Tumble started visiting every day, invited or not. Silver had no reason to turn him away, so he let him in and they did homework together, or played video games. Sometimes Tumble would just sit there and watch Silver practice his magic, though there wasn't a lot for the earth pony to see when he did this.
After one such session, it was growing late in the day. Tumble ambled on home while Trixie stayed in the den with Silver. She poked him in the shoulder. "Trixie is not an expert when it comes to little colts, but he is looking at you."
Silver raised an ear, "Huh?"
Trixie snorted lightly, "Looking. He likes you. Every time you glance at him, he looks away."
Silver flushed warm in his cheeks, "Better than pounding me."
Trixie frowned a little, "It is, but is he here because you are afraid of him? Your amazing teacher will send him away if that is the case."
Silver shook his head, "No! He's OK. I mean, he hasn't bothered anypony for a few days now. He's trying to be good." He rolled over onto his side, "He's trying to be a good pony, and if I turn him away, he'll be back to nothing."
Trixie raised a brow, "Are you going to raise your tail for him to keep him as a 'good pony'? Trixie thinks that is a foolish idea."
Silver shuddered softly, "I don't want... things back there."
Trixie crossed her hooves under her chin, gazing at Silver with naughty eyes, "Then maybe you will be the stallion of the pair?"
"Why do I have to be anything of anything?" asked Silver, springing to his hooves. "I want... a family. You don't make cute little foals with another stallion. Biology doesn't work that way."
Trixie shrugged her shoulders, "That is for you to decide. This isn't included in magic lessons." She gestured to Silver's room, "But, for now, it is sleep time. Go to bed."
Silver did just that. The next morning he prepared for the day and trotted off to school. He surveyed the schoolyard when he arrived, spotting Meadow Leaper and Lily Jump playing a game, bouncing a ball off a wall back and forth between each other. He saw Tumble sitting by himself, though that quickly changed. Tumble spotted Silver and ambled over with a smile, "Hey Silver Lining!"
Silver got an idea, and smiled back, "Hey Tumble. Let's go say hi to some friends."
"Uh, OK..." said Tumble, less sure. He followed after Silver as he approached Meadow and Lily.
"Good morning," said Silver, "I want to introduce somepony to you."
"Who's--" Meadow stopped, looking at who Silver was referring to. "Uh... we've met."
Lily bobbed her head, "Everypony's met Rough Tumble before."
Silver shook his head, "That was the old Rough Tumble. The new Rough Tumble is way better." He gently nudged the nervous-looking Tumble closer. "He's nice."
Meadow was the first to go with it, offering a hoof, "Dad always says a pony deserves another chance. Put 'er there." They met hooves in a friendly bump. "There, now we're cool."
Lily smiled when they hoofbumped, looking encouraged, "Wanna join us?" She kicked the ball so it bounced off the wall and came at Tumble at a leisurely rate. Tumble bumped it back, and they began to play. Silver quietly scooted away from the trio, pleased with himself. Maybe now he could get a break from the constant presence of Tumble, friendly as he may be.
The school day went smoothly. At the end, Butter Scotch dismissed all the students, but asked the handful of unicorns present to remain behind.
Butter smiled warmly at the remains of her class, "Next week is a very important week. For those seeking to learn magic more deeply, the academies will be visiting the school. They will take you aside and perform tests. If you do well, they will invite you to come study with them." She held up a hoof, "This is not mandatory. Many unicorns live a perfectly satisfying life without learning magic beyond their special talent, and that's just fine. I know a few of you tried last year and didn't get in, but this is another chance for you. Any questions?"
Silver raised a hoof, "Do we need anything for it? Should we prepare?"
Butter shook her head a little, "You already have a personal tutor. I'm certain she can prepare you for it. Now don't worry too much, you have a week before they start arriving."
With that, school was dismissed and Silver trotted home, thinking about those academies. He really wanted to learn more magic, and a school where that was the focus had a strong appeal over the general and unfocused study of the grade school. Was there an age requirement? Did he know enough magic?
He arrived home to find Rough writing in the living room next to the computer. Trixie was blending up a fresh oat shake. He waved to each of them, "Hey Rough, Trixie. Uh, Trixie? Butter said some academy ponies were going to visit."
Trixie tilted her head, "Already? You are unlikely to catch their eye this year. Maybe next year."
Silver blinked, "Just like that? I shouldn't even try? Maybe they'll be impressed with my dexterity."
Trixie shook her head, "This is doubtful. If you can't even reliably show off the magical alphabet, they will probably not look further." She waved a hoof, "Still, you should try. It will be a learning experience. You will know what they will want for next year."
Silver frowned a little, "Alright... Is it OK if I study the book?"
"You may," conceded Trixie, "But you're not going to memorize it all before they arrive. When are they coming exactly?"
