A week had passed since the demonstration I was asked to perform had taken place. My ribs were still tender to the touch, but they were healing nicely. I could move around without too much discomfort, but I still hadn't left my bed for anything more than the base necessities required. I had none of my movies, my manga, my electronics, nothing to help pass the time. Luckily, Sky Flare had been keeping me company for the better part of my recovery, and had even brought me a few books to read. I was both surprised and grateful to find that they were written in English, and not some runic gibberish like what was on that magic bracelet Dawn had somehow fixed. The stories really weren't that interesting to me, but it was something to pass the time at least. They reminded me a lot of Indiana Jones, just if Harrison Ford had been a Pegasus, and female.
In my boredom over the last few days, I had even attempted one of my old human hobbies, writing, but it ended terribly. I used to love writing. It was how I spent a great deal of my free time when I wasn't honing my skills with a sword or my fists. But I had a laptop, and fingers that could hold a pencil and paper if need be. Here however, I was forced to use my mouth. I had to stick the pencil between my teeth and use my neck muscles to form the letters and words I wanted to use in my tales. A human three year old would have done a better job than I had managed, and it pained me greatly to realize that I may have lost yet another thing that I had taken for granted in the human world.
It was getting to the later part of the morning now, and I was beginning to go a little stir crazy from being cooped up inside like I had been. I needed to get out for a bit. Go for a walk, get some fresh air, anything that didn't involve spending another hour in bed, or in this room. I knew it wasn't the best idea, but there was only so much anyone can tolerate just sitting around doing nothing.
I climbed out of my bed and gave my wings a gentle stretch, testing them for a moment. My ribs still ached, but overall I felt relatively fine. I gave a few harder flaps, and though the pain in my ribs grew slightly more painful, my wings felt strong. So strong, I debated going for a little test flight.
I never thought I'd miss the feeling of flying as much I had been. The feel of the wind rushing through my feathers, the scent of the air currents as they washed over me, the sensation of diving head first through a brisk rain cloud to get a flyby drink. There really was nothing else quite like it, and it was that rush of adrenaline I found myself craving steadily more as I thought about the world beyond my little bedroom.
I crept to my door silently, feeling almost like I was doing something wrong by sneaking out like this. I knew I wasn't a prisoner, but I also knew I shouldn't test my luck by doing something as strenuous as flying after only a week of bedrest. That wasn't going to stop me though, and like a shadow, I slipped out of my room and began to stealthily navigate my way through the many halls of the palace.
To my knowledge I hadn't been spotted by a single guard, and before long I was outside at last, standing in the soft sweetly scented grass of palace grounds.
I leaned down and sniffed at the grass for a moment and felt a gentle and comforting breeze wash over me like a heavenly gift. I let out a sigh of contentment, then opened my wings to wake them up. A shiver ran down my spine as the cool air flowed under my wings and seeped through my feathers. I had almost forgotten how the wind felt as it played along my feather tips like they were keys on a piano, and I smiled widely at the sensations.
I had left my vest behind, having had no need to wear it while bedridden. Now that I was outside though, I felt a little more naked than usual, especially with the cool breeze racing over and under me like it was. I did my best to ignore the thought though, and leaning my front end low to the ground, I prepared to leap into the air and take to the skies.
"And just what do you think you're doing, Silver Wing!?" I heard someone practically shriek down at me from above.
I groaned aloud and drew my wings back against my sides as I heard the unmistakable sound of a Pegasus landing behind me.
"It's only been a week Silver!" Sky Flare's all too familiar voice rang out in my ears, "Are you trying to get yourself into even worse shape than you already are!?"
"No Mom," I sighed sarcastically, "I'm just trying to stop myself from going crazy! I've been stuck inside for way too long and I need to get out of there for a while."
Sky Flare snorted at me, and with a wing, smacked me upside the back of my head as she trotted up to me.
I shot a frustrated glare at her and frowned heavily.
"If you're that tired of being in bed, then at least start out slowly, alright?" She said, a surprisingly worried look crossing her face, "Why don't we go for a walk or something?"
I let out a defeated sigh and nodded. I knew it was a bad idea to try and fly in my shape, but I couldn't help it. There was something almost addicting about flying, but I'd hold off for now, if only to save myself from getting yet another lecture.
"Or maybe..." I heard Sky Flare say as she eyed me, "We should go to the river so you can fix your wings some. They're a mess Silver."
I glanced back at one of my wings and shrugged. They did look a little messier than usual, but aside from a few feathers that were sticking out at odd angles, they looked fine to me.
"Well, I haven't exactly been doing much this last week..." I said simply.
"They've been looking worse and worse the last while Silver, ever since I met you really," Sky Flare said, "You don't take very good care of them at all... I mean, just look at them. You've got new feathers budding all over the place now, and old ones just stuck in place. When was the last time you preened them, or even aligned your feathers?"
"Wait, what?" I stammered, "What do you mean preened them? Don't the old feathers just fall out when new ones grow in?"
Sky Flare stared at me in shock for several moments before I caught even a hint of movement in her features. Her eyes slowly narrowed and she looked at me questioningly. "You can't be serious..." She said slowly, "You mean to tell me, that you've never preened your wings before?"
"U-uhh..." I was at a loss for what to say. Apparently, preening was something key to being a Pegasus, but I had no idea what it even was. I knew if I said nothing, she'd be even more suspicious of me than she already was, but if I answered truthfully, she'd know something was up with me for sure.
I shuffled my hooves from side to side for a while and looked away from her before I finally said anything. "N-not really..." I admitted.
"W-what have you been doing with them your whole life then!?" She gasped, "They were perfectly kept when I first met you!"
"Y-you know..." I tried hopelessly, "Stuff... And things...?"
"Stuff and things...?" Sky Flare repeated. She frowned a moment later and stepped closer to me. "Don't you feel your wings itching when a new feather comes in?" she asked.
"My wings are always itchy," I laughed weakly, "Have been since the day I got them."
A look of shock flashed across Sky Flare's face and her eyes steeled instantly. "What do you mean, since the day you got them?"
Of all my slip ups to date, that was by far the worst. My mind raced to come up with a possible recovery for my blunder, but it was drawing an unforgiving blank. I couldn't think of anything to say, and I simply looked at Sky Flare with a helpless, half pleading look of hopelessness.
"What is really going on Silver Wing," She said finally, breaking the awkward tension that had been growing between us, "I want the truth."
I shook my head and sat down heavily. "I can't tell you Sky..." I said quietly, "The Princesses have asked me not to say anything, to anyone... Remember?"
"Fine then." Sky Flare said. She sat down in front of me and looked me dead in the eyes. "Then how about you let me wager a guess, and you just nod your head if I'm on the right track. That sound fair to you? After all, nodding yes or no wouldn't directly be telling me anything, now would it?"
I sighed and nodded. It's not like she'd guess I was from a different world after all.
"You're not a little colt, you're fully grown, but yet you'd never flown even once up until my Dad taught you almost two months ago, right?" Sky Flare asked.
That was a harmless enough question to answer, and one most everyone knew by now already, so I nodded.
"You also had no idea that Pegasus could do even half the things we can," she went on, "And you also have no idea what preening is, correct?"
