Silver opened the door to his house to discover Celine had somehow beaten him home. She was seated beside Rough Draft and the two were having a conversation. Silver closed the door behind himself and went to the fridge, fetching a celery stalk to nibble on. The noise must have given him away as he turned away from the fridge to bump nose-to-nose with Celine. He squeaked in surprise, but soon smiled.
"Hey," said Celine, "What took you so long?"
Silver held the celery in the corner of his mouth as he spoke, "I rode here in a truck. Until I learn teleporting, that's about as fast as I can go." Celine advanced and nuzzled him under the chin. Silver went still, caught off-guard by the affection. There was no attack in it, and she backed off. He relaxed and leaned forward, returning it with a gentle bumping of noses. He could get used to this. "Ready to do some homework?"
Celine led the way into the den and they were soon hard at work. While Silver breezed through the technical portions, finding the linguistics and math portions childishly simple, Celine was a great help for history. "I knew him personally," she said with a smile. "He was stubborn as a, well, bull, but a pleasant enough fellow."
With their assignments complete, Trixie trotted in and pulled the introductory book from the wall. She laid it in front of Silver and sat down with a patient look. Silver quickly flipped it open to the alphabet and resumed trying to memorize, "So... I passed one of the exams."
Trixie blinked, "What?"
Silver looked up from the book, "The exams, I passed one."
Trixie tilted her head, looking shocked, but then her gaze slid along to Celine and the expression darkened to a frown.
Celine looked away, "What? I didn't do anything..."
Silver spotted the many tells and thumped the carpet with a hoof, "That was you?! I thought I figured it out on my own!"
Trixie shook her head, "You cheated, even if you were not aware of the fact. Which test was it?"
Silver let out a soft sigh before he explained, "He, or she? Whoever they were, they did changes on the inside of each unicorn and challenged them to identify what changed."
Trixie tilted her head, "How far did you get without your little helper?"
Celine stuck out her tongue, "I only helped him at the end. He had it almost all figured out."
Silver gave a hesitant nod. "I used the flow of magic in me as a kind of radar."
"Radar?" asked Trixie.
Silver waved a hoof, "I felt where the flow changed, and I could tell a lot about what was changing it, but I was stupid and forgot how large and what shape his heart crystal was. He had put it in my shoulder. I..." he frowned, "How did that not put a lump in my shoulder, or hurt?"
"Magic," said Celine simply with a smile.
Trixie snorted softly, "The true answer is more complex, but, yes, magic is a valid answer. Are you thinking to run off to his academy tomorrow?" She looked ready to argue, body tense.
Silver shook his head, "He suggested I finish learning the basics first, but that I was welcome. There's still one more examiner, right?"
Trixie relaxed immediately, "Good, and yes. The least of the schools, Canterlot Academy of Higher Magic. Perfectly fine, as schools go, but with no specialization, they have the fewest stand-out unicorns to their name."
Silver tilted his head a little, "Did I miss the one from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns?"
Trixie snorted, "You have to go to them. That university will not come to schools. There is also a significant entrance fee that is not refunded if you fail the test." Trixie poked Silver, "Twilight went to that school, and look at her."
Silver considered this a moment, "Now she's a princess?"
Celine giggled softly, "And neurotic."
Trixie pointed at Celine, "Precisely. You already have Celestia's attention. You don't need to go to her school. Besides." She poked Silver gently, "You can't be a princess."
Silver stuck out his tongue, "That's sexist. I'd make a perfectly fine princess."
Celine tilted her head, "You don't have the right kind of magic to be an alicorn."
This made Silver blink softly, "What?"
Celine bobbed her head, "Alicorns can only exist where all three tribes can blend together in magic. Even the most non-magical mare has this magic, inside of her. It's how a unicorn can make an earth pony or a pegasus make a unicorn."
Silver gave a slow nod, "Well, alright. That sort of makes sense. So princesses are what they are because of womb magic?"
Trixie raised a brow, "This makes sense..." she said in a tone that implied she hadn't heard the idea before.
Celine went on, "That's why gender-changing magic is so hard."
Silver clopped his hooves together, "Because you'd either have to add the whole new magic system, or take it out. Either way would be a huge deal."
Trixie nodded her head, "You have expanded the Curious and Attentive Trixie's knowledge."
Silver pointed at Trixie, "Since she has one, a womb that is, does that make her a better wizard off the bat?"
Celine shook her head, "She doesn't cast using that power. It is strictly internal unless you become an alicorn. So, you two are on even hoofing."
Trixie scoffed, "My student is very ambitious, but he is still years from even dreaming of challenging his teacher."
Silver rose to his hooves and took a few steps up to Trixie. He leaned forward and touched his nose to hers, "Thank you."
