Silver was on his way home, intent on spending the remainder of the evening with Angel. Alicia teleported next to him, floating a few inches off the ground, yet keeping up with him. She knew all about the horrors of Earth, but seemed unphased by it. She was who knew how many centuries old, she'd probably seen too many terrible things to count. "What do you think of Equestria?"
That was an interesting question. "Good to see you again, Alicia." He smiled, pondering it. "Equestria is different from Earth. Sillier, though I guess that's just me. It has things Earth doesn't. I like it, I can live here." Live well in fact, or at least he hoped so. At the moment he was bubbling from his ever evolving relationship with Angel. If Alicia had found him in a prison cell at that moment, his mood would probably still be uplifted.
Alicia rolled her eyes. She had Silvers best interest at heart, but tended to do her own thing. If it hadn't been for her, Angel would be asking about the Holocaust right now. "Listen, I got a hot tip for you. If you want to impress Angel, take her to the Lake tomorrow, exactly 2:33. There's something happening then that I think you'll both really like." She winked, and disappeared as mysteriously as she always did.
Silver never did get a long talk with Alicia, and still no talk of repayment. Then again a near omnipotent creature like her couldn't have many wants in material goods, so perhaps whatever outcome of her meddling was what she sought. Another puzzle. He stored it away along with her suggestion. Right now there was only one place he wanted to be. When he got close enough he teleported home, which left him nicely drained and fatigued. Going into the bedroom he entered the fragrant musk of Angel, and shimmied his way into bed, putting an arm over her side, nuzzling her mane.
Angel was asleep, and remained asleep. She cuddled closer to him, but eventually fatigue overcame Silver as well. Hours passed. When she woke, she seemed momentarily surprised to find him next to her. She had been unusually jumpy in the last few days, and hadn't spoken of anything bothering her. But that was Angel for you, even if her leg was broken in three places she wouldn't dare inconvenience others by asking for help. "Who... Silver!" She sounded relieved.
"So tense." Silver smiled warmly, awakened at her cry, and attempting to calm her nerves. "You've been like this so often." It wasn't something he'd have her spill unless her reactions became severe. "Angel, you know the spells that prevent you from getting pregnant?" He reached across her shoulder and held her hoof in the ankle of his. "Well I've decided, I don't want to wait any longer. We can always take our foals with us on holiday if we're going far, and hire babysitters if we want to go alone."
He immediately had her attention. "Silver, we discussed this. We were going to wait until the time is right." She said gently. "You are still learning about Equestria, you've only been a stallion for a few months." She coaxed. "Don't worry, the time will come."
Silver wouldn't argue with her, at least not now. "Alright, when you feel its time we'll do it, just wanted to let you know." He nibbled her ear a bit, hugging her against him. Deciding to be a little more frisky he reached down and stroked her wing with his hoof.
Surprisingly, Angel teleported a few feet away from him, out of bed. In a matter of seconds she was ready for a public appearance, her mane, coat and tail clean and brushed. She hadn't been entirely herself lately. "Let us go down to the lake instead, there is an event this afternoon and we must go early before all the good spots are taken." She said casually, changing the subject entirely. She didn't seem to like her wings being touched.
Silver was genuinely suprised by what had happened. Though Angel had always liked to snuggle, she had of course kept herself a little distant. Perhaps earlier last night had just been a lapse of her self-control, which made him feel bad for now offering extra intimacy without checking that she would have enjoyed that. However the suddenness of the way she had teleported was a surprise. He remembered what Alicia had said, 2:33 precisely. They could be there in a few minutes if Angel teleported them, perhaps he had to stall her a bit so that they'd arrive at the exact moment. He checked the clock.
It was quarter to noon, nothing would be happening for several hours. Angel smiled at him, although it wasn't as bright as usual. "I do love you, you know."She said, and there was no denying the truth in it. "I'd follow you to the ends of Equestria and back."
Stalling, definitely. He looked at his hoof for a moment, the one that had stroked her wing. "Angel is this something you want to talk about now? You're not just getting ready to go now because you're an early bird." It always hurt when he saw her express discomfort about her wings. To get her to even unfold them and fly he had to take her to a very private plain. No flight since then.
Something was bothering her, yes. But was it really about her wings? "No." She responded. "Come on, let's go." She nuzzled against his neck, and trotted for the door. "I must admit, I'm immensely surprised that you knew about the Flyover. You've been keeping up on Equestrian customs."
Deciding that he couldn't stall her so that they'd arrive at the specified point in time, he got himself up and gave himself a quick short shower. Working fine control was so much easier when your telekinetic magic was under control. He didn't have enough control of teleportation yet to do anything but send him to very familiar places. And never longer than a few hundred leggings (semi-obsolete pony length, comparable to three feet, not used much in Canterlot). He shook himself off his mane still clinging to his neck and had Angel do a quick-dry spell on him and come his mane through quickly. Their combined efforts got him muscled into a formal attire. "Do I look ready?" He noticed the dress she had put on while he was getting ready. Very Canterlot chic, which looked a bit Victorian to him. A few long dashing feathers coming from the hem of the dress, not meant to look like wings, but many dresses would have feathers there because they symbolized the grace unicorns associated with Celestia and Luna. Her own wings tucked away hidden inside the dress. He never noticed until now. He put on a smile for her. "Ready?"
