The next few days were rough. Though Silver was not hauled into his past again, sleep came fitfully if it ever came at all. He felt exposed and frightened at all times of the day, unless he was beside Celestia. Her warmth and presence made the tension gently fade away, and he began taking naps against her whenever she allowed it. Even when the terror began to ebb, he found he had grown a little used to Celestia's calm presence, and he sought her out more and more often.
They were seated side-by-side, one of her wings wrapped around him warmly, when both saw the slim peek of land in the distance. Silver smiled and looked up to Celestia, but she looked concerned. "We'll make it through this, together." He leaned against her lightly as he sighed out, "Thank you for being there for me."
Celestia shook her head. "It was my decision that brought you here, even if it was by your hoof that it ultimately occurred. You did not need another scar to add to your collection. I fear I..." Her head sagged a little. "I can't even protect my stallion. What kind of mare am I?"
Silver jerked upright at her words. "A fantastic one! Don't even think those kinds of thoughts... If it wasn't for you, I'd be a wreck right now." He rubbed up against Celestia, trying to bury himself in her fur in a futile gesture, but doing a good job of mashing their forms together. "I've never felt more love for you."
Celestia smiled a sad smile. "Is that more of your unending sympathy and forgiveness? I don't accept it."
Silver grunted. "No! You didn't do this, I did. I was the one that poked the odd dream, and opened that door. Me, not you. I will accept my responsibility, just as I accept the fact that you nursed me back to health. I meant what I said and stand by it."
Celestia perked an ear. "Do you now? I'm no longer a great and terrifying mare that can strike you down at any moment, and may be inclined to do so?"
Silver frowned a little. "You could, but you wouldn't. We had a rough start, but I don't feel that from you anymore."
Celestia raised a hoof and touched one of Silver's tufted ears. "Would you consider becoming a solar pony again? You really aren't suited for the dark of night."
Silver went still for a moment, surprised at the sudden change of topic, and the question he felt meant a great deal to Celestia. "Enough change. Whatever I am, I will make the best of it, and it's not a bad shape to begin with. Lunar, solar, I'm just Silver Stars."
Celestia nodded just faintly. "I'm glad to hear you don't desire more of... that... but your soul..." She rolled a hoof. "You are awake during the day, even if you have to squint. You prefer being forthright with ponies, and you are not very sneaky. There is little of you that makes me think of the night."
Silver smiled brightly. "I am a font of inspiration, like the starlit night. I may not always be able to do things right myself, but I can guide others towards it, much like the night itself." He leaned in, rising up to whisper in her ear. "I am the time of passion, when people turn their thoughts to those who captured their heart and express it physically."
Celestia flushed at the words, looking down and away with a touch of shame. "Mayhaps you have more of the night than I thought... but you would be a lovely solar prince."
Silver clopped a hoof on the deck. "That would destroy your sister, utterly and completely. I will not abandon her like that, and you shouldn't ask me to. I don't need to be solar to love you, Celestia. Even the moon itself only shines with the radiance of the sun. Is it not enough that I chase after you, even if I never catch up?"
Celestia rolled away from Silver, her eyes on him intensely. "Do you mean that? Do you chase me?"
Silver wagged his tail a little as he smiled. "I never said I was that good at it, but yes. My only hope is that you'll slow down a little for me to catch up."
Celestia's blush intensified as she rose to her hooves. "Young Twilight was quite clever in making the circle, but sometimes I curse her. I would have taken you for myself, Twilight be damned... Luna be damned. You would never see my sun again unless I cared to show you off."
Silver cringed, imagining being little more than the stallion in Celestia's dream, meant to be pretty and a good lay and little else. "You don't mean that, I hope. I want to be a lover, which is more than rubbing the right parts together. I want to be a friend, a deep and trusted friend. The sex is a bonus prize for us both. Besides... that's so cruel. How can you say that about Twilight and Luna like that?"
Celestia took a soft breath and nodded, a smile returning to her face. "You're right. I fear you're bringing out the worst in me." She glanced away, then back at Silver. "My time draws near, and I fear you will not be ready for it."
Silver looked confused at first before the meaning became clear all too abruptly. "Oh! I... I'll do my best, Celestia, if you want to spend that time with me. If you'd rather I stay far away until it's done, just tell me."
Celestia tilted her head. "I don't know. Everything about it is a mystery. Can you quicken me? Will it kill or maim you in the process? That would be a way to go that some stallions may envy you for, but not the way I would like to send you off. Would you dare risk that?"
Silver laughed softly as he got up to his own hooves. "I've never shied away from possibly wrecking myself before doing incredibly stupid but interesting things, why start now? Tell me you want it and I'll be with you the entire time."
Celestia nodded. "We'll see. For now, we must introduce ourselves."
While they had discussed, the boat came into port, soon surrounded by many other ships and rafts. Most were smaller than Celestia's ship, but a few looked like great war galleons or trade barges.
A single-tailed baastian guided the ship in from a small boat, directing them to a pier off to the side. There a two-tailed nekomata with purple-pink fur waited and approached when they had fully set down anchor and lowered the gangplank. He smiled up at the larger ship. "Please state the nature of your visit and who will be visiting our fair city." He held a paper and quill with clever fingers where once there were paws, apparently capable of extending out on command with a simple unfolding.
