//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 "Travels To The Castle Of The Two Sisters" // Story: The Son Of Luna // by DanielScratchAnimations //------------------------------// *I was foolish....* Luna thought worriedly as Daniel was lying on her back exhausted and looking very much as if he was burning up. She looked upon the small colt with worry covering him more with her wings, but to no avail, she could still see the source of his sickness. Several small holes in the bottom of his hind legs with blood still flowing slightly from them with the rest around it dry and crusty. *how could I not notice something so simple..." Luna thought, scolding herself. It had only been an hour after her soldiers, Daniel, and herself had begun to travel to their home in the Castle of the Royal Sisters and for the most part it had been fine. Vinyl had taken it upon herself to teach Daniel how to speak more properly like most ponies did, and had been making albeit slow progress teaching him. "Very good Daniel your doing very well" Vinyl said happily patting Daniels head softly as a reward. Daniel flinched at the touch but soon smiled slightly at Vinyl nodding his head "T-Thank you Vinyl." "Your very welcome Daniel but, I think that's enough for today." Vinyl stated obviously, proud of his progress both physically and mentally. Daniel nodded and sped up to walk side-by-side with Luna who could only smile down at his efforts to try to keep up. "How are your studies coming along Daniel?" Luna asked looking down at the young colt with a grin on her face. "Good so far Mama at l-least that's what miss Vinyl says" Daniel says struggling slightly with some of his words. Luna nodded and with a slight motion brought him closer to her with her wing "That's good to hear Daniel however, you must study more when we get home and not just words you must also learn how defend, and fight for yourself so that you can help our little ponies live freely and happily understand." She said kindly with a hint of seriousness in her voice. Daniel nodded looking down "Y-Yes Mama..." he said in what Luna had assumed was Daniel being a bit disappointed in himself. "Now Daniel nothing to worry about your just starting out so, I won't expect you to be a natural right away I just want to be sure you can protect yourself if I'm not around to help you." Luna assured Daniel with a nuzzle only to feel something she did not expect. *He feels.....hot...* just as she thought this Daniel fell over with a thud stopping Luna in her tracks..... -Back To The Present- *where is that blasted doctor* just as she thought this a mare with a bright red mane and pink coat with big blue eyes wearing a medics uniform began to walk beside her. "I apologize your highness for my lat-"the nurse tried to apologize. "No time for formalities your patient is here and I want him treated NOW....." Luna emphasized, with slight anger. "My apologies Princess I'll get started immediately" the mare said with fear taking her voice from her as she began looking over and bandaging the young prince. A few minutes pass, and to Luna they felt like agony worried about her barely made Son and now she might lose him in consequence to her foolishness. "H-how is he?" Luna asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Don't worry your highness it's just minor cuts, and incisions from some sharp rocks it seems that ummm..." "Daniel..." Luna interrupted making sure the nurse wouldn't address HER son as some kind of creature. "Y-yes Daniel seems to just have a mild fever, and slight exhaustion due to all this walking I suggest, a little rest, and for you to make some sort of padding for his hind hooves so he doesn't further injure them" the nurse said getting more serious overtime. Luna sigh relieved that her son had nothing more than a fever but, left a mental note of the mares warning, and for her to summon a tailor to fashion some garments for the young colt. "Very well, thank you my little pony forgive me for my earlier remarks I was just...worried about Daniel, and wished to know his condition as soon as possible." Luna stated, finding it difficult to keep her composure. The nurse could only bow as she trotted back to her intended station. After a few moments soft sobs are heard from Daniel on Luna's back and, she's quickly and quietly consoled the young colt "Shhh shhh it's ok Daniel your gonna be fine." She gently nuzzled Daniel with her muzzle assuring that statement. However, the sobbing continued and Luna sighed understanding Daniels point of view. *being so young and, yet experiencing all those horrors only to be hurt after only less than a days worth of kindness* Luna thought, trying to think of a way to calm the young colt down. Suddenly, Luna's head jolted up as she remembered, "My mothers lullaby...that might work." She quietly said looking down to her son and tried her best to sing it as her mother sang to her. "Heavens will hold a beauty in gold Swings on her crescent throne, Draped in diamond stone" As Luna began her song Daniel was slowly yet, surly trying to calm down to hear his mothers song looking at her curiously with tears in his eyes. "Luna the moon, In all her might The beloved, Goddess of the night" As Luna was about to enter the chorus of the song she saw that Daniel had stopped crying but still had residue of his tears that she began to wipe away. "In her star Studded midnight sky, Wiped a teardrop From her eye" As Luna began to hum as her mother did after the chorus Daniel looked in awe at his mother truly enjoying his mothers beautiful voice as she continued, "Every night She waited without strife The sun, her life Drowned her heart in love and she Had sunk too deep, Too late to flee. Forbidden To meet" Luna began to tear up at remembrance of her late mother and singing this song to her son even if not blood made her happy that she can sing this for her own child's happiness. "Day And night, The sun and the moon Dreamt to unite" As Luna began, to hum another part of the lullaby Daniel yawned the lullaby plus the warmth his mothers body made him very sleepy and, made him feel safe with her as he began to lay his head down on the back of Luna's neck closing his eyes content to just listen. "Take my hoof, Let's sail away. Amidst the stars, The Milky Way, We'd light up the midnight blue Together, me and you My love, I'd wait for you" "Take my hoof, Let's sail away, Amidst the stars, The Milky Way, We'd light up the midnight blue Together, me and you My love I'd wait for you" As Luna was about to finish her lullaby she saw Daniel had fallen asleep to her mothers song and, that made her smile however she finished the song in a quieter tone slowly getting closer to her sons forehead. "Heavens shed A tear tonight The sky grew dark Without your light Luna sang her sad Lullaby And faded Into the night sky" As she finished, she planted a small kiss on her sons head "Rest well, my son...." she softly said, with a smile. "Ahem" a voice softly said, getting the attention of the monarch as quietly as it could. Luna turned, to see Vinyl walking next to her with a rather large file in her magics grasp with a rather serious look in her eyes. "I think you should read this your highness." she stated, floating the file towards Luna. "What is this Vinyl?" Luna asked, a curious look upon her face as she grabbed the file within her own magic. "It's the file you requested on Daniel and, I don't think you'll like it." Vinyl said taking a rather somber tone. Luna looked at the file a hint of nervousness plaguing her mind making her wonder what the enemy did to her new found son. As she was lost in her thoughts Daniel shifted on her back no doubt trying to find more comfort in his mothers embrace. This caused Luna to look back to her son and, suddenly all her anxieties disappeared. *No matter what I read on this file it won't change the fact he is my son I will love and, protect him no matter the difference.* Luna thought mind now clear and, determined. Luna took one last look at the file containing everything the enemy knew about her son and, took a deep breath opening the file to its first pages.