She looked at me seriously, and I nodded once more. Our conversation moments ago had already shed light on the fact I had no idea what preening was, and Sky Flare herself was the one that taught me pretty much everything about what Pegasai could do when it came to the weather, so this was all stuff she already knew.
"On top of that, you're also living in the palace and seem all buddy buddy with both Princesses, even though you only just came to Equestria recently," she continued thoughtfully, "And they don't want you talking to others about where you actually came from, or how you came to be here."
I nodded again and narrowed my eyes a little as I regarded her. It felt like she was gathering facts during an interrogation. Aligning all the pieces on the board before making her case, and I could feel my stomach tensing as I tried to figure out her inevitable end game.
Sky Flare leaned in close to me, so close I could feel her breath tickling my nose. She stared into my eyes unblinkingly and watched me closely.
"You weren't a Pegasus before you came here, were you Silver?" She asked me in barely more than a whisper.
I stared at her shock. And despite my best efforts, I know I visibly faltered before her gaze.
"Well?" She asked again, just as quietly, "Were you always a Pegasus, or not?"
I looked away from her and hesitated a long while, weighing my options carefully. On the one hand, I could lie and try to spin some story to get me out of this, but that was never something I enjoyed doing. On the other hand, the cat was kind of already out of the bag now anyways, thanks to my stupid wing comment, so I might as well ride it out and see just how bad this gets. All things considered, Sky had been rather accepting of my oddities already, so maybe this would work out too, though I still feared the worst.
Eventually, I looked back into Sky Flare's questioning eyes and shook my head no.
I caught sly grin creep over her lips and watched as she sat back from me and crossed her arms. "I knew it!" she exclaimed, "I knew there was something funny about you!"
That was not the reaction I had expected, but before I could pose any questions of my own, Sky Flare continued.
"There's no way a Pegasus your age had never flown before," She said, "And even if you couldn't fly, you'd have still at least tried it. And then there's your amazement with clouds and how Pegasai control the weather. And that comment about your wings a bit ago too, or the fact you have no idea what preening is." She leaned close to me again and smiled. "You used to be an Earth Pony, didn't you? That's why you're so stubborn and fight like you do. And that's also why the Princesses have their eye on you. Something happened to turn you into a Pegasus, and that's why you came here. Right?"
I was speechless. She'd been suspicious of me for a while it seems, but she'd been thinking of far more... Realistic possibilities than what the truth was. In a world filled with all manner of magic, something like turning from an Earth pony into a Pegasus might not seem quite so farfetched, especially when compared to being from another world entirely.
I couldn't help but let a nervous chuckle escape me and I shrugged at Sky Flare, rather unsure how to respond to that. "S-sort of," I said quietly, "But not quite..."
Sky Flare tilted her head quizzically at me and I sighed heavily.
I wasn't sure how to explain, or what to say exactly, but I knew I had to say something. "Something did happen to turn me into a Pegasus," I admitted, "Magic so strong, not even the Princesses can reverse it... That's also how I wound up here, and why I can't go home."
Sky Flare nodded in understanding, then laughed. "I can see why they didn't want you to tell anyone," she said, "Ponies from all around would come asking how you did it and swarming you, all of them wanting wings of their own. But you really can tell me anything you know?" She leaned close to me once more and smiled. "I mean it Silver, you can tell me anything, anytime."
I nodded, and an awkward silence crept over us once again.
With a sigh, Sky Flare shook her head and got to her feet. She turned away from me and started back towards Canterlot without another word.
My heart tensed at her silent departure, but I held my tongue. If she didn't want to talk with me anymore, that was her choice and I would not try to pressure her. I had kept everything from her, and even though she knew more about me now than she had a minute ago, I still hadn’t told her everything, and she knew it. Still, it did hurt to have her leave without so much as a word.
I let out a sigh as I found myself loosing yet another thing I enjoyed and laid down in the grass. A moment later however, I caught a sharp quick whistle and looked up with a start.
Sky Flare was standing some ten feet away with an amused smirk on her face. "Well, you coming or not?" she called.
I got to my feet and quickly trotted after her. I was more than a little confused, but I kept it to myself. I figured it was best to just roll with whatever was going on, though I did find myself needing to ask one question. "Coming where?"
Sky Flare laughed. "We're going down to the river," she said, "It's about time you learned how to preen."
It took us nearly an hour to reach the river by foot, and by the time we finally stopped at its edge, my ribs were killing me. Our typical training spot was still quite a ways away, and while it was usually just a quick glide from the palace, it was far harder to reach by foot. I'd never actually walked there before either, but thankfully, this was as far as we were going today.
"This'll do," Sky Flare said, smiling back at me, "The water's shallow and calm, and no pony should come across us here."
I sat down on the shoreline and took a deep drink from the cool water. It was refreshing, and very much needed by this point. After drinking my fill I glanced at my wings for a moment, then looked to Sky Flare. "So..." I started unsurely, "What now?"
"Now, you hop in the river." Sky Flare laughed.
"Wait, what!?" I gasped, "You mean preening just means taking a bath!?" I was stunned with disbelief. She had made it sound like it was something strange and mysterious, but it was really nothing more than a fancy word for a bath!? That just couldn't be right, she had to be messing with me.
"Pretty much, yeah." Sky Fare said with a chuckle.
My heart dropped. I'd been tricked into telling her way more than I ever should have.
"Though there's a bit more to it than simply running your wings under water." Sky Flare continued a moment later.
I caught her smile at me, clearly guessing my train of thought.
"Preening is what we call the upkeep on our wings," She explained, "Normally, a Pegasus preens at home, a little bit every day. But with you, it's been so long that you're in need of some serious help. Hence the river."
I sighed and watched as she waded out into the water and sat down. She looked at me expectantly and I followed after her.
"Sit with your back facing me," she said, "We might as well start with the big ones."
I nodded, and turned my back to her before sitting down. A shiver ran up my spine as the cool water washed over me. It wasn't deep, barely over my hips really, but it was a little colder than I'd have liked.
"Now pay attention, Silver," Sky Flare started, "Cause I won't be doing this for you again, no matter how bad your wings get."
I looked back at her and caught a rather charming smile on her face. I couldn't help but smile back. The sun was at just the right angle where the water behind her seemed almost to shimmer, and it accented her golden eyes beautifully.
I cleared my throat in slight embarrassment as I found myself to be staring at her and looked away quickly as I felt a blush creep over my nose.
Sky Flare just smirked and gently nudged my left wing with a hoof. "First, we need to get the old feathers out of your wings," she said, "So open up."
I nodded and extended my left wing fully.
Sky Flare looked my wing over for a moment, then I caught her frown. "That Malican's a real jerk..." She mumbled.
"Hmm?" I said, curious as to why she'd say that.
"Look at your wing," she said, "The bottom edge here. During your fight, he tried to spear your flight feathers but missed, barely."
"Flight feathers?” I said as I glanced to where she was, "What do you mean?" I saw a few feathers missing from the big row along the edge and recalled the moment she was talking about. Malican had tried to stab me with one of his swords, but nicked my wing instead. "Oh yeah," I said, "I remember that now. I was a bit worried that it'd screw with my flying, but I didn't see too much of a difference at the time."
