A Birthday Party for Molly

[Gildarts]

Written all across Gildarts’ face was a wonderful warm blush. It had been a while since he’d felt safe enough to share affection with a woman, and now, the moment was fleeting, Guu had vanished and gone away to do princess things, but that didn’t make it any less special. Night had fallen, the party still lingered on, and Molly was sitting on a party-throne, overlooking her disciples and looking at the mound of presents. Gildarts walked among the fray.

Dating a Goddess, Gildarts? You dog! The malefactor sneered and teased as the heat of her lips lingered on his skin.

Leave it, witch, he warned her.

Fine, I guess we’ll move on to the child you abandoned here, your memories don’t lie, you know. she added with an evil twist in her voice.

Hmph, there is safety here and people who are welcoming and friendly. Things that make a childhood, rather than those that break one. Gildarts riposted.

Wouldn’t you know it, Gildarts? You’re the real orphan here. she cackled cruelly.

Indeed I am, and it makes me no less of a man, temptress. You’ll find that while your words will sear when they land, they have no effect on my physical body. Meaning you’re less than nothing not just to me, but to all those who you see through my eyes. Gildarts got dirty.

How DARE you?! Hell hath no fury in this case, he’d pissed her off, which was what she had attempted to do but had been unsuccessful. She began scheming behind the scenes...

In the real world, beyond the tombs of the prime’s mind, Molly stood with a smile as she whispered into Pinkie Pie’s ear and the pink pony looked surprised but nodded in agreement. It seemed Molly was going to be generous, and the best gifts were not those that were received, but given. The little girl smiled as she looked at Gildarts and the present-opening ceremony commenced.

Wrapping paper hit the floor, but the crowd and onlookers soon realized that some of the gifts were being distributed to some of the kids in the crowd too. Molly’s generosity was shining through, she had accepted only a fraction of the gifts for herself, then, assuming most were toys, wanted to share them with the other kids. There was no way she could possibly play with all of them at once, and it was more exciting for her to see her friends in the crowd (mostly humanoid, some puppies, some other species or hybrids) jump up and down when they opened cool toys or inventive presents created by the townspeople. Even Piqui got a toy, it was mouse-themed for the kitten-like Ambrosian.

Molly had saved the best for last, Gildarts’ gift lay in hand. She smiled as she undid the purple ribbon and carefully unfurled the indigo paper from the box. With one open eye, she peered in and saw a piece of fabric. Intrigued, the girl lifted it out and stood up.

It was a cape just like his, a little ruffled around the edges and it also had a collar that added a mysterious allure to the wearer. Just like Gildarts’ though purple and meant for her height. It was the perfect size. Now, they were matching, and Molly was immediately a hero. She tied the cape over her shoulder and jumped up on her chair, zooming around as though she could fly or had superpowers.

Next she zoomed her way over to Gildarts, landing a big ol’ hug into the prime’s solid arms. “Now I can be just like you!” she muffled through the curtains of his own cape.

“You already are,” he affirmed to the little hero and ruffled her pigtailed hair affectionately. “And so much more.”