Starlight stood beside Twilight as the latter gazed through her telescope into the sky. "I wonder if I'm doing the right thing?"
"Chasing my mate?" Twilight pulled back from the telescope to raise a brow. "You were apparently doing that before you even liked her. You've been hunting her since before her time as a prince. You made quite a mess of our 'getting to know each other' phase." She leaned back into the eye piece. "Despite that, you caught her attention. She was the first to stand up for you, even when we thought you were still out to capture her, let alone your revenge on me to come later." She swiveled the telescope slowly. "Our struggle hurt her in a way I can only partially understand. I felt what it's like to have time turn on me like that. I just didn't get the 'pleasure' of knowing a friend was outright killed, so another pony who'd never know my name as anything but a curse could live." She leaned back out. "I get chills."
Starlight's horn glowed with the same magic that turned the telescope away from Twilight. "If she hated me, this would be a lot simpler. But no, she says 'I hurt', and looks to me to make her feel better. She still wants me around. She's alright with this... huge source of misery..."
"You are not that." Twilight frowned. "Look, Starlight, get some sleep. Tomorrow we're heading out, and you can take her aside and talk like reasonable adults." She smiled a little. "Silver's really not one for grudges. If she's set her friendship scope on you, she gets worse than me. Just be a friend. That's all she wants."
Starlight tapped her chin. "What does Silver like to eat?"
Twilight suddenly giggled. "You know Silver made Spike a special plate for tomorrow? This is adorable, everypony making everypony else's favorite dish."
Starlight turned red around her snout. "Well, what is it?"
Twilight considered what she was told. "She said, back when she was human, she had a soft spot for spaghetti, with red tomato sauce and meat." She turned up her nose a little. "Would you believe cows aren't sentient where she comes from? He had that on it. Disgusting, but who are we to judge a whole other species?"
Starlight gave a slow nod, frowning. "How am I supposed to make that?"
"Don't."
Starlight went quiet for a time, then nodded. "You're right, again. I'll make a nice pasta dish with fish topping. I'm sure she'll like it."
Twilight smiled. "Now you're getting it. Make plenty, since I'm sure Night Watch will want some too. They share carnivorous tendencies, and if they're chowing down on it, Fast might join in."
Starlight smiled her sure smile. "I can make a good inroad with all three of them, fantastic. I'm off to work then. I'll see you in the morning."
Twilight took hold of her telescope in her magic and resumed her star gazing. "Have fun."
The next day, the entire castle departed, everypony, and dragon, burdened with a basket. Night and Silver, used to wearing saddlebags much of the time, took on two baskets without complaint, strapped lightly around their barrels.
Spike looked up at the clear sky. "It's supposed to be good weather all today! Do ya think Rarity will be there?"
Twilight quirked a smile. "I'm sure she will be. We've planned this far enough ahead for her to plan around."
Silver resisted the urge to look at them, considering Spike and Rarity. To one, harmless puppy love, to the other, the love of a life. She leaned towards Night beside her. "Rarity better let him down gently when she does."
The designated picnic area wasn't one they had to themselves. It seemed many other ponies shared similar thoughts about the nice day. Fillies and colts ran around with kites or just seemingly running for the fun of it. Older groups sunned themselves on spread blankets, talking about things between nibbles of snacks or sips of drinks. Some looked up at the arrival of the two local princesses, but Twilight had done a good job in laying her boundaries, and none came to bother her.
Silver hadn't. Mayor Mare wandered up to her with a smile. "Ah, you're looking far more relaxed than last we met, your highness."
Night crossed between Silver and the mayor. "Excuse me, ma'am? My wife and I are enjoying a day out. We're not here on official business."
The mare gave her best official smile. "Oh this won't take more than a moment! I believe it's a matter quite pertinent to her interests."
Silver leaned around Night. "What's that?"
That was prompt enough. Mayor Mare circled Night to approach Silver, only for her collar to be suddenly grabbed, held in Night's teeth. Night pulled her away from Silver several steps. "You can speak from here, ma'am."
Mayor Mare cleared her throat. "Yes, well. There's been a growing demand for space in our fair village by lunar ponies, wanting to be closer to their prince...ess?"
A surge of power ran through Silver. She knew it, and could feel Fast's personal touch in it, and allowed it even as a new weight came to be. The spell didn't have enough power to work so easily on another pony, but Silver took it with a twinkle of her own horn, feeding it the raw energy it required. Fast slid up besides Silver. "Definitely prince. You can check, if you like?"
Night raised a brow. "You may, or simply take our word for it."