Silver made a vague gesture, "Next week."
Trixie snorted, "Such little warning." She trotted up to Silver and patted him on his head, "Trixie wishes you the best of luck, but there is next year. You are a little colt. We have time."
Silver wasn't interested in using his physical age as an excuse. He marched into the den and plucked the book of magical letters from its resting spot. He spent the rest of the evening reading over the letters over and over, trying to bake them into his mind.
The day passed, and the next day found Silver trotting to school. He blinked in surprise when he arrived. Tumble was playing with Soft Blush and Lily Jump. The two mares were having a tea party, and apparently Tumble was invited. Though the bigger stallion looked awkward, he was behaving himself. Silver smiled, proud of himself and his friends. He trotted over to join them, "Room for one more?"
They graciously allowed him to join in the game of pretending to sip tea and talk about nothing in particular. It seemed that having Silver there also playing relaxed Tumble, and they all had a pleasant time until the bell went off, summoning them inside.
School went by without much of anything interesting happening, until towards the end. Butter summoned the unicorns aside, "Before the testers arrive, we have to measure your basic abilities. Those who can't muster enough light and force will not be tested further." She looked over the small gathering of colts and fillies, "Just to remind you all, this is not a strike against you, as a pony. You may get stronger with time and practice, or not, and either is just fine. Your worth as a pony is not measured by your ability to do magic. That aside, let's begin." She went to each unicorn in turn, having them glow as brightly as they could.
His practice had served him well. Silver could see the magic flowing through their horns. With it, he could see the imperfections in the channeling. Magic flowed wildly into the outer channels where it was needed in the center for light for many of the unicorns, though one other, Soft Blush, seemed to have it down right. When it was his turn, he let the magic flow powerfully through him, growing warm. He opened the floodgate and kept the magic held tightly to the center. He couldn't see his own horn very well, but he could see his silvery light shining off the ponies around him. Butter nodded at him, "Very good." She moved right on to the next in line. When she reached the end, she sent some of the unicorns back into the school, already it was down to only six unicorns.
Butter pointed at a series of weights placed about twenty feet in front of the line. "When it is your turn, you need to pick up each weight, one at a time, starting from the lightest. If you can't lift a weight, then stop. There's no reason to strain yourself." Soft Blush reached the third weight, barely getting it off the ground before she set it back down with a soft panting. Most of the other unicorns got about that far, with one colt grabbing the fourth weight and hefting it up with effort.
Butter look to Silver, it was his turn. He released the magic into the outer channels and took a slow breath. With a silver hand he plucked up the first weight. That was easy. He set it down and moved for the second weight. This one was a little heavier, and it dragged against his magic.
He went for the third one and tried to heft it up, but it didn't want to move. He frowned and summoned his other hand, working it under the weight. He wasn't sure if two mental hands were any stronger than one, since it all came from the same place, but it felt better. With the two mental hands he put his all into it, grunting and heaving. "Silver, this isn't a contest," warned Butter. "It's OK."
Silver wasn't having it. He heaved the weight, flipping it over even as he reared up into a standing position with his hooves raised, sympathetically making the motion that his hands had made. Butter shook her head, "Technically, you did move it. Good job."
Silver settled back down, blushing a bit. That was barely average, and he had to work so hard at it! He plucked a bar from his saddlebag and chewed it with a frown. A glance showed he wasn't the only unicorn nibbling a snack after that.
You can always form a herd, Silver. Still, I'd say wait till next year. Use the first year to learn the regular stuff of pony life, forge bonds, build relationships, learn a few more tricks from Trixie. No need to run headlong into higher learning.
5708585
I'm fairly confident that it's Lily Jump that he's playing with.
You usually write that as "OK," so for stylistic purposes, I'd make it that way here too.
I'd change the punctuation of "Uh, Trixie" to a question mark instead of a period.
That should be "Just to remind you," or "Just to remind you all."
5708605 All fixed! I almost called Soft Blush, Peach Blush, and then I go and throw in a Tulip Jump. Keep track of your own characters, Dave! Hope you liked the chapter.
5708617 The first part made me very nervous that things with Tumble's feelings towards Silver were going to peak far, far too soon. I'd let that one build for a while. That said, when I read this part...
...I rolled my eyes. Silver, you're an adopted foal yourself, and you're going on about needing biology to start a family? But that aside, I was pleasantly surprised that the chapter backed away from anymore romantic drama on that front, and instead focused on something else. The issue of an upcoming test is a nice way to change the immediate focus and build some drama, so I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes.
I think I may see where this is going. Either he is going to try too hard and fail miserably or he's going to try too hard and surge out of control. Granted I'm pretty sure Trixie would qualify at the level of the testers so he really shouldn't need to go through with it all.
