Silver looked out across the horizon. His tail wagged with a building excitement, and why shouldn't it? He could see a city approaching. It was a city full of ponies. It was a land filled with people that weren't, as a whole, planning to defeat him one way or the other. His journey was almost over. He had accompanied Celestia, and helped her, and succeeded. Peace was had, trade was expanded, and the world was a better place than it was when he first started the journey. For his first trip as a prince, it could have gone better, but it could have gone much worse.
He felt a soft tug at his wagging tail and looked over his shoulder at Bottom there, smiling at him. "Is this your home?"
Silver shook his head. "I don't live here, in this city, but it's close, and it's part of my country. It's a wonderful place, full of interesting ponies."
Bottom slid up beside Silver and looked at the towering buildings of Manehattan quietly for a moment. "Are you hoping I'll stay here?"
Silver jerked his head up. "I don't remember saying that. I thought we've been through this? You're welcome until you find a stallion, or mare, you like and you, not me, decide you want to go."
Bottom leaned in and kissed Silver's left cheek, then the right. "You're precious, and that's why I want to keep you, as a friend, but I won't impose any more than I already have. Tell me where to go, here."
Silver glanced at the city. "A tall, pretty horse like you? I can think of a few ponies in the movie business that'd adore you."
Bottom perked up. "Really? Tell me more!"
Silver did, and Bottom only grew more excited with every word. "I'll try my best."
Silver nodded at her. "Tell them I recommended you, it should get you in the front door and give you a chance. But!" He held up a hoof. "If it doesn't work out, you come back to me, alright? It is not a shame if it doesn't work out. Promise me."
They hugged tightly, and promises were made. Silver's door would always be open to Bottom, and he made sure she understood that. Just as she was about to slip away, Silver put a hoof in front of her. "One thing... If you're not my concubine, why aren't you asking to be a stallion again?"
She shrugged softly. "I... I'm a bottom, like my name. I like things... the way they are. I don't think being a stallion would change it much, but stallions definitely look at me more this way. I like being pretty." She smiled gently. "Thank you, for this, for everything. You're the best prince I ever met." She trotted away with a bounce in her step.
"How many princes has she met?" asked Shei as she trotted up beside Silver.
Silver shook his head. "That doesn't matter and you know it. Hello, Shei. Are you looking forward to Equestria?"
Shei smiled. "I am, but I'm nervous... It was always in the future. It's time to lay my sister to rest, for real."
A new voice chimed in, "What's to be nervous about?" Patty Windsong was there, just popping up out of seemingly nowhere. "We'll do what has to be done, like grown mares and stallions, and then we'll move on. Doubt she'd want us fussing about it overly much, 'sides seeing her wishes were met."
She nudged Silver with a hoof. "You're going to show us around, I hope? We don't have to get right back to where you live, do we?"
Silver smiled at her enthusiasm. "I really should. My wives... and my new foals. I want to see them all so badly. I'll bring you both back here in time, I can promise that. It'll be a big family outing."
Celestia approached. Unless she particularly tried, she was not a stealthy pony. "Prince Silver Stars. As princess of the land, I do hereby relieve you of the duty of accompanying me. You have performed well and above the call of duty several times." She waved towards the city. "Go as you wish." She leaned in and nuzzled, rubbing noses. "I'm sure we'll see each other again soon, my stallion."
Silver's wings shot out. For a moment he was overwhelmed with the urge to flee, to get home all the faster by flying across the bay, but he fought down the urge, and his stiff wings. "It was... quite an experience, Celestia. I'm glad it turned out well in the end. What do you plan to do with the Anubians?"
Celestia gestured with a wing at a few that were gawking at Manehattan. "I will let them learn the wonders of their new nation, and welcome them with open hooves. Many of them are eager to see this new way of life. I don't fear for them."
"You should," Nefertari appeared atop Silver, mounted on him as any cavalry knight. "We won't be as easy to tame as you think."
Silver flushed. Being mounted like that brought up a strangely intimate sensation. Rather than delve into it, he shook at her. "Off of there, I'm not your steed."
Nefertari ran a finger down the back of his neck as another hand stroked at a shoulder. "You'd make a fine steed. If you don't like it, make me get off."
Silver suddenly appeared five feet to the side, letting her drop to her feet nimbly. "Enough." She huffed, but didn't try to mount him again. She stalked off elsewhere in the ship without a word.
