The path up this small hill was rather wavy, and going up here wasn't good for me. However, despite it being completely enclosed, this mini castle was rather pretty. Grass grew like some sort of green candy cane. The flowers spread about everywhere, and the two fountains flanking both sides of this path were of some form of beauty I did not comprehend. White marble and the form of a pony standing on its hind-legs while spewing water from its mouth? Myes. Such a great design choice. Twilight kept looking at me from the side of her eye, squickly jolting her look back to the mini-palace of hers.
Speaking of, the coloration was awful. It looked like some sort of mansion made by Elves, what with the enormous, circular window planted right at the topmost floor, and the ivy climbing on the walls. Pillars half-sealed into the wall were whitened while the rounded roof above looked like some sort of vanilla tablet that stayed too long in the sun. It looked more like a cathedral than a palace, and the mixture of purple and green on the walls gave it some sort of 'military camoflauge' appearance.
"So, what kind of you planning on hiding?" I ask Twilight with a smirk.
She frowned and puffed up her cheeks."I didn't decide on this, okay? Even I know it's not the best look. Maybe if I asked Rarity--"
"NO! Don't. We'll look for someone else." I smile nervously.
"Why? She makes great dresses."
"..." I glare at Twilight in irritation.
"Okay. Fine! I'll ask somepony else to review the decoration of my home...Stop smiling."
"Who? Me? I'm not smiling in victory at all!"
Twilight frowned more, but she was suddenly startled by Jewel when she teleported right in front of us a smile plastered onto her face.
"A-Amber?! How? What? When--"
"She learned teleportation from Luna. Why? Is that a bad thing?"
"No. Not at all. I'm just kind of surprised. It's hard for teleportation, especially for somepony beginning her training in magic."
"It's because Princess Luna taught me lots and lots! It's hard, but I can do it!" Jewel shouted as she thrust a foreleg forward with pride.
"That's my wittle Jewel!"
I grab Amber and hug her powerfully and rub my head against her face. What? I couldn't help it. She's so cute and cuddly.
"Moooom! You're crushing me."
"And I'll crush you more if you struggle."
Suddenly, Jewel teleported out my hugging and appeared on the grass, swaying from left to right. Twilight just laughed. As we were about to say something again, Cyclon walked up to us and looked at Twilight.
"Princess. I ask that you let me supervise the training of your personal guards."
"Why? They seem okay to me." Twilight grinned with worry.
Cyclon just furrowed his brow and presented the few guards Twiilght had with a foreleg. They were trying to tackle one of the training dummies that stallion had just set up. Needless to say, the dummy was winning. At this sight, Twilight hid herself behind her wing in shame.
"Okay. Do what you need to do. I don't want to see that again. It's both hilarious and embarassing."
One of the guards literally got flung over the walls just as Twilight finished her sentence.
"Embarassing..." Twilight added.
"Yes. ALRIGHT MAGGOTS! Get back to your stations. I'm going to teach you the HARD way on how to fight."
"And off he goes." I spoke as my voice trailed off.
Twilight followed my view and ended up on a rather conspicuous part of Cyclon's body. The princess looked at me with a sly grin.
"What? I was thinking about something. STOP JUDGING ME!"
"Princess Twilight, when is Discord coming?" Amber tucked on Twilight's wing.
"Tomorrow...hopefully. I'll send a message to Princess Celestia stating that Silver has arrived. Those two need to make amends."
I pouted and Twilight just looked at me with a rather irritated smirk.
"You never told me what happened." Jewel looked up with big watery eyes.
"And you never will. There's nothing to speak about. Let's get into the palace. I want to see our rooms." I stampeded away from the scene.
I wasn't aware that I scared Amber, but judging by her trembling little body, I surmized that I did quite alot.
"It's okay, Amber." Twilight reassured the filly. "She's just...having a hard time." Twilight smiled once more, yet she looked towards me with concern."What is it that I'm sensing within you? It feels like it's gnawing away at your body."
Swinging the doors open gave me a view of a beautiful little palace. While it was small for royalty, it was a nice, humble little abode. The floor was covered in black and white marble tiles, there were four doors on both the left and right sides of this entrance, and the stairs that led to the second floor curved as to let a hole in-between them, allowing a fifth door to place itself.
