//------------------------------// // The Arrival // Story: A Wandering Soul // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Chapter 2: The Arrival Lilith had made it to the outskirts of Ponyville. She could feel droplets falling on her mane and it was only a matter of time before it started to rain even harder. She entered the peaceful town and looked around eagerly to see if anyone was outside, but to no avail. She tried knocking on other ponies' doors, but nearly everyone was already asleep at the time. As the dark clouds overhead loomed closer and closer, she had no choice but to start looking for a place to take shelter under until the storm died down. As Lilith was about to start looking, she noticed what seemed to be a large tree house, still with its lights on. Seeing this, Lilith sprinted over to the house and started knocking on the door, pleading to come inside. "H-Hello? Is anyone home? Can you please let me inside before it starts raining! H-Hello?" Lilith pleaded. After standing outside the door for a few seconds, it opened and she was greeted by a unicorn with a purple coat and mane. "Oh, hello there little one," the unicorn said. "What are you doing outside this late? Especially when it's about to rain!" As Lilith was about to respond, a loud noise could be heard from her stomach. "Oh you poor thing. Are you hungry?" the unicorn asked. "Come inside and get all warmed up while I find something for you to eat." With a smile on her face, Lilith happily walked inside the unicorn's house and sat down on the floor. "Here," the unicorn said, handing Lilith a red velvet pillow. "You can sit on that, It wouldn't be right for you to sit on the floor." Lilith bit the pillow and set it down, moving herself on top of it. "Now you wait here while I go find something for you to eat," the unicorn said. "My name is Twilight Sparkle by the way, what's yours?" "L-Lilith," Lilith answered. "Well it's very nice to meet you Lilith, now hold on I'll be right back," Twilight said, walking into the next room. Lilith observed Twilight's house from where she was sitting, she could tell Twilight was very interested in books and reading considering they were everywhere, and it almost looked like a library. After a few minutes, Twilight returned with some food and a blanket. The thunder and lightning could be heard raging outside in the storm. "Wow, it's really coming down outside, right? Good thing you got inside before it started," Twilight said, handing her a plate of hayfries. "Here you go. I'm sorry it isn't much. I haven't really gotten around to food shopping recently." "N-No no, it looks delicious! Thank you so much!" Lilith squeed, devouring the hayfries. "So why don't you tell me a bit about yourself," Twilight said. "Where, exactly, are you from?" "I'm from... Manehatten," Lilith said. Twilight's eyes widened, "Manehatten? That's pretty far away... How did you arrive here in Ponyville?" "Oh! Um... It's a long story... I'd really rather not talk about it if you don't mind..." Lilith said. "Oh, alright then... let's talk about something else then," Twilight said. "I noticed that you don't have your cutie mark yet, but do you have anything in mind that you think might be your special talent?" "Um... I'm not sure... I actually liked to go to school and... do work and stuff..." Lilith said. "But that's pretty much it..." "Oh me to! I absolutely love to work! Especially reading! I love to read all the time!" Twilight rambled. Lilith finished off her hayfries as Twilight was talking about her favorite activities and books. "Oh you're finished, again I'm sorry that it wasn't much," Twilight said. "N-No it's fine really, it's the first actual meal I've had in a while, so I'm grateful..." Lilith said. "First you've had in a while? What do you mean? Don't your parents feed you?" Twilight said. Lilith stared down at the plate with a frown on her face. "My... my parents are... gone..." Lilith said. "My father passed away when I was very young... and my mother...my mother..." Lilith's eyes started to tense up, her pupil's convulsing in size as the memories started to flow back. Her breathing became heavy and she started to shiver. "...My mother also died... she couldn't bear the pain of losing my father anymore... s-so she... took her own life..." Lilith said, a smile starting to form on her face while a faint laugh could be heard from behind her teeth. "Lilith? Lilith are you alright?" Twilight said, grabbing her body. "LILITH!" "Huh? W-What!? What happened?" Lilith said, trying to regain her sanity. "I never would have thought that someone like you would be suffering so much," Twilight said. "Losing both your parents at such a young age is devastating! I can also see that it's really affected you, you were a nervous wreck a few seconds ago." Lilith looked up at Twilight and hugged her, beginning to cry softly. "I-I've lost my parent's... I-I've lost my home—my friends!" Lilith said, tears dripping down her face. "I-I've lost everything Twilight..." Twilight looked down at the devastated filly, she couldn't possibly send Lilith out on her own after what she just heard. Bringing the filly closer to her, Twilight spoke in a calm and relaxed voice. "You don't have to go anywhere anymore Lilith... You're welcome to say here with me from now on," Twilight said. "I'll take care of you from here on out..." Lilith wiped the tears from her face and looked back up at Twilight. "R-Really? I can... s-stay here? With you?" Lilith said. "You'll... take care of me?" "Of course Lilith! How could I just let you go out on your own after what you just told me?" Twilight said softly. Lilith, elated with happiness, tried to hold back tears of joy, but hugged Twilight tightly and sobbed loudly. "T-Thank you! Thank you so much Twilight! I promise I'll be a good little daughter!" Lilith squeed. "I promise I'll make you happy and proud to be my mother!" "Mother? Daughter?" Twilight questioned. "Heh... you're right, I guess I am technically your mother from here on out..." Lilith held Twilight close as she let out a few more cries. With there being so much noise downstairs, Spike came downstairs to see what all the racket was. "Twilight... I know you like to stay up late and read... but do you think you could keep the volume down just a little bi-" Spike paused. "Um Twilight? Who is that that you're holding in your arms? Twilight lifted her head and looked up at Spike. "Spike, I'd like you to meet my daughter... Lilith," Twilight said abruptly. "Wait, what? Daughter? What do you mean daughter?" Spike questioned. Twilight explained to Spike everything that had just happened and why she is taking her in. "Man... that's terrible for a filly her age," Spike said. "Well if you want my opinion, I think taking her in is a really sweet thing of you to do Twilight!" "Heh, thanks Spike. I think tomorrow morning I'll help her get settled in and introduce her to all my friends!" Twilight said. "How does that sound Lilith?" "Alright, if that's what you want to do!" Lilith said, very enthusiastically. "Great! But you better get to bed now, you've had a long day and we've got a lot to do tomorrow!" Twilight said. Twilight walked Lilith upstairs. She used her magic to transform her bed into a bunk bed for Lilith. "You can have the bottom bunk okay?" Twilight said. "Alright!" Lilith said, climbing into bed. "Welcome to family Lilith! I know we're gonna have a lot of fun together!" Spike said. " Thanks Spike! I can hardly wait till tomorrow..." Lilith said, while looking at Spike her pupils started to convulse again and her vision changed to seeing everything in a blood red color. She could hear whispering in the back of her head. "Kill him before he takes her away from you... you don't want to be alone again do you?... Take this opportunity and DO IT!" The voices in her head said repeatedly, telling her to end Spike's life here and now. Lilith started to whisper to herself. "Take... her away? No... no I just found what I was looking for!... I-I won't let him take my mother away from me..." Lilith whispered to herself. "Lilith?" Twilight said. Hearing Twilight's voice snapped Lilith out of insanity. "H-Huh? What?" Lilith said. "I know it'll take some time for you to get over what happened to your parents. But don't worry, I'll be here to help you through it..." Twilight said softly. "Yeah... Thank you so much..." Lilith said, yawning. "Good night Lilith, I'll see you in the morning." Twilight said, pulling the covers over Lilith and blowing out the candles. Lilith, happy that she had finally found what she had been searching for, closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep... But how long will her happiness last?