Silver awoke the next morning, feeling lively and balanced. When Celestia roused, he greeted her with a soft kiss. "Good morning, Tia."
Celestia perked an ear. "I don't think I've heard you call me that before." She paused a moment. "I like it."
Silver smiled. "You're owed a bit of informality. We're married, aren't we? We should see each other as peers, loved ones, not cower and tremble."
Celestia chuckled as she slid to her hooves. "I never feared you, Silver." She moved to swat him with her tail as she moved for the bath, but he caught that tail and tugged the great flowing mass.
"That's a lie. You've been very scared of me in the past. But that was the past. Now, I think, we know one another much better." He moved up and rubbed his side to hers. "And I love what I've found."
Celestia pressed back into the fond gesture and kissed his cheek. "And I love you, my prince of the night. Now what has you in such a good mood?"
Silver tilted his head. "A lot of things. I've sorted things out with Night Watch, had a constructive conversation with Luna, and I'm finally balanced." He stomped a hoof and stood up tall. "I'm not forced to feel jittery, or horny, or anything else. I feel free and it's great! I mean, odd as it might be, but not being forced to be horny actually makes me want to grab you and show you how I can be on my own."
Celestia smirked a little at that and sauntered away into the tub. "I'm not in the mood today, my stallion, but I am glad to hear those words. If you're feeling the need, you have several concubines waiting to have you."
Silver frowned a little. "It's not right, that I have concubines and you don't."
Celestia burst into sincere laughter. "Who said I don't? You've even met them before. Some of my fine guards are willing to assist me in that matter, if I request it of them. I've had concubines long before you were even born, little Silver Stars."
Silver perked an ear. A soft blush creeped into him as he realised she was correct. "What about Luna and Cadance? I mean, I'm damn sure Twilight doesn't."
Celestia floated the brushes and soaps over, getting serious about cleaning off. "I'm certain Twilight does not, but she's satisfied with her mates, and is woefully inexperienced, just as you were. Luna is slow to trust, but she has accepted the 'worship' of some of her lunar ponies before, and will undoubtedly do so again in the future." She raised a hoof from the water. "As for Cadance, well... She is a special pony. She holds herself to very strict morals, that include not looking beyond her husband. Some part of her rebels. She let herself get attached to you, for instance. She's curious, but her old habits will not die easily." She raised a brow. "This is a matter for another day, but if you want to progress with her, your best bet is to get close to Shining Armor. Once he invites you into their bedroom, she will be there, ready to participate, but, no, no concubine for her."
Silver shook his head a little. "So half do, and half don't. I guess I'm the deciding vote on that. Let's forget that for the moment. We have Anubians to face long before we decide on the Equestrian policy on mistresses."
Celestia hmmed softly. "Are you ready for that? They promise to be quite deadly if anything goes wrong. They may not be open to diplomatic attempts. Their society is skewed against it."
Silver waved a hoof. "Everyone says that about everyone they don't understand. Let's just grasp that. If we understand them, then it'll make sense to us. Let's just assume we don't know them, because we don't." Silver put a hoof to his chin. "Do they know much about ponies? Alicorns specifically?"
Celestia shook her head. "I should think not, especially with how rarely they run into any of us. Any story of us would be an old legend for their people. Why?"
Silver waved a hoof over himself. "You can't take off the artifacts. I'll take off the crystal, and go to them, by myself. I'll let them capture me, and learn their ways. They won't kill me. They'll probably ransom me and even that will be telling. What will they demand?"
Celestia cocked a brow. "That's very bold, and dangerous. What if they hurt you?"
Silver shook his head. "I won't give them a reason to, and if things become desperate, I leave. We can teleport. We can fly." He lifted a iron-wreathed hoof. "I bet I could do something with these if it came down to it, but the first step is just to get to know them."
Celestia rose from the waters and started to dry off as she spoke, "I don't much like the idea of you being in more danger."
Silver quirked a smile. "I'm most in danger when I try to avoid my destiny. I'll be fine. We'll learn from them, and of them, and we'll solve their problems. We'll turn the Anubians around and improve their lives, and through it, everyone else's life."
Celestia kissed him on the nose. "I love it when you're confident." She trotted past him, and the day began.
The ship launched from the dock later in the day. A sea of birds waved wings excitedly at them as they went. Were they happy for them, or just happy to see them going? Rutherford was there, laughing as he waved along with the others. Their mad king was a good king, or so Silver decided.