Celestia pointed after her. "She's yours, by the way."
Silver recoiled. "W-what? You're going to do it like that?"
Celestia nodded. "Afraid so. Twilight needs to examine her, and her magic, and learn all she can from it. She refused to go quietly, but when I threatened to make her one of your servants, she suddenly became agreeable. It seems she's taken a liking to you." She brought a hoof to her chin. "In fact, she refused to go until I named her as such."
Silver took a slow breath, moving his hoof with the breath as Cadance had shown Twilight. "Fine. I choose, actively choose, to see the bright side of this. She's strong and clever. She'll be useful, and maybe even fun, once she calms down. If she likes me that much, maybe she wants to change. She just wants to be pushed. I can understand that."
Celestia leered at him and he shivered. "Not like that! Celestia... I want to like you. I want to love you. Stop reminding me of that time. She's coming to me. She's daring me to change her, defeat her. It's not even close to the same thing."
Celestia set a hoof on Silver's nose and booped it gently. "Another fine reason I will entrust her to your care. I trust you to see to her responsibly and kindly. Do you understand?"
Silver gave a slow nod before letting out a sigh and smiling. "I'll handle it. Where's Fiddah?"
Fiddah was with David, found in the dining hall, enjoying a morning snack together. Silver smiled. "Good to see you two getting along. Don't you want to see Manehattan?"
David shrugged a bit. "Big city, lots of ponies. Most of the ponies I care about aren't in it."
Fiddah glanced at David, then back to Silver. "His point is basically sound. Those I am charged with overseeing do not live in that city, and we are simply passing through. I have little to see. I trust Bottom has spoken to you?"
Silver trotted towards the table. "I shouldn't be surprised that you knew about that."
Fiddah shook her head. "It's my job, m'lord. I will confess anxiousness to meeting the other lords and ladies of the house I will serve."
Silver hmmed softly. "The way you say that, it sounds like they're all equal."
"Aren't they?" Fiddah tilted her head a little. "I will serve your wives as faithfully as yourself, m'lord." She pushed to her hooves. "I've taken the liberty of packing both our things. We're ready to go as soon as it's practical."
Silver leaned in and trapped one of her ears in his snout, nibbling gently a moment. "It's alright to be curious and amazed once in a while. I won't think less of you for it."
Fiddah's ear twitched in the hold, but she stood patiently. "I'm fine, m'lord. Please."
David shrugged. "She's nervous about meeting Twilight and the rest. I guess I am too."
Silver's expression turned to understanding as he released Fiddah. "Of course. I should have realized sooner. They'll be fine with you, both of you." He looked to David. "Actually, she'll probably think you're a fine test subject, in the nicest way possible. Up to you if you let her poke and prod or not." He tapped a chin. "If you're like me, you'll let her. She's adorable when she's geeking out."
The boat drew into the harbor, pulling up beside a pier and coming to a halt. The gangplank was lowered and ponies cheered in a large crowd to celebrate the return of Princess Celestia. Some shouted for Prince Silver Stars, but it was much smaller, and mostly comprised of those that shared lunar blood. There was no mistaking that Celestia was the more popular of the two.
Celestia stepped down from the boat and led them away with waves and smiles. The crowd happily followed her away from the boat, giving Silver and his retinue a chance to escape, as well as giving the boat peace to perform its duties.
Silver began to lead the others towards the train station, his magic holding aloft the casket he wished he wasn't returning with. His trip was interrupted with the sound of flapping wings and a lunar stallion landing in front of him. He seemed familiar... "Hello," he said with a nervous smile. "We met once before... I was there, at the convention. You were a princess?"
Silver nodded his head quickly. "I remember you! How are you?"
He brightened on being remembered. "I'm well, we're all well... How are you? We've been dying to talk to you, prince of the night. What was the trip like? Did it go alright?"
Silver gestured for him to sit, then began to give him the shortened version of the trip. The lunar pony's attention was riveted at the telling. By the time it ended with their return, he bounced to his hooves, "I'll tell the others all about it. Thank you, sir, for all you've done for everyone."
Fiddah watched him go, then nodded. "We're behind schedule. Please, follow me." Despite being new to the nation, she led Silver and the others to the station and smoothly got them a royal carriage and aboard. She approached each thing with a calm dignity, and didn't let anything get in her way for long.
With the train chugging towards Ponyville, Silver looked out the window, thinking about his family, and how excited he was to see them all.