The weeks following the race were fairly routine, though the nightly dinners with the Princesses had been cut back to once a week. There really was only so many ways to say 'I flew around and have a new bruise here,' so it made sense to talk about our days a little less frequently. Aside from having dinner mostly on my own now, I went to school in the mornings, and trained with Sky Flare after sun down. I saw Dawn when I could, but she was kept pretty busy with her magical studies. Since the race though, one thing had changed significantly for me, and not necessarily for the better. I was already well known at the academy for my speed, and my unique style of fighting. I could deal with that well enough, but now, my feats were known throughout all of Canterlot. Nearly everyone said hello to me by name if I went to town, and I frequently had to turn down numerous offers of company from my apparent female fans. Something about a new face that can do something others can't always drew attention. I didn't mind people saying hello, or being friendly, but I liked my own space. Especially in a world where I had next to nothing. Luckily for me though, Sky Flare had noticed my issues and started hanging around a lot more to serve as a form of deterrence. She keep most everyone at bay by simply being near me, and I was more than a little grateful to her for it. It's not that she was mean to other ponies, but her reputation for being stern and imposing was not something others readily challenged. In my time with her however, I realized that she was actually a very nice and caring pony. She just had a unique way of showing her feelings that most just couldn't understand.
It was now just after dawn. I had already eaten a decent sized breakfast, and was currently in flight on my way to meet up with Sky Flare. It was Saturday today, so there were no classes. I had considered taking the day off, but I had come to rather enjoy teaching Sky Flare how to fight. And she was growing into quite the sparring partner too. To me, a good fight was just as good as kicking back on a nice day and relaxing. Even better if I was learning something from it. So today was going to be a full day of sparring and footwork. It was going to be a lot of fun.
I was just nearing the outskirts of the palace grounds when I caught sight of Dawn and her shadowed companion far below. They were lying next to one another, in the grass of a hill that overlook a portion of Canterlot. It had been a few days since I had actually spoken with Dawn, so I changed course too meet up with her.
I dove down towards them, and with a hard flap, stopped my decent a few feet above the ground. I landed softly a ways away and smiled widely at the two of them.
"Hey Dawn, you're up early." I called, then I paused as I glanced to the darker pony beside her. I furrowed my brow as I tried to remember his name, but I had completely forgotten. Then again, I had only seen him in passing up until now, or been a bystander while he spoke to the Princesses, so it's not like I really knew him that well. "I see you've got your... Friend? Out for a change." I said, trying to be as polite as I could.
"Good morning to you too." Dawn called back.
"We were talking about things to ourselves." The shadow pony said, nodding to me politely.
"Well that sounds... Fun?" I said with an unsure chuckle, "I take it Stalwart's still on nights?"
"Yeah, that he is." Dawn said, yawning a little as she apparently tried to wake herself up. "Sorry, I had a really long night the other day and I'm still not up to par again."
"Tell me about it." I said with a sigh. I sat down and shook my head as I dwelt on my own lack of sleep. "I'm usually up at dawn, and I don't go to bed till nearly midnight..."
"Oh gosh, what has you out so late?" Dawn asked, a hint of concern clear in her voice.
"Fighting," I said with a laugh, "And flying too of course." I grinned at the thought of soaring through air again. I still hadn't even begun to grow bored with the thrill of it, and I truly believed I never would.
"Just what are you fighting?" The shadow pony asked curiously.
"It's more like sparring I guess," I admitted, "I'm giving fighting lessons in exchange for flight lessons. That's the only reason I was able to even compete in that race."
Dawn looked down a little, seeming rather embarrassed. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to stay for the entire race." She said quietly.
I smiled at her. "No worries, I know you had quite the scare." I couldn't help but chuckle at the scenario for a moment. Dawn was safe and unhurt, so looking back on it with a laugh or two was fine now. "I gotta admit though, I did not expect to see you there at all. What with your height issues and all."
"We have a habit of getting things done in spite of fear." The shadow pony said.
"Yeah," Dawn added, "Lemon Bloom told me I might want to learn how to do that cloud walking spell, but I didn't know why until just before the race. I had to keep repeating my motto all the way up the stairs just to keep from shaking or falling."
"I will not let my life be ruled by fear." The shadow pony chimed in.
I nodded. "Not a bad motto to have," I admitted, "But not an easy one to stick too."
"Believe me, we know." The shadow pony said. I watched as he nudged Dawn and she glanced at him with a smile.
"I'm more a 'Hakuna-Matata' fan myself. Hence all the 'No worries'." I laughed and smiled at them both.
"I always did hate that song." Dawn said with a laugh.
I shook my head and glanced over at shadow pony thoughtfully. I hadn't really had the chance to ask about him much, and now seemed a good time since we alone for a change. "So you two are connected, right?"
"We are." The shadow pony said. Dawn nodded with him and I grew more thoughtful.
"So how does that work?" I asked, "Can you two hear each other’s thoughts? Or feel what the other feels then?"
They glanced at each other for a moment, then Dawn replied. "To an extent," she said, "It's kinda weird."
"I can imagine," I chuckled, "If you two are the same though, why are you different genders? Or is that just more magic stuff?"
"It's..." Dawn started hesitantly, "Starlight really is what I used to be. After some really, really hard times back home, I did some deep soul searching and realized why things were often so very wrong. I saw therapists for a couple years before we discovered I wasn't male, at least, not in my brain or how I thought and behaved. Trust me, I was shocked too. Before I was pulled through the mirror, I was already on medications for half a year to help."
"It's very likely the mirror realized what she really was," Starlight added, "And helped make that change more complete. Celestia told her on our first night in Equestria that it helps those who travel through it become more... More true to what they are."
I stared at them for several moments. I hadn't expected that at all. It wasn't anything new to me though. Some of my best friends back home had gone through the same thing. It was just a little surprising to find out that Dawn of all people had struggled with that issue. Especially with how well adjusted she seemed. I never would have even thought to the contrary if she hadn't said anything. That got me wondering though. Did Stalwart know? It wasn't my place to say, or even ask really, so I left it be.
"I got ya," I said, smiling at them both assuringly, "I have some friends that went through that actually. Well... Had..." I shook my head as thoughts of home started to creep into my mind again. Now was not the time for this, so I forced myself off that line of thought. "So long as you're happy, that's the important thing right?"
"Thanks," Dawn said rather shyly, "I do feel better about it, though it's not something I think about much."
"You feel more whole, and at peace," Starlight said, "It's no wonder you don't question it, Dawn."
I let a slip a laugh. "I’m glad one of use feels whole here," I smirked, "I haven’t since I lost my hands!" I laughed again and clapped my hooves together to make a clopping sound. "I still can’t use these things to save my life." It was true. I could still barely handle dishes or cups. And even after these last few weeks of practice, I still couldn't use a sword, with my hooves or otherwise.
"Well, actually,” Dawn started to say, then she paused for a moment, “You just might be able to do something better... I just spent the last several days trying to fix this thing, and Starlight tells me we don't have many, if any, more steps left. It still needs to be tested, but it'll let you move things like we can is the goal. Maybe, just maybe, I can make another one from scratch and give it to you?"
I smiled at that, but shook my head. "Thank you very much for the offer," I said, "But you have enough on your plate as it is. If I had a horn instead of wings, I'd be trying to help you. But as it stands, I'm expecting to be here for a while. And not because I don't think you can learn the magic. I just don't see how anyone could fix a broken mirror without actually being there, you know? All this magic stuff just goes right over my head..."
