//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: “You’re my home.” // Story: The Ghost of Coltistrano: Phantom Eulogy // by EthanClark //------------------------------// Blood and rain spilled over the floor, followed by a body falling through the green tear. Colliding with the floor made him groan. He laid there for a moment, taking in the fresh pain, barely noticing the jagged horn had slipped from his grasp, sliding just beyond the reach of his limp forelegs. From outside, the storm rumbled in the distance. Fresh rays of the setting sun pierced through what remained of the storm clouds to dance across the windows, bespeckled with rain and casting its warm glow over the room as the arc of green magic finally sealed itself, leaning the pony alone. Shield forced himself to move. One hoof at a time, he pressed against the floor of his familiar safehouse to a seated position, still resting in the thin puddle of damp and red. He ignored the sting in his leg as he rose to all fours. It was once he fully stood did Shield take account of the suite, immaculate as it seemed, as tired eyes traced the border to discover scrapes on the walls, scuff marks trailing from the entrance, tiny specs of glass illuminated by the setting sun hiding beneath the seating, but the growing knot in his chest reached its full tightness when his gaze landed on the table. The cloak was gone. “You’re getting the carpet wet.” The familiar tone of her voice made him slowly turn, and from the other side of the room he was assaulted by the firm, dispassionate gaze of Abby. His mind raced. Fighting against the pressure of her stare and the tremble surging through his spine, Shield snapped his head back to the now empty chair where the cloak once hung.  “So you aren’t answering me, now?” Abby scoffed, crossing the floor towards the cupboards, pulling a pear from within. “You’re bleeding. Something happen?” “You… did you notice…” Words failed him as his mind flooded with images of darkness, of amber eyes burning themselves into his memory. “I noticed the gash in your leg. You know where the kit is.” Her dismissive tone was enough to keep him grounded in the moment as he watched her eat from her pear, eyes focused on the window. “The cloak is gone.” Abby turned to Shield, languidly, witnessing his pitiful form in the setting sun. Wet, trembling, blood dripping freely from his leg, and two weary golden eyes fighting to keep their sights on her as they threatened to drift off into open space. Shield straightened his posture, but was met with her lightest scoff.  “There are marks along the walls,” he stated, resisting a stutter. “The scraping of unwashed hooves is trailing from the entrance. There is glass on the floor. Something happened while I was away, yes? Something you refuse to tell me.” Still, she gave him nothing. He stepped forward, drawing the thin trail of blood across the floor, fighting the hiss in his throat with each painful step. He spoke in a deep growl. “Someone came here for the cloak. Who was it?” “Who do you think?”  Abby’s tone was sharp, yet soft enough for Shield to entertain the idea she had never spoken at all, but her thin smile broke the illusion. All the power left within him began to rise like steam. His hoof twitched as Abby grinned, a dare across her face urging him to act. Though Shield felt his hoof rise from the floor he stopped as another face came to the forefront of his mind, wild and piercing, with a scowl to quell the building force in him as if it were a tiny flame smothered by the raging storm beyond the windows. “I… I want to know who. Some agent, or a rogue drone, or-” “You came from Ponyville, didn’t you?” Shield stayed silent. Abby, finishing and tossing away her pear, simply walked past the unicorn towards the front door, and from one of the flanking bedrooms a saddlebag gently floated towards her. His attention was split between the phantoms in his mind and the gentle hoofsteps beside him, but Shield finally summoned the strength to speak. “Where are you going? You are not permitted to leave!” Golden magic ensnared her hoof as he limped towards her, but in his skull he could feel a far greater force push against his own power as Abby’s horn lit up, her teal magic pushing against his own and shattering the spell. Again he tried, grunting as he did, but each time he was matched by her formidable will, each attempt draining what power he had left, all the while trapped in her fierce gaze. A gaze like his. Shield broke his own spell. Golden sparks fizzled in the open air as Abby held her ground, horn still alight and waiting for his next move. It never came, only his voice. “You made a choice.” “And I’m making one now.” She stepped out of view. He could hear her walk to the end of the hall, hear the creaking of the elevator door as it opened, and in a few moments Shield was left alone in the suite, the pressure of silence oppressing his ears. The urge to shout welled up within him, the faces silenced him. An instinct to strike the nearby wall began to trigger, but the voice restrained him. A single visage enslaved his