//------------------------------//
// 247 - In Foreign Lands 
// Story: Putting on a Silver Robe and Wizard Hat 
// by David Silver 
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Silver walked at a sedate pace, the sand crunching beneath his hooves. It felt different than dirt or stone, and it was still new enough for him to notice it and pay attention to the way each hoof sank into it and the way it clung just a little when he raised a hoof for the next step.

"You look distracted," came a female voice, a familiar one. His jackal wife leaned in from the side, walking along with her bipedal stance. "It won't do to wander the streets looking defenseless. There are less ponies here to hide among."

Silver looked aside at Nefertari. She towered over him by merit of always standing on two legs instead of four, even if he was quite sure he had more mass and overall size. He also knew better than to think that would mean much if they came to a physical challenge. "I had no idea there were so many two-legged species in this world."

Nefertari waved wide. "Welcome to Anugypt. The cats are barely the start. You've met me and know of my kind. You know there are others, so many others. Equestria is the exception, a land ruled by four legs."

"Sir, sir," came a small voice. Silver looked to his right to see a small kitten in rags and holding a cup. The kitten raised the cup with a bright-fanged smile. "Sir, do you have a few coins for dinner?"

Silver felt immediately bad. A grown beggar he could ignore, but a child was much more difficult to resist. "I--"

"Begone," hissed Nefertari without sympathy, her claws on display and her fangs in full sight.

The kitten fled before the sight and Nefertari shook her head. "You are so eager to be fooled."

Silver watched the small cat flee before turning to Nefertari. "He was just a child. Have you no sympathy?"

"His ribs did not show." She crossed her arms under her chest, the action pushing up her curves in a way Silver was fairly certain was done specifically to distract him. Unfortunately, it was often effective. "He had all his teeth. His fur was not nearly as matted as it could be. That kitten was a liar, or just very good at his profession. He will not starve."

Silver turned silently back in the direction they were originally headed. He had lost the argument, and let it die. "It's different."

"Mm?"

"Anugypt, from... what I remember."

Nefertari waved a paw across the street as they walked, gesturing at the other bipedal animals that carried on their business. "It is just as I last left it. What has changed?"

Silver shook his head. "It was just a fancy, I suppose. I imagined more ponies."

She laughed at the statement. "Of course, my equine husband. You imagine everything comes back to ponies eventually, do you not? Come, we are here. Let us retire."

They had arrived at their inn. Silver could not help but gaze at the sign in a moment of bittersweet recollection. It was where the two Saddle-Arabian sisters had fought against a city that did not like them so many years ago. It had since become something of a landmark, but was open for business. It had become a place for foreigners to be welcomed, just like Silver.

"I hope they had happiness," he sighed to himself as he walked inside. It was immediately a little cooler than the still sun-baked exterior. A small fountain bubbled towards the center. From there, tables were ready for use, and many were occupied by ponies, dogs, jackals, hippos, and other creatures besides. Drinks were being exchanged, food enjoyed, and conversation shared. "Home away from home."

Nefertari clenched her fingers a moment. "I did warn you... It is not that I do not pity you. We were barely wed before we were sent away."

"This is a curious honeymoon," said Silver in a joking tone.

"I accept it as that." Nefertari brought down a clawed hand on Silver's head, his horn going up between two fingers as she scratched and petted him gently. "We will learn of one another, and perhaps begin the next generation? What children will we fashion, with your hammer and my anvil?" Silver was coloring red through his fur, but she ignored his embarrassment. "You realize, even if I say nothing, people will assume. It is no secret that we are wed."

Silver shrank a little away from her. "Speaking of that... I wonder how my children are doing, and my wives, other than you, of course... Do you think Equestria's doing alright?"

She rolled her eyes as she led him through the room. "I'm certain it will have calamities. I'm also certain it will recover from them. That is a nation blessed by destiny itself. What troubles they face will be temporary, provided their faith remains true, and I have seen no hint of it wavering."

The barkeep, a pony that reminded Silver of those horses he knew but never met, leaned forward, a smile on her snout as she stood up against the bar. "Sir, ma'am? Letter for you." She nudged forward a closed envelope. "It arrived this afternoon."