"You have a point," Dawn admitted, "It hasn't been at all easy for me either. I don't know how Starlight does it."
"It helps when you have a competent teacher." Starlight stated.
"Agreed," I said, thinking about just how much Breezy and Sky Flare had taught me, "If it weren't for Breezy and Sky, I'd probably still be grounded right now."
"What is it like to fly?" Dawn asked.
I couldn't help but grin at her question. "It's amazing," I said, glancing up at the sky, "I've been flying every day, for hours on end, and I'm still not over the thrill of it. The feel of the wind as it passes over my wings. The sight of the world so tiny and far below. The look of the clouds from their level, or above. It's beautiful." I laughed, realizing I had been rambling, then smiled back at Dawn. "It's like you're free," I said, trying to simplify it, "Free from anything and everything."
"You're almost making me wish I had wings instead..." Dawn said softly, "Maybe if I did, I wouldn't be so scared of heights."
"My stomach still knots every time I do a flip, or look down from up high," I admitted with a chuckle, "But I've gotten used to it. Now it's all just part of the thrill." I paused and looked at Dawn thoughtfully for a moment. "Would you like to try flying with me?" I asked softly.
Dawn's eyes went wide and she shook her head as she looked out at the ground before her. "No," she said slowly, "I'm not ready for that yet, no no no..."
I smirked at her and nodded in understanding. "No worries. But if you ever want to, just let me know alright? I don't think you'll regret it."
"Perhaps another time then..." she said, still looking at the ground, "Are you really strong enough to be able to carry another with you?"
"Of course!" I said confidently. I opened my wings beside me and gave a few test flaps. "These have a lot more strength than I think you realize. Though, to be fair, I wouldn't be doing any fancy acrobatics."
Dawn grew thoughtful for a few moments, then eventually nodded at me. "Ok," she said, "One day, you'll have to show me. But don't you dare drop me!"
"I give you my word." I said, bowing my head a little. Then I laughed and added, "Besides, if I did that, then I'd never get home."
Dawn chuckled with me for a moment, then Starlight chimed in. "I would appreciate not returning to the void by an untimely demise."
I wasn't sure if my comment had bothered him or not. He was far harder to read than Dawn was, though that may be due to the fact he was semi-transparent. "I don't think any of us wants to have an untimely demise," I said, "Strange as this place is, if I'm gonna be stuck here, I still plan to get the most out of it. I hope you both do too."
"Judging by how much time Dawn spent brushing her mane, I'd say she plans to get the most out of somepony today." Starlight said with a growing smirk.
Dawn glared at him, clearly embarrassed by his comment.
I chuckled at them and shook my head. "You two seem more like siblings than the same person. What with how he seems to pick on you, Dawn."
"We're not quite the same," Starlight said, "Remember, we split off some time ago as she realized who she was, and I was... Cast away." He lowered his a little and continued, a slightly sadder tone to his voice, "I'd have probably gone insane over these few years if it weren't for that friend I made in that void."
"I don't really get the whole magic, void thing," I admitted, "But I'm glad you weren't totally alone. No one deserves that."
"Indeed..." Starlight said, "He won't tell me a name, in all our time together. But he has been extraordinarily well versed in magic. And just might be the key for us to get you home."
I paused at that. "Don't you mean get 'us' home?" I asked, eyeing them seriously.
"So long as we're linked, Dawn cannot go home," he explained, "Because for her to go home, I would return to being alone. I don't want to be alone again, not again." He grew quiet and Dawn moved closer to him to try and cheer him up.
"I don't fully get it either," She said, "But I think I remember Celestia mentioning something when I first got here, about how if you don't want to go, actively don't want to go though, you won't. Knowing what he'd have to face, I couldn't bring myself to make that happen, whether they were a part of me or not."
I sighed a little at their answer. "So why are you even trying to fix my mirror then?" I asked, "You should be more focused on figuring out your own issue."
"Does anyone need a reason to help others?" Dawn asked, looking up at me seriously, "Figuring out this 'issue' isn't mutually exclusive on my use of time you know. Besides, what kind of person would that mean I am if I tried to go home first, without granting you that same option if it's within my power?"
"Helping someone is always a good thing to do," I said, "I just don't want you to focus on my problem to the point you forget to work on your own. That's all."
“I appreciate your concern, but neither of us seem to really have an idea how to break the link," Dawn said, "Let alone ensure he doesn't get left alone for until he dies... Until we find out otherwise, we'll work on things slightly more plausible.”
“Yes, because being one of the few ponies in history that can repair other ponies' magical artifacts is more plausible.” Starlight smirked.
"After what I've seen since I got here," I laughed, "I'm sure anything's possible if you try hard enough."
"We'll see I guess." Dawn said, smiling optimistically. She put her head down on the grass and half sighed. "It's going to be a slow day 'till lunch comes around."
"Slow is not always a bad thing," I said, "I could use a little slow once in a while myself. But..." I got to my feet and gave my wings a quick stretch. "Not gonna happen today."
“Well where are you off to in such a hurry?” Dawn asked, glancing up at me.
"Training, remember?" I laughed, "No rest for the wicked. Even in Equestria."
Starlight snorted while Dawn merely smirked and waved me off. "I'll catch you at dinner tomorrow night then, sound good?"
"Sounds good," I said, "You two have a good day, alright?"
"She always cheers up when she gets to see Stalwart." Starlight said, his smirk growing even bigger as Dawn glared at him. "You know you do," he said to her, "Don't give me that look."
I chuckled. "Yup. Just like siblings."
"Better thought as siblings than lovers..." Dawn said, shaking her head, "I don't think I'm ready for that at all."
"Yeah, I'm not even considering that type of thing either," I admitted with a sigh, “Not for lack of offers.”
"I wonder what Stalwart would say if he realized, with all you've been teasing him." Starlight teased, nudging Dawn in the elbow,
"What do you mean by 'lack of offers?'" Dawn asked, apparently ignoring Starlight’s comment.
"Nothing," I said shaking my head, "I've just apparently become popular is all..." I dropped my head and groaned as I found Dawn to be laughing at me. "Yeah..." I said with a sigh. I shook my head and took a few steps back. "Anyways," I said, "I better get going before I'm too late. So I'll see you two later!"
Before Dawn could stop her laughing, I gave a hard flap of my wings and took to the sky. I flew straight up for a moment then closed my wings and drifted to the peak of my ascent. I let gravity take hold and I tumbled over backwards. I dove into the fall and rocketed towards the ground, grinning at Dawn's expression as I raced straight for her. About ten feet above her, I shot out my wings and veered to the left, sailing away over the grass and off the nearby cliff.
I flew at top speed to the usual place I trained with Sky, a secluded section of forest no one ever seemed to visit. I had hoped to make up a little time with my speed, but I knew I was still going to be late, though only by about twenty minutes or so.
"You're late Silver!" I heard carrying over the winds as I neared our meeting spot.
I drifted down to the small clearing and quickly spotted Sky Flare sitting nearby. The sunlight was just creeping into the clearing and it shimmered along her red and gold coat almost like firelight.
"Sorry," I said, still admiring her glow in the morning light, "I ran into Dawn on the way here, so I had to say hi."
