Twilight spent much of the rest of the day cleaning around the tower. Spike and Silver volunteered to assist, and they had it shining, not that it had ever stopped shining, but that was beside the point. When it came time for dinner, Twilight looked uncertain a moment before she looked to Silver, "Say... have you ever tried stargazing?"
Silver perked her ears, "Not personally. I've seen pictures of the stars. Did you get a new telescope?"
Twilight opened her mouth a moment, then shook her head, "It is unnerving how much you know without having been there... But, yes, I did. Would you like to use it?"
Silver smiled, "With you?"
Twilight nodded, "Of course. If you haven't used one before, you'll need some help... besides, we can talk."
Silver readily agreed. She ate dinner quickly and waited impatiently for Twilight. She didn't say anything, looking almost anywhere but Twilight. When Twilight was ready, Silver followed up to the new observatory. Twilight's magic soon had the instrument pointed in a desired direction, "Have a peek."
Silver trotted up and put her eye up to the piece. The stars were not the same as the Earth sky, but she expected that. There was a lot more... motion. It was as if the Equestrian sky was alive, which she guessed may very well be true. "It's very pretty."
Unseen by Silver, Twilight consulted a checklist floating beside her. She cleared her throat before announcing, "Like you."
Silver jumped with surprise. She drew back from the telescope. The checklist vanished at the first movement, and all Silver saw was Twilight smiling. "Um... thank you." Silver looked back into the telescope, warmed.
Twilight casually adjusted the view, bringing the moon into view. Checking her list again, she asked, "So... What do you like in a pony?"
Silver perked an ear, but didn't draw back again, "In general? As a friend? As... something more?"
Twilight waved a hoof through the air, "Let's say, theoretically mind you, something more."
Silver began to catch on to where this was going, but, despite temptation, kept her eye on the piece, lest she make Twilight nervous. "I like clever ponies, with a life of their own, strong-willed, kind..." Silver huffed softly as the view shifted again, showing a cluster of stars that twinkled animatedly. "What about you?"
"Me!?" squeaked Twilight before she could calm herself, "Of course, me... Um..." She narrowed her eyes, squinting in thought, "I think I'd like a nice pony, who cared about me, and other ponies. I would want a pony that didn't think my reading was a bad habit or try to haul me out of the library too often... but once in a while... I think I'd like somepony who appreciated magic..."
Silver internally cheered. She hadn't said anything that disqualified her, "Do you... prefer mares or stallions?"
Twilight huffed, "You first."
Silver perked an ear, "Mares, but this body swoons a little when a handsome stallion wanders past. It's... confusing... You're the only semi-stallion I've let hop up on me"
Twilight's ears fell, "Beginner's luck, I guess... So... uh... are you... looking for another?"
Silver snorted softly, "Your turn."
Twilight moved around Silver, though her magic adjusted the telescope easily. "Alright, well... I haven't been with anypony but you. I thought I'd settle with a stallion, eventually. Our... time together was..." She struggled for a good word for it. "Good." She winced, knowing that wasn't ideal but failing to come up with better.
Silver swiveled an ear back at her, "Good enough to... repeat?"
Twilight went red, "You're already with foal!"
Silver lifted her shoulders, "Then it can't hurt anything. Without papers and quill, just as two ponies, sharing a moment."
Twilight looked over her checklist with a frown, "You're skipping a lot of steps there."
Silver giggled as Twilight made it clear she was working off a list, "Sorry, what's next on the list?"
Twilight let out a soft sigh, "You don't mind that I'm doing this?"
"What's this?" asked Silver, "You mean the list thing? No, you're adorable when you do that. Please, go on."
Twilight rubbed over her nose with a fetlock before nodding, "Alright... Name three physical things that you find attractive. No peeking."
Not that Silver needed to peek to remember Twilight, but she tried to set that aside, "Physically? Alright..."
And so the evening went, sharing the personal questions back and forth while Twilight gave Silver a tour of the sky. They never got to the step that involved Silver's question, but neither felt let down by the evening. When Silver was invited to draw back, she nodded at Twilight, "Thank you... For showing me all that, and for this evening." Silver went in and took the kiss she wanted, getting Twilight directly on the lips. Twilight stiffened, but didn't reject it. Twilight tilted her head a little, allowing it to deepen, and they stood together, enjoying the quiet moment. Twilight wasn't sure at all what the protocol was, and waited for Silver to draw back, which she did.
Twilight flashed a bright smile, "I'm sorry for waiting so long to at least give this a chance. Go get some sleep. Celestia'll probably show up around noon." She gestured over Silver's dress, "Clean that and wear it. It'll make a good impression to see you at your best."
Silver nodded lightly, glancing off, then back at Twilight, "Do I look better?"
Twilight reddened, "I... yes... Not that you looked bad before, but your mane is quite pretty. Now go, sleep." She shooed Silver off, and retired herself shortly after.