Silver snatched it with his silvery magic, drawing it towards himself. "Thank you." His eyes were on the letter. "I wonder who sent it?" Just as it reached reading distance, Nefertari snatched it.

"There are traps you can place on such things," she warned as she tucked it under an arm and walked with greater speed towards their room.

Silver hurried to keep up with her, leaving the common room behind. Their room was made for a couple, not quite large enough for two people who weren't sharing space. It had one large bed instead of two smaller ones, to start. One closed window was on the left. Under it was the room's only dresser and mirror. Across from that was a closet.

Nefertari sat on the edge of that bed and clicked her tongue twice. The signal was enough to call Nefertari's spirit companion. "You have need of me?" She glanced at Silver and her snout wrinkled. "Have you decide to leave him yet?"

Nefer raised a paw. "I should imagine not. Our fates are tied. That is as useless a question as the first time you asked it." She held up the closed envelope. "Check this."

The spirit leaned in, floating as she was. The translucent jackal ran her paws over and through the envelope slowly. "It smells of pony, but seems otherwise unremarkable."

Silver raised a hoof towards the spirit. "You know, since we're basically stuck with each other by mutual bond, we could learn to get along?"

"We could," agreed the spirit just before she vanished.

Nefertari huffed softly. "As stubborn as ever. Now let's see what's inside..." She drew a claw along the edge, slicing it open with practiced ease. She drew out a folded slip of paper and something tumbled free.

Silver snatched it before it hit the ground and brought it up to look at. It was a single eight-sided die. He sniffed it softly and felt loneliness well up in him. Being a pony meant he could learn a smell if he really wanted to.

He would not forget that one. It was Night Watch, his beloved and mother of his first child. Children, really, twins... "What does the letter say?" He knew Nefertari would be reading it without being asked. Complaining or expecting otherwise felt silly.

Nefertari tapped the paper lightly. "It is from my once-student, Night Watch. She reports that her classes proceed well. They expect their first graduate soon, and have only had one student forced to leave due to irreversible mental trauma. Quite efficient, considering the number she has. I would have expected at least four."

Silver frowned faintly. "Did she only talk about that?"

"Of course not." Nefertari let the paper drift to the bed. "She mostly goes on about missing you and such drivel, as if you were not aware."

Silver grabbed the letter and pored over it. As Nefertari had said, Night spent much of the paper expressing love and hoping Silver was safe. She hoped he would come home soon, but she knew that wasn't likely.

So did he. He sighed gently. He would have loved to just go home, but he had duties... "How long until we advance? Just 'being' isn't doing anything."

"On the contrary." She sprawled out across the bed, her eyes on him. "Seeing a prince of Equestria, rare enough, roaming the city? It's drawing attention. I can feel it, see it, hear it... We are proceeding. Mmm, if I had to guess... two days. Two days and we will be approached. Possibly sooner in a more subtle gambit. Don't wander away, my prince. You will want me there."

"I don't doubt that." He stepped up onto the bed and sank down beside Nefertari. "I'm going to write a reply." He wasn't near the dresser, but he didn't have to be. He lifted a quill with his magic and began scribbling his thoughts without watching the paper. "Do you have anything you want to say?"

"My hands perform adequately. I'll write my own if I have the urge." She rolled onto her back. "When you're done with that, perhaps we can spend the evening as newlyweds should? I have heard it whispered that being with a pony is... a different experience, and you are a sizable example."

Silver felt his blush returning. Still, they were married. It was his job to see to her. "Let me finish this." He turned his eyes to his waggling quill, watching it produce the letters he was thinking. His letter wasn't nearly as long as Night Watch's. He loved receiving letters, but wasn't as good at returning them. He drew a little heart at the end and a few exclamation points before folding the paper. "I'll send this tomorrow."

"And tonight, you are mine." She waved a hand and a chill blast of her magic snuffed the lights, plunging the room into darkness.

Silver played the part of the husband, trying his best to please her, not that the act didn't please him in kind. He did like her, in her prickly way.

The door to their room burst open as two bears with scimitars stampeded through it as if it wasn't there. Nefertari sat up straight, straddling her captive husband and scowling at the interruption.

It seemed their presence had been noticed.