"You know, considering she and I are like your only friends, why haven't you introduced us yet?" Sky Flare asked. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at me seriously. "You're not playing one of us on the side, are you mister 'I'm not interested in dating?'"
"What!?" I gasped, "No! Of course not!"
She glared at me for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Cool your feathers, Silver. I know you’re not like that."
I frowned at her and shook my head.
"So what's on the list for today, hmm?" she asked. She rose up to her hind legs and assumed a bipedal stance like I had been teaching her in. She rolled her shoulders and grinned at me as she shifted into a fighting stance. "More stances? Maybe some real sparring for a change instead of all that slow motion stuff? Or do I finally get to learn a new technique?"
"All of the above actually," I said, "Though first, you're gonna have to learn to keep your footing under pressure. One thousand times more pressure than you're used to in fact."
"One thousand times more pressure?" she repeated, clearly confused by my statement.
"Yep," I grinned, "Follow me and I'll show you." I gave a flap of my wings and took to the sky once again.
Sky Flare snorted and flew after me.
We flew over the forest, further away from Canterlot as I looked for the place I had searched out a few days before.
"Where are we going, Silver?" Sky Flare called from behind me.
"Right down there." I called back. I nodded towards a small stream ahead of us. It was relatively shallow and snaked through a vast portion of the forest, so it offered a variety of training locations.
"The stream?" she asked, "What for?"
"Patience," I said, shaking my head, "You'll see soon enough."
We drifted down towards the stream and landed in the shallow waters. It was cool, but refreshing. The water rose up to just above our ankles and drifted by at a gentle pace.
"What," Sky Flare said with a snort, "You want me to have a bath or something?"
I laughed. "No. Though I guarantee you'll be soaked by the end of this."
She frowned at me. "How ya figure that?"
"Assume a ready stance please." I said. I rose to my hind legs and took a ready stance myself as I spoke.
Sky Flare followed suit, though it was clear she still didn't understand the purpose of the stream.
"Try some of the footwork I've been teaching you, Sky." I said.
She sighed at me. "We've been doing nothing but footwork for weeks now..." she protested, "I think I got it down pat."
"Humor me." I said flatly.
Sky Flare sighed again, then began moving about in the stream as I had shown her. She swept her leg around in a circular motion and began weaving through the water. She stumbled on the slippery rocks here and there, but she did remarkably well considering.
I had expected her to fall into the water by now, but she was clearly very good at keeping her balance.
"There," she said after another few sets, "Happy now?"
"Almost," I said, "Keep going. About five minutes should do."
She groaned, then returned to weaving about in the stream.
After five minutes of moving nonstop in the shallow waters, Sky Flare was on the verge of panting.
"Now we're getting somewhere." I said, smiling at her.
"Oh shut up," Sky Flare breathed out, "It's hard to keep moving in this stupid water."
"I know," I stated, "That's why we're here."
Sky Flare looked me rather confused.
"Water is one thousand times denser than air is," I explained, "Due to that, practicing your footwork in shallow water like this is a lot harder than it is on land. It also has the added bonus of forcing you to pay extra attention to your footing so you don't slip on the rocks and wind up soaked."
"Why bother doing this in the water though?" Sky Flare asked, "What good is slowing me down here going to be in a fight?"
"It's like weight training in a sense," I said, "You get good at moving in water, you'll move ten times better on land. In terms of both speed and control." I laughed thinking back to when I had first learned this trick. "It works wonders for swordplay too. Only now I don't have to worry about my toes turning into prunes!" I laughed again and paused as what I said registered.
Sky Flare stared at me quizzically. "Toes?" she asked slowly.
"Uhh..." I stammered, thinking quickly for a recovery. "I-Inside joke, sorry." I said, trying to laugh it off.
Sky Flare frowned at me, but before she could ask me anything more I lowered my stance and faced her.
"Remember your footwork," I said quickly, "And come at me with everything you've got."
"What?" she said surprised.
"Well, it's about time I did more than simply walk you through the basics of combat, right?" I said matter of factly, "So, come at me. Use what I've shown you so far, and watch closely how I win."
"And what makes you so sure you're gonna win, huh!?" Sky Flare snorted at me.
I smiled. "Prove me wrong if you can then." I stated simply.
I hadn't really wanted to start sparring for real until later today, but I had to do something to try and cover up my toe comment. Up until this point in our training, I had been running Sky Flare through the motions and strikes in a form of slow motion sparring. It was a useful training method to learn how the body moved, and where you were most open when you, or your opponent attacked. Sky Flare had caught on rather quickly, but she had a bit of temper that could be easily exploited. Especially now, since I had learned to read all of her moves in the process of teaching her.
Sky Flare snorted at me and charged.
She moved like she was supposed to, but in her haste, she swung at me in a very telegraphed karate punch.
Moving in the circular motions that comprised most of my style, I blocked her strike and forced her arm upwards. Dipping down a little, I caught her stomach with my other hoof as gently as I could and, using the momentum of her own attack, raised her from the ground and tossed her behind me with a spin.
She yelped as she found herself flat on her back in the cold water and quickly scrambled back to her feet.
"What the hell was that Silver!" she yelled at me through her now soaked hair.
"That was me winning," I said simply, "Did you see how I beat you?"
"Yeah," she growled, "You threw me."
"Yes, I did. But did you see how?" I asked.
She paused and thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know," she said, "You hit me in the stomach though. Then I was on my back somehow."
"Then let's try it again," I said, "But be warned. The faster you come at me, then faster you'll lose."
I caught her glare and chuckled back confidently.
As before, she came at me fast. She struck differently this time though. This time, she planted her lead foot firmly into the ground and aimed for my stomach with a well grounded uppercut of sorts.
I deflected her strike to the side with another circular block. With her guard now open, I swung my back foot fast, skimming it just over the water until I struck Sky Flare's lead leg. I knocked her feet out from under her and she yelped as she fell into the water once again.
She rolled back to her feet and charged me again without pause.
I hadn't expected that. Apparently, I had gotten her a little more fired up than I had meant too. I back stepped quickly to give myself a little more room and cursed as my foot slipped on the rocks. Using my wings, I regained my balance and flew a few feet backwards along the water to keep myself out of Sky Flare's range.
Sky Flare followed my retreat and leaped into the air. She gave a flap of her wings to close the gap between us and swung her foot hard for my head.
I leaned back to avoid her kick and shot a reflexive counter jab into her now exposed flank. I struck her square on her cutie mark and she dropped straight to the water with a splash.
She winced at the Charlie-horse I had just given her and growled at me angrily.
I opened my mouth to apologize, but she was already swinging at me again. Moving backwards, I swept my arms from side to side, deflecting swing after swing until Sky Flare realized her assault wasn't having the desired effect.
She leapt backwards some ten feet, then gave a hard flap of her wings. She launched herself straight at me like a bolt. She flew at me with both her front hooves outstretched in an all-out superman punch.
It was an easy attack to counter. I side stepped fast and swept an arm down to drop her front legs. Then, catching her in the stomach with my other hand, I tossed her past me for the third time.
She tumbled through the air for a moment, then splashed into the water.
"Why the hay can't I hit you!?" She yelled, striking out at the water in frustration.
"Calmness," I said, dropping to all fours, "Calmness..."
Sky Flare got back to her feet and frowned at me. Her glare made it clear she wanted answers, and quickly.
"You're getting the footwork down," I said, "But you need to be calmer Sky... You get riled up too easily. Which makes you easy to beat."
