(Bat) Happy Birthday

>"Happy birthday, to you."
>"Happy birthday, to you!"
>"Happy birthday, dear Speck."
>"Happy birthday, to you."
>"Blow out the candles!"
>Gray lips part as a turquoise-maned bat-pony leans in to the large cake.
>A soft gust of wind flows over her tongue and past her lips, kissing the small flame that flickers atop a single candle in the center of the cake.
>All around her, gathered from near and far, are her friends; her family.
>Tears well in her eyes, her throat tightens, and her heart swells.
>It's been a year.
>One long, exciting year.
>One year since she was invited in by Echo, Midnight, Florence, Jasmine, and Night Watch.
>One year since she befriended Gloom Wing, Moonlight, and Pull Tab.
>One year since she saw Aux find Moonshine, and shared their love.
>A year since Mosina removed kebab.
>A year since Nightlight and Rosewood became friends.
>A year since Heartbeat joined the family.
>And a year since she found her little Sirocca.
>That family of bats that loved her as much as she loved them grew and shrank as faces came and went.
>It was a feeling of companionship, of love, of happiness, and of commonality that brought them all together.
>That brought them all together for this.
>Dozens of pairs of hooves threw themselves around Speck as she started to cry; not out of sadness, but out of happiness.
>It had been a very long time since she felt so moved by the acts of another.
>The hug broke, the cake was cut, and her family celebrated.
>"What'd ya wish for, mama?"
>Two blue eyes, nearly lost behind a poofy purple mane caught hers.
>She wished for everything to get better, for everyone to keep loving each other, for her old friends to return, and for her new ones to stay.
"I wished..."
>She looked around the table, at all of her friends, smiling at each of them in turn.
"For peace."

>The party moved outside, where even more guests awaited.
>Guests that, while still part of this big, happy family, were not ponies like the rest.
>They were something of chauffeurs to the bat-ponies; guides, guardians, friends, lovers, what have you.
>All of them were gathered around, smiling and celebrating.
>Save for one.
>At the edge of the yard, Speck noticed, was a man who sat against a tree.
>A man who was more content to observe these days.
>"I'm still here. I'll always watch over you. Go have fun."
>That was all his expression said to her.
>Yet, she still trotted over to him, away from the festivities.
>His lap was welcoming, and his touch was loving.
>She held him close; he held her closer.
"You're still part of this family."
>"Maybe. Give me a little bit. Go play, I'll be there soon."
>Speck trotted back to the festivities, occasionally glancing over at the tree.
>He sat there, watching her and smiling as the party went on.
>He wasn't forgotten; some of the other bats would occasionally walk up to him, offering a piece of cake, or asking if he wanted to play.
>He'd chat with them for a little bit before telling them to go have fun.
>As the party died down, Speck approached him once more.
"I wish you'd come play with us. It's just as much a time to celebrate what you've done, as it is to celebrate my birthday."
>"Maybe another time, sweetheart. I don't think anyone's ready, yet."
"I miss you."
>"I'm right here."
"No..."
>Two dull orange eyes locked with those of her human's.
"I miss who you were."
>"I miss who I was, too."
>Most of the guests who remained moved over to the tree, and gathered in a circle.
>One little purple filly climbed into the man's lap with a smile.
>"Tell us one of your stories?"
>He smiled and ruffled the filly's mane.
>"Well... There's one story I know, about a bunch of little bat-ponies, and how they came to be."
>Even the cruelest of men have hearts, and some can move hearts with their words.