"That's because he missed," Sky Flare stated, "You probably thought he was aiming for you, but as much of a jerk as he is, Malican is even smarter. He was aiming for your main flight feathers here." She gestured to the larger feathers a few inches away from where Malican had struck my wing. "Had he managed to punch out these feathers, you'd have been grounded for a month at least."
"That... Would have sucked." I admitted, "Guess I need to be a bit more careful with them than I thought."
"A lot more careful," Sky Flare stated, "Your wings are very fragile. They may seem strong, but one damaged feather's all it takes to turn you from an ace into a spot on the dirt."
"Right..." I said thoughtfully. I would need to be more careful in future fights. If they really were that vulnerable, I'd have to change my tactics to account for their protection. Without my wings, my movement would be cut by half, at least.
Sky Flare took a breath and ran a hoof over my wing softly. "Enough about that for now though," She said, "It's time we did what we came here for."
I nodded, and looked at my wing closely.
"Preening," she explained, "Is something every Pegasus has to do to keep their wings healthy. If they don't, eventually, they won't be able to fly at all."
I watched as she leaned her face towards my wing and tensed as I saw her bite one of my feathers and pull it out with a jerk.
"Ow!" I gasped in surprise, "That hurt!" It felt like she had ripped a band aid off my arm in one quick stroke. Not overly painful, but enough to notice.
"Oh hush, you big colt," She chuckled, "It's not that bad."
"Says the Pegasus that's pulling my feathers out!" I winced as she plucked another one, "What are you doing!?"
"I'm pulling all the dead feathers out," she said simply, though her words were muffled slightly by the feather between her lips.
I watched her spit the feather out into the river and followed it as it drifted away, a tiny sliver of silver in the gentle current.
"You have to weed out the dead ones so that the new feathers can grow in properly," She continued now that her mouth was free, "Dead, broken, or damaged feathers have to be removed to keep the wing healthy. I mean, look here."
I looked to where she gestured and saw a bundle of feathers all knotted together.
"This here, is bad Silver," she explained, "A few of these old feathers are stuck together, and it's choking out the new ones that have budded." She nuzzled her nose about the bundle of feathers, and after a few rather sharp stings, managed to pluck the knotted chunk out.
It hurt less and less the more she plucked, and gradually, the itching I had always felt in that part of my wing began to fade. It started to feel pretty good after a bit, even though it still stung a little every time she pulled a feather out. It reminded me of losing teeth as a kid. When a baby tooth was just wiggling there, ready to come out but still hanging on by a thin thread of gum. It stung to play with it, but at the same time, it felt good. Then, with a final twang, it'd pop out and your gums would feel amazing.
"So h-ow often do I need to do this?" I asked, wincing mid-sentence as she plucked out yet another feather.
"Every few days or so," Sky Flare said, "Though if you treat them right, you'll only have a feather or two to take care of at a time. Your wings'll tell you when they need looking after. As a general rule of hoof, if they itch, they need help. If they feel fine, then they don't."
"Sounds simple enough," I said, "But how do I tell a dead feather form a live one? They all look the same to me."
Sky Flare nuzzled her nose deeper into my wing, forcing me to tense bodily as her ministrations tickled me to no small ends.
Replacing her nose gently with a hoof, she nodded to the spot she had parted. "See the roots?" she said, "See how they're all attached to your wing with these little tubes?"
I looked closely and saw what she was talking about. The base of every feather was held in place by little straw like tubes. Most were a deep blueish red, but some were clear, or brittle at the base and milky white. They looked about the same as the feathers I had found as a kid in my world just laying about on the ground.
"The darker ones are healthy," Sky Flare explained, "They will hurt way more than you'd think if you were to pull one out, and they'd bleed. But these other ones that are hollow? Those are dead feathers. You need to pull these ones out so that new feathers can bud in and eventually take the old feathers place. When you feel your wings itching, it's because new feathers are trying to grow out, but can't because old ones are in the way."
What she said made sense, but I couldn't help wonder if I'd ever get the hang of something like this. I had so many feathers on each wing. It seemed like it would take forever to check over each and every one, every single day, just to weed out the bad ones. But then again, Sky Flare did say that if they didn’t itch, they were fine. So all I really had to do was home in on any itchy spots and ignore the rest.
"Now, plucking old feathers is just half the job," she continued, "You also need to make sure the new feathers grow in right. Most will do what they're supposed to, but some will need a little extra help, like this one."
She pointed out another feather to me. It was small, but clearly in good health, though it was shooting off at an odd angle.
"Feathers like these need to be properly aligned with the rest, or you won't be able to fly very well." she said.
"So how do I align them then?" I asked, watching her more closely as she continued to preen my wing.
"Use your mouth," Sky Flare stated, "Reposition the feather so that it falls in line with the rest and you'll be fine."
I could feel her lips start playing at the base of my feathers once more and was surprised at their dexterity. I had seen horses in my world use their lips to unlock latches or feel around for something, but Sky Flare could use hers just as good as I'd have used my fingers.
A sharp pang of pain made me jerk my wing and I half frowned at Sky Flare.
She had a mischievous smirk on her face, and one of my feathers stuck out of the side of her mouth. It was a rather large feather, but the root was hollow, so I knew it was dead and had to be pulled out.
"Here," she said, though her words were muffled by the feather between her lips, "Since you've never preened before, you might as well keep one."
I tilted my head and took the feather. I wasn't really sure what I'd do with it. It wasn't something sentimental to me, it was just a simple feather. A dead feather at that... But as I caught a growing smile creep over Sky Flare's face, I realized something. That this simple feather I was so quick to dismiss a moment ago, was actually a great deal more. No matter how much time were to pass between now and my future, no matter how many demonstrations, injuries, or even other worlds I might fall in to. This feather would always bring me right back to this moment. Sitting right here in the river, learning to preen and staring into her eyes.
She was so much more caring and friendly than anyone really knew. All they'd ever see was her rough, standoffish nature. So few would get to see the real her, and fewer still would get the chance.
I sighed and looked away from her sadly. Despite how she looked compared to the women of my world, I was gradually coming to like her a great deal. She reminded me a lot of my girlfriend back home, and while that was a huge comfort, it was also a powerful reminder of what I'd lost. I didn't want to risk losing anyone ever again, and what if Dawn actually managed to get me home? What about Sky Flare then? She'd be the one hurting and suffering through losing someone. I couldn't do that do her.
"Something the matter Silver?" She asked, obviously noticing my change in demeanor.
I shifted the feather in my mouth and shook my head. "Nah," I said, trying to smile back at her, "Just missing home is all."
"About that," Sky Flare started as she went back to preening my wing, "Where exactly are you from? I mean, you said magic was involved, but you obviously got here by land, since you had no idea how to fly. So if you could get here that way, why can't your family do the same?"
I sighed. "I can't really explain..." I tried, "I don't know anything about magic or how it works, but basically... I'm from somewhere really, really far away. Too far to reach without magic..."
"Then how'd you get here in the first place?" she asked, pulling out another feather as she spoke.
I winced and answered truthfully. "It was an accident," I said, "I was helping my grandmother clean up. Something fell on me, and when I woke up, I was stuck here."