She glared at me again for that. "Yeah, well it's worked for me so far hasn't it?" she stated, "I am the Substitute Combat Instructor or the Ariel Flight Academy after all!"
"Titles mean nothing in a fight," I stated bluntly, "Rank. Status. Age. None of it matters. The only thing that does, is tactics and skill."
"So what, I'm not skilled enough to hit you!?" she growled.
"Not really, no," I said honestly, "And if you calm down for a moment, I'll explain why."
She frowned at me, then sat down in the stream. She was already soaked, so a little more water wouldn't bother her much.
"You're a very offensive combatant," I explained, "You're overbearing. Strong, and fast. Which seems to be the way around here. At least, that's how Black Mane is teaching everyone to be. My style is more defensive. I lay in wait, and counter what's thrown at me. Like your attacks. You put your all into each and every one of them. And look where that's gotten you. You're out of breath, and soaking wet."
She looked away from me and snorted her disapproval.
It looked almost like she was pouting, but I wasn't stupid enough to say that out loud. "Using your opponent’s power against them saves you a great deal of stamina," I continued, "Which lets you fight for longer periods of time. As well as fight more people in general. I've barely moved this entire fight, instead, I let you defeat yourself for me with your own attacks."
"Yeah, well. If I had managed to hit you, you wouldn't be so cocky right now." Sky Flare grumbled.
"You'll do significant damage if you hit, I won't deny that," I admitted, "But power is worthless if you can't actually land the blows you’re going for. All it serves to do then, is tire you out faster."
Sky Flare looked back to me and tilted her head as my words started to sink in a little. "Alright... But what good is being defensive all the time? What if I don't attack you? How can you win then?"
I smiled. "Then I make you attack."
"How?"
"I'll show you." I rose to my back legs and assumed a fighting stance.
Sky Flare sighed and did the same. Her ear twitched heavily in irritation, but she held her ground.
"Ready?" I asked.
She snorted in reply.
I closed the distance between us quickly and swung a jab for her head. The attack would have fallen short, but it was meant to force an opponent to move, not deal damage.
She blocked, moving my strike to the side as I had done to her.
My next strike was aimed for her stomach.
She swung low and blocked my second strike.
I stepped towards her as she blocked me, and she reflexively stepped back to keep a safe distance between us.
As she started to move however, I stepped hard on her hoof to keep her from retreating.
Sky Flare gasped as she started to lose her balance and reflexively saved herself with her wings. She swung for my chest in the same motion, hoping to free her foot with the attack.
I dodged to the side of her strike and caught her arm with my left, pulling it tight against my chest. Moving fast, I shot my right hand out and pressed it firmly against her neck, pinning her before me.
She was still standing, but now she was stuck. If she tried to move, I could either break her arm, or her neck with ease. We both knew I wouldn't actually hurt her, but I wanted the scenario to sink in. Though Black Mane and the rest of the ponies I had seen fighting here in Equestria used dangerous and potentially lethal weapons, none of them fought with any real intent. They were serious, but not one of them seemed like they would hurt a fly if they could avoid it. I wanted to show Sky Flare what real intent was.
After a few tense moments, I smiled at Sky Flare. "Pressure," I said softly, "Pressure your opponent into attacking you and you can use it to your advantage. Know how they move and where they're open, and you cannot lose."
"I-I got ya..." Sky Flare said nervously, my grip still holding her firmly in place.
"Good." I said. My smile shifted as I admired my captives soaked form. I watched Sky Flares eyes soften as I stared into them and I felt her pulse start to race as the moments passed. I slowly leaned her back as I moved my face closer to hers, watching as her eyes grew wider with every moment.
"S-Silver...?" she whispered, a clear blush spreading over her nose and cheeks, "W-what are you doing?"
"Winning again." I whispered softly.
"W-what?" she said, clearly confused.
At that, I released my grip on her and she fell into the water with a surprised squeak and yet another splash.
I smiled mischievously down at her stunned expression and chuckled.
It took her a few moments to realize what I had done. Eventually, her stunned look faded to a far less pleasant expression. "That wasn't nice Silver!" she said through a heavy frown.
I shrugged and helped her back to her feet. "Consider it payback for that sucker punch you hit me with when we first me."
"You can be a real jerk, you know that?" Sky Flare said, still frowning at me.
"Maybe sometimes," I admitted, "But at least we're alone, right?" I laughed. "Imagine what Breezy would have said if he'd seen how you just froze up like that when I leaned in towards you. And just look at that blush! Whatever were you expecting I wonder?"
Sky Flare's ear twitched, and she abruptly tackled me into the stream.
I floundered in the water, and before I knew what was happening, I was pinned on my back with Sky Flare on top of me. Her front hooves were on the fronts of my shoulders and her face was mere inches from mine.
"You tell anyone about that, and I'll beat you all the way back to wherever it is you came from! Understand!?" she growled.
It was an intimidating threat, I'll admit. But I was in a fighting mood now after all the sparring, and this latest stunt wasn't helping to cool me off.
Using my wings and a thrust of my hips, I shoved Sky Flare off of me and reversed our positions, pinning her down beneath me.
"You'll beat me all the way home, eh?" I teased her back, "And just how do you plan to accomplish that from down there, hmm?"
She snorted and abruptly wrapped her back legs around my waist. Using her powerful core muscles, she tossed me over onto my side in the water.
I shook the water from my face and got to my feet quickly. Sky Flare was already bounding towards me, and I barely managed to dodge to the side to avoid her.
She splashed into the water and fired a hard kick at me.
I ducked the attack and leapt away, quickly getting to my hind feet and assuming a fighting stance.
Sky Flare did the same, and resumed her assault an instant later.
We fought like that for the rest of the day, and by sundown, we were both exhausted. Neither one of us had let up the entire time. And though Sky Flare had wound up in the river more often than not, she still managed to land quite a few blows on me, much to my surprise.
My chest was heaving and I could barely stand anymore. I had to use my wings constantly just to keep my balance, but despite all that, I had a Cheshire like grin plastered to my face.
Sky Flare was breathing as hard as I was, and looked to be in about the same state. She still had her undeniable look of determination about her, but it was clear that she was enjoying this just as much as I was.
"You're still... A jerk." Sky Flare gasped out between breaths.
"And you... Can be pretty cute... When you let your guard down." I retorted as charmingly as my panting breath would allow.
She snorted at me, then slowly began to laugh.
I couldn't help but join in, and before long, we were both roaring with laughter.
We made our way to the shoreline and fell to the grass, still laughing.
"That was good day." I said, smiling up at the now darkening sky.
"Agreed." Sky Flare said.
We fell silent for a while and caught our breaths.
After a few minutes, Sky Flare groaned and got back to her feet.
"Ready for another go?" I asked, wondering why she was getting up. In truth, I was thoroughly exhausted. And regardless of how much I wanted to continue sparring, I really didn't think my body could manage it.
She smirked at me and shook her head. "Not tonight. I think I have enough bruises for one day." She paused and eyed me thoughtfully for a moment. "Wanna have dinner with me tonight?"
I shot a surprised glance up at her. "What!?" I stammered. That was the last thing I expected her to ever say.
She laughed at me. "Relax," she said, smiling down at me, "I'm not asking you on a date or anything. It's almost dinner time at my place. Mom and Dad will be expecting me soon. I'm asking you if you want to join us tonight."