Twilight directed us upstairs, then to the right. While Jewel was taken by a mare who worked as a caretaker, I was taken bu lavender to a room at the end of the hall. The room was illuminated with light, and said rays focused my attention upon an enormous bed covered with fluffy cyan and white comfettors. I just jumped onto the bed and huffed a sigh of relief for my tired body. Everything smushed underneath me as I lay there.
"I didn't know that you were always so tired? Are you...again?"
"I'm what again?"
"You know..." Twilight twirled her hooves around a bit.
"What-NO! No! I didn't do that again. It wasn't my choice to begin with." I trailed off, burrying my head into the pillow.
"Yet you don't regeret the result. Despite having nearly crushed Cyclon every day when you got bigger and bigger, you never tried to get rid of the foal. Of Amber. You don't seem like the mare that would purposely get herself pregnant, especially with the reaction you had when you were giving birth."
"Don't remind me of that pain."
"It was just pressure."
I pulled my head out of the pillows and stared at Twilight in fury."Just like a Tornado is considered a wind current?"
There was a long moment of silence.
"Right. I was trying to make a joke." Twilight replied apologetically.
"Whatever."
I felt the bed move a bit. Twilight had gotten on it and lied down next to me. I remained hidden in the pillow. In the darkness.
"Why don't we have some girl talk?"
"Oh god. Smite me. Kill me. Throw me at warrior taffy before she starts!"
"How do you really feel about Cyclon?"
"Nothing."
"That isn't true, otherwise you wouldn't have lived with him for so long."
"I didn't exactly have a choice."
"Yes you did. You knew full well that you could've just come back to the library with me and Spike." she giggled.
"Where is Spike, anyhow?"
"At Canterlot. I sent him a message to find Discord and bring him here."
"When did you do that?"
"I didn't. I just told one of the caretakers to do it for me."
"I see. 'Obey your master'."
"It's not like that."
"Psch." I grinned discreetly.
"Hmph. I know that you love Cyclon with all your heart. You just don't want to admit it."
"..."
"I know that you feel for him in many more than just one way."
"..."
"You always look at him. Admire him. You make sure that Amber is always near him when you're not there and he's the only one still nearby. Do you see him as a figure you never possessed yourself? Are you glad that you have both a lover and a friend that is making sure that your only child does not live through what you did?"
"..."
"You have to tell me, Silver! I can't help you if you don't."
I looked up at Twilight with sadness on my face. I didn't know why I suddenly felt sad. It just came like that. Becoming what I have and adapting to your new emotions is pretty tough, but, somehow, I've managed, in one way.
"It's more complicated than what you think. I..."
"You have something to tell me?"
"I...hurgh..."
My chest suddenly began to burn again, and this feeling ebbed along to my shoulder and leg as well. It was unbearable! I felt like lava was being poured on my body.
"Where's the bathroom?!" I cried in pain as I gasped for air.
"Right up front." she looked horrified.
"Thank you!"
I slam the door shut. There are no mirrors here, but that shadowy figure doesn't seem intent on coming out this time. Having an encounter with it every day is far too much. I feel something crawling in my throat, and I cough it up. A huge puddle of that black liquid mixed with my blood. It burns my throat and my mouth as it slides out, and I cough some more to get rid of the rest. As I put a hoof to my mouth, I see the black goo twist and turn to spell out :
"6 days. Amber Jewel."
If I didn't know any better, I'd say that it was warning me about Amber. Why? She was perfectly safe.
"Are you okay in there?" Twilight knocked.
I coughed a bit more before answering:"Y-yes. I just had a bad dish on the train."
"...I know that feel. I'll see you outside, in the back. It's the door right between the stairs that leads there. I want to show you something I'm sure you'll like."
"Okay. Thank you." I said once Twilight slammed the door. "The pain keeps getting worse. How long is it going to take before I can't bare this pain anymore?"
Twilight waited at the foot of the stairs, staring upwards. She had concern and thoughts etched onto her face. Something important was passing through her mind.
"I'll call a doctor while she doesn't know. I'm sure that if I ask her, she'll allow me. I'll do it tonight and send the message to Princess Luna. She certainly knows a few good doctors...hopefully."