thoughts. Shield was left to simply stand in place as any response he would dare to consider was scattered in the face of the looming shadow as the light of the outside slipped over the horizon. There, in the darkness, he stood alone. — Glimmering rays of light twinkled in the small dew drops along the windowsill, a final gift from the long passed storm, and cast their thin rays of color into the darkened room within. They illuminated the path leading from the entrance inwards. A thrown open door, mud-caked boots, damp towels, and all manner of discarded garments leading across the already messy floor and towards the island in the center. Drapes lined the perimeter, allowing only thin rays to peek through the narrow opening. One pierced the veil to dance along the mounds of lavender cloth and provide only the slightest illumination as the distant sounds of birds announced themselves, until the drape was pulled shut. The mounds of cloth shifted on the bed. The world within the drapery was dark, radiating with warmth trapped between its two occupants, one of whom slowly returned to their impression in the pillow, moving as silently as their neighbor’s breath. Birdsong continued. Her half lidded eyes drowsily traced the face of the other, still sleeping, hair and limbs spread across the bed towards her. An invitation, one she slowly, yet greedily, accepted.  Trembling puffs of air trickled from her lips as she settled into his unconscious embrace, giving a second stutter as his limbs moved to close around her. Warmth surged in her again and threatened to return her to sleep. Even after several minutes of quiet pleading, though, her eyes refused to yield, even to such long-missed pleasures. Instead, she resigned herself to quiet admiration of her partner. Tracing the creases of his face with her eyes, basking in the rhythm of his softly beating heart, allowing a daring hoof to pass along the inside of the covers to touch him. He was real. From the long strands of argent hairs trailing from his mane, to the freshly healed gash along his belly. Before her lay the object of her most tortured nights, returned to grant her long needed, blissful sleep. Everything as she hoped, everything as she remembered. Just as she made contact with the more tender parts of him he mumbled. His eyes lazily opened. Gentle darkness surrounding him almost convinced him he yet slumbered, but the chirps and trills of the world beyond pulled him into the waking world. Weary limbs waved in the air before he felt something catch on them. Strands of silk, a texture that dragged along his hoof as he felt his way up towards their source, landing along the warm cheek of his silent companion. Even in the darkness, their eyes caught each other. Silver and Rarity laid entwined together. Her foreleg wrapped itself around his chest, while he found himself cradling her head, and somewhere along the way their manes fell together as a tapestry of regal color across the bedding. A leg traced its way up along his, with him slowly bringing himself deeper into the blankets to meet her at eye level. A hoof grazed her cheek and traced down to her chin. It traveled along her neck to stroke her messy mane, slowly pulling her closer. The corners of her mouth curled ever so slightly as she returned his tender gesture. Drawn drapes encircling them could no longer keep out the light of morning, dressing them both in its glow. “We should’ve done this earlier.” His whisper sent a flurry of sleepy giggles through her, slowly resting her face into the crook of his neck. “Now we always can.” For a few minutes more they lay there, entombed by blankets with each other's warmth as fuel for their hazy euphoria, tired limbs securing them both in place. Eventually, he dared to press against the pillow and push himself up. His first attempt failed with a soft grunt, aching muscles yearning for the warm confines of his cocoon, but another attempt managed to at least lift him from the pillow. “No.” She moved slowly, but faster than he was ready for, pressing his shoulder and bringing him back to her. “Not yet.” “So you don’t want breakfast in bed?” “Please…” Silver’s smirk faded. She looked to him with an open and stoic face, but the quiver of her lip and tremble in her hooves betrayed her. He relented, eagerly pushing into her embrace, placing tender kisses along her fur and allowing her a moment of presence, held together by a strength which grew with each minute since they had awoken together. The bed began to rumble softly, and Silver could feel tears fall against his face. “I’m here…” Despite his words of comfort, her display was more than enough to tip him over the edge as well, falling deeper into her and holding on tight. “You were dead… y-you… never leave me again.” With teary eyes he pulled away to look at her. Pinpricks of light shone through her mane, illuminating her face and the streaks that framed it, and he felt her gaze nestle itself deep into his very soul as azure eyes held him in place, never once looking away. It was then he kissed her. As he had done many times before, he closed his eyes and relished in the touch of her affection. Their lips grazed and pressed against each other softly as proof they were still there, sensations as evidence their dreamy state was more than fantasy, that it was real, and they were together.  “What’s this?” His absentminded hoof traveled down her form, brushing against something tied to her wrist.  “It’s part of your uniform. Gilda found it where you… at the bottom of the cliff. Have you seen the city yet?” “I have.” “We can talk, if you want. It was your home, and after every-” Rarity’s words were silenced by his advance, stealing a kiss and once more convincing her to sink deep into their shared embrace, and her eyes fluttered open when he pulled away. “You’re my home.” There was a pause, and soon the tender atmosphere was shattered by her involuntary chortle, chuckling as Silver joined in. “Dirty charmer, always such a tease. I missed it.” “I missed you.” A final, chaste kiss landed on her cheek, and Silver turned onto his back. “There’s still ash from home in my clothes, and on the cloak. No matter how many times I wash it. It doesn’t feel real.” “To think it ever happened at all. After all these weeks we never even would have guessed the depths he’d sunk to. All for what, revenge? Petty, base vengeance?” “I'm more scared of what happens now,” Silver whispered. “He’s failed. If he reports back, Chrysalis and the changelings might do anything to take this city back, or worse, but… let’s not talk about it now. How are you?” “Better than I’ve been in a long time, especially now knowing I won’t need a new bed. We fit well, don’t we?” “Oh, are you sure? You won’t want any space for yourself?” “I have no plans on letting you even an inch out of reach,” she chirped, pecking his muzzle. “But I’ll settle with pushing you to the edge if you get too clingy. “Now who’s the tease?” Azure eyes taunted him, with a power alluring enough to pull him onto her, assaulting her face and neck with gentle kisses, relishing the soft rumble in her chest as she giggled.  “Oh! Wait, wait, I want to show you something.” She rolled over and cast a subtle spell towards the desk at the far wall, summoning a violet book to her. “It’s your journal,” Silver stated. “I remembered how excited Twilight was to meet you, with all the old stories written about Darrox during his time. So, for a while now, I’ve been keeping a record of our times together. You’ll have to fill in some of the blanks, though. I started back before we first met in Canterlot, so your time on the island and some of the adventures you’ve had without me will be up to you, but if you’d like to go over it with me we could make something truly special, I think.” Rarity watched his face shift, a small smile forming across his lips, followed by the smallest traces of a tear. His renewed grip on her was more than enough of an answer for her as he leaned in. “Can we read some now?” A grin broke out across her face. Wasting no time, she shifted herself against his shoulder and pulled open the journal with her magic, and there the two sat in silence as she bared the pages of her world to him, and Silver never once looked away. The sunlight beyond the drapes illuminated them just enough to read as morning birdsong slowly changed to the bustle of Ponyville outside, but to them, coiled together in pleasant warmth and silence, it was little more than distant noise. “‘Of course, being the generous soul I am, I graciously offered him’...” Silver cocked an eyebrow at Rarity, whose slowly flushing cheeks were amplified by the silence between them. “You weren’t supposed to read that part,” she mumbled. “You literally dragged me to that spa.” “Oh, but you needed it, darling. Gangly and matted, fetlocks as long as your mane, ugh!” “Yet gorgeous enough to earn my place in your bed.” “And whosoever do we thank for such delicate care and attention, hm?” Silver gave an exaggerated sigh and leaned down as Rarity offered an expectant cheek, gifted with a long and firm kiss. “Your spools of thread will forever be remembered for holding this aching body together, my love.” “That’s more like it.” The drapes surrounding the bed had long been drawn back, finally allowing the sun access to their sanctum, and before long the journal was closed and replaced with steaming cups of coffee as Silver and Rarity slowly emerged from the bedroom. They would sway together to the songs of birds as they prepared breakfast. Silver hummed as he ate, looking out between the window panes to the first bright morning in recent memory. When their fruit was consumed and coffee drained Rarity followed him to the door. Her hoof, however, stopped him before he reached the doorknob, with a tender caress of the twisted scars exposed along his bare back. He did hesitate, but the smile she received filled her with his confidence. Sunlight greeted them on the outside. Ponyville was bustling with countless groups of ponies rushing between streets and homes, carrying supplies and joined by the EUP patrolling the camps of changeling prisoners. An auburn mane sat amongst them, and at first glance Lighthoof gave them a nasty