"Oh." I said. I felt relieved, but slightly let down at the same time, though I didn't really understand why. "Uh, sure," I said after another moment, "If you're sure Breezy and Lemon Bloom won't mind that is?"
"They won't mind," Sky Flare said, "Though my mom may play twenty questions again."
I laughed. I had only met Lemon Bloom once. It was at the party after the Annual Canterlot Race. She was a kind yellow unicorn, with a soft orange colored mane and tail. She seemed like a typical, friendly mother. But she was very curious about what I thought of Sky Flare. Apparently Breezy had told her about me and Sky Flare teaching each other and she wanted to know all about me after that. Breezy had played intercept that night, and kept telling me to run for my life. There was too much going on that night for us to talk much though, so I fully expected this dinner to involve more than a little socializing.
"No worries," I said, forcing myself to my feet, "I can handle a few questions."
Sky Flare smirked and leaped into the sky. "Come on then," she called, "We don't wanna be late."
I had never been to Breezy's home before, though I knew roughly where it was. Breezy, Lemon Bloom, and Sky Flare lived in a little house near to the school Dawn had gone to. I had learned from Sky Flare that Breezy only taught at the Academy when it was near Canterlot. He used to live at the academy, and moved around Equestria with it, but as he got older, he wanted to spend more time with Lemon Bloom. So they settled down here in Canterlot.
We landed in the streets of Canterlot’s upper residential district. The streetlights burned brightly beneath the stars and lit the way for us. There were a few ponies still out and about, but most had already settled into their homes for the night.
Sky Flare led me to a nearby home and stopped outside a small gated fence. "Here we are," she said, opening the gate for me, "Welcome to my home."
It was a nice sized place. Two stories, with a fenced off and well maintained yard.
I followed her in and she paused before the main door.
"Last chance if you wanna change your mind." she chuckled.
"I've come this far," I said, "Might as well go all the way, right?"
She smirked at me and opened the door. "Mom, Dad, I'm home!" she called out, "And I brought a guest!"
"What was that?" I heard Breezy call back in surprise, "You!? You brought somepony home with you!? Are we under attack by the changelings again?"
Sky Flare sighed and shook her head at Breezy's teasing.
I couldn't see Breezy in the hall beyond the door, but I caught shadows moving about in the light from a nearby room.
"Just ignore that please..." she groaned.
I chuckled at her and followed her inside. The word changeling had no significance to me, but I assumed it referred to some sort of doppelganger or body snatcher like in my old human world games. 'It must be really rare for Sky to bring home guests,' I thought, 'Why else would Breezy make a joke like that?'
I followed Sky Flare to the dining room where Breezy and Lemon Bloom were currently setting up the table.
"Yeah, tha’s what I thought," Breezy said, shaking his head as he saw me, "You better run now if you know wha's good for ya, boy."
"Oh hush you old goat," Lemon Bloom said to him, before turning to face me, "Welcome Silver, I trust you two had a good day training?"
"It was fun," I said, "And one heck of a workout."
"My little Sky Flare didn’t hurt you, did she?" Lemon Bloom asked, coming to check me over.
"Oh, no no," I said quickly, "I'm fine."
"I'm fine too, Mom," Sky Flare said with a frown, "Thanks for asking."
"Oh I know you're fine," Lemon Bloom said, still checking me over like a mother hen, "Now be a dear and help your father would you?"
Sky Flare sighed and went to work helping Breezy set the rest of the table.
"You look no worse for wear," Lemon Bloom said to me, after she finished checking me over, "You go grab yourself a seat. We're having carrot and pea soup tonight."
"Ah, soup..." I said, trying to hide my concern, "I love a good soup."
"Excellent!" Lemon Bloom said, her smile practically beaming.
'Of all the foods they could have made for dinner, why did it have to be soup!?' I thought mortified. I had gotten the hang of eating most foods with my hooves now, but I still hadn't managed to get the hang of drinking soup with any degree of grace. I always made a mess of my face, and for the life of me I could not avoid making that horrible slurping sound. And it's not like I could ask anyone how to eat soup differently. Everyone who knew about me used magic to eat, so I was left a little in the dark about things like that. I could have asked anyways, but I really hated asking stupid questions. Especially of royalty. '...This is gonna be a long dinner...' I thought with a sigh.
Breezy smirked at me and leaned close. "Wha's the matter boy," he whispered to me, "Scared a my wife’s cookin'?"
"Not at all," I whispered back, "It's just... Been a long day, that's all."
"Aye," Breezy whispered back, "The way you two were goin' at it, I ain't surprised you'd be feelin' a might tuckered."
I glanced at Breezy in surprise. "You were there?" I asked quietly.
"I caught sight a ya when I was out an about," he whispered, "Tha's the most fun I've seen my daughter 'ave in ages. I thank ya for that."
"It was nothing, really." I whispered back quickly.
"Wasn’t nothin' to 'er," Breezy whispered, nodding to Sky Flare as she headed into the kitchen with Lemon Bloom, "And ain't nothin' to me."
I wasn't sure what to say to that, but thankfully Lemon Bloom returned a moment later. She was carrying a large pot before her with her magic and she was humming pleasantly to herself.
Sky Flare followed after with an extra bowl in her mouth. She set it down before me and sat down at the place to my right.
Lemon Bloom placed the pot down in the middle of the table and sat down across from me.
Breezy inhaled deeply and smiled at his wife, before sitting down beside her and to my left. "Smells wonderful my dear. Not that it ever doesn't."
Lemon Bloom smiled at him, then using her magic, lifted a ladle from the pot. She gave each of us a full scoop of the Carrot and Pea soup, then returned the ladle to its place inside the pot.
"Dig in everyone." She said contently, "And we have plenty extra. Just in case somepony wants seconds."
I couldn't help but feel like that was directed at me. Glancing at my soup, I took a sniff and my stomach gurgled instantly. It smelled damn good, but I resisted the nearly overwhelming desire to dive into my soup bowl and drink every last drop. I didn't want to embarrass myself, so I watched from the corner of my eyes as the others started to eat. Lemon Bloom, being a unicorn, used her magic to lift a spoon and eat with that. Most of my meals were either me eating alone, or eating with the Princesses and Dawn. All of which could use magic. So I was genuinely curious as to how Breezy and Sky Flare were going to tackle their soup. Much to my surprise, they tilted their bowls slightly with their hooves and drank their soup in much the same manner as I had been doing on my own. I felt a wave of relief wash over me at the sight.
'At least I was doing that part right.' I thought. I followed their examples and tilted my bowl towards me. I blew softly to cool the hot liquid, and drank it down as quietly as I could. As with most foods I had tried here, it tasted fantastic. And was clearly made form organic, garden fresh ingredients.
As I neared the end of my soup, Sky Flare nudged me from beneath the table. I glanced over at her and she gestured to her nose. It took me a few seconds to realize what she was trying to tell me. But after a moment, I glanced down my muzzle and spotted a piece of carrot resting on it. I flushed red with embarrassment and as subtlely as I could, wiped the vegetable from my nose with my wing.
She smirked at me and went back to her soup without a word.
I forced myself to return to mine as well, and willed myself not to look up to see if Breezy and Lemon Bloom had noticed.