Trixie went red lightly, "What was that for?"
Silver smiled, "For being my teacher, and my mom." He returned to his book and laid down. "So when should I expect a brother or sister?"
Trixie's red went to full force as she frowned, "That is a very improper question! We haven't even married yet."
"Yet," said Celine with a little giggle.
Trixie hopped to her hooves and stormed out of the room, "Trixie does not have to take this!"
Silver let her go, then looked back at Celine, "Before the end of summer?"
Celine stuck out her tongue, "Before the end of the month."
Since the book on patterns was left on the floor, Silver availed himself of it, working through them with his horn. He'd memorize them, eventually, he hoped.
After an hour of cycling through the patterns, Celine nudged him, "You look tired, let's go to bed." She was quite insistent, and soon he found himself under the covers with her. He was tired enough to start fading out, but then he felt her touch somewhere... sensitive.
Silver jumped, but the sensation continued. He didn't know what to say or do and mostly laid like a lump as she had her way with him. In the end, he was panting for breath as the sensations tingled through him. He felt her teeth nip at his exposed throat. "Next time I expect you to play along."
Silver trembled lightly. Was that enough to consider his virginity lost? He hadn't been... He tilted his head in the dark, then squeezed Celine close. He stopped caring as he gently inhaled her scent and faded to sleep in her hooves.
The next day, Silver and Celine trotted to school together. They arrived to see the usual group playing a game of loopty hoops. Silver was surprised at how well Tumble could keep his hoop going. Glancing around, Silver spotted his truck parked not far away. He looked over at Celine and saw her eyes roaming the schoolyard. He decided to approach his friends, "Hey!"
Lily Jump's hoop fell to the ground as she stuck out her tongue and lowered herself to all fours. "Hey Silver. How are you?"
Meadow performed his namesake leap, the hoop ending up in his mouth before he set it down gracefully. "Good to see you two." He looked at Celine directly, "Are you two... together, like for real?"
Celine grinned as she reported, "We are married. I am his first wife."
Soft Blush raised a brow high, "First wife? You hadn't mentioned you were forming a herd."
Lily Jump tilted her head, "That's so weird! I thought only country ponies did that kinda thing."
Meadow threw a leg over Silver's neck, "I clearly underestimated you, you mare-killer you." He squeezed Silver before letting him go, grinning with the pride of camaraderie.
Tumble gave a slow blink and leaned in, "W-wait, you mean..."
Celine nodded her head, "I can suggest other ponies to join the herd, and if both of us agree, then the herd grows."
Silver blinked, "Oh, is that how it works?"
Celine gave an mmhmm, "I'm already looking for good ones."
Silver shook his head quickly, "I'm still getting used to you, Celine. I mean... I like you... But I'm not used to having a marefriend. Can't we just be... us for a little bit?"
Lily Jump gave a loud aww, "That's so sweet!"
Celine bobbed her head, "Alright, for a little bit, but it's my job to make sure you are surrounded by loving mares."
The bell rung and they all filed into class. Butter Scotch's social studies lesson of the day had to do with Equestrian banking. It wasn't that terribly far off from American banking, but the banks had no power to lend money that they didn't actually have, nor did the idea of doing that seem to even enter Butter's mind. Checks written from one bank to another involved an actual transfer of the bits from one bank to another, and often had transportation fees attached. There was no 'virtual' currency to be seen.
The final examiner trotted in mid-morning. She looked like a perfectly normal unicorn mare with a nice jacket. "Hello students," she said in a friendly tone, "I'm here to administer tests. Don't worry, pass or fail, there's always next year, and we do offer study assistance programs." She was the friendliest by far, but Silver supposed that made sense for being the least prestigious of the schools. She led the four remaining qualifying unicorns out, then looked them over. When she saw Soft Blush, she checked a scrap of paper held in her soft blue magic. "Are you Soft Blush?"
She nodded.
The representative smiled, "You already earned a full scholarship. You don't need to take the test." Soft Blush nodded and returned to the school, leaving Silver and the two others behind. The examiner looked over the remaining three, "This test couldn't be easier! You just have to show mastery of the basic patterns."
Silver swallowed nervously. Of course. He watched as the filly went through the alphabet, but even he could see where her horn tripped over a pattern, a discordant flash before his eyes. She braved on through it and he saw no other obvious errors.
"So close," said the examiner with a smile, "A little study and you'll have it down. Don't be discouraged." She turned to Silver next. Why couldn't he be last again? "Your turn."
Silver took a slow breath as the filly returned inside. He formed each pattern slowly but carefully, but there were several he just didn't remember, so he skipped them rather than make a random pattern.