"That's..." Sky Flare paused. She had a serious look on her face, but it was more one of concern than disbelief. "That's horrible," she said finally, "I'm sorry to hear that Silver, but... Thank you for telling me."
I laughed a little and shrugged. "Weakness of the moment," I said, "But that really is about all I can say. You probably won’t believe me if I said anything else."
She smiled at me and returned my shrug. "I don’t think you'd lie to me Silver," she said, "So whatever you tell me happened, I'd believe you."
We fell silent again, then Sky Flare returned to my wing to continue preening it.
Nice as it was to be relaxing in the stream like this, the silence was quickly getting to me. I tried to think of something to talk about, anything at all, but my mind was drawing a blank.
It seemed to take an eternity, but eventually something finally came to mind, and I blurted it out without thinking. "So, Luna wants to fight me now." I said casually.
I felt a sudden jerk as Sky Flare recoiled away from me and whimpered at the pain I now felt burning in my wing. I hugged my wing close to me out of reflex and frowned at her heavily.
She had no less than three of my feathers clenched tightly between her teeth, a look of horror clear on her face.
"S-sorry Silver!" She said quickly. She spat out the feathers and gently checked my wing over. She let out a relieved sigh a moment later, then looked at me seriously. "Would you mind repeating that though?" she asked, "Cause there's no way you said what I heard."
"I probably did." I chuckled. I was both pained and amused by her reaction, but I didn’t dare say that to her. "Luna wants to fight me," I said again, more slowly this time, "When I'm all better of course. Apparently, I did so well at the demonstration, she wants to see what I can do for herself."
"You can't be serious!?" she barked, "You barely managed to beat Malican! How can you possibly hope to beat a Princess!?"
"That's what I said!" I laughed, "But she said she wouldn't use any magic. Just a simple fist fight."
Sky Flare titled her head at my choice of wording and I groaned internally. "I mean hoof fight?" I said hurriedly, "Either way, it'll be her without magic against me. Though there won't be any spectators this time, so please don’t tell anyone."
"Silver, she'll kill you!" Sky Flare scoffed, "It's not just magic that makes a Princess strong. Physically, she's like the strongest of Earth Ponies, and the fastest of Pegasai all rolled into one! It'd be like fighting somepony even stronger than Stalwart Shield, only he can fly even better than you can! By the time she's done with you, a few cracked ribs will be the least of your worries."
"Oh relax," I said, trying to wave her concerns off, "I'll be fine. Besides, if she's really that strong, that just means I'll have more to learn afterwards, eh?" I smiled at her as charmingly as I could, but it didn't faze her concerned scowl in the least.
"You're an idiot." She said flatly, then went back to preening my wing without another word.
I sighed and shook my head at her. I knew Luna's magic was strong, but I hadn't really thought she'd be all that capable physically. Not more than Stalwart Shield that's for sure. I'd never fought an Alicorn before though, and as much as this new information concerned me, it also excited me just as much.
It took us the better part of the afternoon to fully preen both of my wings. Sky Flare had done the first one all on her own, but she had guided me through preening my second. I had nowhere near her level of dexterity, so she ended up helping me a fair bit throughout the process. It was an intricate process, but by the end of it, my wings felt amazing. They felt better than they ever had in fact. They were lighter, more mobile, and the wind practically danced through them in a way I'd never felt before. And on top of it all, the incessant itching I'd always felt was also gone. I could definitely understand the benefits of preening now, and I'd be sure to keep them in pristine condition from here on out.
Sky Flare's concern about me fighting Princess Luna had lingered throughout most of the afternoon, but I'd gradually managed to convince her that I may have a chance of winning, albeit a small one. No one but Sky Flare had seen me fight with intent before, and while I had no desire to kill or permanently harm Luna, coming at her as if I would might throw her off just long enough for me to get the upper hand. But that was all speculation on my part. Only time would tell the real outcome.
With my wings preened and aligned, I took a quick bath in the river to remove the last of my feather fluffs from my fur. I hadn't bathed since the demonstration, so I figured I might as well while I was there. After that, we started back for the palace. My weekly dinner with the Princesses would be in a few hours, and I had no intentions of being late again.
My ribs were still sore, but the flight of stairs leading to the dining hall wasn't too bad this time, even after the hike back from the river. I trotted into the room only slightly out of breath and sat down in my usual spot as I waited for the pleasantries to begin.
Much to my surprise, it looked like I had beaten Dawn here this time. She was nowhere to be seen, so I greeted Princess Celestia and Luna with a polite bow.
"Good evening Silver Wing," Celestia said, returning my bow, "You seem to be doing quite a bit better than when last we met. How are your injuries coming along?"
"Pretty good," I said, "My ribs are still sore, but I didn’t die trying to climb all those stairs this time, so I'm definitely getting better." I laughed.
"It would appear so," Luna added, "And it would also appear that you have received some guidance on how to properly care for your wings."
"Yeah," I laughed, "Sky Flare taught me this morning." I paused as the words left my lips and looked at the Princesses nervously.
"Does that mean you have told her where you are truly from then?" Celestia asked seriously.
"N-not entirely..." I said nervously. I knew they didn't want me to say anything about where I was from, but the preening lesson kind of just slipped out.
"Then explain." Luna asked.
"Our worlds are quite a bit different," I said, trying to explain, "So I've slipped up a few too many times with her... Long story short, Sky Flare knew something was up with my story and tried guessing why I didn't know anything about being a Pegasus. She came up with the thought that I used to be an Earth Pony and became a Pegasus through an accident with magic, and that's why you two are seeing me so regularly. I told her that's not quite how it was, but that it was something like that, and she dropped it after that."
"You must be more cautious in your choice of wordings in the future, Silver Wing," Celestia stressed, "A tale such as yours will not be accepted easily, and can affect more than just yourselves if spoken of carelessly... But I am glad the two of you have come to an acceptable understanding of why you know so little about your new body."
I sighed internally and nodded, but before we could continue, the door behind us opened and Dawn trotted in happily. Starlight followed close after her and I caught them pause as they noticed me here first for a change.
I waved at them and chuckled softly to myself.
"Good evening," Dawn said, taking her usual seat, "Am I late?"
"You are right on time," Celestia smiled, "I trust you enjoyed your trip to Vanhoover?"
'Vanhoover?' I thought, surprised at the name, 'Like Vancouver?' I had noticed some similar names before, on maps of Equestria or the like, but that one was really close.
"I absolutely loved it!" Dawn exclaimed, "A lot of really neat places over there, and Stalwart's family was really nice to me." She trailed off for a moment, then continued on as if a sudden thought had struck her. "Oh, and we made a detour to Peonia! It's so similar to my hometown it was almost disconcerting. Although it was hard to keep Stalwart from asking questions at times, we did manage to find a relic that wasn't working in the museum there."
I listened to Dawn as she half rambled about her trip and couldn't help but smile at the almost childlike joy recalling the events brought to her. I had found out from the palace guards that Dawn had left with Stalwart Shield on a trip shortly after the demonstration, but I had no idea where they went, only that they'd be gone for a week, so by now I was rather curious about this trip. I was also glad it went so well for her.