Luckily, the rest of the dinner went by rather smoothly. I even had seconds. Lemon Bloom and Sky Flare had cleaned up the table and were now working on the dishes. I had offered to help out of courtesy, but Lemon Bloom refused every offer. So I was left alone with Breezy in the family room.
"So," Breezy said from his spot on his cushion, "While the wife be at bay, I got somethin' ta ask ya, Silver."
I half sighed at that. By the sounds of it, I was about to get a father speech about treating his daughter right and being a real man for her. 'What part of I'm not interested in dating did these ponies not get?' I thought with a frown, 'Sky Flare's a friend, that's all...'
"What do ya think a my daughter?" Breezy asked seriously.
I looked at Breezy and smiled at him slightly. "She's a good teacher," I started, "And a good friend."
"Aye," Breezy said nodding, "That she is..." He eyed me seriously and leaned closer to me. "I ain't ever seen ‘er ‘ave a time with anypony like she seems to with you, Silver," he said softly, "I know how ya are with the mares. You're turnin' ‘em all away left and right. Why is that? Ya got yourself one back where you're from? Or you got somepony else in mind 'ere I ain't caught wind of?"
I sighed at him and shrugged. What could I say to that? The truth was, I had a girl back in my world that I loved very much. But I might never see her again now. And even if I do, I've been missing for over a month now already. How much longer would it take for me to get home? Another month? Two? Ten? A year? I wouldn't expect her to put her life on hold for me for that long. Even if I would for her. But even that wasn't the full issue here. Even hypothetically, if I did like Sky Flare, or anyone here in that way... I don't know if I could ever go through with it. Liking someone, and even loving them is one thing. You're drawn to their personalities and their likes and dislikes. That's what a relationship is. But that's only part of a real relationship. Physical attraction is also a factor. What if Sky Flare wanted kids? My form may make me the same species as she is, but I wasn't exactly attracted to ponies. And then comes the issues with who I really am too. If I did fall for someone here, I wouldn't be able to lie to them about myself. I would have to tell them where I was really from, and what I really am. How would they take that? It was too much to deal with. So I fully planned to simply ignore it entirely until I knew for certain if I was stuck here forever or not. But that didn’t help me at this moment...
"It's... Complicated," I sighed, "I have a family back home. But due to some things well beyond my control, I might never be able to see them again. If I'm stuck here for the rest of my life, then I might look for someone again. But until I know for sure, I just... Can't be with someone. You understand...?" I looked at him seriously, hoping he'd understand what I was saying.
He nodded at me, then smirked. "Good on ya, Silver," he said, "I understand what yer sayin'."
I sighed, rather relieved by his answer.
Breezy leaned back and seemed to lose himself in his thoughts for a minute. "Wait here a spell," he said, getting to his feet, "I think I got somethin' for ya."
"Hmm?" I said surprised, "What is it?"
Breezy ignored me, and disappeared down the hall without another word.
It felt a little awkward, sitting there alone. I could hear Sky Flare and her mother chatting away in the kitchen, but I couldn't make out what they were talking about.
Looking around the room, I saw a number of pictures and old books on the shelves. Nearly every picture had Sky Flare in it, and the few that didn't were of Breezy and Lemon Bloom together over the years. It looked like they were quite the happy little family. As I looked through the snapshots of Sky Flare's life, I gradually found my mind wandering to the pictures of my family I had at home in the human world. I felt my eyes start to tear up and I started to get overwhelmed by the vast emptiness their absence left in me. A sniffle from my nose brought me back to the moment however, and I quickly dried my eyes on my front leg. I cleared my throat and took a few deep, calming breaths to steady myself. It wasn't a moment too soon, as just then, Breezy returned.
He had a black piece of some leather-like material draped over the back of his neck.
"Here," he said, tossing the item at me, "Try that on."
I caught the piece of fabric with my hooves out of reflex and looked at it closely. It looked like a vest of some sort. It was black and felt like a heavier cut of leather, but I knew it had to be made of something else. After all, they didn't kill cows here or keep any livestock that I was aware of. Doubly confusing was the collar of white fur. I doubt they skinned anything here, so what was it really made of? Failing to come up with any possible alternatives, I went back to checking the vest over. A silver zipper ran along the front of it, and two armholes were cut into the sides. Two additional holes were cut into the back of the vest, with a set of small snap-buttons that ran from the base of these extra holes to the waist band.
"Stop starin' at it and put it on already." Breezy snorted at me.
"H-how?" I asked sheepishly. I had no idea which holes to put my arms through. I assumed the larger pair on the sides, but the smaller ones in the back could also work.
Breezy shook his head and helped me into the vest. He unzipped it and slipped it over my head. I watched as he popped open the buttons on the back, and immediately realized what the extra holes were for. My wings slipped through the unbuttoned slits, then Breezy re-buttoned them, securing the vest around my wings. He zipped up the front and took a step back, nodding to himself.
"Looks like it fits ya rather well my boy," he said, "How's it feel?"
I rolled my shoulders and gave a few test flaps of my wings to check the range of motion. It fit surprisingly well. And whatever material it was made of breathed like cotton.
"Feels good," I said honestly, "But what's it made out of?"
"Is a special mix of a heavy cut silk from the Zebra's, and an inner weave of mesh fibers," Breezy said, "They don't make ‘em like that no more. But at one time, they were given to the top Wonder Bolts."
"The Wonder Bolts?" I said. I had heard that name before somewhere. It took me a moment, but then I recalled Sky Flare telling me about them. They were the best flyers in Equestria. If you were a Wonder Bolt, even a new one, you were held in the highest of Pegasus esteem. "Wait, you mean you were a Wonder Bolt?" I asked.
"Once upon a time," Breezy said with a shrug, "Now I'm just an old flight pony." He smiled thoughtfully at some long past memory then laughed. "Is tradition to pass on a vest like this when a young'n proves 'is worth. My little Sky's not big enough for mine. But you... You seem to be just about the right size."
"What? No, I can't Breezy," I said quickly, "You earned this. And tradition or not, I can't take this."
"Oh yes you can," Breezy said sternly, "And ya will. You got a good heart, Silver, and a strong spirit. And you're true to yourself, no matter what you're faced with. You speak your mind and you don't let anyone push ya around. Back in the day, fliers like that would 'ave been at the core of the Wonder Bolts. Things may 'ave gotten more lax now, but I say a pegasus like you deserve a vest like that. Wonder Bolt or no."
"Breezy..." I said, momentarily at a loss. I was a little stunned by his gift, and the apparent esteem he seemed to hold me at.
"I agree," I heard Lemon Bloom chime in from the doorway, "And it certainly does seem to add to your charm, I must say."
Glancing over, I saw her smiling at me. Sky Flare was beside her, an odd expression on her face I couldn't quite place.
"What do you think?" Lemon Bloom asked, nudging Sky Flare softly.
Sky Flare glanced at her, looking like she had been jarred from a deep thought. "Yeah, looks good." she said distantly.
Something was bothering Sky Flare, but I had no idea what. I just hopped I hadn't done something wrong.
Breezy cleared his throat and whispered to me quickly. "I ain't done that speech yet boy," he said, "So don't go too far just yet."
I chuckled a little at that and we all spread out into the room and sat down.
"I must say Silver, in that vest, you're the spitting image of Breezy when he was your age," Lemon Bloom said, "Aside from coat color of course."
"I don't know," Breezy laughed, "A few more years and I might be gray enough to be confused as the boys’ father."
