Author's Notes:
Again an unpreread chapter... I'm fairly confident but if you find a mistake leave a comment...
Also shoutout to my editor who takes four days on a 6k chapter!
Thanks for reading,
-Dashie
Chapter Six
Inside Us All
Silver lay in bed propping his head up with his hooves as he stared at the ceiling. Things could have been better but they could have been worse too. He didn't know what to do and he could tell anyone that it was killing him on the inside. Luna snuggled a little closer and yawned. She wasn't awake but it kind of reminded him of his old cat Purdy. Terrible name but she was seven years old and he didn't know how long she would last.
He sighed as he wrapped a hoof around Luna. He couldn't really stop her from sneaking up into his bunk at night but he couldn't blame her either. There was more than just depression she was caught up in. Trust issues, mild shyness and even an eating disorder. She was a wreck but she was getting better day by day. He idlely ran his hoof up and down her back as he sighed yet again.
As the past few days slipped by he had read most of the book to her and given her his food. He sighed there wasn't much left to give her. His thoughts were interupted as a muzzle nudged his chin. He looked down at Luna who stared back up with her large orbs.
"You need sleep," Silver smirked at her and nodded.
"Yeah I know I do but I got a few things on my mind," Luna frowned at him her eyes quivering back and forth as she focused on him.
"You need sleep..." Silver took a deep breath and pulled her closer.
"I know... I know..." Silver's eyes felt heavy as he yawned trying to keep his thoughts jogging but he looked to Luna who kept staring him as his eyes shut and he faded off into the sweet nothingness.
Silver woke to an empty bed as he expected. He couldn't put his hoof on it but it felt better if he woke up with her. Shrugging he hopped off the bed and was surprised to find and already awake mare sitting on the lower bunk.
"You're late," She growled a little grogily. "Hurry up I'm hungry..." Silver smiled at her and got a little grin back.
"It's a start," He mumbled under his breath as she crawled out from the bed and stood next to him. The day went on as normal and when yardtime rolled around she was right beside Silver the whole time. Opting for a chair today they sat in the shade and watched the other ponies as they went on with their lives. It felt peaceful outside.
"You don't need to sleep on the top," Silver was taken aback at the sudden comment from his companion.
"What?"
"Lay with me tonight," After shaking his head clearing his thoughts for the moment he looked over to her as she lay down eyes closed on the laid out chair.
"O-okay," She cracked an eyelid and looked at him.
"Did I hear hesitation?" Silver screwed his face up at her and sighed.
"Hey Silver!" Gold yelled from the basketball court.
"Yeah?!"
"We need another player! Mind stepping in for a while?" Gold didn't need for him to answer to know that he wouldn't come over. "Nevermind, just relax for a while!" Silver nodded his face telling his tale. Usually he would rush out and join but relaxing felt good in the warm summer day. A slight chill in the air told everypony that autum would be around the corner soon.
"I'm going in for a nap..." Silver got to his hooves and stretched a little before trotting off with a slightly annoyed Luna trailing behind him.
Silver's joints screamed in protest as he moved out to the main hall. Luna jittered her way behind him as a blast of cold air hit them like a wall when the door opened. It was easy to keep it nice and cool during the summer but winter was when hell froze over, literally. Luna shuffled the blanket around her and Silver pulled his closer. They worked their way over to the mess hall where a few barrels with fires were roaring.
Guards kept the flames going each rotating out every so often. It was a real controlled system and yet it felt like life had thrown them into the shitter and tried to flush them away only clogging it in the process. Gold waved them over to a barrel and they huddled together.
"I heard that soon their putting in those enchanted stones..." Motus muttered through a chattering muzzle. Steel nodded and hugged her closer.
"Who needs those when you got a marefriend this hot?" They both blushed and Gold grumbled something about not sharing the fun.
"You don't have those yet?" They all shook their heads. "We got one a while ago..."
"Well lucky you mister 'Take the princess back to your bed every night'!" Silver sighed.
"If it makes you any better you can have it... And we don't sleep together..." Luna's brow raised up as she stared at him curiously.
"Do not deny what they already know Silver..." Steel looked over and growled.
