Silver found Luna waiting for him the moment he faded to sleep. "Sister says you have been quite a naughty colt."
Silver perked an ear at her. "Have I?"
Luna leaned forward. "You will spare not a detail. I will hear it all."
Silver began to describe the battle, and its aftermath. On the retelling, Silver didn't feel as confident as he had in the heat of the moment, but for all that his confidence waned, Luna's swelled to fill the void. "I didn't think you had it in you, to take spoils of war in that fashion. Why, we haven't used those laws in centuries, near as I can tell." She licked her lips lightly. "You should offer them a ride back to Equestria. I would rather have an eye on them as opposed to letting your seed wander far and wide when there are so many of them."
Silver nodded a little mutely. "Was it right?"
"Was what right?" Luna looked perplexed a moment. "You bested them. A lesser pony would have thrown the lot into the sea and burned their ship. If you haven't changed too much, I imagine you gave each one that consented a most gentle rutting and kissed them on the forehead afterwards like you were comforting a foal."
Silver flushed a little, remembering he had done that. "I'm not sure on the gentle part, but they seemed to like it? I'm worried I make ponies like it. What if they feel violated afterwards? Besides, I'm in mourning. I shouldn't... be doing all that."
Luna snorted softly. "And yet, you did. If you worry for them, go to them when you awaken, and assure them, and yourself, that your interest extends beyond a moment of animal lust. Just don't consider marrying the lot of them. That jest would not carry well with me, or the others. We will see to their needs, but not that."
Silver tried to remember his prior state, before he fell to lust, but it was all hazy and distant. He couldn't keep a firm grip on the overwhelming emotion, and trying to summon it made him think back to the prior day and all the mares he walked among. "Do you really want me to try to seed all of them?"
Luna raised a brow. "Every last one that consents, yes. I remember your fantasies, Silver. You should as well. We will have our new tribe, and they will have purpose, beyond mere thuggery. For now, enjoy being a stud." She stepped up and nuzzled at Silver softly. "I have decided, however, that I will release you from this task."
Silver's ears went upright. "Huh?" That didn't sound like his Luna at all.
Luna reached up and tapped Silver on the nose. "You do not need to be the only source. Thirty. That is the goal. Produce thirty foals, and I will entreat the next generation to perform the same. It will take a little longer, but will be much more fair to my brave warrior." She turned away a little with a coy smile. "See, I can be reasonable."
Silver closed the distance and kissed Luna. Their words were silenced, but little more needed to be said than Silver's wordless but easily deciphered gesture of approval. He pulled back gently with a smile. "I look forward to being a prince without the extras, but you will get your thirty."
Luna was suddenly beside and a little behind Silver, whispering into an ear. "And for now, sleep, and dream of those mares."
Silver's thoughts ran back to the captain, and she suddenly appeared in the dreamscape, motionless but accurate. Luna approached and circled the construct curiously. "Is this their leader? She's a fine specimen. When she's receptive, I want you to give everything you have to spare to her."
Silver perked an ear. "I can give more than they draw?"
Luna smiled faintly. "I see no harm in the attempt. You are discovering new things. For now, sleep." She banished him back to his own thoughts, and he found some rest for the remainder of the night.
Silver awoke to Shei cleaning around the room. He rolled upright and caught her attention. She lowered an ear. "Sorry if I disturbed you, master."
Silver kissed her along the snout a moment. "You can't disturb me. Tell me, Shei, what do you think?"
"Of?"
Silver tapped the floor lightly. "The pirate mares. I'm sure Celestia has mentioned it."
Shei glanced away, then back at Silver. "It's kinder than executing them, or letting them go to prison, which would be much the same thing for any pony that was caught attacking a royal envoy of an ally of Saddle Arabia. I... I think you should ask them if they have coltfriends. To separate them would be most cruel, master."
Silver nuzzled Shei gently. "And that's why I asked. That's an excellent thought. I'll ask them, and give the stallions a chance to join their mares, and both will be pardoned if they agree to remain together, as a couple."
Shei smiled brightly. "You are very generous with them. They wanted to kill us, and take what we had as a prize. It was... that kindness that brought me into your life..."
Silver could see some sadness working free of her and leaned in, biting into her neck and throat gently. "Let it out. You will never upset me letting a few tears fall. I know it hurts."
She nodded slowly and sniffed before taking a slow breath. "It's... getting better. Breakfast is in the dining hall if you're hungry, m'lord. You should eat."
Silver gave her a last kiss before slipping from the room and finding the food, and Celestia. He ate eagerly beside her, filling the void he didn't realize was so urgent.
She looked thoughtful. "Are you going to visit them again?"
Silver perked an ear. "The mares? Yes."
"I wish you wouldn't," stated Celestia bluntly. "Leave them their dignity."
