Putting on a Silver Robe and Wizard Hat

by David Silver

13 - Luna Eclipse

Silver nodded at Night, "I have this." He trotted away from her and she followed with a slightly worried expression. He returned to the gathering of princesses with a light smile.

Celestia nodded towards him, "Have you made your decision?"

"I have," said Silver, "And I accept your position of ambassador of human affairs."

Cadance and Celestia looked pleased, while Luna's expression was harder to read. "But," said Silver, "I will not accept Luna as part of the bargain. I have already made my offer to her, and she has heard it. If she wants me, she should approach me, not be ensnared in the machinations of well-meaning peers."

Cadance raised a brow, "Are you certain? This is what you've wanted for quite some time."

Silver shook his head, "If it means taking her against her will, it's not what either of us wants." He looked to Luna with a smile, "I'll be here, if and only if, you want it."

Cadance clapped her hooves softly, seemingly delighted at the romantic words. Celestia nodded with her stoic expression, "Very well. We'll work out the particulars, but we'll seal the deal now." She offered out a hoof, but at the wrong angle for bumping. Silver looked confused.

Night gently brushed his flank with a wing, "Kiss it."

"Oh!" Silver moved up and moved to kneel down. A few months in a pony body was still insufficient to master kneeling, and he fell forward, thumping lightly into Celestia before flopping over with a complete lack of grace. Luna burst into laughter at the sight as Cadance barely held in titters.

Night advanced to help gather Silver back up to his hooves, "Sorry, your majesty. He's still a clumsy oaf."

Celestia shook her head, "Think nothing of it. No harm done. Silver Lining."

Silver rolled up quickly with Night's gentle wings to help, "Yes?"

Celestia smiled gently, "I would ask you a few questions you are in a unique position to answer. Consider it your first task as ambassador."

Silver nodded, ears alert and directed at Celestia. This close she was terribly imposing, but he felt nothing but kindness from her. This didn't negate that he was small for a pony, and she was quite large. "What would you describe as the positive facets of pony society?"

Silver considered this a moment, "The first thing I noticed was how well the various tribes got along. It's not perfect, but my own people trip over incredibly subtle differences like colors and eye shapes or an accent. Heck, there have been wars over which invisible patron in the sky you paid heed to, but that was mostly a cover for resource-grabbing." He rolled his shoulders, "Compared to that, well." He pointed a hoof at Night, "I'm now married to this lovely mare, and she's not my tribe at all, but despite all the surprise about it, not a single question was raised about that fact. No one said 'You're a unicorn, why are you marrying a lunar pegasus?' Tribal unity is amazing. A pony is a pony."

Celestia nodded slowly, "You have not seen it all. There are places where that breaks down, but it warms my heart to hear you say that, and to be reminded how hard we've fought to reach this point. I am told you have been researching magic, a most ambitious plan for one who has only recently gained a horn to do it with. Can you show me what you've found?"

Silver considered this, "My signature spell isn't fit to show here, in the garden. It would burn these lovely flowers. But I have another." He sat still, closing his eyes and trying to remember the spell by rote. When that failed, he grunted and pulled out his notes from a saddlebag, "Pardon. Experimenting I like, memorizing patterns, not so much my thing. Here we go." He began playing the letters across his horn before his heart crystal exploded with colors. At first the colors seemed random, but they shone with the color of the magic of each pony it was pointed at, even non-unicorns, producing many rays of light that reached out towards the ponies in the area. Oddly, a bright green shaft reached out for one of the guards.

"Huh..." said Silver, looking at that guard. The eyes of the princesses followed the light as well. The guard started to look increasingly nervous, though he tried to remain stoic. "If you have something to admit, you should do it now," suggested Silver, "Celestia is a very forgiving sort, and I have no issue with your kind, if I'm right."

The guard's front shattered. His form was consumed in fire, revealing the black chitinous plate of a changeling. This was clearly not one of Nicole's, with the irregular round holes that penetrated it. Wings spread and it took off into the air, only to be trapped in a bubble. A white stallion stepped out from around the hedges, eyes locked on it and horn glowing with the magic that held the changeling.

