Maia was soaring high among the clouds with Spike above East Liverpool looking closely for the small child. "Come on little buddy, where are you?" She quietly said to herself. She flew above East Liverpool passing by nearing the forest. She decided to slowly come to a hover, and slowly descended to the ground. She looked toward the forest with reluctance. 'I sure do hope he isn't hurt.' She thought to herself as she carefully got off of Spike and walked into the forest with Spike behind her.
As they were walking deeper into the forest she saw it was getting darker by the minute. With each footstep she got nervous. "Please be here Toby." She quietly whispered as she walked on.
Suddenly in front of her she saw a Titan Wing Nightmare, but it didn't see her. Instead it was busy trying to get something in a bush. She slowly turned to walk away until she heard a small cry. "P-please s-someone help!" She gasped knowing that it was Toby's small voice.
She turned around abruptly, and took out her swords. Then Spike stretched out his hindlegs, he took out his spikes, and lowered his head with a scowl of anger on his face, including Maia. They eyed the Nightmare with all nervousness thrown out the window. "Hey you!" The Nightmare blinked it's glowing orange eyes, and turned it's head. "Yeah you, you useless lizard! Leave that boy alone!" The dragon roared loudly, and charged at them. She smirked and jumped out of the way to the right, where Spike struck the Nightmare with his tail. "Follow me you overgrown reptile!" She ran straight ahead causing the Nightmare to turn, and chase after her.
She ran ahead until she found a cliff. She looked around, and found a big boulder. "Hmm.. that should put that Titan Wing out of his misery." She went to the boulder, and got behind it. "Alright Maia, put all your strength into it." She stood up on her legs, and faced her swords toward the boulder. She dug her swords to the ground, and started pushing the boulder to the edge.
She slowly walked to the side of the boulder to look over the cliff's edge to see if the Titan Wing Nightmare was far behind. She looked down to see it right on the spot where she wanted to drop the boulder. "See you later Scaly!" She got behind the boulder and pushed it with all her might. Maia stood back to the cliff, and looked down at her work. "Gotcha!" She walked back into the woods to find Toby.
Toby swallowed deeply, and very carefully got on his hands and knees to crawl out of the bush he was hiding in. As he crawled out her carefully stood up still shaking with fear. He looked up to see the patches of sunlight fading. "It sure is scary in these woods." He just stood there hugging himself tightly trembling without knowing where to go.
He could faintly here something moving towards him, and slowly turned toward the direction of the sound. He looked to see the red-haired woman lightly walking towards him. He turned to run, but tripped over a root of the tree. He fell to the ground with a soft a thud as he turned to see Maia just a few inches away. He looked up at her trembling and covered himself with his arms, and hands.
"P-please M-Maia. D-don't hurt me, p-please." He begged with a whimper. He couldn't help, but remember the bad dream he had.
Maia frowned down at the frightened little boy, and gently walked over to his side. "Shh.. it is okay little buddy. I'm not going to hurt you." She gently sat down on her rear, and reached a hand to rub at his back to try, and comfort him. "Shh... come here kid, let me take you back to the catacombs."
Toby just shook with sobs as Maia carefully got up and walked around to Toby's back as he laid curled still covering himself with his arms, and hands. Uncharacteristically, she very carefully placed her hands underneath his small trembling frame, and cradled him to her chest as she stood back up. She gently leaned her head down to nuzzle at his cheek.
Toby opened his eyes with tears streaming down his cheek which caused Maia to frown. "P-p-please Maia. D-don't tell C-Claudia that I-I got my outfit dirty." He turned his head, and buried it into Maia's chest.
She couldn't help but tear herself up, although she hated to show her sensitive side when she looked down at the poor child. "Shh.. just try to close your eyes, and rest, okay buddy? We will be at the catacombs soon." With that she looked for a path in the forest, and got on Spike and flew up through it. She kept the little child cradled to her chest as she flew toward the sewers.
