It’s been more than a few hours since the council’s decision was made, so to enjoy what would be their last moments before they could see each other again, Luna and Vinyl escorted both Starry and Daniel to the small gardens that the castle kept separate from the populace.
The garden itself while small, and was not without beauty as it was tended to on a daily basis by the castle staff. There was a large amount of shrubbery containing the garden, as well as several guards posted at every corner of the small garden as to keep any enemy assassins from attempting to enter through the gardens. There were also many small patches where you could see many types of vegetables, and fruits growing many still not ripe but with a few looking close to perfect.
The group as a whole, simply enjoyed to spend their time together as Luna lay on the soft grass holding her son gently in her hooves. Vinyl was content with simply staying near, while not currently wearing her usual armaments as there was already enough guards around them to keep her mind at relative ease. Starry was now sleeping next to the now calm prince, the fur on her cheeks disheveled due to her previous sobs.
“M-Momma...why do I have to go…?” Daniel questioned not looking at his mother, instead he looked up into the stars as he grabbed his chest tightly.
Luna lowered her head, looking at her son’s emotionless face with sadness. “They only fear what they don’t understand, and that makes them fools...but, they are fools with reasons you have no control over...and, that's why you cannot stay with me.” Luna nuzzled Daniel, trying her best to console him.
“That s-sounds stupid…” Daniel stated, as he gently stroked Starry’s mane gently so as to not wake his sleeping friend.
“Yes, that does seem rather stupid to you doesn’t it…” Luna gently move Daniel’s head to see tears starting to form, just as hers did. “That is why you can’t stay my son, because you have abilities that not even I know of...that is why they are afraid of you.”
Daniel simply nods, while not fully understanding he wanted nothing more than to make his mother happy. “I-Is King Akachi nice…?” Daniel asked worriedly, as he nuzzled his mother in return.
“Of course Daniel, King Akachi is one of my most trusted friends. There is no need to worry, I trust him to take care of you and keep you safe.” Luna reassured him, nuzzling him softly as she looked up at the sky. “Do you remember our first night together?” Luna asked, causing the boy to look up.
“N-Not really...all I remember is pain stopping…” Daniel replied, not willing to revisit memories of that place.
Luna chuckles, not sure what to think of that. “Well little one, you were staring up the night sky your very first night sky I assume.” Luna gently nuzzled Daniel, as he looked up at the sky with his mother tears streaming down his face once again as his mother continued. “Well on that night, you asked me a very peculiar question. One that I didn’t have an answer for until now…” Luna stated, as Daniel looked at his mother in confusion.
“W-What did I ask?”
Luna didn’t look at him, instead her horn lit up in it’s traditional way of dark blue. “The sky, stars, and moon that make the night while beautiful in their own way, they all make one whole.” The stars begin to move into several shapes, one of a pony, one of a hippogryph, a mighty dragon, a fierce griffon, and a majestic alicorn. All the shapes seemed to move around one another in a circle, and in the center was a shape that looks very similar to Daniel. “Just like the stars, every creature great and small has a purpose and is beautiful in its own unique way. Also each living creature helps each other, as the moon helps all races know when it’s time to rest.” Luna explained, trying her best not to release the tension the spell she was casting was having on her as she looked at her son.
“I made a mistake, I told you that I make the stars but in reality there was nothing to make. I only keep the stars, moon, and the dreams of every creature in balance as that is my purpose.” Luna lifts Daniels head, using her magic to wipe away his tears. “You are new, and because of that we don’t know what your purpose is...but, just like every creature here you will find your purpose…” Luna turned back to the sky using her magic to move the stars inside the circle to form lines point from each individual creature, directly towards the ‘Daniel shaped’ star formation.
Daniel saw this, his eyes widening from how incredible it looked as his mother turned back to face him moving her head so it was in direct contact with his. “You can be whatever you want to be my little starburst, and whatever that may be I have a feeling it will unite all the races in a way that will be remembered for eternity.” Luna immediately released the spell, causing the stars to move to their original positions in the sky as Daniel looked at his mother now full of hope.
“D-Do you really think so?...” Daniel asked, tears no longer falling from his eyes.
“I do.” Luna confirmed, nodding gently while smiling at her son.
Daniel smiled back, laying his head onto his mothers barrel as he continued to look at the night sky. Luna was content was with doing the same, as she began to sing her son softly off to sleep.
“Baby mine, don’t you cry.
Baby mine, dry you eyes.”
Luna gently draped her wing over the two resting children as she continued. Daniel being content to close his eyes.
“Rest your head
Close to my heart,
Never to part,
Baby of mine.”
As she sang, Luna’s horn began to glow as small glass-like figures of herself and her older sister when they were nothing but a simple pegasus and a unicorn respectively. The figures quickly running with the wind away from a group of disapproving ponies to another large alicorn with a red mane and tail.
“Little one,
When you play,
Don’t you mind
What they say.”
“Let those eyes,
Sparkle and shine.
Never a tear,
Baby of mine”
As she sang, the two young fillies were held by the unfamiliar alicorn as she consoled their crying states as she made them laugh and giggle together by tickling them softly.
“If they knew
Sweet little you.
They’d end up
Loving you too.”
“All those same
Ponies who scold you,
What they’d give
Just for the right
To hold you.”
Luna gave Daniel a soft squeeze, as to not wake Starry as she continued. The figures now moving to form the now present Luna and Daniel. The figure of Luna playfully picking up her son with her magic, spinning around laughing in the process.
“From you head
Down to your toes,
Your not much,
Goodness knows.”
“But you’re so
Precious to me,
Sweet as can be,
Baby of mine.”
The two figures began to fade, as the figure of luna hugged her smiling son tightly as they nuzzled each other tear of pure happiness leaving their eyes. Luna’s magic fading with the figures, she looked to see her son had drifted peacefully to sleep as Vinyl made her presence known once more.
“Do you really trust King Akachi?” Vinyl asked, having heard everything.
Luna nodded, nuzzling Daniel once more before turning toward Vinyl. “ Yes, while zebrican’s culture is greatly different from ours Akachi has been trying to adapt his fellow zebra’s into our society.” Luna explained, her face getting serious as she looked at Vinyl.
“But Luna, the training zebra go through is much more brutal than we have if he trains there he may not be the same when he returns...” Vinyl stated, her worried tone adamant.
Luna clenched her teeth, she knew the risk of sending him there but at this point it was inevitable. If he didn’t go he would either be abandoned to the wastelands, or be killed out of fear. In this case her hooves were tied down by her sister and the council, and the only thing she could do was hope Akachi knew how important this precious boy was to her.
“I-I understand the risk Vinyl, but my hooves are tied right now the only hope for my son is to make him an honorary representative of Equestria so that he may unite us not only with Zebrica, but with all of Equis and its races.” Luna stated, unable to look her guard in the eye.
Vinyl sits in front of the princess, giving her a sympathetic look as she looks towards Daniel. “We’re really banking on the little prince to bring together the whole of Equis, after decades of war and destruction?” Vinyl chuckles, hating herself for going along with this. “Will we ever know real peace?...”
“I sure hope so Vinyl, but one thing is for sure…” Luna looks down at her son, as she rests her head gently on the soft grass. “My little Starburst will be at the center of it all.” Vinyl joins her, closing her eyes to sleep.
“He’s going to be one hell of a prince.” Vinyl states.
Luna shakes her head, “No, He is going to be the greatest ‘King’ of all time…”