snarl. Rarity returned it with a smug grin. Splitting off from the road, the two walked down one of the major thoroughfares, dodging the ponies at work and waving to those who greeted them. Despite the wreckage around them, they chatted and laughed like two ponies in love. Then came the familiar hulk of wood and steel, nestled across the street and pressing against a building with its impressive frame. Citizens and soldiers alike were hard at work yanking on ropes to move the downed airship while others worked to repair the gash in the balloon. One or two stopped to wave at Silver and Rarity, catching the attention of their tall and feathered overseer, who peered at them with yellow eyes and a sly smirk. “I’d tell you to get a room, but I know you’d still be all over each other.” “Yup, down and prone like your ship happens to be. Didn’t Gorn teach you how to park?” “And how not to shoot the balloon. Just proof he liked me more than you.” “Liking you is a chore, featherface, he just hated you least.” Gilda paused for a moment before shooting Silver the widest, sharpest grin ever to grace her beak, lunging in for a powerful hug. Rarity giggled as they squeezed and patted each other, but their embrace continued even after their bravado passed. Gilda dug her face into his neck. They held each other up, uncaring to the busy world around them, pulling away only when they decided it was time, a comfort long missed. “You’re such a dick, dude,” Gilda choked, fighting her tears. “Could’ve just come to us, ya know? Not pull that caped crusader crap and show up when it’s the most dramatic.” “But you have to admit, it was pretty cool.” Silver’s laugh was cut short by a firm slap from Gilda, right onto his shoulder. “Buck you, asshole, you even said the stupid line.” She failed to hide her smile, even as she slapped him again. “Hey, um… Rares, could you go check… check the balloon? These klutzes couldn’t-” “I’ll give you some space,” Rarity chuckled, stroking Gilda’s shoulder before taking off towards the wreckage. “You doing alright, G?” Silver’s words forced her feathers to ruffle. “Y-Yeah, um… can we just talk? Just… yeah.” She led him over to the side of the street, seating herself on the sidewalk. “Is everything alright? You’re making me nervous.” “No… I-I mean, yeah! I just… I’m such shit at this.” Her empty claw was soon filled by Silver’s hoof, the gesture filling her with warmth and renewed breath. “I thought you were dead. You were dead, and it… it dragged a lot out of me. Nasty parts I thought were long behind me. I kinda talked about it with Kindle, and Rarity I… well, I hope she forgives me. Jeez, I just went full survival mode, ya know? I didn’t sleep, spent all my time looking for Shield for what he did to you, and… l-look, I’m just trying to say-” A foreleg around her neck silenced her nerves, and Silver pulled her into a warm embrace. “I missed you, featherface.” “Y-You too, raghead,” Gilda stammered, once more falling into him with her full weight, trying to preserve her barely repaired composure as tears threatened to fall. “So… changelings, huh?” “Yeah, changelings.” Silver chuckled, looking out across the road where they rested. “But from the look of things we’ve got a shot. We know they’re operating out of Canterlot, just need to find out where.” “Working for the head bitch, from what I heard, right? That Queen Chrysi-missi-something.” “Chrysalis.” “Nah, she’s Queen Bitch from now on.” Silver laughed through a bright, toothy grin, shooting Gilda an joyful look before she, too, joined in, allowing their laughter to echo throughout the street before Silver finally collected himself. “Well, if you pull a stunt on her like you did Shield yesterday, there’s no way we can’t take her.” “And I would’ve blown him to high tartarus if your ugly mug didn’t distract me. Nasty, long-maned looking colt, can’t your marefriend get you a haircut?” “Says the walking, talking rug. Your fur looks more matted than a diamond dog after a rainstorm.” “That’s cuz you nearly took my head off when you shot my ship out of the air with your piss-poor aim. Why don’t you try some glasses, doofus.” “You could’ve ducked, but I guess that would’ve flown over your head, too.” “Not unless… ooh…” Gilda squinted and wagged a claw in front of Silver’s smug face, soon to meet the back of his head in a firm slap. “Call me stupid, will ya?” “With how loud you talk, I’m surprised you’d ever hear me.” Another swipe shot for Silver head, who ducked and gently bopped Gilda on the beak, signaling the start of an all out slap fight between the two. Rarity peaked up from her dutiful ministrations on the bisected balloon, looking over with a sigh to watch as the two fully grown and respectable heroes of Ponyville rolled over each other while shooting their insults. Several ponies watched, some even cheered. Their brawl soon came to an end when the shadow of a unicorn loomed over them. Gilda looked up, pinning Silver flat on his back, to the amused expression painting Rarity’s face as she leaned over to the prone pony beneath her. “Having fun, my love? Do you need any help?” “Please, Rarity, you know bottom is my strongest position.” Rarity’s cheeks went beet red, with a look of playful shock across her face and huffed at the boldness of his words. “Gilda, darling, my ever-so-subtle stallion hasn’t fully healed beneath his left ribs. Jab him for me, will you?” Silver’s eyes went from half-lidden to dinner plates in the split second it took for Gilda to drive her claws into her target, producing a sadistic cackle as Silver squirmed beneath her.  “Have you learned your lesson, love?” Rarity leaned down to Silver’s pained face. “That you make a nasty team up,” he grimaced, finally allowed to stand as he cradled his left side, but something caught his eye. Overhead, just visible above the roofs of Ponyville, soared a shape as white as clouds, smooth and sleek and sailing towards the outskirts of the city. Silver rushed off first, followed by Gilda and Rarity as they dashed through the streets. The more they ran, the more of the visiting object they could identify, oblong and traced with golden streaks in a pattern Silver recognized and collected into a gleaming crest along the face of an air balloon, carrying the slender and equally white hull of an airship. Red streaks whipped around at the bow.  As they ran, Silver spotted two shapes flying in from the left. Carried on leathery wings. His hooves beat a little faster when he recognized one of the shapes as Kindle touching down just a few meters from the airship. The other, though, hobbled when he landed. The streaks of red jogged from the bow to the gangplank, waiting eagerly for it to lower just as Silver, Gilda and Rarity. “Silver? Silver!” Kindle spun on his hooves and rushed to the earth pony, taking his hoof. “I can’t believe you’re alive! We… holy smokes, you have no idea how rough it’s been.” “I’m just glad you’re alive, you and…” Silver trailed off as he met the sideways glance of the other pony, trying to avert his slit-shaped eyes. “Silver,” Glint mumbled. He began his march toward the aloof bat pony, but was halted when the same red mane came rushing towards them both, veering towards the latter. “Glint! I came as soon as I could.” “You made it out? You escaped?” “He was in no shape to stop me. Goodness, I can only imagine what put him in such a state.” Silver merely watched as Abby wrapped her forelegs around Glint, who stood in shock before shakily returning the gesture. His eyelids twitched, his hoof shook, and a peculiar heat made its slow climb to his skull. Then she looked at him. In the moment he found her sea green eyes all rising tension disappeared, emerging as only a long, staggered sigh. Abby pulled away from Glint and moved to Silver, trapping him in the same embrace. “You did it,” she whispered. “Not alone.” Silver summoned a smile, pulling down her foreleg and holding her hoof. “So… you two are… friends?” “Of a sort, the kind you make while interred with Shield Wall. Please, Silver, I trust him.” Silver moved his gaze back to Glint. The bat pony never faced him directly, but found himself backing up a few steps as Silver finally parted from Abby and closed the distance. They met at eye level, and Silver held firm. Every inch of Glint’s otherwise stoic visage risked collapsing under the scrutinizing pressure Silver put him under, saying nothing, holding him in his gaze, never so much as flinching. Glint could feel his own sweat along his brow. “You’ve been taking care of her?” Silver finally said, breaking the silence. “Y-Yes.” “You’ve been protecting her? From Shield?” “More like she’s protecting me.” “Are you loyal to her?” He looked to the ground, as if searching for an answer next to his hooves, but gave a quick sigh and locked eyes once more. “Yes. Where she goes, I go.” Silver looked back to Abby, who gave him a warm smile. Then he looked to Kindle. Kindle fumbled with his hooves, biting a lip and watching the exchange with rapt attention, never settling as he stepped in place to focus his nerves. Then, Silver pulled himself close to Glint’s ear. “Abby has asked me to give you a chance,” he began. “Let me say that again: Abby has asked me to give you a chance. And I will give you that because I trust her, because I trust Kindle, but that doesn’t mean I trust you.” “With all due respect, I don’t trust you either, Ghost,” Glint shot back, his voice just above a whisper. “But if Abby wants us to work together, then we’ll work together. We can kill each other after.” “Agreed.” Silver pulled away, giving Glint one final evil eye before extending his hoof to Glint, who took it in a firm bump before Silver turned away. “Abby, do you need anything?” “Only something to drink, then I would like to help, if I can.” “There are wounded gathered in the main square,” Rarity piped up, stepping to her side. “They could always do with another nurse.” “R-Rarity…” Abby shifted in place, dodging Rarity’s soft gaze. “If you’ll have me, it’s the least I can… of course, please show me the way. If it’s not an improper time I’m very sorry about-” “Yes, yes, we’ll talk about that later, won’t we? Silver, love, you play nice with him.” As Rarity and Abby talked amongst themselves, Silver spied Kindle’s distressed expression from the corner of his eye. He placed a hoof on his shoulder. “We’ll talk about this later. I’m just glad you’re still here.” “Me too, I… I did everything I could to help them, I just wish it was more.” “You helped keep them alive, Kindle. I would never ask for anything more.” “Silver!”  