Angel could be jaw droppingly beautiful when she wanted to be, but often kept herself casual. She nodded, and her usual magic took hold of them both. Teleportation was familiar by now, and in a matter of moments he felt grass underneath his hooves. There were ponies everywhere, some in the air, some on the ground. Couples snuggling on blankets, others playing in the lake. It was a typical, beautiful summer day. There must have been a good couple hundred ponies gathered altogether.
Few lookers like his wife to be. Smug pride was on him, and Angel was in his eyes, walking along his side. The place wasn't where he had proposed to her. It had been more than a week in planning. First he had done the hardest thing in his life, arguing out his permission to marry her from Novaria, who in theory held the possibility of him becoming her advisor in her hooves. Though she respected him for his abilities, he never knew if she trusted him. She hadn't said much as he explained to her how much her daughter meant to him, and what lengths he would go to to defend her. Eventually he was handed a very old engagement ring. A simple golden band, a family heirloom. He proposed to her the day he saw her fly, as a final surprise. Some fillies ran past them, a unicorn chasing a pegasus. A sheepish smile crept onto him and he nuzzled her. Now what was all this about? Flyover? A flock of dragons coming by?
Time slowed to a crawl, and although they were surrounded, there was only the two of them. She lay with her head on his neck, cuddled close, occasionally she would lean up and kiss him. All was right. His tranquility was broken only by the eventual excited screams of children. "They're coming! They're coming!"
Time slowed to a crawl, and although they were surrounded, there was only the two of them. She lay with her head on his neck, cuddled close, occasionally she would lean up and kiss him. All was right. His tranquility was broken only by the eventual excited screams of children. "They're coming! They're coming!"
Silver often wondered what being a parent would be like. Some of it he anticipated with dread, being kept awake at night by the constant crying of a little foal. A rather significant loss of freedom. Having to feel like a bad guy when it became time to punish his foals to teach them good manners. His heart fluttered with excitement when he saw the excited little colts and fillies going to their respective parents, he looked to Angel just to see if they were on the same wavelength.
Angel was not watching him, she was watching the children, though a soft smile on her face. "I want one..." She whispered quietly, presumably to him. Overhead, the biggest shadow he'd ever seen in his life soared, to the wild applause of the children. It was followed by another, and another. Dragons, full grown dragons, his first encounter with them. Massive beasts of scale and muscle, some flying so low they brushed the tops of the trees.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. He was so caught up with her that it took those giant majestic creatures to distract him. "Wow!" Though he had learned now that dragons existed in this world, actually seeing was a world of difference. "I almost can't wait until its our turn to have one." Not just one Angel. We'll see how many we can manage, but I don't think any number will be enough for me. He checked the time on his watch, was this what Alicia had wanted them to see? "Have what, a dragon?" She quipped. "Sure, YOU can push that one out."
He had met the baby dragon Angel had brought him at the hospital, and met Spike on his trip to Ponyville. But this... this was something else entirely. His watch read 2:34. Angels tail wrapped around his, and she leaned on his shoulder. "I want to be a parent with you, Silver." She whispered, looking up at the sky. "I don't know how I ever managed without you."
He had never wanted her more than he wanted her now. There would never be any regret in him over marrying her, or letting her become a mother, and making him a father. A deep lingering kiss. When it broke he leaned close, and looked into her eyes. His gaze explained his intentions. His desires.
It was a rather sudden question to ask, especially surrounded by children. But she smiled at his forwardness, and stared into his eyes with her bright blue ones. If a year ago someone had told him he'd once be madly in love with a horse, he'd have laughed in their face. But here, he'd landed arguably the prettiest pony alive.
"The dragons are beautiful and majestic Angel, lets see this next year. We can bring our baby daughter." It was a promissory note. "Right now there's only one mare I want to see for tonight and tomorrow. Teleport race you home?" It would be no contest, so in reality he was asking her to take them home. He'd ask her to call in sick. They both knew they were ready to be parents, and they both wanted it, come rain or shine. Though in Equestria most rains have scheduled rainbows, he knew it would turn out alright.
The alicorn beamed, and he knew she wanted nothing more than to be with him that night. As the two left, a figure rustled in the shadows of the forest. A figure that had been watching them for quite a while. "Aw, isn't that cute." It smirked. "You may think Equestria is a safe haven, Silver Key. But just you wait. A storm is coming. You'll earn that horn of yours yet." The figure strode deeper into the forest, waiting and watching.
[ANGEL AND SILVER WILL RETURN IN "ANGELS AND DEMONS 2" COMING SPRING 2013!]