Silver pointed back towards the room. "From what I hear, if we just bring them to Saddle Arabia and turn them over, they're as good as dead. They'll make an example of them for making them look bad in front of you."
Celestia gave a soft sigh. "I don't want that either..."
Silver leaned in and rubbed his nose into Celestia's cheek. "I will not enter the cell this time. I will make my offer, and take those that accept away from the others, to keep it fair and clean."
Celestia looked mollified at the idea. "Good. I... am aware of what you did with the guard. She... woke up a little confused about her actions."
Silver perked an ear. "Does she regret it?"
Celestia shook her head. "No, but when you get like that, you tread dangerously close to the very level you asked me never to do. Be mindful of that. If you do as you say and offer from a distance, I see much less harm in it."
Silver pushed to his hooves. "I'll be careful." He parted from her and went to visit the already-quickened mares first. They seemed surprised to see him, but quickly warmed to his presence by and large, accepting his gentle nuzzles and nips. He asked each in turn if they had a coltfriend. Two of them did, and he got their descriptions.
It was a quick trot to the deck and he spread his wings. He hadn't used them in a while and for a moment he just enjoyed the feel of the wind blowing past them before he launched himself into the air and soon landed on the deck of the other ship. The flight left him a little tingly, the subtle magic of flight stirred the embers within him. He ignored it for the moment and sought out the male prisoners.
They were together in one cell, much like the females were, looking surly and upset. He was able to single out the ones he wanted even as the others stared daggers at him. "You and you, step forward."
One of them advanced with a scowl. "What'ya want? Ye already took everythin' else, here for our dignity? No, wait, ye already took that!" There was a loud murmuring of agreement. The stallions knew Silver had no pure intention for their mares.
Silver shook his head. "Your marefriend wants you at her side. She has secured her freedom. If you wish to be with her, I will allow it, and you will help her raise her foal."
He looked flabbergasted. "It took?! I... yes! Yes! A thousand hells yes! Take me to her." He looked ready to bang his way through the bars.
The other male approached more timidly. "It's yer foal, isn't it?"
Silver tilted his head. "Good chance, but still your mare. Do you accept?"
The more thoughtful one nodded. "She'll need me, and I'll be there for her after you're long gone."
The louder one bobbed his head in agreement. "Aye! We'll not abandon our mares. Now take us to them, ya big-dicked freak."
Silver couldn't hold in a snort of a laugh at the insult. "That I am. Let those two out."
One of them was a pegasus, the other, a saddle arabian. Working with the pegasus, he carried the terrestrial pony across to the other ship, and they were both reunited with their mares. Silver smiled as the emotions were sincere and positive between the two mares and their two stallions. He looked then to the one mare that hadn't claimed a coltfriend. "You sure?"
She shook her head. "Nah. I never got close to any stallion besides a night's fun before." She snorted softly. "I can't promise I won't ever stray once the foal's out of me."
Silver approached the mare and softly rubbed noses with her. "Your friends would miss you." He gestured with his head at the two happy couples. "And you would miss them. It doesn't have to be that way."
She bit him on the nose in thanks. "I'll think about it."
Silver heard something in that tone, even as his nose stung, and he felt fairly confident things would work out. He trotted towards the rest of the captive mares, and became quite firm along the way. Some growing part of him was looking forward to some of them agreeing to be filled, and the chance to try Luna's theory.
When he came into view of the cell, many of them retreated away, but some came forward without prompting. "Your friends are safe and well. Two of them have been united with their coltfriends, who are also promised freedom alongside them." He sniffed the air gently. There was ready female scent present. "Does anypony want to take my offer today?"
The first mare to volunteer was let out and Silver led her away, only to notice quickly that the ready scent wasn't from her. He nipped at her ear. "It's not your time yet." He remembered the scorn the other mare had received. "I'll put you separate though, so you can be in privacy until you become ready. I may send others who are willing but not ready yet."
She thanked him with a kiss, and he returned to the cell to find the next. A rotund pony emerged. She was a unicorn, and presented herself. He sniffed at her, quickly determining that she was ready. "This way." He led her to a small empty room and nuzzled up her tail, licking across her winking nethers and sampling the thick musk she produced. "Tell me why you agreed."
She looked over her shoulder. "I'm the ship's accountant. I don't want to be executed for piracy. I'll take your seed and your money and make a better life with it." She hiked her tail high. "You won't tell them what we did, will you? Getting a job as a former-pirate will be basically impossible."
Silver hopped up on top of her and slid inside her welcoming passage as his hooves pressed into her soft sides, stroking over her as he stroked inside of her. "Any pardoned pirate will be let off as guests. You included."
When the time arrived, he tried pushing with the pull, and the fat mare squealed with delight as he fired a powerful blast of masculine energy into her fertile form. What effect it would have, Silver did not know, but he left her, feeling a little dizzy, but eager to service the next mare in line.