"You could share you know?" Rolling his eyes Silver smacked a cold hoof against his numb nose.
"We're not having sex..." Motus snorted.
"Bullshit... I gaurentee you two have sex at least once a week!" Luna stepped forward and stared down the smaller mare.
"That, my dear subject, was not a lie..." Gold busted up and fell to the floor.
"Ha! She told you!" The pair of mares frowned at the old stallion as he got up wiping a tear from his eye.
"And you, I will not tolerate your grumpy attitude..." This earned her a jaw that hit the floor.
"Attitude? Well I'll show you an-" Silver put his hooves up to seperate the two.
"Enough... I've had it with you all... You all bicker over this and that... We weren't like this you know? Now you sit here and complain because of a little cold? We've faced winters much harsher than this. Why can't we all just be the friends we use to be? Huh? Is that to much to ask for?" All muzzles faced the floor as he looked over them. "Well is it?"
"No..." Came the collective answer.
"I thought so... Now please... For the love of Equestria shut up and get over it..."
"He's right... I'm sorry Silver... I just got a little carried away is all," Nodding Silver turned to Motus who was rubbing her shoulder.
"Yeah, sorry Silver," Gold grumbled.
"You're a crazy colt of a bitch some times, but I love ya and I shouldn't have griped..." Silver smiled and hugged them all in turn before turning to the Princess of the Night.
"My apologies... If you want the heating rock you may have it until the others arrive..."
"Nah... Keep it..." Luna shook her head and walked away. Silver coughed as soon as she rounded the corner which turned into a violent hacking. "You okay buddy?" He shook his head.
"No, I feel terrible... I'm sick and I don't want to tell her..."
"You should... The last thing you should ever do to a mare is not tell her what is wrong," Steel said concerned. Motus silently agreed.
"Yeah Silver, we all know you're getting just as bad as her if not worse... Like I said, I love ya and I can't have you giving up on us as a group," Silver looked over and the mares just stared him down coldly.
"I know, I know... There isn't much I can do now okay I just need some time to myself... Celestia may let me out if her sister gets better and I really would love for that to happen but I know I'm serving my time in here... The best I'm getting is a pat on the back and a good job and that worries me... And I like her... And I-"
"Hold up... You like Luna?" Silver nodded and frowned.
"That's another thing I'm gonna miss... Once she's cleared, which I suggested to Crystal she was ready, I'm gonna be lonely..."
"Tell her how you feel... You're being such a foal about this... You're pussy footing about nothing... Stallion up and grow a pair!" Steel said getting muzzle to muzzle with him.
"Fine! I tell her some time this week... Okay?"
"You better or I'm telling her for you... We may put you down for it but if you like her you deserve her... I heard she was on the brink of death... I was there when you brought her in and gave her a shower... She looks like her old self now and you deserve a good mare... You work hard and get close to nothing in return! If you don't take this chance and let it slip by... You're stupider than anypony that has ever existed!" Everypony around the pit was listening and nodding along as Gold spoke.
"Yeah!"
"Go for it!"
"Stallion up you colt!"
"Go get her!"
"Just tell her!" The ponies around the pit all but shouted at him. Silver's cheek turned a bright red and shown even more as the flames flickered and shown off his embarassment.
"ALRIGHT! I'll do it but-" His sentence was interupted by another round of hacking.
After a while Luna returned holding her blanket extra close. She sat down next to him and nuzzled him. "I put the stone in your room Gold, Steel, Motus..." They frowned but thanked her. The group watched carefully as Silver looked up to her but then turned away quickly.
"I'm tired..."
"So how is she?"
"I told you already... She can leave anytime..." He growled.
"You don't want her to do you?"
"No..."
"What are you gonna do when she leaves you behind?"
"Nothing..."
"I'm concerned for your health Silver."
"Join the group..."
"You know you have to form a queue if you want food..."
"What?"
"Nothing... Look, go get some grub and come back... We'll talk about this later..."
"Alright..." He stood up and left.
Holding Luna close Silver sighed. It was a colder than last night and it would only get worse day by day. His belly rumbled and he rubbed it softly. Only time would decide his fate.