Welcome to Gaia! ::

The sun had just started to set..the sky awash in glorious color. It was a perfect back drop to the meadow filled to bursting with flowers. It was odd being in the growing silence, usually the meadow was buzzing with life & sound.

Moving carefully Lokelani nosed a few specific plants into a more rounded shape. Humming as she worked..voice gently rising to call when the ‘bed’ was made. **”Children? Come let’s get ready for bed!”**

The gentle pattering of hooves..the light sound as giggles carried along on an idle perfumed breeze. **”No use in hiding~ whoever gets in bed first can pick tonights story!”**

Those words were enough to have hooves racing, a small shriek followed by a louder shout. Then the fluffed plant bed was filled with Lokelani’s wide eyed children..breathless and giggling.

One older, one younger. The pair made her heart soar. **”Hmm. Let’s see who got here first..I think it may have been..a tie!! That means you have to share your story request.”**

Moving into the soft cool plants she nosed each of her children, kissing their cheeks with an exaggerated sound. Ears perked to hear what kind of story they’d wish to be regaled with tonight.

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Surprise briefly flickered across the older mares face before it smoothed out into something thoughtful. As the sun dipped further beneath the horizon Lokelani gave them both another soft nuzzle.

Then she hummed..a low sweet note, eyes half lidded as her memories swirled to life behind her eyes. Ah. What a grand tale they had chosen.

**”In order to hear that story you must first hear your mama’s story.”**

Clearing her throat Lokelani focused on the flowers..on the fading light. Only when the first little firefly flew up into the sky did she start the story. Her story. Their story.

**”Once there was a small foal. She became horribly lost..left wandering in a huge crashing storm. Unable to find a way back home..she wandered. Surviving. Alone.”**

The two were listening with rapt attention; eyes wide. Pualani’s seemed to shimmer with emotions..but she didn’t interrupt her Mama’s story.

**”Soon the little foal grew into a young mare, kind of like Pualani. She wandered all over the land feeling her loneliness grow. Then! The mare met a beautiful older mare and her mate. They adopted her..they loved and adored her. She even gained three siblings that were her size!”**

Gasping followed this part. Lokelani looked back to the stars, her own eyes bright. **”Do you know that one of your aunties is like you Pualani? She was wished from on a star!”**

Smiling at the continued looks of awe she went back to speaking. **”The mare longed to find love. I..i was misguided for a time. Using my knowledge of plants to cause pain..alone and hurting..one day I saw them.”**

Heart squeezing at the memory she paused once again; eyes misting with tears..a smile warming her face. **”They were colorful, interesting, beautiful, strong. I had no idea in the world how to approach such magnificent ponies. Stricken with love..I followed them..watched, listened.”

Spying her son’s drooping eyes Lokelani thought of stopping the story for now but, Pualani looked so eager to hear the rest. So she smoothed out Ignis’s hair, humming the same soft notes from earlier…if only they stayed tiny like this forever.

**”Alright. Yes, after that I started working on this very meadow. A garden of flowers bursting with personality and color just like your mamas and papas have. I started making bouquets…one for each of them. Filled with love, with careful care to pick what complimented them most.”**

Eyes closing she felt the memories washing across her mind..saw the looks on each of her loved ones faces. **”Your Papa loves the ocean, loves to swim..so his bouquet had seashells carefully placed within it.”**

Opening her eyes again gave Lokelani the most glorious sight. For the sky had finally faded to dark fully and there over their heads were scattered shimmering stars. Each one felt like a promise. A hope.


**”I had never known romantic love until I met them..all of them are so unique. They loved me back and so I started wishing on stars. Offering pieces of myself..of them. Longingly calling out for a child for our family to grow.”** Laughing softly she saw how cozy the pair had gotten, how stubbornly Pualani now fought the sleep that had claimed young Ignis. **”After wishing I found you. My first..my Pualani. You are my star spoken child, the answer to my longing heart.”**

Of course her children knew the rest. Knew that not long after she had her two gorgeous boys..how the group lived, loved and welcomed another to the fold. **”You my little ones will never need to ask if you are loved. You will never face the storms of this life alone. That is the story of how I met the many wondrous loves of my life. Your mama’s and papas.”**

Stifling another laugh she tucked soft grasses over both the now slumbering children. As the sky continued to light up with stars her voice came once more, low and delicate. **”Good night my treasures.”**