Maia arrived at the catacombs as the moon started to rise against the dark blue canvas above, and went in front of the door knocking on it with a hand with Toby cradled in her arms. The door opened reveal Connor, and Maia carefully walked inside. "Hey guys, I found him in the forest being cornered by a Titan Wing Nightmare." She carefully walked over to the group who were all sitting in a circle. Maia carefully lowered Toby onto one extra pillow. "I got rid of it though before it could get him."
Prim frowned as she saw him shaking, and could hear faint little sobs. "Oh, my precious little one." She carefully stood up, and walked close to him nuzzling at him. "Auntie Prim's baby, please don't cry." She laid down beside him, and laid an arm over him to try to keep him warm. She looked up at Maia with a soft smile. "Thank you so much Maia for finding him, and saving him." Maia just nodded, and smiled softly.
The others looked at the little boy with concerned looks as Maia laid down on the other pillow provided by Kaguya. She turned to Claudia. "Claudia.. uh.. he begged me not to tell you that he got his outfit dirty."
Claudia looked at Maia with tears in her eyes then back at the little boy under Prim's arm. She carefully got up, and walked over to the other side of Toby, and laid down with her arms tucked under her head. She gently lowered her head next to his, and softly whispered. "Shh.. Toby dear, don't be afraid of getting your outfit dirty. I am not mad at you at all precious. I can get it washed up without any trouble. Please little one, don't cry, your Auntie Claudia is here." She gave him a light kiss on his cheek.
Maia looked around the catacombs to notice that Celestine is here. "Celestine. I didn't even see you, I am sorry." She stood up and bowed.
Celestine shook her head softly, and gently raised a hand. "No need to apologize at all my friend Maia. I am here, because my fellow knight, and friend Connor, wrote me a letter about young Toby being gone." She frowned a bit, and lowered her head. "I volunteered to come while Kin watched after the castle, because last night Toby had a nightmare which caused him to run away. However, Kin was unable to enter into his dreams in time. For some reason he couldn't sense his mind's thoughts were then."
Connor gently spoke up. "Kin can't blame himself, no one could have known he was having a nightmare." He gave Celestine a soft reassuring smile, and then looked down at the poor little boy.
Celestine nodded lightly, and gently spoke to everybody. "My friends, I think we should go into Toby's mind again to see what would cause him to run away like he did."
Prim looked up at the others then at Celestine. "Um.. you mean back into his memories Celestine?"
Celestine nodded. "Yes my kind Prim. I promise it will be as calm as the last time you went, and it would cause him no pain." Prim nodded. "Alright my friends, I need to you all to stand in a circle around him."
They all nodded as Prim, and Claudia carefully stood up so not to disturb the small child. Luu Luu gently covered him with a blanket to keep him warm. The rest stood around Toby as Celestine stood at his feet.
"Alright, like you did last time, just close your eyes, and relax." Celestine spoke softly as she closed her eyes with everybody else. Her hands lit up and the usual warm light glow surrounded them. "Prepare yourselves, my friends, here we go."
*After several minutes*
Toby started to stir, and slowly opened his eyes. As he did he looked up to see everybody looking down at him with worried looks. Remembering back his bad dream he eeped, and crawled backwards up against the bottom of a bookshelf. He looked up at all of them, and started trembling.
"P-p-please, I-I promise I-I will be a good boy. P-p-please just don't hurt me." He started tearing up once again, and covered his head with his arms, and hands.
They all looked at him worriedly as Celestine was the first one to carefully walk up to him. She gently laid a hand over his shaking form, and carefully brought him close to her arms. "Toby dear, please don't be afraid. It was all just a bad dream." She frowned as Toby kept his head hidden within his arms, and hands. She lowered her head, and very gently nuzzled the top of his. "Shhh.. it is okay young Toby. Please little one, look up at me." She spoke with the softest of voices.
He carefully lowered his arms, and hands uncovering his head. He looked up at Luna with tears in his eyes. "I-I-I would n-never h-hurt an animal, nor p-people C-Celestine. I-I love animals." He couldn't help but stand up shaking on his legs, and wrapped his arms around Celestine's chest crying into her chest.