The familiar voice filled Silver’s hooves with swift purpose, turning away from the airship to meet the source of it, only to be met by something which paralyzed him. A hundred eyes of shocked faces laid upon him. The crowd filled the street with their number, ponies of all types and ages, silent and fixated on the one stallion they had come to see with their own eyes, and from the front line walked a mare. Kindle helped her forward until she stood face to face with Silver. They said nothing. Rarity and Gilda looked on with baited breath, slaves to the tension of the moment. Kindle’s gentle grin began to diminish as the seconds ticked by. Silver made the first move. Together, Silver and Honey Hearts fell into an embrace. Silent tears were shared as they clung to each other and Honey stifled her emotions just enough to choke out a few words. “I didn’t believe… I can’t…” Silver held his tongue, but his eyes looked beyond Honey’s grayed mane and to the ponies of Coltistrano who gathered around them. His grip on her loosened. Approaching them required a strength his legs were unprepared for, and holding his gaze with them burdened his head with a weight unlike any he had known, but he marched forward, until he paused to stand before their expecting eyes. “I’m… I’m sorry.” Silver’s breath was strangled, with tears the only outlet for his shame. “I’m sorry I’m still alive… when you’ve lost so much. I’m… I…” He collapsed. The refugees of Coltistrano looked on as he dug his hooves into the dirt, and with each moment that passed their faces became a gallery of different emotions, some even joining him in shedding their tears while others shot looks of disgust. Some ponies stared at him with frightening glares. Seeing this, Gilda stepped to Silver’s side and wrapped him in a wing as if to shield him as she returned the glares with her own piercing scowl. “Bet that feels good, doesn’t it?” A bronze pony hollered from within the crowd. “Friends, still alive to protect you.” “Breeze, that’s enough,” a mare beside him said. “No! Your brother is under a pile of ash and wood while he gets to keep playing dress up!” “My son is still missing! Why do you get to survive, instead?” Shouted a red pegasus. “Shield Wall was your problem, your enemy, and you let us pay for it!” A younger colt shoved the shouting unicorn. “He didn’t know! Coltistrano would’ve burned down long ago if he never came around and you know it.” “P-Please, I-” Silver’s hushed stuttering was drowned by a rising tide of yelling the mob crashed against him, frozen as Gilda joined in with insults of her own, lost in the noise. “Don’t you dare insult my son after all he sacrificed, you ungrateful, thankless fool,” Honey snapped, managing to slightly hush the crowd. “Shield Wall hurt us long before Silver ever returned, so don’t you put this on him!” “Then he should’ve put him down before he made it our problem, too!” “Leave him alone!” A bright pink filly pushed past the forest of legs the crowd made. She weaved between the ponies and broke through the front line to witness Silver, trembling in the dirt, stepping forward to meet his watery gaze. Her presence was almost enough to bring a smile to his face, and around her neck he spotted a long, tarnished piece of black cloth, flapping gently in the low breeze, but when she moved his breath hitched in his chest. She removed the scrap, straining to reach and tie it around his neck.  Every muscle in his body tightened, now straining to control the flood of emotion let loose as the filly shared a wide smile. Silver shut his eyes tight, tipped his head back, and let out a long and ragged sigh before he found the strength to not only restrain himself, but to return her smile with a grin of his own. The display covered the crowd in a blanket of utter quiet. Some turned and left, spitting hushed curses while the rest of the ponies of Coltistrano gathered around Silver and the filly, kneeling down beside them. Honey Hearts pressed a hoof to her mouth to contain her own emotions, while Rarity and Gilda approached to join Kindle, watching as Silver sat in the street with his people at his side, the makeshift cape still on his neck. Then, the filly spoke. “Princess Twilight says good friends don’t always do well, but that doesn’t mean they don't care. And you’re the Ghost, so you care more than anyone, right?” Waves of emotion crashed against the inside of his chest, but Silver’s resolve held firm as he found the strength to reply. “More than you know.”  “Could you tell me the story? About how you became the Ghost?” Silver looked back to Rarity with a bashful stare, but she chuckled warmly, urging him with a subtle wave of her hoof as Silver collected the excited filly in his lap. “It starts with an island…”