43.
The playground was fairly crowded and Zero was sitting on the bench watching as his daughter Rune Eclipse played in a sandbox. He watched as she blinked her golden eyes at another filly walking by her; she didn’t smile or make a sound she just watched the filly walk by. Zero suddenly blinked when he saw Paradox step up beside him. “Hello Dox. What brings you here? Don’t you have acting to do?”
Paradox walked over and sat next to his brother in law. “What is new Zero?”
Zero looked down at the ground after glancing at his daughter to be sure she was safe. “Nothing is new, except that Discord has started to teach Rune magic.”
“What?” Paradox gasped. “Why are you letting him do that?”
Zero shook his head as he shrugged. “I cannot teach her magic. Lilly isn’t here to… teach her either.” He swallowed. “I must have… made her leave… I did something wrong. I ran her away.” He suddenly looked up at his brother-in-law. “You know where she is! I think you should tell me. I need her back Dox.”
Paradox stood up. “I don’t… Zero, I don’t know where Lilly is, I think dad knows but he won’t talk to me. Every time I even try to ask about her… I feel so angry at him.” He looked over at the sand box and saw Rune pick up a bucket of sand and pour it in a small tin plate. The plate tin started to glow red as it hovered and poured back into the bucket. She suddenly looked over at them, she smiled and stood up quickly as she suddenly beat her wings and flew over to them.
“Uncle Doxy!” Rune squealed as she flew over and landed clumsily in her uncle’s arms. “Doxy. Dox! Doxy!”
“Rune.” Paradox said as he hugged his niece. “You’re flying better.”
“Tank you. Da helps me. Grandspa is teaching me magics! He’s teachin’ Snafie too.” She talked quickly as her little wings flapped. “Will you teach me how to paints one day?”
“I will, after I teach Solana and Selene. You’ve gotten big, reminds me of your mom a lot. Beautiful, smart, that thick black and dark blue mane.” He pet down her mane softly and then put her down on the bench next to Zero. He got on his knees and looked at Zero and Rune. “I’ll do what I can to find out what happened to Lilly.”
Rune tilted her head slightly. “I will find out Uncle Doxy. Da and I miss mama. She was beautiful and had stars in her mane.”
Zero looked at Rune. “Rune Bug? You remember her?”
“Yes Da. Mama is beautiful. At night… Princess Luna tells me about her as I sleep.” Rune leaned against Zero. “She says I have ta remembers my Mama, because I can bring her backs one day… maybe.”
Paradox pet her mane. “It’s good to dream little one. Thanks for being on my side.”
“I love you Uncle Doxy.” Rune beamed as she flapped her wings again. “When can I play with Selene and Solana? I think we’d have fun playing. I wanna show them how I make stars shine in the sand.”
“You make stars shine in sand?” Paradox asked.
She nodded. “Yes, watch.” She frowned as the slightly crooked horn on her forehead started to glow red. The bucket of sand floated from the sand box and floated over to them, Rune put her hooves up and held the bucket and looked in it. “See.” Her horn glowed again and the sand turned black and little lights started to emerge from the sand. Both Paradox and Zero gasped at the sight. The lights twinkled and shone briefly then faded as quickly as they appeared. Rune suddenly yawned. “Sorry… that make me sleepy.” She wrinkled her nose and yawned again. “Da… I need to go home.”
Zero nodded as he picked her up and started to flap his wings. “Ok Rune, you need your nap.” He looked at Paradox. “Take care Dox, if I learn anything new… I’ll let you know. Rune likes to make up stories about Lilly, sometimes I wish they were true stories.”
Paradox stood up. “I wouldn’t make light of her dreams Zero… You know as well as I do that dreams can change instantly.” He looked at Rune. “Take care Rune. I love you always.”
“I love you Uncle Doxy and Auntie Silvie too.” Rune said as she yawned and nuzzled against Zero’s chest.