Luna snorted softly, "And you thought you'd need him for Silver."

Silver recognized the white stallion's cutie mark as Shining Armor and smiled, "A pleasure to meet you, Shining."

Shining perked an ear at Silver, "Hey. We'll talk after I take care of this." He trotted off, dragging the floating changeling behind.

Celestia nodded towards the still glowing heart crystal, "How did you make that?"

Silver tapped his chin, "Well, they gave me a spell to imbue the crystal with your personal color, and they gave me a spell to make other things glow. Both were considered low-level introductory spells. I took the symbols of both and mashed them together." He pulled out some more paper, revealing jumbles of notes, "I would love keeping track on my computer, but it'll break eventually, and then everything will be lost. The nearest computer shop is a dimension away. I got a lot of... less-desirable results, but eventually I figured it out. The new spell taps into the heart crystal's ability to glow with personal magic and makes it visible." The glow faded along with his spell, his heart crystal returning to its lavender shade.

Celestia pointed at the dangling pendant, "Why does it glow that color? That is not your color. Your magic is clearly a pure silver."

Silver flipped his ears back, "Oh, well, back when I was under the effects of Lyra's eager, but poorly-formed, spell, Twilight tried to help me. I was wearing this, but I hadn't charged it with my own magic, because I had none. It became charged while Twilight exerted heavy magical power, trying to brute force the spell."

Cadance tilted her head, "I had wondered at that little thread."

Silver perked an ear, "What?"

Cadance gestured at Silver and his pendant, "You have a little thread running to it. Are you fond of Twilight?"

Silver flushed gently, "Not in that way! She is adorable though. Not nearly as adorable as Night Watch." He turned and nuzzled gently into Night's cheek.

Night snorted gently, "That was transparent, but I'll accept." She hugged him gently with her wings.

Silver turned his attention back to Luna, who appeared to be relaxing over the course of the discussion, "Luna."

She went rigid again, "Yes?"

Silver smiled, extending a hoof, "Will you be my royal consort, of your own volition? I would value your assistance and company."

Luna glanced around, at Cadance's eager expression, her sister's stoic look of expectation, and Silver's hopeful smile. She let out a slow breath before she brought Silver's hoof closer with her own and kissed it, "It would be a pleasure to serve as your guide in the courts. My duties prevent me from always being at your side, but time will be made."

Silver nodded slowly, "I wouldn't want to drag you away from your other affairs." He glanced at Night, then back at Luna, "Thank you." He felt dizzy and elated. That had worked better than he could have hoped for, barring Luna suddenly producing Celine again, this was good.

Night folded her wings tight as she looked over Luna, "I'm not sure how I feel about sharing my stallion with my ex-boss."

Silver wheeled on her and pounced on a sudden urge. They went down together as Silver bit at her neck and cheek softly with his blunt teeth. Her complaints became lost in a sudden intense bout of snuggling before the princesses, to Cadance's clear amusement. Celestia raised a brow, "Did you?"

Cadance shrugged, "Maybe a little. They're already in love, no harm, no foul."

When the spell ran its course, Silver and Night separated, both cherry red with embarrassment, but no further argument on either's lips. Silver looked at Cadance, "You are a very powerful pony."

Cadance smiled gently, "Me? I'm the least of the princesses." She waved the comment off.

Silver shook his head, "You are the most subtle. You can't make things explode or invade dreams, but when a pony falls under your magic, they don't want to escape."

Cadance nodded her head, "I can't create feelings from nothing. You two are simply easy targets because of your already-strong feelings. No hard feelings, I hope?"

Silver closed his legs shamefully, "Only one."

Cadance smirked, "It is nice to see a pony that admires my work."

Luna snorted softly, "You're being shameless, niece."

Cadance fixed her with a devious glare and Luna put up her hooves quickly, "I do not want a turn! I will not be made to act so in front of the guards. It's not proper."