Celestine reached up a hand, and gently rubbed at Toby's back softly with a hand, and lowered her head to gently nuzzle into his hair. "Shh... dear one, it is okay. You are nothing at all like those humans that the dream version of my friends told you about."
Alicia carefully walked up. "Celestine, may I?" Celestine nodded, and gently let go of Toby with her hands, and lifted her arms off him. "Come here to Auntie Alicia, sweetie." She lifted a hand up to motion him over for a hug.
He reached up with an arm of his own to wipe at his eyes. "O-Oh A-Auntie Alicia, I-I am so s-sorry that I dreamt of you doing that to me." He walked up to her, and hugged her gently around her neck releasing light sobs into her chest.
She gently hugged him back, and rubbed at his back with her hand. "Shh.. now now sweetie, there ain't no reason for you to apologize. You just had a bad dream, that is all." She gave him a gentle kiss on the top of his head as he shook with sobs. "That is right sweetheart, just let it out. It isn't good to keep all that emotion held in." She rubbed and patted at his back.
Maia was the next one to step up. "My turn!" She said a little excitedly.
Toby gently broke his hug from Alicia as she smiled down at him. Toby giggled a little at Maia's excitement as he wiped his tears again.
Maia smiled brightly at the little boy as she sat on her rear. "Come here you little cutie!" She gently swept him up in her arms, and gave him a big warm hug as he wrapped his arms around her neck laying his head against her chest this time. "That dream Maia was real mean to you! I would never want to slice a little sweetie like you with my swords! I love you for calling me Auntie Maia, so don't ever be afraid to call me that, okay?" She nuzzled at the top of his head gently.
"Okay, come here little one." Kaguya waved him over with a hand as Maia set him down. He walked up to Kaguya, and wrapped his arms around her neck, laying his head against her chest. "I am sorry little one for the dream version of my hitting you like she did, and calling you a weakling." She gently pulled him away, and looked down into his eyes. "You are stronger than anybody I know, because you have a big heart." She smiled, and gently rubbed at the top of his head with a hand.
Luu Luu was next to step forward. "Come here kid, I want to show you some real magic." Toby gently nodded as his tears was finally starting to calm down. He walked toward Luu Luu, and she wrapped her arms around him gently. He laid his head against hers. "We all love you Toby, and we would never dream of hurting you like that in your dream. Don't ever apologize for dreaming of us doing something that to you, it was all just a bad dream." She kissed his forehead.
She gently released her hug and Rarity was next. "Come here precious, it is Auntie Claudia's turn." He smiled softly as he walked up to her, and she placed her hand over his shoulder, and gently pulled him against her warm chest as he gently hugged her around her waist. "Dear, that dream Claudia was no such a lady at all. She was as much of a brute as I ever saw one. I would never, ever think about using your skin or your hair for clothing. That is simply barbaric." She kissed the top of his head. "But don't you ever blame yourself for the bad dreams you have, okay precious?"
He looked up at her, and smiled softly. "O-okay Auntie Claudia, I-I love you.:
She smiled, and patted at his back gently. "Auntie Claudia loves you too dear!"
Prim timidly stood behind Claudia as Toby looked up after gently releasing his hug from her, and ran towards Prim crashing into her, but not knocking her down and wrapped his arms around her neck. "O-oh A-Auntie Prim, can you forgive me for dreaming that you would hurt me like that? I should have never thought that any of you would hurt me." He sobbed some again into Prim's chest.
She reached up, and wrapped a hand around him gently nuzzling the top of his head. "Shh.. my precious little one.. shh.. Auntie Prim loves you, and always will. Of course sweetie, I forgive you, you done nothing wrong, but have a bad dream, that is all." She gently pulled him away for a second, and looked into his eyes. "I will always love you Toby, even if you are not my child, I promise." She hugged him warmly.
Celestine smiled warmly at the Warriors showing their love for the little boy as she stood in the background. She slowly walked up as Prim was hugging Toby, and gently spoke. "Now dear Toby, there is something we would like to tell you, but please don't think we are mad at you, okay little one?"
