Silver and Bottom returned to the ship, though not before stopping by a roadside vendor offering some delectable treats that Silver gladly shared with Bottom, despite his mild protests. They arrived to find a subdued air around the ship, and Silver approached one of the guards. "What's wrong?"
He pointed to the stairs leading down into the ship. "The princess is questioning an intruder. We're not to disturb her."
Silver went directly for the stairs, curiosity burning. Bottom trailed silently as was his way.
Silver decided to try their shared room, and found Celestia pinning Oman to the bed under her bulk with a most inhospitable scowl on her face. "--is not subject to your judgments! He is my stallion. Do you understand?" One of her ears perked up at the sound of the door. "I said I was not to be--" She turned and spotted Silver and her face brightened to its usual gentleness. "Oh, you're back."
Silver's ears sagged a little. "I was told an intruder was on the ship? Why are you attacking Oman?"
Celestia snorted down at the pinned horse. "He thought he could be rude to my stallion and his servant without reprisal. I am informing him he was incorrect in this thought, nothing more."
Silver felt a bit torn. Celestia defending him felt nice, but he didn't like seeing an old horse being roughed around, even one with powerful magic. "I think he's learned his lesson. May I talk to him?"
Oman let out a sigh of relief as Celestia slid off of him. "Thank you, your majesty." He rolled upright and looked at Silver. "I had thought some of your words were overdone, but it seems they were understated. I meant no offense, but that bracelet, and your position... I would be wary of any fledgling prince of Equestria, doubly-so with the bracelet, and triple that to not even be a pony in spirit. I am acting for the good of all ponykind."
Silver nodded a little. "I suppose it would look odd, but I'm not trying to take over or anything. I've been through all that with Celestia before, and she had power enough to stop me long before I became a prince. She could stop me now, if she wanted. I am her stallion, and I haven't forgotten that is not a superior condition."
Oman perked an ear at Silver. "Is it not so where you hail from? I surmise not, from the way you say that."
Bottom peeked out from around Silver. "It... It wasn't nice to be held like that. You were... scary, and made me say bad things about him, things I'd never say on my own."
Celestia's scowl returned. "Really? Bottom is barely more than a foal in temperament. How could you be so cruel?"
Oman lifted his forehooves in a placating gesture. "The safety of the country comes before the feelings of one sheltered stallion. Fine, I accept you as sincere, but don't be so hasty to be rid of me. You still want what I have."
Celestia looked to Silver. "And what is this he is speaking of?"
Silver nodded a little. "He knows about the bracelet, and how to find its apparent other 'half'?"
Celestia frowned at Oman all the further. "How convenient. Tell me, why should we trust you? You've attacked my stallion, and his servant, come aboard my vessel demanding things, and hold hostage information that could save him from a crippling curse? That's more than convenient enough for me to be suspect."
Oman took a slow breath. "Word of your actions in Catro have traveled faster than your ship. I thought he might visit the city, and placed myself where any sightseeing noble would likely happen pass."
Celestia nodded. "Very well, and your specific knowledge?"
Oman smiled brightly. "A bargaining chip. I thought he might need... persuading."
Silver stepped towards the bed. "Alright, you have my attention. What do you want?"
Oman pointed at Silver. "You. I want to know where you came from, how you came to be here. Everything about you is a mystery waiting to be unraveled. Your very soul creates eddies in the weave of the world, causing shifts and chaos, some good, some ill."
Celestia clopped one hoof on the ground. "Very well, surrender the information, and ask us without the threat of its removal, and we may consider it."
Silver scowled a little. "I'm not sure I like the idea of being poked and prodded at. Only Twilight has permission to do that." He thought to her adorkable face, dressed in a lab coat and surrounded by her curious equipment. He would gladly submit to her examinations any day.
Oman snorted at Silver's expression. "The information I need should not require any contact, just your cooperation and proximity. It may be of benefit to you, not-pony."
Celestia lowered her head to be more even with the prone elder. "Do not address him again as such. He has long ago earned the right to be called a pony, and wears the title proudly, not for some stranger to come and deny him."
Silver pulled out a notebook and set it on the bed. "Show us how to reach the other half. When I have it safely, then I'll help you with your research, not before. If you want your answers, help us do it faster, or be satisfied with what you get."
Oman pulled the book closer. "Very well. Hmmph, Equestrians don't treat their elders well at all."