Celestia smiled and nodded her head thoughtfully. "You may indeed find similarities between this world and your own," she explained, "Ponies, places, or things may hold strong resemblances to what you are accustomed too. After all, the worlds linked by the Mirror of Worlds are not all that different when compared to one another."
"As for the relic you found in Peonia," Luna chimed in, "It has been on display there for several years. It caused a great deal of misfortune in the past, and now serves as a reminder of the dangers that tampering with the unknown can summon."
She almost seemed to be looking at Starlight when she spoke about tampering with the unknown, but I couldn't tell for sure.
"I knew it was sparking," Dawn said, "But... Are you suggesting that I could be put on fire by it if it went awry, or something else?"
I glanced from Dawn to Luna at that. 'A relic that was sparking?' I thought, 'Did it always do that, or did someone try to tamper with it and break it I wonder?'
"Not all such items are as stable as the bracelet you succeeded in restoring Dawn," Celestia explained, "Some are far more volatile. But we shall discuss such things later. For now, let us eat. There is a rather important matter to be discussed afterwards.”
Celestia seemed oddly serious in her explanation, but she still maintained her maternally reassuring manner.
"I am hungry," Dawn agreed, "But may I ask what the serious matter is to discuss? So I know what to expect at least?"
I was more than a little curious about that too, but after knowing Dawn for as long as I had now, I knew she wasn’t nearly as patient as I was. I knew Celestia would get to it soon enough, so there was no point in trying to rush the matter. Still, Dawn's impatience did make me chuckle, and I caught Celestia smile as well before she replied.
"Patience dear Meadow Dawn," she said in an overly soothing voice, "Important matters are best discussed on a full belly."
Her horn pulsed a faint golden glow a moment later, then the usual assortment of servers entered into the room and began taking our orders.
I asked for my usual honeyed carrots and some tea. I was getting a great deal better at holding cups, but it still took all my attention not to spill.
We ate in relative silence, and after our plates and cups had been cleared, Celestia looked at us seriously.
"Silver," She started, causing me to grow nervous in anticipation, "You have seen much of Canterlot from the skies above, and I hear you have even ventured a fair ways beyond with Sky Flare." She turned to look at Dawn and continued, "And you Dawn, have now traveled as far as Vanhoover to meet Stalwart Shield's family." She smiled at us both for a moment. "Did you both enjoy seeing more of the world than what lies here, within the walls of Canterlot?" she asked curiously.
Dawn didn’t miss a beat, and answered almost instantly. "Absolutely!" she said smiling back.
I couldn’t help but observe the Princess for a moment. Her question seemed odd to me somehow, and I knew this was more than just a simple question. After all, everyone likes seeing new things, and I was no different. Eventually, I knew I had to answer, so I gave a casual shrug and answered simply. "Well, yeah."
Starlight chimed in his opinion as well. "I’ve enjoyed what I can, but it'd be nice to be out more. Still, it's not bad as is."
I watched as Celestia nodded at our replies. I could tell she was planning or thinking about something, but I couldn't figure out what it was yet.
"Then perhaps it is time for the two of you to discover Equestria for yourselves," Celestia stated, "There is only so much anypony can learn within the shelter of their rooms. The sights, ponies, and experiences a visit into the unknown would grant may help you both in ways neither of you can yet anticipate. Take some time for yourselves and see your fill. Canterlot will always be here should you desire to return, and you will always be welcome here. But who knows, maybe you'll find a place beyond these walls that you connect with. A home away from home where you will feel at ease."
"Yes, and perhaps the two of you may even have a friend whom you'd wish to accompany you during this adventure?" Luna mused. She looked to Dawn and smiled. "I believe I may know of a certain guardspony that might be able to get some more time off, if you'd so desire?" Then she looked at me. "And I have a feeling a certain red and gold Pegasus you know may have a longing for just such a thing."
I caught Dawn nodding quickly at the idea, but I was more irritated than anything. While exploring and running around is nice for the eyes, it wouldn’t do anything to get me or Dawn home. If anything, it would get us out of the castle and even further from a solution. I didn't like the sound of this idea at all.
"Hold on sec though," I said, needing to voice my concern, "I like seeing new things, sure, but I don't want to find a home away from home here. You ponies are wonderful, and I mean no offence, but I still want to go home."
Celestia's face softened a little and she nodded slowly. "I understand your desires Silver Wing," she said to me, "But as it stands, there is no way for us to make such a thing happen. Only time will allow Dawn to further her studies, and my dear Twilight will also continue doing what she can to aid you. However, that does not mean you should resign yourself to the palace halls. Should a way to return you to your world be discovered, word will be sent to you immediately. Of that, you have my word as a Princess of Equestria."
I fell silent at that and nodded back. I could see her point, and I'm sure if anyone could find me out in the middle of nowhere, it would be her or Luna. Heck, Luna could probably find me the moment I fell asleep by looking for my dreams. I'm sure they stand out enough compared to everyone else’s besides Dawn's.
"You may even discover a way home for yourself, Silver Wing," Luna added, immediately catching my attention, "Anything is possible so long as you do not lose hope."
With all the magic out there, maybe I could find something that would help me get home. And if not, I could definitely track down some books to help me understand more of what was really going on with this Starswirl ponies magic.
"Here, Silver..." I heard Dawn call, catching my attention, "I want you to have this."
I looked over at her curiously, and watched as she slid her bracelet off her leg and send it to me with her magic.
"I know how much you miss having hands, and I have magic to help, so here," she said smiling softly at me, "Have this. And I promise I'll still find a way for you to get home as well."
I was stunned. It was hers for one thing. She's the one who repaired it after all, and it was some super rare and old magical trinket made by Starswirl, the guy that created the Mirror of Worlds. I couldn't possibly take it from her. But at the same time, being able to use even a little magic like everyone else would be a life saver for me in so many ways. I still had trouble with doors, or my damn windows, and turning a page of a book was almost more effort than it was worth. There was too many ways that something like this would help me to say, and despite my desire to decline, her smile and the seriousness of her eyes forced me to accept.
I reached out and took the bracelet tentatively. I was speechless for the longest time, but eventually, I had to ask, just to make sure. "A-are you sure...?" I stressed, "Don’t you need it for... Something?"
I couldn’t think of what she might need it for, considering she could already use magic on her own, but I didn’t want to take something from her if she still needed it, especially if it would help her to get us home.
Dawn shook her head and smiled wider. "No, I've already got magic," she said, "And this'll let you do things like you normally would. Granted, I doubt you'll get to lift boulders or anything, but... It should help with the little things like utensils and cups, or moving chairs and things like that. Pen and paper too, if you can manage two things at once. For drawing or something like that. Since you have that quill on your cutie mark, it must be something important to you, right?"
I glanced back at my cutie mark for a moment and half smirked at the quill in its center. Writing was something I did love to do, but I couldn’t do it anymore, not with this body anyways. But if I could get the hang of this bracelet's magic, I might actually be able to write again. That thought alone forced a stupid grin to my face and I looked back at Dawn happily.
