Silver relished in the feel of the frigid air caressing over her form as she soared high above the clouds. She was free. She was liberated, but to a purpose. She focused her mind, trying to reach out, but the approach of a figure distracted her.
It was Night Watch. Silver smiled brightly. "Just as I was going to find you. My love, are the others close by as well?"
Night moved up and kissed Silver's cheek. "You're flying quite fast. Where are you going? Nefertari's near, somewhere. You can never be sure with her. Fast is waiting for word. We've kept Twilight and the rest in the dark. Status report?"
Silver didn't slow, and Night kept pace despite it. The fact thrilled her. "We have a specific place to go, but I have to lose eventually. Prince Blueblood's on our side, and has to play the hero to these jerks." She leaned in and returned Night's cheek. "Are you up for putting up one hell of a show?"
Night nodded quickly. "If it's at your side instead of watching you get kicked around, I'm in."
The address was quickly shared, and Night frowned a little. "Huh, Manehattan? That's going to be very public, and flashy." She brought her hooves together with a muted spark. "We'd better make it a show worth watching, but let's keep bystander casualties to a minimum."
"Of course," Silver hastily agreed. "No innocent should be hurt. We're not even there to hurt the guilty, in this case." She glanced away. "It's a show. We'll crush them, make them realize how futile it is, but we're not killing anyone. They are the monsters, not me, not you. When Blueblood shows up, we have to keep fighting, but he has to win. Ham it up, but he has to prevail in the end. You should flee before then, and let him take me."
They soared as one to the crowded city and came to a halt on a rooftop high above the bustling metropolis. Night peered over the side before turning her spectacled face to Silver. "We should be fine enough up here for now. Tomorrow, we make our move. Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, which I usually am not, but you have the look in your eyes of trying to save someone."
"Besides our foal?"
"Besides our foal." Night moved up and nuzzled into Silver's neck. "Who are they?"
Silver shuffled in place nervously, "You're going to think I went and fell in love randomly again, and it has nothing to do with love, or lust."
Night rolled her eyes. "Go on and tell me."
With a defeated sigh, Silver sank to the roof. "Her name is Samantha. She is nuts, but smart. Imagine Twilight, take away any experience she had making friends, take away a few parts of book learning and replace them with a desire to learn through experimentation and hoofs-on instead. There, that's Samantha."
Night shuddered powerfully. "That sounds terrifying! What did she do to you?"
Silver closed her eyes. "Poked me, prodded me, humiliated me, and got me to promise to be her friend."
Night slowly raised a hoof to her face. "That sounds perfectly like you. Just her friend?"
"Just her friend!" Silver rolled onto her side. "I don't think she knows what love is. I can keep that to my wives."
Night waggled her tail a little. "Oh, where can we find one of your wives this far up and out of sight?"
Silver's expression lightened as a smile split it. "Oh, I think I can find one somewhere..." She rolled to her hooves and hunched down, ready to pounce at Night. "But would she be ready to be hugged for all she's worth?"
Night suddenly jumped first, and they met with fierce hugs and eager nuzzles. The night saw them happy in their mutual embrace, until another presence made herself known.
Crouching beside them, Nefertari chuckled softly. "You didn't invite me?"
Night paused in her cuddling and looked over at her. "You didn't seem the cuddling type."
Nefer extended a hand, palm up. "No. The spirits say you will make a battle worth singing soon. How could you not invite me?"
Silver disentangled from Night and sat up. "There are a few reasons. First, I don't plan to end any lives."
"Hmmph, and?"
"This is a battle to intimidate and make it clear just how powerless they are. Actually hurting, or killing, is out." Silver ruffled her wings as she looked over the jackaless that would call her wife. "I didn't think you liked that kind of conflict."
Nefertari reached out for both ponies, plinking either on the nose. "You underestimate me so sorely. The tactic of a grand display is not beyond my understanding. Come, let us show them true horror. One need not shatter bones to make them wail in terror for years afterwards."
Night wriggled her tapped nose. "So, you want to be part of this?"
"I do." She sat, crossing her legs. "And I think you should use our gift. They will tremble with fear of things they know nothing of when you descend on them in a true war form. Where once there was a docile pony, there will instead be a true beast, one they cannot comprehend, cannot placate, and cannot stop."
Night perked her ears. "Thank you for reminding me." She turned to Silver. "There's no way he'd send you here idly. Tell me why he sent you here, specifically."
Silver frowned lightly in thought. "He said he'd play the hero in stopping me, then convince me the only way to handle me was to take me directly to the boss, which is where we could attack the head of this whole thing."