Prim gently released Toby to speak first choking back a couple of sobs. She blinked her eyes to subdue her tears as she looked down into his. "Toby sweetie, Luu Luu, Kelly, and Crystal told us about yesterday at school." He looked up at her, and around the others with a little bit of fear. Prim shook her head softly. "Shh.. don't be scared Toby, we aren't mad at you. They told us about how the little girl Layla Burnside was being mean toward you."
Toby nodded lightly, Prim smiled warmly. "Sweetie, is what Layla said to you the reason you asked me last night if I loved you? Even though you aren't my son?" He replied with a sad nod, and lowered his head.
The others looked at Prim with a shocked look, except for Maia.
Alicia spoke up gently. "Sweetheart, you shouldn't let words like what that little girl says get to you." She smiled softly at him, and rubbed at the side of his arm with a hand. "Next time she or anybody says something like that to you sweetheart, you come to either one of us, and we will be there to listen. Okay little one?"
He nodded softly. "O-okay Auntie Alicia."
Claudia reached over with a hand, and rubbed at his other arm gently. "Yes dear, we are always here for you if you want to talk. Like I told you the day we were out on the balcony of New Rad Castle, you inspired me with my new line of fashion I have decided to start." She smiled warmly at him, and gently asked. "Would you like for me to take your outfit to the boutique to get washed precious?"
He smiled softly, and nodded. "Y-yes please Auntie Claudia." He carefully unzipped the jacket, and took it off. Claudia gently grabbed it over to her side.
They all gave a little yawn along with Toby. Prim smiled, and let out a giggle. "Is some special little boy sleepy?" She kissed the top of his head.
He looked up, and nodded. "Y-yes Auntie Prim. I am sleepy." He reached up with a small hand, and rubbed at his eyes.
Prim gently picked him up if he wanted and he obliged. He looked at the others. "G-goodnight Auntie Alicia, Auntie Claudia, Auntie Maia, Auntie Kaguya, Sister Luu Luu, Brother Connor, Uncle Grave, Uncle Vault, and Auntie Celestine! I love you all!"
"We all love you Toby! Goodnight sweetheart!" The girls said in unison, even Maia, while the boys just simply waved.
Prim smiled warmly at all of her friends. "Goodnight guys. We will see you tomorrow." She waved a hand lightly, and walked out of the living room.
After a long day Prim was tucking Toby into her big warm soft bed. "Toby sweetie, would you like for me to sing you a lullabye I have been thinking of for you."
He smiled up warmly into her sky blue eyes, and nodded. "Y-yes Auntie Prim, I would like that!" He comfortably curled up underneath the covers on his side, and laid his head on the soft white pillow.
"Okay my precious little one. I came up with this just for you. Just know Toby that I will always love you, and it doesn't matter if you are my child or nor, because you are my nephew." She leaned her head toward him, and kissed him gently on the cheek. She took a slow deep breath, and began singing with the softest of voices.
"No more tears be shed
No more broken hearts
I'll always be there to tuck you into bed
And pick up all the parts
I'll make the days not seem so blue
By always being there for you
On your brightest days, and darkest nights
I'll hold you close, and take away your frights
I wouldn't know what to do
If I wasn't there to care for you
It doesn't matter if we're the same or not
You're the wish I've always sought
I'll always be there within your sight
And I'll love you for the rest of my life
Whether you're awake or resting your head
I'll always say what needs to be said
Now rest while I wipe away your tears
And imagine how we'll be in many years
As I put the pieces back in place
And tie them together with a golden lace
Until the sun breaks through with its golden light
I'll always hold you ever so tight..."
She smiled warmly as the little boy slept peacefully. She gave him one more gentle kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight my sweet little Toby. Auntie Prim loves you!" Che carefully turned, and quietly walked downstairs.
the moon shined beautifully in the night sky, and glistened a glow through the cracks of Prim's room comforting the small child as he slept.