The next day arrived swiftly. With Night and Fast's help, Silver was as prettied up as she could be. Jake and Spike had wandered off, something about hoofball with Rainbow Dash and Big Mac? Celestia arrived around eleven, appearing in a flash of brilliant gold light in the foyer of Twilight's tower. Twilight rushed up to her, and they embraced with wings a moment before Twilight stepped back, "Welcome to my home. I trust your trip was pleasant?"
Celestia quirked a smile, "The spell worked just fine, dear Twilight." She looked over those present, eyes settling finally on the prettied up Silver. "I can hardly recognize you." She stepped towards Silver, and Silver flinched back barely an inch before she controlled herself. It was enough for Celestia to notice, and her careful smile dropped faintly. "You appear to be doing well, Silver Stars."
Silver nodded, "I am surrounded by friends, and family." She conjured her magic to draw Night and Fast closer. "I could scarcely ask for a better family."
Celestia raised a fine brow, "Oh? I hear you aim to... expand that family."
Twilight went red. Fast and Night frowned. Night advanced first, "Actually, it is my idea, as the first wife. Silver has simply accepted my suggestion, as supported by Fast Change."
Celestia regarded Night Watch and asked, "How can you be first wife, when you are all wives?"
Fast growled low, "I wonder whose fault that is!?"
Twilight cleared her throat, "My my, I'm being rude. We should all have a seat. I've prepared tea!"
The group moved in an uneasy procession to take places at a round table. Fast and Night flanked Silver, while Celestia and Twilight sat together.
Celestia accepted her teacup and took a sip before leveling her gaze at Silver, "You are to be congratulated. You worked very hard for the ponies of the Crystal Empire, you and your family. You helped them get their farm in order, and to mine more safely and efficiently, to say nothing of that terrible attack."
Silver nodded stiffly, "I did... what I could. It was the right thing to do."
Celestia asked familiar words, "Do you hate me?"
Silver jerked back, not expecting such a blunt question, suddenly nervous, "I... am bad at hating people..." It was the truth, just as true when she said the same thing to Luna. She turned the question back around, "Do you hate me?"
Celestia seemed to consider it, as if the answer was not immediately obvious. "The stronger the dam, the higher the water, the more disastrous it will be, should it fail," she spoke before sipping her cup, "Do you not agree?"
Night frowned all the more sharply, "Are you implying Silver is waiting to burst?"
Celestia shook her head, "The shadow chose her as a target. She has a darkness inside of her, a large one, that she keeps buried down deep."
Night clopped a hoof on the table, "The shadow tried to mislead me too! Am I a monster now? It's going after weaknesses, the ones you helped make."
Silver sagged a little, "It's... not untrue. I've had very dark thoughts from a very early age, but I never act on them. Thinking and doing are different things. I want to do good things, so I do."
Celestia quirked a smile, "Have these... dark thoughts... lessened since you became female?"
Silver frowned in thought, trying to remember back. "I... have been so busy, that I really wasn't thinking about it, to be honest."
Celestia nodded, looking victorious, "You are becoming quite the lovely mare." Celestia reached a wing across the table, but Fast quickly swatted it aside, growling again.
Twilight looked shocked, "Fast Change! You should not... hit Celestia!"
Celestia shook her head, "It's quite alright." She locked eyes with Silver, "You are a good pony."
Silver felt something inside herself uncoil, and she sagged in place. Tears she didn't know she was holding back suddenly began to flow thickly, ruining the light makeup that her wives had helped apply. Fast's attention become fixated on Silver, comforting her and ignoring Celestia.
Night sighed slowly, "What... do you want, Princess Celestia?"
Celestia nodded primly, "What I always wanted, what's best for my little ponies." She turned her eyes to Twilight, "Are you considering their offer?"
Twilight went stiff, "I, uh, we... we're getting to know one another before I make any quick decisions."
Celestia shook her head, "You made a quick decision when you did what you did with Silver, in the name of science or not."
Twilight went cherry red and silent.
Celestia lifted Twilight's head with a wing, "I have faith in you, Twilight. You will do what's best." She looked to Silver again, "A question... why do you not begrudge Twilight? Was it not her idea first? Was it not her discovery that made us consider it? Why is your fear and loathing reserved for me alone?"
Silver fidgeted uncomfortably, "Twilight... was Twilight... She acted with what she had in hoof at the time. You... should know better. You had the power... to stop her, but you didn't. Instead you encouraged her, and me to abandon my identity. Twilight didn't show me scorn, you did..." Silver sagged a little, "Your sister did it in her own, lesser, way. That is why I fled." Silver looked to Twilight, who was already looking back. "Twilight, I forgive you. You were trying your best."
Twilight suddenly frowned, "Why don't you use your favor to get me to marry you or something?"
Silver snorted, "Would you ever love somepony who would do that?"
Twilight shook her head, "I suppose not..."
Silver smiled, "I'd rather you decided we're not working out, honestly, than to try and force you into it."
Celestia nodded, "Very good. Twilight, I will be sending a small unit of ten guards to enhance your security. Word of Silver's abilities are spreading, and I would not be surprised if guests arrived, some kinder than others." She rose to her hooves, "I should be going."