"Very nice," she said, "Your patterns were crisp and straight, but you missed a few. Once you learn the rest, you'll get in with no trouble at all!" And she turned to the last student. She hadn't said 'Failed', but he had. Silver trotted back into class.
Don't give up hope, Tumble! That truck can double as a dowry! Well, not dowry, exactly, but something like it. Early courtship gift?
He bumped "nose-to-nose" with Celine.
I think he found those portions childishly "simple."
He or she "challenged" them to identify what changed.
"Gender-changing" magic.
Okay, I know that's not a real game, but it just looks like "loopty-hoops" should be hyphenated. Or is that just my bias showing?
He's a "mare-killer."
I think he's grinning with the pride of "camaraderie."
No error here, but I just see Lily exclaiming that to the point that it needs an exclamation mark, rather than a period.
I'm guessing that this should be "social studies" lesson?
5721252 Thanks for your grammar review, maybe this chapter still has a chance at the academy! Overall, a much lower stakes chapter, but I felt it had its points, what say you?
So I'm going to call it right now: Tumble will join the herd, not because Celine or Silver will invite him to do so, but because circumstances will force their hoof. That is, the next time Tumble comes to school limping and bruised, Silver and Celine will be the only ones who know that it's because his parents are beating him up, and if Silver marries him then Tumble can come live with them, rather than having to go back there. Of course, that will start a whole new set of romantic problems...but such drama is the bread-and-butter of slice-of-life.
5721286 Lower-stakes aren't bad. Tension needs to rise and fall, and in the wake of a big change it's a good idea to slow things down and let everyone adjust and acclimate to how things have shaped up. At this point, it's nice to see Silver enjoying being in a relationship with a loving filly. Her straightforward attitude towards expanding their herd is as amusing as I thought it'd be.
Interestingly, his friends were just fine with it. I suppose it's acceptable enough, if a bit odd, to city ponies. However, the lack of any sort of reaction on the part of Lily or Soft seemed like reverse-foreshadowing; they probably won't be joining. Purely as a shot in the dark, Soft will probably leave thanks to her connections from Nicole, and Meadow and Lily seem like a nice couple.
For now though, it's nice to let Silver be in a comfortable place, with his home life going so well. That bit about "end of the summer?" "End of the month" so adorable it was giggle-worthy.
5721043 Silver is a happy pony for the moment. His new filly friend is friendly, and he passed a test... with some help. He isn't entirely sure if he should be happy about that or not, but he already did it, so it's done. He feels no strong urge to go tell them there was a mistake, even if he wouldn't have asked Celine to do that on his own.
The last test amused me to no small degree, being the only test that actually required the knowledge that Silver quaked in fear about the entire time.
Does Lily have parents? I'm considering something that requires that knowledge, as the next chapter I'm writing happens to be the Canterlot chapter.
5721392 She is not an orphan. She's a pretty happy filly from an average middle-class pony family in Canterlot.
5721438 Pony feathers... what about Meadow Leaper?
5721517 I almost fear to ask why you specifically need an orphan! I haven't formally said, or even thought, about Meadow's home life. If he is one, he is a well adapted one in a well-run institution, likely run by a mare(s) that genuinely care for their charges.
Since Celine was made by Luna with a magical construct or spell, is she real or not? . this question is for you > why did you choose for David to build a herd? i barely remember the other characters , isn't enough just 1 girlfriend?
5721540 Silver did not chose, it was chosen for him, sorta... He tried making his demand as outrageous as possible so it would be refused, but Luna went 'Sure!' and here we are. One mare is plenty, so far as Silver is concerned, and he said as much in this chapter.
Is she 'real'? Can she produce foals? All great questions that nopony has offered answers to yet.
5721525 Just for Moonfire to have a contact in Canterlot. Besides, I've kinda insinuated that something bad happened in Canterlot
And I thought of this so that Moonfire doesn't do anything... untoward to Silver if you agree with the idea I have.
5721548 I'd say let her be 'real'. It would make sense what with Luna or Cadence mentioning him being able to split his soul.
5721548 well Luna technically "made" her and since magic can't change shape ( from Human to pony or the alicornation you already explain) sex or the body in general without a great deal of power, beyond most unicorns,and even with that it isn't without collateral damages. Made flesh, bones and a personality whit it seems unfeasible.
So when I asked if she was real, made by magic by Luna spell, I can only think on a puppet made for the purpose of guide David with is love problem. It fits , Luna will not interact with David anymore but the puppet will watch over him with, interact and "love" him since this are her instructions.
an inflatable doll but instead of air, with magic. is definitely more possible
5721627 You present a very convincing case. It would have been a much larger deal and with a great deal more strain on Luna if she had created a whole working female system, making it unlikely she performed such a miracle, meaning Celine may have the outwards part, but is likely sterile. Silver will be disappointed when this becomes known and/or he starts applying too much logic to the situation.