"Thank you very much Dawn," I said, my mind still realizing all the new possibilities I could now explore, "And yeah, I used to write quite a bit, but I haven't been able to since I wound up like this..." I fell silent again as I looked the golden bracelet over more closely and continued to dwell on the possibilities in unlocked.
"I can only imagine how I'd be without magic here," Dawn said thoughtfully, "It's a real lifesaver at times."
"Indeed it can be," Celestia said, "But so can friends. Equestria is peaceful, but not all of its inhabitants will welcome you with arms. So travel with some caution."
"That's why you want us both to take someone with us then?" I heard Dawn ask.
"Yes," Luna answered, "Though you do not have to if you would rather travel on your own. It is merely a suggestion."
I smiled at the thought of traveling with Sky Flare, then sighed a little. If I did ask her to go with me, she'd grow even more attached, and the closer we get, the harder it will be when I leave...
"Friendship has proven to be a powerful force in Equestria time and time again," Celestia said, "And it is always wise to travel with others in the events of unforeseen circumstances."
That was smart thinking, and I know I'd be pretty lost traveling alone in Equestria. I didn't know anything about the region, or the laws really. Though would I be travelling with Dawn as well? Part of me wanted to, simply because I knew her and knew that she would be just as lost as I was. On the other hand though, I liked to set the pace, especially when exploring, and I loved to fly. So if I were to travel with her, that means I'd probably have to stay grounded so that she could keep up with me, and that would be just a little irritating once my ribs were healed...
"Well..." Dawn hesitated, then spoke her mind, "Truthfully, if I'm going to travel with Stalwart, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to hide where I'm from."
I glanced over at her and listened more closely. I had just had a conversation about this with the Princesses before she came in, so I was curious to see if they'd give her the same speech I got, or a different one.
"I've already made a couple of slipups on that as is," she went on, "And I don't just mean terms either. I... Acted as his guide around Peonia because of its similarity to where I grew up. He hasn't asked outright, but I'm almost certain he's figured out something close to what's actually happened. It doesn't help he's ... Interested in me."
She took a bit of a breath and asked what I knew she was getting at.
"If it's needed, may I... Well... Talk to him about it if he promises not to tell?" she asked shyly.
I already knew the answer to that, but I held my tongue as I caught a sigh from Celestia.
"We will not force you into silence," Celestia said, looking at Dawn seriously, "You are free to do as you wish. But we will ask you to think carefully before you speak to anypony of such things. You are well aware of our desires to keep your origins secret. No matter the intentions behind your need to share, such information can create great unrest if spread carelessly. While the common pony may find your tale unbelievable or absurd, the more educated may seek to exploit your knowledge for their own gains. Some may even attempt to find a way into our halls to travel to your world in turn. Do you understand?"
All that made perfect sense to me, though that didn’t mean I liked it. I wanted to tell Sky Flare the truth too, but I also didn’t want her to think I was crazy, or get mad and call me a liar. If she thought I was lying, she'd go and tell Breezy for sure, who would tell Lemon Bloom, who would tell who knows who else. It was just too risky. The Princesses didn’t want anyone to know the truth, so we had to do our best to keep it that way, no matter how much we didn't want too.
Dawn dropped her head, seeming to get the message for the moment. "I... I understand," she said, "Perhaps not the whole truth then, but just enough to suggest that it's not repeatable or something. But yes, I understand the severity of this if it were ever shared, and I’m sorry if I caused you to worry because of my asking."
"I will also add," Starlight chimed in, "That we have no desire to see anyone of our world casually coming here, or this world going to ours. We are in agreement that the results could become catastrophic, even if it were to create a legend or myth. We’ll be extra cautious, and those that know will understand the gravity as well."
"We shall see what comes of this then." Luna stated, her gaze lingering on Dawn's downturned face.
I felt a little sorry for her. They came down on her a lot harder than they had on me, so I cleared my throat and tried to change the subject. "You said to travel with caution," I said, "Can you be a little more specific?"
Celestia looked at me and her smile returned. "Though most of Equestria is peaceful, there are some that resort to thievery or worse in the wilds of our lands," She explained, "Our soldiers do their best, but not every evil can be routed."
'So they do have criminals here too then,' I realized, 'That's good to know.' I knew they had enemies of sorts, and clearly someone to have need of soldiers to deal with, but the likelihood of thieves and the like was still a mystery to me, at least until now.
"Yeah, I know the type," I said, "Is there anything else to worry about? I haven't seen any in the forest nearby, but do you have bears or mountain lions or anything like that to worry about here?"
"Equestria holds a vast assortment of animals and magical creatures alike," Celestia continued, "While we have bears and mountains lions as you suggested, we also have numerous more deadly creatures in these lands. Cragadile's, Timber Wolves, and Dragons for instance."
"Wait, Dragons?!" I gasped, "Seriously!?" While I had no idea what a Cragadile was, I knew what wolves were. And I definitely knew what a Dragon was, and there was no way she could men what I was thinking of.
"No way..." I caught Dawn gasp from nearby, "You're pulling our leg right?"
"There is much more to Equestria than either of you know," Luna stated, "It will do you well to experience it first hoof."
"So, watch out for Dragons, got it." I half sighed. I'd need to ask Sky Flare more about them at some point, there was no way they could be the same fire breathing winged lizards that I had read about in fantasy novels, just no way.
"Is there anything else we should know about traveling here?" I asked after some more thought, "Are there border customs, agricultural laws, state or federal guidelines? And when should we return for that matter. A month, two, three?"
Celestia eyed me for a moment then chuckled. "Your world seems to hold a great many rules, Silver Wing," She said, "Here, for the most part, respect your neighbor and do not take what is not yours. Follow those rules and you will be fine. As for how long you should remain away, that is entirely up to you. You do not even have to leave Canterlot if you so choose. We simply think it best that you are given the opportunity to see the world for yourselves."
"I'm going to go back to Peonia and see if they'll let me study that relic," Dawn said, "And maybe any other museums that could have those, to prepare for fixing Silver's mirror home."
"Excellent," Celestia mused, smiling proudly at her, "I will have some papers written up for you then, that will allow you to inspect such items at your leisure."
"Yes," Luna added, "And we will also send you on your way with a sum of bits to pay for the necessary travel expenses, as well as some basic necessities like saddlebags and a tent."
That was going to be my next question, how we were supposed to pay for food while traveling, but Luna beat me to it.
"Thank you," Dawn said to Luna, "I'm terrified of going to new places, but I'm really excited for what this could mean. I also really appreciate your offer to let someone come with. It's no surprise it'd be Stalwart I'll pick, but really, thank you.”
I couldn't help but chuckle at Dawn again. It sounded like she had already made up her mind and set a destination, and she's apparently dead set on picking Stalwart Shield as her travel partner, so I guess traveling with me never even crossed her mind.
"Of course," Luna said nodding, "We will see to his time off at once."
"I have no idea where to go at all," I laughed, "But if you think we should ask someone to go with us, then I'll ask Sky Flare. I'm sure she'd have someplace in mind."
I had wanted to try and avoid asking Sky Flare to come along, because of when I finally do go back home, but she was my only real friend here besides Dawn, so I couldn't just leave her behind, not with how much I know she wants to someday explore the world. Besides, we still had lessons to work on in terms of both flying and fighting, so where better to practice than on the road?