Cadance shrugged, "Then I'll keep it to those who appreciate it."

Silver felt the urge rising in him again, but Night acted first, tackling him to the ground instead.

Celestia raised a fine brow, "I do have more questions for him, niece. While he appears to be enjoying himself, this is not good for doing business."

Cadance stopped toying with Silver, and soon he sat up with Night. Night huffed softly, "If you want to visit, later, maybe, but that's enough of that in this courtyard."

Cadance nodded her head but was otherwise silent. The shipping princess had made her presence felt, and looked pleased. Celestia gave a smile at Silver, "This may come as a surprise, but we already have a task for you."

Silver perked an ear, "You want me to research something?"

Celestia shook her head, "I feel you will do that without prompting from me. No, this is much more specific to your ambassadorial title."

Silver blinked slowly, "I thought... that was mostly for show?"

Celestia shook her head, "I would never make a position if there was no need for it. A second human has arrived, a male, like you. He is far younger, and quite distressed. He arrived in Appleloosa, but is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I would like you to see to his comfort, as one of your people."

Silver went stiff. He hadn't expected to actually be an ambassador...

"I have every confidence in you," said Celestia with that soft smile of hers.

Author's Note:

What a twist!

Typos think they are cool, like plot twists.

Comments

[RuneStone]

Another human! oh the plot twist

[Amethyst Blade]

[Alzrius]

He returned to the gathering of Princesses with a light smile.

There's no need to capitalize "Princesses" here.

Heck, there have been wars over which invisible patron in the sky you paid heed to, but that was mostly a cover for resource grabbing."

It's a cover for "resource-grabbing."

The guard's front shattered, his form was consumed in fire, revealing the black chitinous plate of a changeling.

I'd change that so that "The guard's front shattered" was its own sentence, separate from the remainder.

This was clearly not one of Nicoles, with the irregular round holes that penetrated it.

There should be an apostrophe in "Nicoles."

I got a lot of... less desirable results, but eventually I figured it out.

Those results were "less-desirable."

Silver flipped his ears back, "Oh, well, back when I was under the effects of Lyra's eager, but poorly formed, spell, Twilight tried to help me.

Lyra's spell was "poorly-formed."

It became charged while Twilight exerted heavy magic force, trying to brute force the spell."

The use of the word "force" twice is a bit awkward. Maybe change that first instance to "power" instead? Also, I'd change "magic" to "magical," since it's a descriptor.

Silver smiled, extending a hoof, "Will you be my royal consort, of your own volition.

That should end with a question mark.

You two are simply easy targets because of your already strong feelings.

Their feelings are "already-strong."

Silver went stiff. He hadn't expected to actually be an Ambassador...

The word "ambassador" should only be capitalized when referencing Silver's title specifically. Otherwise, it's lowercase.

[Seeking Dusk]

You realize by doing this you are potentially setting the stage for a FanFic Verse, yes?

[David Silver]

5752691 Fixed! I hope this chapter pleased you near as much as the last.

[David Silver]

5752704 I would be entirely OK with that.

[Alzrius]

5752718 My chief complaint with this chapter was that the results of Silver's decision were delayed. Silver is finally receiving the reward(s) for all that he's been through, and whenever anyone receives a gift, we want to see them get a chance to play with it. Specifically, it would have been nice to see what his status as an ambassador gives him, rather than have it immediately turn towards new work - true, the unexpected appearance of another human does kick-start a new plot thread (and possibly so does the changeling spy), but it would have been nice to enjoy the resolution of this one before things got that far.

This is doubly true where Luna is concerned. While it was sweet of Silver to have her be the one to agree to their new relationship (and I was quite worried for a moment that she'd refuse) they still need to sit down and hash things out. Unless she appears in his dreams later, that's going to have to take a backseat to whatever's happening in Appleloosa, and I suspect that they're both nervous but eager to figure out where they stand now.