Celestia and Silver walked down the gangplank with Doublebrush right behind. The feline looked over the three important figures and gave a soft hmm. "Quite impressive indeed, but I do need to fill out these papers. Please?"
Celestia gave a light smile. "Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria. Prince Silver Stars, my herd-mate. Ambassador Doublebrush. Silver and I are here to visit the Pharaoh on a diplomatic mission."
The cat made quick notes of the words before pointing his quill at Doublebrush. "I have orders to command you to the Western Keep. Alright?"
Doublebrush nodded and huffed. "They act fast. I'll be there shortly." They gave each other an odd salute, slapping their chest with a paw before Doublebrush vanished into the throng of the city, her tails swaying before being lost as well.
The cat looked to Celestia and Silver. "I've heard of Princess Celestia, who hasn't, but only the vaguest of rumors of you, Prince Stars."
Silver pointed at the cat. "Do you have a name?"
He seemed surprised at the question. "Oh, Twinstreak, sir. It's, uh, usually rude to introduce yourself to your betters unless asked."
Silver smiled gently. "Good thing I asked. Nice to meet you." He looked around in the bright sun, squinting against it. He was starting to feel the heat coming from the warm city. This was surely a desert city. It felt it and looked like it.
Celestia pointed beyond Twinstreak to the palace. "I presume we should proceed?"
Twinstreak shook his head quickly. "The Pharaoh is not in attendance. I'm not authorized to say what he is occupied with, but the standing orders are for all political guests to be asked to wait for his return."
Silver nodded. "So we wait in the castle?"
Twinstreak waved a paw then. "Assuredly not. Not a single cat is to leave or enter the castle while he's away. There are plenty of inns in the city, or you can stay on your ship."
Celestia snorted with obvious annoyance. "This is hardly the manner in which a princess should be treated, but I understand you are not the one making this decision. Thank you." She gestured for Silver to follow, and proceeded into the city.
Silver's eyes wandered across the carpet of brightly-colored felines. They weren't so different than the ponies in their wide variety of fur colors, though they clearly had different tribes, with the one and two-tailed cats being by far the primary, though he saw a winged cat zip past above. His attention was brought back to Celestia when one of her wings wrapped around and pulled him out of the way of a cart thundering past.
"Keep your eyes on your surroundings, Silver. Let's find a place to wait."
Silver shook his head a little. "Why not stay on the boat?"
Celestia gave a light smile. "That would imply we don't trust our hosts to have a safe city. We're not trying to offer insults before we even gain audience." She led the way onwards through the streets. Most of the cats seemed to ignore the pair, though some stared at one or the other with curiosity. None had the awe and reverence that ponies seemed to share almost universally.
Just as Silver thought of one, a mare stepped into view. She was quite tall, rivaling Celestia for size, and built with long legs and a defined body. Silver thought she may be a Saddle Arabian? How far away was that from Anugypt? While he pondered this, the mare dipped her head at both of the Equestrians. "Your highnesses, would you give me the honor of your business? I have an inn fit for your presence."
Celestia smiled. "I have never been failed by the courtesy of the Saddle Arabians. Please, lead on."
They followed her a half-block away to a plain-looking edifice that gave way to a grand-looking interior. Soft music spilled from a harp being played by a blue baastian while another Saddle Arabian stood behind the counter. The one leading them pointed to the counter. "She will check you in. It is rare we get to see Princess Celestia in the flesh. Please, enjoy our hospitality." Her eyes turned to Silver. "And who might you be? Are you Princess Celestia's consort?"
Silver flushed lightly at the suggestion, though he decided quickly that wasn't entirely wrong. "Er, no, we're herd-mates, bound together."
She gasped loudly. "Forgive me. I didn't know your bond ran that deep. I didn't mean to imply it was lighter." She dipped her head low. "You are welcome here, Prince of Equestria."
Silver raised a hoof quickly. "Please, relax. You didn't insult me."
Celestia advanced on the counter and had a polite-sounding conversation with the horse there. Silver smiled at the mare before him. "I have a few questions, if you don't mind?"
She tilted her head lightly. "What would that be?"
"First." He held up a hoof lightly. "If I ask an offensive question, please tell me and consider the question dropped. I'm not trying to be rude. Second, are you a pony, or a horse?"
She held up a hoof at herself. "We are Saddle Arabian ponies, though some refer to us as horses, because of our size."
Silver nodded lightly. "Second, do you follow Celestia?"
She shook her head. "I am an Anugyptian citizen. Most Saddle Arabians respect Celestia greatly, but they have their own leaders. She is a respected elder, but not their princess. Understand?"
Silver smiled. "Thank you for dealing with my likely-ignorant sounding questions. I appreciate it."
"Any time." She moved past Silver, brushing him along the way. "Let us know if you need anything at all."
Silver wondered if the brush was an act of friendliness, or something more, but put it out of his head as Celestia moved up some stairs and he swiftly chased after her. They arrived in a well-appointed room, though it was dimly lit until some magic had the lanterns burning. There was a tub, but it was currently empty. There was a large and soft-looking bed, and art scattered on the walls and decorating counters in the form of statues. It was a place clearly designed to impress, and smelled of a soft incense.
Celestia moved to the window and nudged it open, allowing some sunlight in. "We'll remain here until the Pharaoh returns. I only hope he isn't busy making the situation worse while we wait."