"While the choice is yours to venture where you will," Celestia said, "I would recommend that you take the time to see the Pegasus city of Cloudsdale, Silver Wing."
Sky Flare had mentioned Cloudsdale before. It was a huge floating city in the clouds, and someplace she had always wanted to see for herself, so it sounded like a good first stop to me, when I could fly again anyways.
Celestia then looked to Dawn and continued. "As for you Meadow Dawn," she said, "Princess Twilight resides in the nearby town of Ponyville. Should you find yourself there, I suggest paying her a visit. Also, near Ponyville lies the ruins of the Castle of Two Sisters, our old home. You may find much of interest within its halls as well."
"Like what?" Dawn asked curiously.
"I suppose you will have to see for yourself, now won't you?" Celestia chuckled, "If all the answers are given in the comfort of home, what point is there in seeing the world for yourself?"
Dawn smirked. "Some things can only be learned from experience," she smiled, "But I enjoy being prepared ahead of time. I guess I will wait and see, as long as I remember to go there."
I looked at her and chuckled. I fully expected her to forget to go there the moment she stepped foot outside Canterlot. "I guess this is bye for now then?" I said softly, "Cause I don't think you wanna be traveling with me and Sky Flare for any real length of time." I laughed as I recalled their little chat a week ago and shook my head as I imagined them in close proximity for a month or more. One of them would kill the other, I had no doubt.
Gently, I slid the bracelet on over my left hoof and watched as the metal grew, then shrank around me snugly. 'God, magic is cool.' I thought.
"Thank you again for this by the way," I added quickly, "Once I get the hang of it, I'm sure it'll help a lot."
Dawn nodded. "You're welcome," She said happily, "I hope it helps you along the way. It can't help us talk as far as I know, but we should figure out some way to stay in touch." She chuckled for a moment before adding, "I think I will go on my own though. Sky Flare and I seem to have some differences. If you need my help, don't hesitate to ask though."
"Well, we don't have cellphones here, and even if you can use magic like a phone, I can't," I laughed, "But still, I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon enough."
"As you will be traveling, no mail pony will be able to reach you with any degree of ease," Celestia said, "However, should you wish a letter to be shared, send it here. Then, when either of you return, you can receive them upon your arrival."
"That seems like a reasonable way of handling it." Dawn said, nodding.
I nodded in agreement.
"Do either of you have any more questions then?" Celestia asked.
I shook my head no. There was a lot to think about, and I was already trying to figure out the best way of asking Sky Flare. Part of me wanted to wait until morning to ask her thoughts on traveling with me, but at the same time, the more time she had to prepare, the better it would be for her.
I caught Starlight chuckle and glanced over at him. "I don't suppose there's any other major opportunities to be out and about unless we get an apartment or home somewhere then?"
"You should have little issue with being 'out and about' while traveling between towns," Celestia said, "You should be able to spot anypony long before they come close enough to make out your appearance in any great detail, especially after nightfall."
"Or you could just get a cloak," I offered, feeling sorry him, "Assuming they exist here anyways. If not, just throw a blanket or something over you and it'll have the same effect. You'll look a bit more mysterious, but a hooded figure is less noticeable than a transparent pony."
"An excellent idea Silver Wing," Celestia said, "I will be sure to have one added to your list of items. If that is acceptable to you, Starlight?"
Starlight smirked. "Sure," he said, "I don't suppose it'd be one of those elven ones that help camouflage? ...Just kidding, a regular one will work just fine."
I fought not to laugh at the confused look I saw flash across Celestia and Luna's faces at his comment, but I managed to hold myself together.
"Good," Celestia said, still half confused, "All the items you should need will be delivered to your rooms in the morning. Should you need further aid on your journey, either send a letter to us here in Canterlot, or seek guidance from your friends. I look forward to hearing of your adventures when you return."
I nodded again and rose to my feet. I gave my left foot a hard shake, to make doubly certain that my new bracelet wouldn't fall off. Content with the grip it had on my fur, I bowed politely to the Princesses, then headed for the door. Sky Flare would still be up at this hour, and she'd probably be at home by now, so I'd have the best chance of finding her there.
"Hey, wait up!" I heard Dawn call out from behind me.
I glanced back at her as I left the dining room. I was rather lost in thought as I tried to figure out what to say if Breezy or Lemon Bloom answered the door instead of Sky Flare, so I was slow to respond to Dawn's call.
"Hmm? What's up?" I asked, watching as Dawn trotted up beside me with Starlight in tow.
"Well..." She paused as if in thought, almost seeming to have forgotten why she called to me in the first place.
I smirked at her and waited patiently for her to collect herself.
With a breath, she looked at me seriously and spoke her piece. "Whatever you end up doing, please be careful okay? I know you're capable, but it would be really hard to get you home if you're dead."
I laughed at that. The thought of me dying here hadn't really crossed my mind, but the imagery of her still trying to send me home if I did amused me for some reason.
"Sure," I said, smiling reassuringly at her, "I'll be careful. You too though alright? If you're dead, I'll never even get the chance at this rate."
Dawn smiled back at me, then I looked to Starlight and figured it would be polite to say something to him too.
"You take care too, okay?" I said, "I don't know if you can get hurt, but don't test your luck either."
Starlight nodded. "I'm pretty sure I'm about as mortal as Dawn, and tied to her," he said, "But thanks for the concern. I'll keep an eye out for her, if only out of instinct."
He gave me a wink and I chuckled back at the gesture.
"Glad to hear it," I said, "See you two around."
I gave a bit of a wave, then continued on to Sky Flare's.
I returned to my room quickly and slipped into my vest. I didn't want to be seen by Breezy without it, just in case it gave him the wrong idea. I loved the vest dearly, but I hadn't needed it in my room. Going to visit now though, I felt I should have it on, just in case.
It took me almost an hour to reach Sky Flare's home. I still couldn’t fly, and though I wanted to try my luck, I forced myself to stay grounded. The last thing I wanted to do right now was wind up on her doorstep crawling after having fallen out of the sky.
I stood before the door to the Breezy household and hesitated. It felt like I was about to ask a girl out on a first date. My heart was pounding, my adrenaline was racing, and if I still had hands I know my palms would have been sweating like crazy. She was my friend, nothing more. I wasn't asking her on a date, I was simply seeing if she wanted to go on a little trip into the country. There were no ulterior motives, just two people... Ponies now I guess, seeing what the world has hidden up its sleeve. She might not even want to go, which would perfectly fine, it was her choice after all.
I must have stood there like for ten minutes, running through one line of thought after the next, before much to my concerned surprise, the door swung open.
"Well?" Breezy's gruff, but clearly amused voice called to me, "You gonna stand there all night collectin' dust, or you gonna come in boy?"
"U-uhh..." I stammered. I was dumbfounded. He clearly knew I had been standing there for a while, but how?
Breezy must have guessed my train of thought as he nodded to his right. "Window's open boy," he chuckled, "Me and my dear Lemon Bloom 'ave been right curious as to why yer just standin' there since you walked up oh... Ten minutes ago now?"