Also, Cadance is a bit more mischievous than I'd have thought, using her magic - twice! - to push Silver and Night to the point where it seemed like they were about to put on a rather naughty show for the princesses. Down, girl!

[David Silver]

5752754 Cadance is a very socially aware princess. She knew where she could push and not get pushback for it, and she pushed right up to that line, leaving Silver and Night flustered, but not bitter at her. As she said, they're already in love, and a 'NOW KISS' command gets a lot less resistance. If she had turned that magic on Luna as she silently threatened, the reaction would have been much stronger! Luna would be quite cross, even if she wouldn't, on some level, mind an excuse to make with kissy time. Night probably would have gotten jealous, even if she tried to play it off. There were a lot of reasons to not hit Luna and Silver with love beams, so she didn't. She does not wish to cause harm, and, so far, she has avoiding doing so.

I apologize for thrusting forward the next plot point. As Celestia said, she wouldn't create a position entirely as an excuse. There's always two reasons for what Celestia does, crafty little monarch she is. I'll try to give some time between Luna and Silver's herd before the human arrives the next day.

This also gives an immediate test of how well Silver will perform for the crown. Will he take his position seriously and do his best, or try to slack through it minimally? Celestia needs to know this. Sunbutt did succeed, like Cadance, in not making herself a bad person. Luna has much to learn about this new age of soft diplomacy.

[Seeking Dusk]

5752720 Hmm.... Nope. Got enough projects working on. Still, a verse based on this...

[Alzrius]

5752777 It will be nice to see how this changes things for Silver, not just with regards to Luna, but insofar as his status makes ripples across the rest of his life.

For example, would this conceivably affect his housing? While I doubt he'd care too much, as an ambassador he would technically head an embassy (though staffing would be an issue, since "foreign" staff is practically out-and-out spying), one that would need to be close enough to where he'd have easy access to the royal court, since he could either be called upon to be party to meetings there or likewise request to be included "on behalf of his people's interests."

One thing I did notice was this:

Celestia gave a smile at Silver, "This may come as a surprise, but we already have a task for you."

Technically, Celestia, you don't give him "tasks" anymore. By recognizing him as the spokespony for a foreign government, you've just declared that he's not subject to your authority. You can ask him to take care of something as a favor, and you can direct matters that relate to his government (such as one of his people suddenly turning up in your country) to him, but he doesn't work for you. She can exclude him from functions of the Equestrian government, since he's something of a "guest-observer" for his nation, and she can declare that he's no longer welcome in Equestria, but that's it, politically speaking (the reality might be something else entirely, but that's how it should work on paper).

[David Silver]

5752912 Celestia is no hurry to educate Silver on where her authority ends in regards to him, and Silver doesn't have an Internet to go checking for this sort of stuff on. She will gently guide him towards things that are logical for him to resolve, and it's unlikely he'll question it, unless it seems entirely illogical. Taking care of a human that shows up? Sounds logical, even if he's a bit anxious about how well he'll do about it. How will the human even react to this former-human? Hi, uh, I'm more human than the fur suggests. Welcome to Equestria!

Maybe he'll luck out and it'll be a brony too, or would that be unlucky? It could go sour either way.

What if he gets ear scratched? Horror.

[Alzrius]

5752947 Fair enough, but I wonder if Luna would bring that point up later? For now, she seems to be pouting over everything, but her being asked to be Silver's consort seemed to dispel much of that, and I suspect that once she and Silver spend some "quality time" together, she'll be much more open with him.

That's a point because - among Luna's myriad other issues - I suspect she has a bit of a little sister complex with regards to Celestia. Telling her consort that he has the political power to tell Celestia off would be one (admittedly foalish) way of slighting her sister, particularly since Celestia embarrassed her with that picnic!

[David Silver]

5753001 That... is a very appealing notion.

[harts fire]

I was really close with my thinking of the results of every thing leading up to this chapter not perfect but close.
time will tell if the rest will pan out.
now the second human that is a huge twist that may get very interesting.
supper good work David Silver
Harts Fire

[Hooked on Sliding]

Human bashing.

