close to him. Hopping through the city, whenever he landed near something magic, he knew. He didn't know what magic it was or what it did, but he knew it was there, and could try to glow with it. It was a neat little trick, or so he thought.

"Toby?"

He looked up, blinking. He was in class and had gotten distracted.

The teacher gave a slightly strained smile. "No glowing in the classroom."

He colored in his brown cheeks. "Oh! I is very sorry." The other foals were giggling at him being busted and he tried to put aside his glowing lessons long enough to maybe learn some other things.

His life was so full of learning and growing. Toby loved it.

"We're leaving," spoke Sombra sternly after Toby had returned to the castle.

Toby gave a slow blink, the news bouncing around his mind. "Why?"

"Our visit has already extended far beyond the plan." He pointed at Toby. "Our kingdom has had no ruler for an uncomfortable length of time. Gather your things."

Toby glanced left and right. He normally did not object to Sombra's orders, but... "Tob--I is learning. Look." He tuned himself to Sombra's magic.

The room became a radiant splashing of green and purple, dancing against the walls. He was sure he was being uniform, but that was just what Sombra's magic was.

Sombra seemed unmoved. "Very nice, but you can practice your 'glowing' while at home. I will hear no other words of insubordination."

Toby sagged with disappointment. He didn't want to go! "Can... I say goodbye to teachers?"

Sombra nodded. "Very well. Make it fast."

"Fast I can do!" Toby bounded out the nearest window and lept away. Powerful bounds brought him back to school first. He came down just in front of the door and knocked on it, but no one answered. She was probably home, and he didn't know where that was... He stuck out his tongue a little before he produced a piece of paper and got to using one of his new skills, writing.



Hello
Thank for much learn. I so happy to learn. Would stay forever. Must go. Thank you thank you thank you.
Toby



He looked over his scribbles critically, hoping he hadn't fouled anything up. It was as good as he could manage and he slipped it under the door, hopefully to be found later. His vision grew clouded a moment before he blinked a few tears away. He hadn't realized how much leaving hurt and he wiped the tears away on his furry arm. He had more goodbyes to say.

He landed in Moondancer's yard and didn't need to approach her door. She was in the yard, with Twilight. The two seemed to be playing a game that involved bouncing a ball back and forth. They were having fun together. Toby didn't want to interrupt, but he had to, or he would miss his chance. "Hello."

Twilight looked off towards him just in time for the ball to bounce off her head. She gave it a glare as if it had decided itself to do that before returning to looking at Toby. "Hello, Toby." She started. "Is something wrong?"

Was he that obvious? Toby tried to force a smile. "I must go, Sombra said so." He pointed northwards. "That way, back to Tsuki home.

Twilight's ears wilted. "Oh, we were just getting somewhere..."

Moondancer shook her head. "I'll pack my things."

Toby and Twilight were unified for a moment in their confusion. "What?" They spoke together.

Moondancer tilted her head. "I am not finished. I have no other demands that will be delayed, save some reading." She reached out a hoof towards Twilight. "Somepony told me that reading can wait, especially for a friend."

Toby couldn't hold it in. He grabbed Moondancer right off the ground and buried his face in her neck, getting it wet with fresh tears. "You is..." He couldn't formulate the proper words for it. "Thank you..."

Twilight gave a little smile. "That's very kind and I'm very proud of you, Moondancer. You'll keep in contact, I trust? This is your first time out of Canterlot, right, let alone all of Equestria."

Moondancer nodded from the arms of the emotional Tsuki. "I will keep you appraised of our progress. Toby, I need to get my things."

Toby blinked and put her down gently. "Oh, yes. I should do that too." He considered what his possessions were. He had most of them already. He just needed his armor. "Meet at castle." He pointed up at it. "Meet Sombra and Quick."

Twilight waved a hoof at Toby. "Actually, maybe you should give Moondancer a ride."  Moondancer didn't look overly confident in the idea, but Twilight continued, "Sombra can be... a little pushy if I'm told correctly. You'll do better to have Moondancer already with you instead of trying to get him to wait for her."

Moondancer vanished, only to appear in a splash of sparkles by the door. She nodded back at them and trotted inside.

Toby considered Twilight's idea. "I can do that. I only missing one thing anyway, get that after Moondancer ready." He reached for Twilight, but didn't grab her. Instead he pet her along her mane. Ponies had nice manes for petting. "Thank you, Twilight. You is good princess."

Twilight gave a little twitch of a smile. "It was a pleasure, even if I wish we could finish what we started. Moondancer will take it from here, trust in her. Oh, and don't forget to say goodbye to 'Best Princess' before you go."