The mayor colored as she looked between the two mares and the one that may be a stallion despite their mare-like appearance. "I-I see! Regardless, there are some that feel that lunar foals should have their own school, separate of the other, to see to their specialized needs."
Silver frowned at this. Separate but equal was a concept she'd heard of before. "What would you teach them that you wouldn't any other foal? What would any other foal learn that they shouldn't? Aren't we all ponies? I don't see a pegasus school, and a unicorn school. What will you do when my own foal becomes old enough to attend school? There aren't even any lunar unicorns around to tutor them, are they just out of luck?"
Mayor Mare shrank back from the assault. "Of course not! Of course." She glanced quickly around. "I thought you might say just that!" She cleared her throat as she pulled out a sheaf of paper. "Which is why I wanted your signature supporting a new law that made it formal that all young citizens of Equestria are welcome in our school, provided they follow the same basic rules of etiquette."
Silver stepped forward to scan over the document. Nothing jumped out at her as suspicious about it. "Much better. I can sign this." She reached into her saddlebags, nosing around the basket of food to pull out a quill and lift it in her magic, quickly signing the paper. "I hope the foals of all of Ponyville's citizens learn from one another, and grow into better ponies for it."
When Mayor Mare had departed, Night smirked a little. "Forty percent chance she had another paper ready authorizing the construction of the new school."
Fast giggled. "No bet there. Come on, everyone else left us behind."
All three hurried to find the others had set up a tent and Rainbow Dash had arrived with her own basket to add to the potluck nature of the meal. "Hey!" She waved a wing at them. "Long time no see."
Greetings were barely exchanged before Rarity stepped up with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom together with her. "Hello, darlings. You're all looking fantastic today." She set a basket held in her magic down. "It's so lovely we've set aside a little time together. No drama."
Fluttershy was next, flying in at low altitude and setting down a few feet from the blanket. "Hello everyone." She looked around slowly, shrinking a little on seeing Silver. "Y-you're not upset, are you?"
Silver blinked owlishly at her. "I never was. Come on, let's enjoy the day." She waved Fluttershy closer and they all sat around as Spike poured everyone some lemonade.
Applejack arrived next, who caught a running Apple Bloom before she could join the rest.
Last but not least was Pinkie Pie, who arrived with a cart of sweet looking treats. "Oh! There are more ponies than I thought. I hope I brought enough..."
Silver looked over the cart, overflowing as it was. "I'm fairly sure you've brought enough, Pinkie."
"Okay!" She set the cart and pushed down on a lock by the wheels, keeping it in place before she bounced over and flopped beside Silver. "It's been a while! For being the father of my foal, you sure are distant."
There was a moment of silence. Several cups fell from numb hooves to spill on the blanket.
"What?" Pinkie tilted her head. "Oh gosh, I forgot to tell anypony! We should have a party about this!"
Twilight cleared her throat softly. "I think I should explain that this was not either of their plans. It was entirely my fault. My experiment resulted in some... irregularities, to put it mildly."
Silver let out a soft breath. "No foal of mine is a mistake." She put a leg over Pinkie and held her closer. "It may be born out of wedlock, but I don't care. They deserve to be met with love and support."
Fast clopped her forehooves. "That's a good attitude to have. I'll be happy being Pinkie's foal's nice auntie."
Applejack nodded quickly. "Right. Reckon ah see mah Apple Bloom as mah daughter sometimes, even though we're sisters. If yer both happy, then ah say congratulations."
Little murmurs of agreement circulated as the truth of the matter became accepted.
Starlight rose from her seat and circled around to get at Silver, despite how crowded her place was. "Excuse me."
Pinkie hopped up. "Here ya go! I'm gonna go cut up the cake for everypony." She pronked away, letting Starlight get in.
Taking advantage of the space, Starlight settled beside Silver. "You... seem to have a large number of mares."
Silver sighed gently. "I could stammer excuses, but, yes... I do. I even had a stallion before... things." She saw Starlight withdraw and rolled to face her. "I didn't mean to guilt you like that. We're here to have fun today."
Starlight looked over Silver, and noticed the addition added to her by Fast. She recoiled in surprise. "I thought you were a mare?"
Silver looked down to where her eyes were glued and flushed. "Most of the time. I was... born male."
Starlight smiled that smile that sent shivers through Silver's body. "Were you now? You were scared, but you didn't hide that little tremble. What were you thinking when I first had you to--"
Night suddenly lowered a wing between them. "Let's eat." There was no question or suggestion. It was a flat order.