Lemon Bloom chuckled with him as he laughed.
"Dad," Sky Flare cut in, "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone." She got to her feet, and headed for the hall.
"Uh oh," Breezy chuckled, "Looks like I'm in for it now." He smiled assuringly at me and trotted out of the room with Sky Flare.
I sighed slightly at that. I had a feeling there was more to this vest than I knew, and Sky Flare was more than a little unhappy about Breezy giving it to me.
"Oh don't you worry about them," Lemon Bloom said, "My little Sky's just... A little attached to some of my husband’s things."
I looked at Lemon Bloom seriously, and she explained.
"Sky Flare grew up on tales of her father's journeys around Equestria, and of his accomplishments as a Wonder Bolt," Lemon Bloom said, "She's always dreamed of one day following in his hoof steps, but..."
"But what?" I asked.
"She knows how hard it was for me while Breezy was off on his missions, or even more recently when he was still a full time instructor at the academy," she went on, "She doesn't want to put me through that again, so she's stayed here in Canterlot her whole life. She's a remarkable flier, and one of the best swordsmares I've ever seen. Though I shouldn't be surprised by that with who her father is." She smiled at me a moment, then continued, "Breezy was a lot like you are when he was younger. Skilled, fast, and always standing up for what he believed was right. I think that's why Sky likes you so much. But don't tell her I said that."
I smiled and nodded. "I won't. But I'm confused... Breezy's done traveling with the academy, right? So what's keeping Sky here now?"
Lemon Bloom sighed. "It's complicated..." She looked at the many pictures scattered about the room and eventually returned her gaze to me. "To put it simply, my little Sky is scared. Not scared for herself, but scared for me."
I tilted my head, not understanding what she meant.
"She doesn't want me to worry," Lemon Bloom explained, "Traveling the world alone, even in this day and age, still has risks. And you know how she can be... So she doesn't have the most friends."
"Yeah, I can see that..." I said with a sigh, "Sky's not the easiest pony to get to know."
"She's always been that way," Lemon Bloom said shaking her head, "Ever since she could walk."
We fell silent, the both of us lost in our own thoughts.
I knew Sky Flare had a huge love for the world, but I hadn't realized just how deep that love actually ran until just now. She knew every mountain, forest, stream, and village in Equestria by heart. I could literally point at any part of a map and she'd be able to tell me everything there was to know about it. For all her personality and apparent tomboy demeanor, she was one hell of a bookworm. Her cutie mark showed this love of the word clear as day, though I doubt most would have realized it meant what it did. Her cutie mark looked like a simple globe, with a dotted travel line encircling it. Most thought it symbolized her love of flight and a desire to be above everything else. In truth, it showed her overwhelming desire to travel all over the world and see everything she could. But despite this deep rooted love of exploration, she's been stuck here in Canterlot out of concern for her mother. I felt sorry for her. It must have been really tough on her mother when Breezy was away... It's no wonder Lemon Bloom became a teacher. She didn't like being without Breezy, so she surrounded herself with others. A lot like how Sky Flare did with the academy. She couldn't get out into the world, so she went where the world converged. Pegasus from all over Equestria came to the academy to learn, so it made sense why she'd want to be a part of it. She could learn at least a little from the stories of those there.
Lemon Bloom sighed and cleared her throat, catching my attention. "I would like to ask you a favor, if I may Silver Wing," she said softly, "I don't know how deep your relationship with my daughter runs, but if you could somehow... Convince her that she can be herself now, and go out into the world. Or I don't know... Drag her out there with you if you should ever find yourself visiting one of the nearby villages? Even Ponyville would be a whole new world for her. I'm blessed to have such wonderful daughter, I truly am, but it's time she lives her own life. She deserves to be happy too."
"What was that?" Sky Flare cut in from the doorway, "You two aren't scheming something, are you?"
I tensed, and kept my eyes locked on Lemon Bloom.
"Oh heavens no," Lemon Bloom said, smiling calmly, "I was just telling young Silver Wing here how wonderful it is to see my little Sky bringing her friends home for a change. And such a charming, handsome one at that."
"Mom!" Sky Flare barked, an embarrassed blush crossing her face. She glared at us both and snorted her disapproval.
Lemon Bloom seemed oblivious to the glare and continued without change. "You really must come for dinner again, Silver Wing. It truly was a pleasure."
Breezy cleared his throat as he entered the room behind Sky Flare. "Aye," he said, nodding in agreement, "Can always do with another good pegasus around the place."
Sky Flare groaned and grabbed me by the hoof with her own. "Come on Silver, it's time to leave." she grumbled irritably.
"But I-" I started, then fell silent as I caught her expression. It was a mix of a glare and a pleading look for help.
"Thank you very much for the dinner, Lemon Bloom," I called over my shoulder as Sky Flare practically dragged me out of the room, "And thank you again for the vest Breezy!"
I could hear them both chuckling from the family room and before I knew it, I was outside again.
Sky Flare closed the door behind us and sighed heavily as she leaned against it. She slid down to the ground and thunked her forehead against the door.
"Is everything alright...?" I asked tentatively.
"I can't believe I thought it was a good idea to invite you over for dinner..." she mumbled.
I felt a little hurt by that, and my wings dropped slightly in response.
Sky Flare evidently caught the motion and she sighed again. "Sorry. That's not what I meant. Well, it is, but... You know what, forget it, okay?"
She stood up and shook her head.
"What I meant to say, was I can't believe I thought inviting you to dinner would go smoothly," she explained, "I should have known those two would do something like this."
"Like what?" I asked, trying to play the oblivious card.
"Dad being all buddy buddy, and mom talking about how wonderful it is for me to bring someone over," she said with a frown, "I'll never hear the end of this..."
I chuckled a little at that. This entire night seemed so normal to me. So much like a regular night back in my world, at home with my own family.
"And what are you laughing at huh!?" Sky Flare asked, "You so much as pop a seam on that vest and I'll use a piece of your own hide to fix it!"
I gave a tentative wave of my hoof to try and calm her down, but I couldn't help but continue to chuckle.
She sighed and looked down at the ground beneath our hooves. "Just promise me you'll take care of it, alright?" she asked softly, "It means a lot to me..."
I nodded in understanding. "I promise. I'll do my best to make sure nothing happens to it." I paused as a thought crossed my mind, and though I felt it may backfire, I asked anyways. "Is it waterproof by the way? And is it dry clean, or machine washable?"
She looked at me and frowned. "It's water resistant," she said, "And it's hoof wash only. Air dry too."
"Good to know," I said, taking note of the directions, "Good to know."
An awkward silence fell over us and I shuffled my feet as it started to linger painfully.
"So..." I said tentatively, hoping to break the silence, "Thank you for inviting me to dinner, it was nice."
"Yeah, that's one word for it." Sky Flare said. She shook her head and smirked at me.
I tensed as she came right up to me, so close I could feel her breath tickle my nose.
She raised her leg and stroked the furred collar of my new vest and smiled.
"My dad's vest does look good on you," she said softly, "And you're right. Dinner was... Nice. Thank you for joining me."
I nodded my head slightly and smiled back at her. "It was my pleasure."
A flicker of light caught our attention, and we caught a brief glimpse of Lemon Bloom and Breezy peering at us from a nearby window. They ducked away quickly, but we knew it was them.
Sky Flare groaned loudly and turned back to the door.
