Putting on a Silver Robe and Wizard Hat

by David Silver


10 - Putting her Hoof Down

Night's hoof slapped down, trapping the almost-settled die against a smooth portion of the floor. Silver raised a brow at her. She leaned towards him, "First, a few questions."

Silver lifted a hoof a moment, then set it down, "Rolling that die was your idea, just to remind."

Night turned her muzzle up at Silver, "And these questions are mine too. First question, 'Why?'"

Silver rolled a hoof slowly, "Why... you? Why... the Luna thing? There's a lot of good whys."

Night settled down on the die, trapped under her hoof as she looked up at him, "I have time. Start with me. I'm not saying yes or no until I know what I'm getting into."

Luna raised a brow, "Must this take place in my room?"

Both Silver and Night glared at her before Silver looked back to Night, "Alright, why you. You're cute. You're smart. You're delightfully, refreshingly, stable."

"Stable?" asked Night.

Silver nodded, "Your quirks don't send you running off to do something insane or dangerous. To run down the list of other mares I've looked at, we have Lyra, who was quite willing to throw around magic she wasn't ready for. We have Fast Change, who's one hoof away from becoming a changeling, to say nothing of her really obvious nymphomania and outright need for attention. Hell, let's look at my adoptive mom. Trixie's wonderful, but she has a pride big enough to swallow this city and can go off the deep end if it comes down to proving why it's justified." He lifted a hoof to point at Night, "You start boiling things down to probabilities. That's adorable, and pretty harmless."

Night shook her head, "So I'm cute and not crazy? That's not sounding convincing."

Silver frowned, "There's more... You also don't mind a stallion that likes meat, also, you left off smart."

Night tilted her head, "Liking a little meat isn't that odd for a lunar pegasus."

Silver bobbed his head, "Which I am not. You didn't even think about it. You like a lot of things I like, and..." he wobbled a hoof, "I like you? It's hard to define that, but I'm happy when you're around, and just a little sad when you're not. I think of a future where I'm old and grey and you're old and grey with me and that hardly seems like a bad future to have." He took a slow breath, "So, will you?"

Night shook her head, "Not yet. More questions." She pointed with the hoof not holding down the die, gesturing at Silver, "Why now? Luna didn't do anything new to you, but suddenly here you are, attacking her, in her own room. Why?"

Silver's ears sunk a little, "I... just thought... Well, I felt like I could pull in magic, so, you know..."

"I don't know," said Night flatly, "Tell me."

Silver nodded slowly, "I thought if I could suck Celine out of Luna, I could fix it." He sank slowly to the floor, "When you told me it wasn't Luna's faith that was gone, but Celine's... it just... died. If..." Fresh tears began to fall as he pawed at the tile, "If... she decided to go, then... fine... I'm sorry I wasn't a good enough stallion for her to have faith in, to believe in." He looked at Night, blinking through the tears, "I hope I will do better with you."

Night started to look distinctly uncomfortable a moment before she nodded her head, "Princess Luna?"

Luna nodded at Night lightly, "Yes?"

Night pointed a hoof at Silver, "Are you aware this would-be assasssin spent the entire time while Tirek was here crawling around the city, tending to ponies too weak to even get water? Are you aware he carried ponies around, even when it looked so painful for him to do? Are you aware that, not knowing how long it would be, he pressed on, even when I was scared to go outside?"

Luna shook her head slowly, "I was not aware of this."

Night pulled the hoof with the die under it away, but there was no die, "That was a miscalculation on your part. You have lost what would have been a great squire, but you've given me what I hope will be an even greater stallion."

Silver's face lit up, and he rushed for her. They rubbed snouts together gently but eagerly as they lay, belly down, on the ground.

Luna gave a soft snort, "None of this excuses his attack. He still has penance to pay." She rose to her full height, wings spread wide, "I will not be left alone!" The two looked up at her with confusion as what she said creeped up on her and she began to darken through her already dark fur, "What we mean is..."

Silver sat up on his haunches, "Are you... jealous?"

Luna scowled, "I am not jealous, certainly not of you, once-human."

Silver stepped towards Luna, quietly rejoicing at muscles that obeyed his command without complaint. Luna went rigid as he came closer, which only grew worse when he leaned in. He gently nuzzled into her ribs and she jerked away, "What are you doing?"

Silver flashed a bright smile, "It all makes sense now."

"What does?" demanded Luna, turning with wings still extended. She was in a predatory stance, eyeing Silver as if he were a danger. "Speak clearly."

Silver approached her again, only to be softly bopped on the nose by Luna, "Speak first."

Silver snorted softly, "You're just as alone as I am. Maybe more so, since you've had longer to perfect the art."

Luna shook her head violently, "This is a lie! I am--" Silver moved in while she hotly defended herself and gently nuzzled into her ribs.

"You're as pretty as a full-moon night," he spoke gently.

Luna looked to Night sharply, "Restrain your stallion! He has clearly taken leave of his senses. We have caused nothing but pain for him at every turn, and yet he is here professing love."