Their escorts were sailing in staunch defiance of all intruders, and they soon arrived back in the lands of Saddle Arabia. During the voyage, Silver freely visited his girls. He hugged each and made love to each. He explained where he was going to go, and why they couldn't come with, and that he cared for each deeply.
Only Bottom took it poorly, and began to cry when told. Silver hugged her all the tighter and held her until she calmed. They coupled several times that day, as much out of desperation as any other emotion. Only when Bottom had been driven to sleep was Silver allowed to leave, but he didn't immediately. He kissed his delicate mare on the cheek. "Stay with the others and be safe," he whispered to her sleeping form, cuddling her sleeping body affectionately before he slowly slipped from the room.
He sought out Fiddah finally. He nuzzled her gently. "Watch for Bottom. She will be very sad while I'm away, and will need guidance and support."
Fiddah lifted an ear at him. "Something's changed, m'lord. You feel..." She trailed off, uncertain.
Silver nuzzled her gently. "I feel great, and in control. I'm much closer to the stallion I once was, tempered with some tough experiences. I'm going into a dangerous situation. Can I trust you to manage Bottom and Shei?"
Fiddah bobbed her head. "Of course, m'lord. They will be safe in my care. I'm glad you trust me, m'lord."
Silver felt some bit of hard feelings in her, and he leaned in on her back before nipping the base of her tail. "We're far past date for something."
Fiddah lifted the tail with surprise. "What is that, m'lord?"
Silver moved around her and ran a thick tongue over her exposed nethers, sampling her. "I've said it, but I haven't shown that I find you lovely, Fiddah, my dark enchantress. Your lovely black fur, your dazzling mane and tail. Everything about you is seductive to me, my dear, and today... Today I show it."
She raised her tail all the higher, allowing him to easily delve into her tight passage with his broad tongue. He pushed deeply into her depths and tasted her spicy musk as she snorted and squirmed in place with obvious pleasure, but she didn't moan or cry. He softly nipped along a thick labia as he whispered, "Don't hold back. I love to hear my partner voicing their pleasure." She was too well-trained to moan with every lick, but when he found sensitive spots, he could get a squeak and a shudder from her, and he began to learn to read her.
When he felt her grow tight and flutter around his tongue, he knew she was ready. He nuzzled her tail out of the way gently before nipping it, then he was on top of her. He embraced her from above and thrust forward, working his shaft into position and penetrating her deeply. For all her quietness while being worked up, she fiercely groaned when she was coupled with. They rocked against one another with building passion and increasing tempo. He felt her tremble in release. A soft pull at his shaft signalled her body wanted his magic. Was she in heat? He wanted to release, to fill her with foal, but, for once, he bit back the urge. Fiddah was to be his concubine, not his broodmare. He would make love to her, but not make her a mother. He felt control over the act, and he released several spurts of seed into her, but none of the vital energy. She cried out in completed passion, but he knew no foal would come of it.
They nuzzled warmly and she slowly turned around on him. In a feat of dexterity she managed to get belly-to-belly with him without ever detaching, and they sank to the ground to hug and cuddle. "Lovely Fiddah, I apologize it's taken so long for you to get your turn."
Fiddah didn't accept or deny the apology. She kissed him, and they stayed locked together in an understanding that needed no words. Her tongue caressed over his fangs, exploring them as she gazed into his eyes. He was an exotic beast, but one she accepted as he was.
They parted with little fond nuzzles. Their moment together had broken down a wall between them. Silver had finally accepted her as one of his own, instead of a requirement, and both were happier for it.
Silver gave Celestia a final parting kiss. "I'm going out. The more I bring with me, the more likely they are to resort to violence to make sure I'm captured."
Celestia spun an ear back. "I should remind you, the last one brave enough to try convincing them of peace was killed by them."
Silver tilted his head. "I won't come as a peacemaker. I will learn, and watch, and maybe find the source. I want to fix that, not 'convince' them. I'll visit you in sleep during the night, so you know I'm still alive and well, alright?"
Celestia rubbed noses gently. "I've never been more glad that you inherited that talent. Yes, please. Come and visit me. I want to know everything is fine." She smiled a little. "For once, I get to play the nervous spouse, and you can be the bigger one. Go, my brave husband."
They hugged firmly before Silver set out with saddlebags full of some supplies. He had water and food, a compass and a basic map, and a tent to sleep in. It was all he brought aside from his spell book. Freed of his distractions, he eagerly studied that book along the way, voraciously consuming the spells he had been denied the pleasure of reading with a clear mind.