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// Hearth's Warming Eve 
// Story: The Eventual Daughter of a Non-Brony 
// by BronyWriter 
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No way. 

This has never happened before. 

Well, sort of. 

One of the things that Princess Celestia has always done as long as I can remember is come down to the orphanage during Hearth's Warming Eve to hand out candy and small presents and read us some stories. I always liked that. This year is different. This year, it's Princess Luna! I've never really seen her before not in pictures and stuff, so this is really cool! She kind of talks weird, though. 

"Greeting, children!" she shouts, holding a large sack in her magic. "Your protector, Miss Helping Hoof, has told me that you've all been good little fillies and colts. Is that true?" We all shout out with different yeses. Yes! Yeah! Uh-huh! Ooh, I hope she has chocolate! She tilts her head and taps her jaw. "Well, I have met Miss Hoof before, and she is the honest sort." She reaches into the bag with her magic and pulls out a bunch of candy and stuffed animals and stuff. Yes! Chocolate! We all cheer. This is great!

We all get in a sort of line, and Princess Luna starts distributing the presents. Hopefully she doesn't run out of the good stuff by the time I see her. Once the foals get their gifts, they all start rushing to open spots to open them, and I hear a lot of happy cries. I love this time of year!

As I wait in line, I see something that I've never seen before. Whoa. No way. He's dressed in armor and doesn't look too friendly, but it's still amazing.

Another bat pony. 

He must be one of Princess Luna's guards!

This might be the best Hearth's Warming yet! Even if we don't become friends, I've wanted to talk to another bat pony ever since I realized that my wings were different from the other pegasus foals. I gulp, but slowly inch my way over until I'm standing next to him. He glances down at me, but doesn't say anything.

"Uh... hi. Um... I'm Comet Screech." He looks down at me again, but doesn't say anything back. "I've, uh, never talked to another bat pony before. I know it's weird, but I've got a lot of questions. You know, to see what is, like... normal bat pony and not me being... weird."

"Princess Luna is giving gifts out to the other foals," he says back. "Perhaps you should see her."

"Oh, yeah, yeah, I get it," I say. "Like I said: I've never talked to another bat pony before. But yeah. Princess Luna. I take a step away, then stop and look back up at him. "Just... one question. Whenever I talk to a potential daddy, I always want to lie on his back. Just... always. As long as I can remember. Is that weird?"

His jaw tightens, and he takes a deep, quiet breath. "It is normal for bat pony foals to lie on their father's back to deepen the father/child bond, and to gain feelings of safety. I am certain that once you are adopted, your father will be happy to let you do so."

Yes! I knew it wasn't just me being weird!

A small smile crosses my face. "Yeah? That's good to know. For me and my dad. Whenever I get one. Yeah." I start to walk away again, but I stop. I fully turn to face him, poking at the ground with my hoof. "Uh... I don't... if it would be weird... um..." I blush and manage to look up at him. "Can... can I lie on your back? Just for a minute... I mean... if that would be okay."

He seems to deflate a little bit, but he doesn't look at me. "That would be... unprofessional."

I flinch back like I've been shot, but recover fast. I smirk and wave my hoof at him. "Oh, yeah, totally. I was just... kidding. Yeah, you're working hard guarding Princess Luna, and like you said, I'll get to do it with my real dad. So that's fine. I'm sure I'll get adopted any day now, and I... can do it then. With my dad." I nod and turn away. "Yeah."

With that, I walk away. Silly to ask. Stupid Comet, always saying and doing dumb stuff. But I was kidding anyway, so it's not that big a deal. 

I pass by Miss Hoof on my way out of the room. She's smiling. 

"Hello, Comet. Have you gotten your gift yet?"

I shake my head. "Nah, not feeling it this year, I guess." I motion to the door. "I think I'm going to go to bed."

Miss Hoof frowns and tilts her head. "What? But you haven't even received your gift. I'm certain that Princess Luna has some chocolate that I can get you. I think it's made by the palace chefs!"

I shrug. "That's cool, I guess. Didn't get a good night's sleep, though."

Miss Hoof's frown deepens, and she puts a hoof on my shoulder. "Comet, what's really wrong? You can tell me."

"Just tired," I reply, pushing her hoof off. I yawn and stretch my legs and wings. "Really tired."

"I-if you say so," Miss Hoof says. "If you like, I can get Princess Luna to save some for you."

I shrug. "Up to you, I guess. Anyway, goodnight."

I walk out of the room before she can say anything else. When the sound of the party is far enough away, I start running as fast as I can to my room. Stupid Comet. Why the Tartarus would you ask that?! What did you think was going to happen?! You'd lie on his back and he'd love it so much that he'd fill the adoption papers out tomorrow? Yeah, that was never going to work. 

When I get to my bed, I tear the blanket and pillow off, stuffing them under the bed. Then I get under the bed too and put the blanket over me and lie down on my pillow, fighting back tears.

It's not the same.