Toby went tense. Had he almost done that? "I not!" He almost sprang for the castle, but remembered he had a Moondancer to bring with him. "Soon as I can..."

"You've grown." Twilight tapped her chin twice before she pulled out two books from the depths of her fur. "While we're waiting..." She set the two side by side and her magic began to glow brightly.

It was a powerful magic, Toby could tell. He could also see Twilight was very focused on whatever she was doing. He tried to be still and quiet for her, almost not breathing in case that interfered with the potent magic being displayed, even if he had no idea what was going on.

Just as Moondancer returned, Twilight sat back with a huff. "There we are. Pick one."

Toby blinked. The two books looked identical. He reached for the one closer to himself. "I am happy, but confused."

Moondancer approached the two, glancing between the two journals. "Keeping communications open?"

"Precisely," answered Twilight with a radiant smile. "If you write in your book, it will appear in the other, so we can write back and forth, no matter where you end up."

Toby's smile echoed hers as he realized what a fantastic gift he had been given. He wouldn't need to say goodbye to Twilight. "You is very good princess. Toby will write every day! Maybe some nights too." He considered grabbing her, but he had other things to do. Instead he dropped down low. "We go now."

Moondancer eyed her new mount skeptically a moment before she threw a leg over and slid up with some effort onto his back, sprawled over him like a rug. "I never did this--" Her words were cut off as he bound powerfully, propelling them both into the air like a bullet. Canterlot spread out below her and her mouth hung open a moment before she caught her breath enough to give a scream mixed with terror and amazement. It was likely a good thing that Toby arrived at the castle swiftly, coming down just before the guards at the front door.

She slid from him, wobbling and staggering from the experience. Toby gave her a single pat. "Take care of her. She with I." The guards nodded a little as Toby jumped past them into the building. He had one other mare to speak to above all others.

The guards to Luna's room were less allowing than the door guards. They frowned in unison at the rabbit-like creature demanding access. "She's sleeping," barked one. "No one is to interrupt her."

The other nodded. "She spent all night guarding our dreams. The least we can do is ensure her rest."

Toby shook his head quickly. "No, is important. I is leaving, must say goodbye to Best Princess."

They were unmoved, standing firm and unified.

Toby considered his options. He could jump over them, but they were just in front of the door. At best he'd land on their back ends and be pinned between them and the doors. That would be very silly. He looked them over. They were not unicorns. They weren't any pony he immediately knew. They looked like pegasi, but not. Their ears were fuzzier than normal, and their wings looked odd, and they had weird eyes too. Toby couldn't place it all, but they were very strange pegasi. They were also in the way...

He tried anyway. Unicorns were best for reflecting, but all ponies had some light to shine. He reached for theirs and let it shine out. The hallway suddenly dimmed. He was putting out darkness? That was a kind of light, right? He wasn't sure, but he was doing it. The hallway plunged into midnight.

The guards sounded surprised, but Toby couldn't see what they were doing. He couldn't see what he was doing! Something crashed.

A door opened, "What's going on out here?"

Toby smiled, losing concentration at the sound of Best Princess. "Luna!"

As light returned, Luna was revealed, peeking out of her door over the forms of her two collapsed guards that were busy untangling themselves and getting to their hooves. She raised a brow at the two, then looked back them at Toby even as a huge yawn came from her. "Dear Toby, what brings you at such an unseemly hour?"

"Luna!" He bounced towards her, landing just past the guards. "I is happy to see you. I is sad. I must go, Sombra order."

Luna gave a light nod. "I see... I do wish you could stay longer, but your first duty is your own people." She reached for his shoulder. "Just as mine is to my own. Take care of them, Toby. Be their light."

Toby flashed a big grin. "Toby is bad light, but will show how to shine with other light. Toby is better at that. Watch." He began to glow with Luna's powerful light, casting silvery moonlight across the hallway.

A guard prodded him on the back. "That was you, we presume?"

Toby squeaked, caught. "I is sorry! I need talk to Best Princess!"

Luna held up a hoof. "Forgive him. I must retire, but I am not angry, not for this. Toby, continue growing and learning. You have become so much more than when first I met you. From a wild animal, to a wonderful person." She brushed away a tear Toby hadn't noticed. "This is not a goodbye. We will meet again. Besides, I should expect I will see you in the night, moon rabbit. We will have things to do."

He couldn't resist. He grabbed the sleepy princess, hauling her out of her room and into his arms for a bone-creakingly tight hug. "Toby is so happy to meet Best Princess. Will see again, yes! We protect night, protect ponies, protect Tsuki. We is good team."

Luna did not struggle to get away. She returned the hug, and they remained together for a few quiet minutes.

Hoofsteps approached. It was another guard. "Sir Toby, Lord Sombra awaits you at the front."