"Have a good night Silver," she said with a sigh, "I'll see you tomorrow night, usual time."
"Sounds good," I said, smiling after her, "Good night Sky."
She flicked her tail at me and headed inside.
I couldn't help smile at the events of the day. And it truly was a nice dinner. It felt like home, and that was both wonderful, and terrible at the same time.
I let out a heavy sigh and leaped into the cool night air, quickly climbing high into the star filled sky.
I had returned to my room at the Palace to sleep, but my mind would not let me rest. Try as I might, the conversation with Dawn this morning, and the dinner with Sky Flare kept looping in my mind. They served to remind me of the friends and family I had lost by coming here.
Eventually, I gave on trying to sleep all together and took to wandering the halls of the palace, much like I had the first night I found myself here.
After an hour or so, I came across the room that held the Mirror of Worlds and sighed heavily.
"Back again..." I said to myself.
I slipped into the room and stood before the mirror. I raised a hoof and pressed it to the glass. As with the first time I tried, countless glowing cracks cascaded out along the entirety of its surface. My heart sunk deeper at that. I knew better than to expect a miracle, but I had to at least try.
I sat down before the mirror and sighed again.
"I miss you guys..." I said sadly, "All of you..."
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes, but try as I might to resist them, some things just happen regardless. I dropped my head against the mirror and cried. I laid there for what felt like ages, though I have no real idea how long I spent there. Eventually, my rather miserable state was interrupted by a soft voice calling to me.
"Are you alright, Silver?" the voice said.
I tensed and looked to the mirror hopefully, but I saw nothing. In its reflection however, I noticed Princess Luna standing in the doorway that lead into the room. I sighed and got to my feet. My tears had long since dried, but I was still no better than I had been when I first laid down.
"I'm fine." I said, forcing a smile onto my face as I looked over to her
"That, I do not believe." Luna stated softly. She entered the room and the closed behind her. "You have not slept this night," she said, "And even without magic, one can plainly see that you are troubled."
I laughed weakly and shook my head. "I'm fine," I said again, trying to avoid the conversation, "Just missing home, that's all."
"That is understandable," Luna said, "But there are better way to deal with such feelings than depriving yourself of sleep."
"I'm not exactly feeling this way on purpose." I said, my tone far less than respectful than I intended.
Luna smiled at me. "It will take time to adjust to the way things are. But should you find yourself troubled like this in the future, find me. I suspect I will hold far more comfort and conversation than an ancient relic."
I sighed and found that I no longer had the energy to move, so I just sat down and stared at the floor.
"Would you like to speak on the matters that trouble you?" Luna asked, coming to sit beside me.
"Not really..." I said.
She smiled a little more at that, though I couldn’t understand why.
"Then would it be alright if I merely spoke on my observations, and allow you to interject if you feel the desire?" she asked.
I just shrugged. I really didn't feel like talking, or being around anyone. But I wasn't going to be ruder than I already was and tell her to go away.
"I have been aware of your visits to the Mirror of Worlds for some time now," Luna began, "The first time you came, was after your altercation with Black Mane. On your first day of combat training." She paused and looked at me, but continued on when I made no signs of wanting to speak, "You had seemed rather pleased with the events of that confrontation. You even spoke of it to the mirror in great detail."
"So you've been spying on me then?" I asked, now drowning in embarrassment on top of everything else.
"Not intentionally," Luna explained, "Since the events of your and Meadow Dawn's arrival here in Equestria, my sister and I have taken steps to insure that such unexpected visits will not go un-noticed again. As such, we are made aware the moment the mirrors magic is awakened."
I sighed. "So I take it me touching it set off your alarms then?" I asked, though I knew I was right.
"Correct."
I frowned at the floor and fell silent again. I did not like someone eavesdropping on me, especially when I thought I was alone. All this magic just seemed to serve as a way to spy on and control people. I still wasn't sure exactly how a unicorn compared to the Princesses in terms of what they could really do with their magic, but it was seeming more and more like if you had magic, you could do whatever you wanted. You could see and hear from a distance, know when someone was around, even read people’s minds without them ever knowing. I liked my privacy. Some might not care as much, but it meant a lot to me. And now, thanks to all this magic, it seemed that was something else to add to my list of things I had lost in coming here.
Luna sighed a little and I tensed. I wasn't sure if that was a coincidence, or if she was reading my mind right now. The fact I had no way of even knowing infuriated me to no small end.
"The second time you came here," she said, "Was after the Canterlot Race in which you came in second. You again spoke of the events of your day, and though you grew saddened by the end of your telling, you had carried on none the less. But this time..." She glanced at me seriously and smiled softly, "This time, you have said nothing. You are merely here. What has transpired to cause you such anguish?"
I shook my head. "Can't you just use your magic and find out that way?" I said a little more harshly than I had intended. I dropped my head a moment later and sighed. "Sorry... That was rude..."
"It is alright," Luna said, "Your frustrations are understandable. Without magic, one can feel at a disadvantage when surrounded by it. However, even though magic can be used to gleam into matters beyond ourselves, it is only ever used in such a manner as a last resort. That is why I am speaking to you out loud, and not merely directing such concerns into your mind, or your dreams."
I looked up at her and shook my head a little. "I just miss my family," I said, giving in a little, "I miss them. Some nights more than others. I had a really good time with Sky Flare today, and a nice dinner afterwards."
"What is so wrong with that?" Luna asked, "You are entitled to enjoying yourself here, as much as anypony."
"Yeah, well... I shouldn't," I stated bluntly, "I have a family, and friends back home. Making new ones here is pointless. If I go back home, then I'll miss these ones. But if I stay here, then all they'll do is remind me of what I've lost. So since I'm screwed either way, I might as well just stay alone here and cut my losses."
Luna sighed. "Do not punish yourself for finding what happiness you can here, Chris," she said softly, "Be they lost forever, or merely awaiting your return, do you not feel that your family would wish you to be happy, regardless of where you are, or how far from their arms you may be? And in turn, the new friends you are making here. Dawn, Breezy, Black Mane, and Sky Flare. Do you not feel that they would understand your desire to return home if the opportunity should present itself? You must not fall into the darkness of your heart. I know all too well just how easy it can be to simply turn your back on the light. I have had one thousand winters to dwell on the truth of friendship and love. You must accept it wherever you can, and hold it close to your heart. Cherish every moment. Do not see a past joy as a sign of something lost to you. Instead, see it as point in your life where you were at the peak of happiness. And look from that peak to ever higher moments of merriment that you have yet to discover." She smiled at me and rose to her feet. "You are not alone here. Not unless you draw it upon yourself."
I watched as she headed for the door and I felt my heart lighten a little at her words. I was confused by her comment on a thousand winters, but I could dwell on that later. What she had said about life and getting what I can from it, she was right. I shouldn't dwell so much on what I lost. Or think that new things are just reminders of old joys. I'm stuck here, nothing's going to change that. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try and make the most of what I can and see what happens.
Luna paused before the door and glanced back at me. "Well," she said softly, "Do you wish to walk with me this night, or do you still desire the solitude of this tomb?"
I chuckled at her and rose to my feet. "Might as well enjoy the moonlight I guess. You do hold far more comfort and conversation than some old mirror after all."
She chuckled at my quoting of her and we headed out into the hall.
I passed a final glance over my shoulder at the mirror as the door closed behind me, then went with Luna on her nightly rounds.