I glanced to the window in shock, and sure enough, the curtains were still parted on the doors side, and the window itself was cracked open to let fresh air flow in.
I groaned and dropped my head in embarrassment. "Sorry..." I said, "I didn't mean to bother you."
"Ain't no bother," Breezy said, "But it is makin' us scratch our 'eads some. What can we do fer ya?"
"I-is Sky Flare home by chance?" I asked, far quieter than I meant to.
"Wha's this now?" He chuckled, "Yer 'ere asking to see my little Sky Flare so late at night?" He eyed me with a wide grin clear on his face. "This should be interestin', if I do say so myself. Come on in, I'll go get 'er for ya."
I wanted to stay outside, but I followed after him regardless.
"Ave a seat in the livin' room," Breezy said, gesturing with a wing to the room where Lemon Bloom was currently sitting, "I'll be right back with ma' daughter."
"How nice to see you again, Silver Wing," Lemon Bloom mused as I walked into the room, "And my, don’t your wings look positively lovely tonight."
I laughed a little and made certain not to make the same slip up I made earlier at dinner. "Nice to see you again as well," I said, “And yeah, I figured it was about time I caught up on my preening."
"Few things are more important for a Pegasus to keep track of than their wings dear," Lemon Bloom said, "I used to have to help Breezy with his all the time. That old cloud skipper was always putting it off until he could hardly out fly a chicken." She giggled at some distant memory, then smiled at me again, "And I see you've been taking good care of my husband’s vest."
"Of course," I said, "I know how important it is to him, and Sky Flare too."
She nodded at me, then looked past me to the stairs. I followed her line of sight and found Breezy returning to the main floor, with Sky Flare close behind.
"Is everything alright Silver?" Sky Flare asked me quickly, trotting past her father to reach me first. I could see her glancing at my wings worriedly, but my smile calmed her down.
"I'm fine, just... Well..." I fell silent and sighed.
"Well what?" Sky Flare asked, her concern quickly changing to her typical annoyed frown.
"W-well." I tried, but lost my voice. I sighed again and started once more, more purposefully this time. "The Princesses have suggested that I leave Canterlot for a while, a month or two, to see the rest of Equestria since I'm new here. They seem to think that I should bring a friend along for the trip, so I was wondering if you would maybe want to come along and... Keep me company?"
Sky Flare's eyes widened at my explanation, and she stood there wholly stunned for several moments before she made any signs of even hearing what I had said.
I could see equally stunned expressions on both Breezy and Lemon Bloom's faces, but smiles quickly grew in their places.
"What are you talking about Silver Wing!?" Sky Flare gasped, "You can't even fly yet and they want you to leave Canterlot!?"
Breezy laughed and ruffled his daughters' mane affectionately. "My little Sky Flare, finally leavin' the nest eh?" He teased, "Is about time if I do say so myself."
"Oh yes!" Lemon Bloom exclaimed happily, "A little trip outside of Canterlot would be wonderful for you both!"
I smiled at their reaction, then grew tense as Sky Flare leaped away from her father.
She stomped a hoof down hard on the wooden floor and glared right at me. "I'm not going anywhere!" She barked.
I took a half step back and swallowed nervously. "I... I thought you'd like the idea..." I said, a little taken back by her outburst, "Sorry..." That was not the reaction I had expected at all.
"Sky Flare, mind your manners." Lemon Bloom said softly.
"Aye, you should be 'appy young Silver Wing 'ere thought to ask you out," He paused at his own words and chuckled a moment before clearing his throat and continuing, "Now what's got your feathers all ruffled, hmm?"
"I'm not leaving you two here alone!" Sky Flare stated adamantly, "What if something were to happen while I was gone?"
"Sky," Breezy started with a soft, parental sigh, "We're not that old yet, and you're still far too young to be stayin' home to care fer yer parents. Is time you listened to the call a yer cutie mark. You gotta go and see what's been driving those feathers a yers since before you could even fly."
"But Dad!" Sky Flare protested, but her mother cut her off.
"No buts about it dear," Lemon Bloom stated softly, "We all know how much the rest of Equestria calls to you. That's why we asked Silver Wing here to take you away from Canterlot if ever he got the opportunity, and this is the perfect time."
"You what!?" Sky Flare gasped at her parents, then she shot a fiery glare straight at me that froze me in place.
"You 'eard yer mother," Breezy said simply, "And it'll do you a world a good to listen."
"I am not leaving!" Sky Flare stated adamantly, "And that's final!"
"Dear," Lemon Bloom said sternly, "That's enough of this. You're not leaving forever. As Silver said, it's only for a month, maybe a little more, but hardly any real length of time. Your father and I are more than capable of taking care of ourselves. It is time you did the same. So you go with Silver Wing, and when you come back, if it was anything less than what you've always dreamed it would be, this will be the end of it. Your father and I will not try to meddle any more. But you do this for yourself this once, and if not for yourself, then do it for us."
Sky Flare titled her head and looked at her mother clearly confused.
"I won't lie," Lemon Bloom said, "We don't know what things will be like without you around, but it's time we found out."
"Aye," Breezy added, "You need to see things with yer own two eyes. After that, we'll both stand behind what you say you want."
Sky Flare frowned heavily at me, but eventually, her glare softened. "And you two promise to stop trying to mess with my life if I do this?" She asked seriously.
"Aye." Breezy said, "I give ya my word."
"I promise dear," Lemon Bloom said, "Do this for us, and what you decide afterwards, we'll accept."
"Whether I want to stay in Canterlot or leave, you'll do what I say I want to do?" Sky Flare asked again.
Lemon Bloom and Breezy nodded in unison.
Sky Flare frowned at me again for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. "Fine," she said shaking her head, "But only because they want me to go, not because you asked me Silver Wing! I'm still mad at you for not telling me that they had this little scheme planned in the first place!"
I opened my mouth to speak but I had no words that I felt would be of any use, so I simply shrugged and smiled nervously at her.
She looked away from me with a hotly snort and sat down. "So when do you want to leave then?" She asked, "Tonight, tomorrow, or what?"
"Whenever is good," I said quickly, "A tent and some gear is going to be dropped off at my room in the morning, so the earliest we could leave is tomorrow anyways. But I don’t mind waiting till you're ready."
"We'll leave as soon as your stuff arrives then," She stated, "The sooner we get this over with, the better."
"Well then, now that that's all settled, why don't we 'ave some fresh apple pie to celebrate, eh?" Breezy laughed, "My little Lemon Bloom's been making pies for the youngn's all day now, and I think she can spare one for a special occasion."
Lemon Bloom rose to her feet and smiled widely. "Oh yes," she said excitedly, "Maybe even two!"
Sky flare groaned and shook her head. "Next time you wanna talk about something important and it's late at night, just toss a rock at my window or something till I come out, alright?"
"Right," I said apologetically, "Sorry..."
Breezy snickered at us and smiled contently. "My oh my," he cooed, "My little Sky Flare's asking a boy to come a callin' 'er by a late night window visit? Never thought I'd see the day."
"Seriously Dad!?" Sky Flare growled, "Now!?"
"Always," Breezy said victoriously, "Now come on your two, get yerself some pie. You got a long day ahead of ya tomorrow."