Night shook her head slowly, "I... think he's being serious." She sat up, peering at the both of them with obvious confusion and thought in her eyes.

Silver wrapped his forelegs around Luna, only getting partially around her. "You deserve to be loved, just as you are."

Luna swatted at Silver with her wings, but it was half-hearted at best, "Stop that! I am the Princess of the Night. My subjects fear me... Even when I try to be with them. It is not... fate for me to be..." Her words came slower and slower as Silver began kissing and nibbling through her fur. "Stop it! You are not well! You should hate me!"

Silver paused a moment, "How can I hate you? You gave me Celine. You are Celine. Her love is in here." He poked Luna in the side, "Even if you keep saying no. If you didn't like me, you couldn't have made Celine."

Luna's feathers went on edge as she nudged Silver back an inch, only for him to advance immediately back on her. "It is at my hoof that you have known shame, ostracism, love, and the loss of it. I have seen you wail." She leaned in, coiling around to be nose-to-nose with Silver, "You are insane. There is no other reason I can fathom."

Night shook her head, "I think I understand."

Luna looked up at Night, "Please, share." She grunted as Silver snuggled into her, but she didn't shove him away again, "Quickly."

Night nodded then, "Alright. The way I see it, Silver seems to gravitate towards those who are themselves lonely." She pointed a wing at Luna, "You are almost the loneliest pony in Equestria. That colt he was with for that short time was terribly lonely. His parents, before they got together, were both very lonely ponies."

Luna pointed, "And you?"

Night flushed gently, "Married to my work..."

Silver provided, "Lonely."

Night huffed, "Fine, lonely. I didn't have a lot of off-duty friends until I warmed up to Silver. He's a big... lonely vortex, sucking in lonely ponies."

Luna growled softly, "I am not drawn to him! He is being drawn to me. Restrain him, Night Watch, or I will be forced to do so."

Silver let go of Luna and shuffled back a little away from her.

Night glanced at Silver before stating to Luna, "I think he's ready to go."

"Almost," said Silver. "I haven't finished collecting my favors."

Luna frowned, "I have forgiven your assault, to say nothing of this most recent intrusion on my person. What else do you want?"

Silver pointed at Luna, "A kiss, right on the lips."

Luna's wings went wide, "This is..." she huffed and leaned in, pressing her lips into Silver's roughly, almost violently. Silver found himself tilting backwards as Luna pressed against him. Soon he was on his back with Luna over him, the kiss deepening by the moment. Her teeth were felt as she began nibbling at him before she sealed the connection and his snout was invaded by her. This was far better than he could have hoped, and he just held onto her front as best he could, riding the sudden intense passion being poured into him.

Night blinked softly, as did the guards outside that had been gawking for some time. None of the three had ever seen Luna act this way. Luna pulled back with a soft breath. "Why?"

Silver smiled from underneath her, "That's a popular question... Can you stop hurting me, and just be happy?"

Luna snorted loudly, "I was trying to defend you!"

Silver summoned his silver hands, gently pressing Luna back on top of himself. He was certain she could have thrown off his gentle press, but she sank in against him. "I don't want a defender. I want you."

Luna shuddered before she shook her head. She scrambled off of Silver. "This is not natural. You are not natural."

Silver slowly rolled himself to a seated position, "I'm not a pony, as you painfully reminded me. I'm a broken human." He rose up and stepped towards Night, nuzzling her gently, "I'll find my happiness, if you let me. Just stop hurting me. Enough."

Luna snorted loudly, wings giving a flap, "Are you seducing me to curry favor?"

Silver buried his face in Night's soft hair, nuzzling through it and nipping softly at her neck, "I'm seducing you because you're a lonely, pretty, princess, and I'd much rather be a solution than a problem."

Luna struck a regal pose, chest puffed out, "Why didn't you say thus before? It has been some time since I took an official concubine."

Night's wings shot open, "You can't have my husband as your plaything!"

Luna looked confused then, "What is being offered? This is his idea, not mine."

Night pushed Silver away to foreleg's length, "Yes, what is being offered. Choose carefully."

Silver gestured at Night, "I'm offering for you to consider her, and for her to consider back. If you want it, first wife, I will approve of her."

Night's wings went stiff as her eyes went wide, slits drawing tight. "You did not just propose to the princess! There's a ninety percent chance that'll end poorly."

Luna took a slow breath, "This has been a long day. We will speak no further. You are dismissed. Guards, remove them from my chambers."

The lunar pegasi gestured outwards, and they came out without having to be taken. The door slowly shut behind them, leaving Luna to her privacy. Night raised a brow at Silver, "Am I going to have to get used to that?"

Silver shook his head, "If I make a pass at Celestia, you have my permission to grab me by the dangling parts and squeeze until I come to my senses."

Night snorted softly, "Duly noted... Let's get back to the dorms. Fast Change has to be out of her mind with worry."