Night shook her head firmly. "Then this can't be a random place. The ponies here must be some of their most vicious or well-trained, or the whole token would be empty. Unless you put the fear into their best and brightest, they have no reason to think there are no alternatives."
Nefertari smiled with a hint of her fangs. "All the more reason that we hold nothing back. To underestimate one's foe invites defeat and misery."
Silver nodded. "Right, that's fine, but no killing. We'll make our point without being the monster."
Nefertari raised a brow. "When did I cease being what I was? I will never be less than a monster, princess."
Night trailed a hoof slowly over the hoof a moment. "For you..." She looked up at Silver. "I will be a monster, if it keeps you safe. I failed you once."
Silver let out a slow sigh. "Night, I wish... No, you are who you are, both of you. I accept that. Just no killing tomorrow, please. Not a single fatality. That's part of our display, alright?"
Nefer snapped two fingers sharply in a noise Silver hadn't heard often since coming to Equestria. "Not a single mewling victim will find that sweet release, but they may wish I had." Before Silver could voice objection, she was gone with no sign of what direction she had taken.
Night spread her wings. "Shall I fetch Fast? This isn't her specialty, but she may be hurt if we go through with this without her."
Silver shook her head. "Fast is a lovely creature, but she would be better used for infiltration and seduction, not outright battle."
Night snorted softly. "When you were but a colt, there was an alicorn ready to threaten you, and she defended you without fear. Don't underestimate her." She pushed into the air. "Let me get her." With a little nod, she took off in a streak, leaving Silver alone on that roof.
She settled and brought her wings up tight for warmth and comfort. Sleep half descended on her, until something much more fluffy than just her wings settled on her. The moment she tried to turn, a pony nuzzled into her grip. "I missed you," breathed out Fast. "Night told me everything. Stupid jerk, thinking about not telling me, like I can't make up my mind." She nipped at Silver. "I'm your wife, damnit."
Night touched down beside the both of them. "She agreed to fight with us."
Silver chuckled, which came out more as a giggle. "I see that. Fast, were you told about the no killing rule?"
Fast rolled a hoof as she pushed up to her haunches. "I was told just fine. I won't hurt anypony too badly." She glanced away a moment then back at Silver. "Can I wreck you?"
Night coughed suddenly. "You did not just say that!"
Fast huffed softly. "I can and just did." She licked over her lips. "Now that she has her fire back, I've missed her! We have this whole roof to ourselves. I'll take you both on at once if I have to."
Silver reached for Fast, rubbing her belly with a hoof slowly. "I'm sick with worry, for how tomorrow will go, and our foal. What are they doing to him? Nopony knows for certain. As soon as he's safely back in our arms, I'll be glad to have your company in every way you could want to have it."
Fast scowled in annoyance. "I'll take out my frustrations on their hide then. That'll teach them to get in the middle of a family with an active sex life."
Night looked at Silver skeptically a moment. "I don't think I asked, but did you get up to any of that while you were away?"
Silver didn't catch it at first, but it came quickly. "No! No. Not that they didn't try once or twice, but I didn't." She rolled over onto her belly. "I'm for you, not other helpless captives, or over curious scientists that aren't called Twilight Sparkle."
Fast tilted her head. "You met someone like Twilight? Were they cute?"
Silver smirked. "She was fine, and dangerously insane. She wanted to do things to take notes and cross-examine all of life. She wanted answers and explanations. She needs a friend, and I hope I can be that, eventually, when this is over."
Fast turned to Night. "Again?"
Night lifted her shoulders. "You should be used to this by now."
"What?" Silver sat up. "I just said I'm not in love with her. Is friendship disallowed now?"
Night poked Silver on the nose. "If that changes, I get first dibs."
Fast rolled her eyes. "No. Our herd has enough members. There is no way I'm allowing that, and I'm pretty sure Twilight agrees. Hmmph, even Silver agrees for now. No more."
Silver tilted her head at Night. "Besides, are you that eager to be strapped down for a battery of blood samples and de-humanizing experiments performed without much concern for your feelings?"
"De what?"
Silver put a hoof up. "She can make someone feel like less than a person when she gets going."
Fast shrugged. "There are sexy ways to do that. Anyway, let's get some sleep, then scare the stuffing out of some ponies tomorrow, alright?"
Night turned and nosed into her saddlebag, producing a tent that she quickly unfurled and set up. Soon all three were curled up together, preparing for the next day's exhibition.