//------------------------------// // 11: Plan in Motion // Story: Armoured Hearts // by Milo_Chalks //------------------------------// “... And then he fainted.” “Wait… really? After a kiss?” Sky Soul, Silver’s older brother and now temporary landlord was filling out paperwork so complex that Silver could hardly pronounce the title, let alone the contents within. Sky looked up from the gobbledygook he had been focussing on, lifting the glasses from his head and putting them down on the neatly placed pieces of paper. “Yeah well, information overload I guess? He’s just been through hell and back.” Silver replied, absently circling a job in the classifieds with his highlighter as the novel in his hooves slowly drooped to his lap as the newspaper caught his attention more. “From what you told me, the poor guy sounds stage six traumatised, but then again who wouldn’t be in his situation? Lord, he picked a terrible career path as a closet homosexual.” Silver looked across at Silver sitting on the couch, glazing over what appeared to be one of his old books. “I don’t know why you’re even attempting at reading that cripe. I hated those cheesy crime novels Dad left behind. They all ended the same too, murderer is incriminated through cheeky word play and the detective wins.” “Dammit Sky! Thanks for spoiling it,” Silver shut the book and threw it aside, flicking the newspaper beside him onto his lap. Sky smirked, and Silver sighed, spending seconds more on the paper before putting down the highlighter and getting up from the couch. With newspaper in hoof, he went to the burner, pushing down on the igniter and waiting for the click click click of the burner to burst into life. “You were right by the way,” Starry sighed, grabbing the kettle and filling it up at the sink. “How could someone rip a pony to shreds for something as stupid as that, those damn cowards deserve banishment,” he grumbled, plonking the kettle onto the flame underneath.   Turning back to his paperwork, Sky began ticking boxes this way and that. “You’ll expose them Silver. You got passion in you.” Sky didn’t spend much time perusing through his paperwork, instead sighing and putting his quill back into it’s ink, rubbing his eyes and picking up the classifieds Silver had been perusing through. “Don’t you want a real career path Silver? You’re so ambitious when you want to be! Look at these jobs, cleaner, retail assistant… box packer?” “Come on dude, does it look like I have time for that stuff right now? It’ll happen, but I’m kinda focussed on not letting a bunch of guards kill somepony I sort of have a thing for?” He trotted back over and snatched the paper from his brothers hooves, smoothening it out and putting back on the table. “How much money you got?” Sky asked. Silver raised an eyebrow, sitting back down. “Enough…” He replied simply, not looking up. Sky once again snatched the paper before Silver could react, ripping it in half. “Hey!” Silver shouted, jumping out his seat. Sky raced over to the stove and lit a corner on fire, letting it slowly crimple and burn on one side whilst he held the other. “Wait until this whole thing blows over, then you are making a jewelry shop. No more job hopping! I let you take one of these and you’re never gonna do it.” “Sky…” Silver deadpanned. “Wait, Silver! Hear me out. You need to get out this rut! You wanna make this happen you gotta stop skirting the edge and taking jobs that kill you on the inside, Mum and I wanna see you be the stallion we know you can be!” Silver dashed forward and slapped Sky’s hoof hard, knocking the now brightly lit paper out his hand. “SKY! You’re fur was about to join my job searching!” Silver gasped, stomping hard on the flames leaping up from the paper on the tiled floor. “Well... my point still stands.” Sky grumbled, looking down at his intact, but now significantly warmer hoof. “Get out of this whole mess with this Starry guy, then make yourself happy. “Alright, well I actually have a plan now. And it may more or less involve you. If you would be willing to partake,” Starry asked, scooping the now cindered paper and placing it in the sink. “And what would that plan entail?” Asked Sky, shooting his brother a very skeptical look. “Well, it’s going to require a bit of magic, a shit ton of luck, and a letter. I’m not too good with writing so I would hope that you would be able to write it.” Sky sat down at the table and idly began fiddling with a small brass letter opener. “Yeah? And who on earth could you possibly be sending a letter to as part of this grand plan of yours?” … Periwinkle sighed heavily in her office chair. It had been a difficult week with becoming Sergeant Market Garden’s pseudo-henchmare. Shredding bags of hate-mail, answering investigator questions, filling out fake paperwork (set by the sergeant himself), and writing statements declining allegations. The case had gained traction equestria-wide, everyone wanting to get their fill of the intolerant guards. But a paycheck was a paycheck, regardless of its moral implications. She had herself covered, with plenty of records of what Market Garden had asked of her. If his coverup was exposed she had no intention of being dragged into the mess. All she wanted was a cigarette and another do-over with the stallion she had to cancel on three times because of all her bosses bizzare tasks. Once again the mare was shuffling idly along letter upon letter addressed to ‘The Dishonourable stain of the Crystal Empire’.  That one made her pause, the news had reached as far as Ponyville based on the address of the envelope. Public statement after public statement, it was no use, the momentum had set, the guards were already known for being backwards. It was only a matter of time Market Garden was kicked from his role for this.   “Oh?” Perriwinkle’s eyebrows raised slightly. It was from the boy she had visited, the one Market Garden had told her to threaten. Plain as day, he hadn’t even tried to hide his identity. One thing was to be said from the fearless nemesis of her least favourite employer, he had more stupid than guts. As far as she was concerned anyway. Using the cold, brass letter opener (it’s not like  she had to open any of the letters) she gently cut the envelope and pulled the paper out to read. Dear Sergeant Market Garden, I am under no pretenses over what our relationship is. I only want to reach a peaceful conclusion to this dispute, and I am quite aware that you would like to end this with as little public damage as possible. I am agreeing to meet with you, just you and me. We will meet and discuss the viability of a deal somewhat representing what I seek to disclose with you right now. I am prepared to wholeheartedly drop all claims I have made against you and the Crystal Guards. I am also willing to go so far as to accept a public apology and drop any further complaints/law cases/ police reports and damage control. However, I am only prepared to do this if you are willing to make a public admittance and kindly step down from your role as sergeant of the Crystal Guards. I also kindly ask for the funds in order to help remunerate Starry’s obvious redundancy and help cover the hospital bill your thugs created. This is an unfortunate situation, but I find your behaviour at the centre of what has created such a severe situation. I will remind you the implications of this case going further and the potential fallout that this could leave on your future reputation, not just as a sergeant, but as a respectable pony. This is clearly not my final compromise as I seek to consult with you on these terms, but as you can understand this distressing situation will best be resolved promptly. This coverup has left a clear message in everyone’s head and I would like to disperse this message provided that terms along these lines are met. A formal investigation would be lengthy, difficult, and expensive, but an inevitable and clear victory for the ponies whose lives you so willingly destroyed. Perrywinkle's lip curled, she already knew the answer to this statement their little friend had provided them. “Searge! I got something you may wanna see,” she shouted at the door sitting behind her little desk. She heard the ever familiar clomp clomp clomp of the searge once again attempting to reflect the look of a sane and well rested pony. However, at this point, the ruffled, dirty fur, the bags underneath his eyes, and the messy, scraggly mane proved otherwise. He came into the small office space and looked down at his secretary, glaring at her like sin. “I have a sickly feeling that I’m not gonna wanna see this.” Her hoof shot up, paper in tow in the direction of the burly stallion behind her. He snatched the paper and looked at it curiously. He read it right in front of Periwinkle, she could see his brows furrowing, the gears turning in his head. But suddenly, he gripped the paper tight, almost as if he was desperate to rip it in half. He shook like a leaf, what seemed like a loud bout of anger ready to explode at any second. Then… He stood there, a breath, a sigh of fiery red came billowing from his nostrils. Peri could almost see the anger be forced from his lungs. He gently placed the note back on her table and looked into her eyes. For the first time in nearly a week, Peri had the searge’s undivided attention on her, it made her feel ill. “Send a letter of correspondence,” his speech was staggered as he clenched his jaw, despite his attempts to contain himself. Yet, it still came off as eerily calm, as if the world was about to obliterate at any given moment. “I agree to meet with this pony. I’ll send you a list of options on where I want to meet with him, you are to provide him with these options. We’re doing this on my terms…” Periwinkle didn’t say anything, she simply nodded and placed the crumpled piece of paper between her and her letter kit. She was really going to have to think about this one. Mistakes were not in her job description as of lately, and it would take the lightest of gusts to tip the searge over the edge tonight. … Silver blushed, the kind of blush that hurt. He was holding Starry. It felt so alien to him. It almost felt forbidden, like fruit from the tree of some angry neighbour who hated ponies picking it. Like something dangerously good that no-one should see. No-one needed to see. This was just for him and Starry. But that didn’t stop it feeling strange. He continued to blush all the same, waiting at any moment to spring from the position he sat in, at the mere sound of distant hoofbeats. However, none came, and the silence filled the room as his leg rubbed up and down Starry’s unbandaged shoulder. The visits got increasingly more affectionate these days. They still spoke, but sometimes all they wanted was the feeling of the other’s presence. “I sent that letter that I got Sky to write.” Silver clenched tighter, drawing his body closer and putting his snout on Starry’s Fur. Ponies always say that their special somepony, the pony they love, has a scent. A sweet smell that reminds them they’re safe, an odor that just feels like safety and love and care. Starry didn’t have a scent. It was sterile, like everything in this room. It engulfed him an filled Silver’s nostrils with disinfectant and soap. It didn’t smell safe or happy at all. “Have you gotten a response?” Starry asked, turning his head back and putting his hoof on Silver’s own. Silver hadn’t seen but Starry had been smiling so hard his cheeks began to feel sore. “I only sent it yesterday…” The two were still, just taking in the warmth from each other. The strange tension coming from Silver, the rigidity, and the tenderness of the moment slicing through the fear. “Silver… when this is all over, what will we be? What do you want from this? This is all so new, and I don’t really understand what we are right now.” “Well, I wouldn’t exactly call this situation a common one. Starry Scroll-” Silver got up and came around to the other side of the bed, the way Starry faced, so he could look into those emerald green eyes. “When this is all said and done, and you can…” He looked down at the back legs under the tightly tucked bed sheets, “Get up, I would love to take you out on a date. I know we’re a bit passed that now, but I still want to have time to get to know yo-” Silver looked down, There was a weak, but tender, hoof wrapped around his stomach, as Starry did his best at giving a meagre hug in the hospital bed. He gently took Starry’s hoof in his own caressing the frail limb as he bent down and let Starry give him a kiss on the cheek. “I would love to, Silver,” Starry smiled, and despite how broken and frail he still was, it was the largest smile Silver had ever seen plastered on his face. Starry looked down, the smile fading. “I’m going to be a cripple for life now,” It was amazing how quickly he could look so miserable. Silver returned the favour and gave him a kiss back, continuing to caress the weak little leg still wrapped around his barrel. “Poets don’t need legs to be great, and stallions don’t need to be strong to be… beautiful? Handsome? That’s… really hard to say,” Silver blushed. Starry gave a weak smile once again, turning away from his legs and facing Silver, “Both will do,” he said, before laying his head back, closing his eyes, and letting out a sigh. “It sounds like you need some more sleep,” Silver said, letting Starry’s hoof fall from his side and on to the bed. “It sounds like you need not be such a worry wart.” He replied. Silver grinned and got off the bed, and picked up his bag he had left at the entrance. “I’ll come back tomorrow. I promise.”