Celestia smiled gently. "We treat our elders with all the respect they deserve." She turned away from him. "Come, Silver, Bottom. We'll leave him to work." She led them out of the room and into the dining hall. On the way, she informed a guard, "The elder will be staying with us. Keep an eye on him, but he's not a prisoner."
Once they were in private, Celestia let out a little sigh. "I have not been so infuriated since the night you were attacked. He came aboard saying such vile things about you. It took a great deal of restraint to not cast him into the sea and be done with it. I understand the pain my sister feels a little more keenly now."
Silver pressed his nose into Celestia's cheek and nuzzled. "Thank you, for standing up for me. He didn't harm either of us, but he was a jerk. I get the feeling he's not used to being questioned. Is it a cultural thing?"
Celestia nodded lightly before kissing Silver on the nose. "Very keen. Saddle Arabians venerate their elders, especially those with great magical talent, which he has. He's undoubtedly quite used to ponies scrambling to do what he says, but we are not Saddle Arabians, and I'm older than him by far, despite his wrinkles."
Bottom pulled his board off his back and hung it up on the wall of the dining hall. Celestia looked curiously as he set out his bag of darts and arranged them carefully. "What is this?"
Bottom smiled. "A gift. My first toy. Do you play darts, ma'am?"
She nodded. "I've tried my hoof once or twice. May I?"
"Please."
She lifted a dart with her magic, hefting it up and down and feeling its weight a moment before she turned to the board and looked at it critically. With a sudden flick, the dart propelled across the room and lodged itself a bit low and to the left of the red inner circle.
Bottom clopped his hooves. "Good shot, ma'am. But using magic... is a little unfair?" He looked worried at the idea of objecting at all, and shrank in on himself after voicing it.
Celestia rest a hoof on his shoulder. "You are correct. Let me try again the right way." She pulled the dart back with magic, but grabbed it in her teeth. She swung her head back and forth a few times before letting it go, and the dart thudded into the wall, a clear miss. "I'll need some more practice, I think. Silver, do you want a turn?"
Silver nuzzled at the cloth and took a dart in his mouth. It was heavy and solid feeling. It really was a steel dart. He tried to get a feel for it in his mouth, but he'd never thrown something like that before more accurately than an underhanded lob in someone's direction. He tried anyway, but the dart was let go too soon, and didn't even hit the right wall. He flushed with embarrassment until he felt a warm nuzzle. He thought it was Celestia until the scent struck and was all wrong. Bottom was doing it. "I'll show you how, sir, if you like?" Silver's blush grew more intense and he gave a quick nod.
Celestia smiled gently. "I would like to learn as well. That sounds like a fun way to spend time together." She leaned towards Bottom. "That was quite a bit of initiative you just showed. We're both very proud of you, and it will be an honor to learn from you."
Bottom looked simultaneously pleased and embarrassed. "I-I will try to be a good teacher, ma'am, sir. Prince Silver Stars got the game for me. It was very nice of him."
Celestia nodded at Silver. "Very nice. I'm certain the crew will also enjoy a game to play, if you're alright with them sharing it?"
Bottom bobbed his head quickly. "Of course, ma'am. As long as they take care of it." He went to retrieve the darts.
Celestia leaned in towards Silver. "That was very thoughtful. He looks happier every day."
Silver felt a warmth build inside of him. "I feel good taking care of him... He's like a son in a way, even if he sees me as very different than a father."
Celestia raised a brow. "Very different. I'm not sure he--" She cut off her words as Bottom returned with the darts and put them back on the cloth bag they came in. "You'll have to show me how to throw later. How about after dinner?" Bottom was quick to agree, and Celestia excused herself.
Bottom approached Silver once they were alone and he looked left and right before nuzzling at Silver's robes. "I've been good all day... may I?"
Silver's ears went erect, wondering what Bottom meant a moment before it became obvious to him and he swallowed heavily. Even if Bottom asked for it, it still felt a bit like taking advantage of the horse. "You do know you can eat whatever you want, right? Wasn't lunch tasty?"
Bottom nodded slowly. "Yes, it was good, sir, but you're better."
Silver held up a hoof. "You don't have to prove yourself to me this way. I will care for you even if you never touch me that way."
Bottom frowned a little. "I want to... Does it bother you, sir?"
Silver let out a little breath. "Come on." He led Bottom to a private place.