5721572 You ponies just can't get enough of abusing Silver at every opportunity.
5721642 Have you seen the "Friendship is Witchcraft "series? Sweetie Belle there is a robot and in school the foals were taught that if a robot is aware of his robotic nature, they magnify instantly and go on rampage, eating all the ponies in their way before being destroyed ...
so I thought ....
-----------------------------------------
David > I understand everything now
Celine > what Silver?
David > You are not a real pony Celine, you're just a puppet created by magic
Celine > Silly Silver! Of course I'm real! I breathe, eat, and I was born! I'm a pony just like you!
David > Yes... but do you poop?
Celine froze with his mouth open, finally cashing this undeniable reality. the only warning of what happens after was a sudden twitch of the left eye.
------------------------------------------
Celestia watched the puppet magic created by her foolish sister destroy buildings that her subjects have painstakingly built over time, but fortunately they did not care about that much, if not run away from the giant filly who devoured every pony in its vicinity.
with a mask of inflexibility she observes everything happen before her eyes, her face shows no emotion.
Luna > how did I know this would happen? I was just trying to help the human being with his problems!
Celestia > ... Luna, certain spells are prohibited for a reason.
Luna > ... Cadence suggested to do it. blames her!
Celestia > ... Luna, my beloved sister.
Luna > Your only sister
Celestia closed her eyes, using all her years of experience to free the mind from the weight of the world and the screams of terror of her subjects, trying to absorb the amount of raw stupidity all at once. but even for her, it took five long seconds of her life.
it was a new record
5721781 We'll pencil that down as an alternative ending for the series.
The Mumbo-Jumbo body academy still looks most interesting
i.imgur.com/upXOBvI.gif
5721934 Now with 60% more pony.
5721936 fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/153/8/b/lt__armstrong_pony_collab_by_phantombadger-d521gs0.png here ya go.
5721956 Headcanon accepted! I am going to hope this is not Silver's destiny.
5721963 but the FABULOUSNESS! He could become the next Muscle Wizard!
5721662 ...Okay, okay, I was thinking of Moonfire holding a knife that could cut through iron -- like it was butter -- up to Silver's horn when they first meet but that's all. Everything else wouldn't harm Silver directly.
(Yeah, Moonfire is a little wary of new ponies that follow him...)
5721999 He would do anything you asked until that knife was a little further away.
5722007 I'm certain that they would be able to work past that little hiccup
5722007 By the way... how long has Silver been a pony now? Has it been more than a month?
5722041 Uh, hm, we'll go with a month, with some other non-specified time passes. I know for sure that at least two weeks are accounted for?
5722048 Why don't we take this to chat for a little? I don't know how long I have now but I'll be able to be on for at least five mins.
5722067 Do you mean PM or?
5722070 The actual chat. We can get into a private channel once we're in.
exultant chapter and poor tumble once agene life is dangling his love in front of his eyes .
and way to go rough and Trixie. "So when should I expect a brother or sister?"
Harts Fire
5722070 Okay, I have some actual lines for the scene, but I'd like to get in chat with you again and try to play the scene out.
5723119 I beg to differ. I'm sure somepony out there would pay for it.
lowered
Silver and Celine are getting right to work on corrupting Canterlot's youth.
5727614 Fixed!
This chapter failed the test because of its typos and will not be attending the Canterlot Academy of Higher Magic.
+1 like
5721286
my trope senses are going wild.
6522048 The entire series soaks in tropes and luxuriates in them.
What? No 'You herd it here first' jokes? I am disappointed.
6739819 I'm sorry.
had somehow beaten him home.
dude your little typo quips in the author notes are soooo hilariouskeep up the good work, almost to the third story!!!
6921547 It just keeps going and going...
Ref to Authors note: He could always try for a school of random magic, somehow seems fitting.
How old are they again?
7739157 One's been alive for 30 something years. The other... less than a year.
Age got fuzzy.
7739248
I meant apparent age-wise, but yeah, I understand.
Congratulations, Silver: you are dumb! "Princess" is what one calls the queen's daughter, while her son is called "prince". Were that not true -- then yeah, but calling on possible sexism wouldn't change anything nonetheless (since it's just a meaningless word, made up by those, who had nothing better to do, than to go yell about "Discrimination!". And forgive me, if I so don't withhold my enthusiasm, but fighting against sexism and the -ism gang doesn't seem to have brought justice to our world, nay, quite the contrary, if I may).
...Now I want to Equestria ... the only place there seems to be the light of hope... A magic land, where the toughest challenge is befriending a pony... Not trying to survive .