Silver awoke to Celestia reading quietly from a book. His dreams had been restful, and he felt much better for having them, even if they were hard to remember. He slipped from the bed. "Good morning. How do you feel?"
Celestia inclined an ear. "You've made me a round mare." She turned to show her profile, where a pudge could be seen. "But no foal. We've tried our best. Next time. How do you feel?"
Silver reached a hoof to poke gingerly at where the hurt was and felt it flare up, if only a little less than the day before. The stab wounds were the least bothersome, he discovered with some irritation. "Well, what are you going to do with it?"
"Do with it?" Celestia set her book aside and looked at Silver directly, a curious expression in her eyes.
Silver frowned a little. "Well, last time I tried to put a foal in an alicorn, it was Luna, and she used that same power to make me a lunar pony. I put at least triple the power, if not more, into this attempt."
Celestia shuddered softly. "It is... disconcerting to hear about my sister practicing such... questionable... magic. I had planned to simply wait and let it be absorbed over time, but tell me, Prince of Inspiration, what do you see?"
Silver considered over that, rubbing his chin. He was pleased to note that considering over something didn't trigger his network. He didn't want to feel that way at that moment. "It's a great deal of energy, maturing inside of you until, I presume, it would eventually become identical to the energy normally inside of you, then get absorbed like any other bit of your magic, since it's not really alive. You could use it for something big while you have it." He tapped at a chin thoughtfully. "It's mixed with my magic, lunar magic. You could maybe make it look like something you wouldn't normally be able to do. How well-spread is the knowledge of my injuries?"
Celestia frowned delicately. "I tried to keep the fuss to a minimum, but I would be surprised if nopony saw the way you limped or winced as you moved."
Silver smiled. "So they wouldn't expect magic out of me. Those closest to this incident really wouldn't expect a thing out of me, knowing what they helped slip onto me. So a little lunar surprise while we float in the dock will create quite a confusing bit of shock." He pulled his book free from his bag and flipped through it before pointing. "This one, and maybe combined with... this one..."
Celestia shook her head. "I don't combine spells like you do, Silver. Can you still do that?"
That was a challenge Silver liked the sound of and he dug out a quill and inkpot. He grabbed the quill in his mouth and tried to work like he saw Rough Draft do before, and it came out as a scrawled mess, but it was coming out. He could write! He was also getting ink across his snout for his trouble, and he quietly forgave his foster father for always looking so messy.
Celestia watched as Silver dutifully combined spells, though he couldn't test his work. He pointed at his rough work on the paper. "I need you to try this, carefully. It's not perfected at all."
And so it went, with the spell passed back and forth. Celestia lent a few books she'd brought with her, and the spell grew in complexity. Silver noticed that working on the spell was fulfilling in a pleasantly non-sexual way. He didn't feel randy for a change, and he was happy, using his mind instead of his other parts. By the time noon came, he was famished, but satisfied. "This should do it, if you know where to aim it. Best of all, no one dies."
Celestia nodded lightly. "It's quite devious, and a little cruel, but I think it's justified." She frowned a little. "It worries me that I think that. This is a severe punishment on the cats responsible... And it may catch a few innocents..."
Silver smiled lightly. "They were happy enough to let me suffer it. It isn't even as bad. If you really think it's too much, I won't bring it up again and we can set it aside."
Celestia shook her head. "No... I won't let Amenti quietly fail her cats even as she tries so hard. I won't just leave this entire nation to fall further in the name of convenience. I will bathe this city in justice while the sun is high." She looked to Silver, staring him in the eye. "If that is wrong, I would rather you told me, because I'm beside myself with fury, and ready for this."
There was a soft knocking from the door, and Aila poked her head in. "Master, Mistress, lunch is ready. Please eat, you haven't even come out for breakfast." She withdrew as quickly as she had popped in.
Celestia nodded. "She's right. We could both stand to get something in us, and we'll want our combined strength for this."
Silver gestured at the door, then followed Celestia when she passed. "How can I help? You know how I'm wired at the moment."
"By yourself, you couldn't." Celestia opened the door and stepped into the hallway, heading for the dining room. "But if you consent, I'll use you like a battery. You are still a prince, and full of magic, wired correctly or not, as you say. You may become quite distracted while we work, but all you need to do is relax and let me do what must be done."
Celestia went quiet, and they shared lunch with the girls. Silver could see that Celestia's thoughts were heavy with the attack they had in mind. It would be truly terrible and amazing to all who witnessed it, but who would be blamed for it? Would it land on the dark prince of the night, stud of the land, or the pristine princess known for kindness? It hardly seemed a doubt to Silver. He would be blamed if anyone was to be, but perhaps that could contest with his reputation as nothing but a randy stallion with a crown.