5708633 Trixie does not represent any of the academies. Just because she may think a foal is amazing doesn't get any of them inducted. It doesn't help that even Trixie feels more practice would be better before trying for it. Really the only academy that an ally of Silver could get him into would be if Celestia declared he was going to her school.
5708619 There's also the fact that, while open-minded and generally a nice guy, Silver is from a heteronormative society, and has aspirations to catch a female for himself one day, even if foals were tossed out of the equation. Tumble is also... not what he imagined in a romantic partner? He's nice enough now and all, but he's also not very clever, philosophical, witty, or funny. He's a straightforward and blunt pony that needs a hug. Is that the ideal match? Ugh, so confusing, so, tests! Silver knows where his emotions are about those. He wants to get in!
But does he have the skills and talent?
5708617 your characters might revolt if you are not careful lol
5708672 You're just guarding your OTP. I'm onto you.
5708708 lies and slander, how could you accuse me of such a thing. I am innocence incarnated.
5708670 It's self-evident that Silver wants a mare of his own, but it's not like the choice is binary. He was quite willing to be in a herd with Rough Draft, Lyra, and Bon-Bon before. True, that's not exactly the same thing, but it does mean that there are "compromises" available... Though on the other hoof, it wouldn't be fair to Silver if he were guilted into some sort of arrangement with Tough that he otherwise didn't want. Knowing Silver, he'd add Tumble to his herd just because he was worried about how the poor earth pony would fare otherwise.
To put it another way, Tough has some convincing to do (albeit much later).
5708793 Tis true! though it's a lot easier to imagine sharing with what is effectively your pony half.
holey horse apples 34k words in 5 days I think we should all send a huge thanks to David Silver for working on this story so hard, and to think he is also working on his other story. (sorry to say I have yet to read it)
ok now to read this chapter pony on every one
Not with that attitude. Now go and try again and again! Buttsex like there's no tomorrow!
Eh I'm just making dumb jokes.
Still, the story is nice, the David is a believable character with his flaws and murky past which defines him amongst others protagonists of horsewords. And the rate at which new chapters pop out is amazing.
ok this chapter is a bit different silver is forming friends and I see a bond forming with tumble,
I think the author notes summed it up best.
you are doing a super job with keeping to story's up and running like you are Silver just do not push your self to hard.
if I ask the readers this question would you rather a slow down then a complete stall???
5709607 I wanted a character that was neither saccharine sweet nor jaded badass. I picked myself. It's working so far.
They say that but they clearly don't mean it. Kids are smart enough to realize that any comparison is a contest.
5710480 Rarity is sad. You look down on her non-academic ways.
Someone needs to draw that last scene. Rawr!
6070715 All the weights!
5709607 Good show jolly good show!
6678127 You're catching up! Soon you'll be reading along with us.
Which means they're absent. It's just the Action Tag Gang that are scabbing for them using ear ventriloquism.
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UOOOOOOOAAAAAAh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Shippers to the right of him, shippers to the left of him--can't anyone just wait until Silver Lining at least has his cutie mark..?
'Cause, y'know, there are some skills that might make embarrassing cutie marks.
Liking this sequel so far, but when you have Rough Tumble and Rough Draft both appearing frequently, and mention that Rough Tumble invites himself over every day, referring to one of them in a new scene at Silver's home as "Rough" is a bit confusing as to which pony is being addressed.
Use the full name or the second part of the name as a short name to avoid confusing your readers!
7686685 Sorry for the confusion, but glad you're enjoying the ride.
No way ! And here I was suspecting it did . Thank you for reminding me of the way it does. [cue me lowering a "Sarcasm" sign and setting it aside.]
And here goes down one villain ... Rough Tumble is officially reformed . Why are the villains so weak nowadays? Do they do it for money ? 'Tis a shame! My OC (if ever makes it into any story...) shall not let the good guys have it!
As for the rest: Silver's fate does concern me more, than Rough Tumble's. (In fact, this colt might as well just get lost in the previous chapters and never come back. He's a villain no more, and having him around only provokes the shippers . As much, as Captain finds it amazing to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new fiction and to go boldly to where no one's mind has durst to venture to before, -- he'd prefer his spaceship's sail not to run into any extreme dangers. True, our crew is well trained to face space pirates (read: shippers) and shallow space-water (read: spoilers), but none of us would want our ship to sink (no shipping pun intended) midspace...)
9591132
I have a feeling when you run into the darkness, you should step past it.
9591144
Oh? Well, how do I step past?
Any relationship he has will feel squicky until he’s a lot older. Divide by two, add seven, that’s the rule.
10092721
It's a good rule of thumb. Too bad SOME members of the community couldn't follow this rule. Sigh. Just thinking about it makes me upset.