[David Silver]

5757636 The human gets bashed a lot, but there's growth involved. If you mean the new human, any growth he has is pushed off-screen.

[Hooked on Sliding]

ok more specific. Humanity bashing.

Silver considered this a moment, "The first thing I noticed was how well the various tribes got along. It's not perfect, but my own people trip over incredibly subtle differences like colors and eye shapes or an accent. Heck, there have been wars over which invisible patron in the sky you paid heed to, but that was mostly a cover for resource-grabbing." He rolled his shoulders, "Compared to that, well." He pointed a hoof at Night, "I'm now married to this lovely mare, and she's not my tribe at all, but despite all the surprise about it, not a single question was raised about that fact. No one said 'You're a unicorn, why are you marrying a lunar pegasus?' Tribal unity is amazing. A pony is a pony."

[David Silver]

5757833 I'll... admit to wrongdoing when I'm wrong? It's still decidedly illegal in some places for people to do interracial marriages. Even in the US of A it only changed in 1967! That wasn't that long ago! Humans are pretty hung up on races on a multitude of levels, and you can argue about the other levels, but interracial marriage is not really up for debate, with laws on the book. We're pretty fucked up about such a stupidly simple thing.

[albedoequals1]

The guard started to look increasingly nervous, though tried to remain stoic.

"but tried" or "though he tried"

Silver nodded slowly, "I wouldn't want to drag you away from your other affairs."

That was an ironically appropriate choice of words.

[booman980]

Author's Note:

What a twist!

Typos think they are cool, like plot twists.

[Vutava]

Night snorted gently, "That was transparent, but I'll accept."

accept it."

"I have every confidence in you," said Celestia with that soft smile of hers.

[EnderHooves]

No hard feelings, I hope?"

Silver closed his legs shamefully, "Only one."

BWWAAAAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!! Oh my goodness! That, that right there! This is why I can't stop reading! You've got me hooked on your comedic timing and story arcs.
And with the new human arriving, sneaky Celestia is sneaky, giving out titles that are needed as an excuse to do something else.

[Ephedianroyalty]

Silver smiled, extending a hoof, "Will you be my royal consort, of your own volition? I would value your assistance and company."

I cant even...
it’s just...
You know what? No. Im not taking this.
Screw you, screw life, screw david, or silver, or what ever the fuck he goes by now. Screw it all. You need this right now
acxiom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/HH-Just-Cause-1.jpg

Luna glanced around, at Cadance's eager expression, her sister's stoic look of expectation, and Silver's hopeful smile. She let out a slow breath before she brought Silver's hoof closer with her own and kissed it, "It would be a pleasure to serve as your guide in the courts. My duties prevent me from always being at your side, but time will be made."

img.etsystatic.com/il/80d922/972391772/il_570xN.972391772_9b5n.jpg?version=0
And for extra measure, just to make sure my point made it across, and because i normally dont have to resort to pictures, so this is fun, have a nice, clean
cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1049/1662/products/FuckYounicorn_grande.png?v=1450757023

[David Silver]

8996824
There will be pain ahead, for both of them. All chickens will come home to roost.

[Truthseeker]

It was glossed over, but Silver should be pissed as all hell right now. Celestia had Shining Armor waiting to kidnap him and force him to accept the position. That is not something a benign ruler does. Those actions are those of a tyrant (not a word I ever use quickly). That alone would have me rebelling like crazy. Asking is one thing, being ready to force the issue against consent is a violation of free will and literally IS slavery. Cuntlestia is now on my shit list for this story.

[BestinDworld]

celestia still got silver under her hoof despite trying to get out of it it worked at first but sunbutt still worked it into her favor

[Amos Anon]

Silver smiled, extending a hoof, "Will you be my royal consort, of your own volition? I would value your assistance and company."

Dude... You're pushing it, Silver. At least give it some time, buddy