Night led Silver down a slender alleyway. "Be polite. She's worked for more important ponies than either of us." She clopped on a metal door three times, paused, then twice before stepping away and waiting.
Silver perked an ear curiously. "Code knocks?"
Before a reply came, a slot on the door opened with the swish of metal on metal. "Night Watch? Can't get enough of me?"
Night smiled up at the door. "Hey Hem. Meet the husband." She gestured with a wing towards Silver. "We have another bit for you to look at, small one this time."
The rounded, non-lunar, eyes looked towards Silver. "That the one that got my little watch not-so-little? Bring him in so I can thank him properly." The slot slid shut and the door opened into darkness with no pony in sight.
They proceeded inside. Night Watch led the way with confidence, and Silver kept just behind her. Reaching with his magic, he could feel the hallway around them and managed to not blunder into any walls so long as he allowed his magic the chance to scout the terrain around himself. "That book's already paying dividends."
"Hmm? Oh, the unicorn book?" Night nudged open a new door and entered a new room with dim lighting.
A pony with green fur and light white mane and tail was seated there, smiling at Night. "Little watch!"
Night colored faintly as she moved to greet her friend. "Connie!"
Silver looked around curiously at vials and beakers. "Connie? I thought it was Hem?"
Connie waved it off. "Hem Lock is my proper name. To this mare, Connie. To you, Hem Lock." She hugged Night briefly before moving towards the new stallion in her workshop. "So, you're the one giving my little watch headaches?"
Night gave Connie a light swat on the back. "Stop calling me that, you're embarrassing me... Only my parents get to call me little watch like that."
Connie snorted softly. "You bring strange stallions to my shop, you deserve it and more. You're lucky I happen to like you. Now what am I looking at?"
Silver produced the sliver from the depths of his saddlebag. "Here you are. Nice to meet you, Hem, and thanks for taking the time."
Hem smiled a little. "At least he's polite. Pity he's so... he." She lifted the sliver away in her own magic. Brought to his attention, Silver squinted in the light and could make out her delicate horn. She was a unicorn, like most ponies in the city. She trotted away with the suspect bit of metal towards a desk. "I'll have this checked out in no time at all."
Silver slid in next to Night, leaning close to her ear. "So, she doesn't like stallions much?"
Hem snorted from where she worked. "My ears do work you know, and no." She waved a hoof. "Don't you worry. You mind your manners and we don't have any problems, other than my blinding jealousy that you got my little watch." She dropped the sliver in a small test tube and began humming as she worked.
Night shook her head with warmed cheeks. "I didn't even... know until the last time I visited."
Hem rolled her eyes as she shook the tube with some strange liquid inside of it, her horn glowing with innate magic. "If I had known the next time I'd see you, you'd be ripening like a fruit left on the vine too long, I would have made a move for your hoof a long time ago. Too late for that now." She held up the tube close to her eye with a thoughtful murmur before she set it down on a little rack and pulled down a book from a shelf above.
Night tapped a hoof anxiously. "We were friends, Connie... I thought... I wasn't looking for that."
Silver felt increasingly awkward being between the two friends that might have been more. Anything he could say, he could see exploding in his face dramatically in new hurt feelings.
Hem looked up at him with a sudden grin. "You found a nice one. Pretty sure most stallions would have defended themselves by now." She tapped at the vial. "It's got stuff on it, but nothing I'd rate as an attempt to hurt a pony. I think you've been scared by an antiquated ceremony without a manual."
Night raised a brow at that. "From the way you say that, I gather you know how it goes then?"
Hem lifted the sliver from the tube, shaking it dry. "Oh sure. It's a little test, between unicorns. Popular around some of the stuffed crusts we call nobles. If you're a good and proper unicorn, you shouldn't even notice it. Magic doesn't get pricked. If you grab it in your mouth or a hoof, you might prick yourself, and it'll hurt for a while, but nothing harmful." She set the sliver down on the countertop. "The coating makes sure it stings good. A little message to 'improper' unicorns." Her eyes lifted to Silver. "Congratulations, you passed, then went for extra credit by finding it despite holding it the unicorn way."
Silver let out a huff of relief. "All that, for a little practical joke?" He smiled as he sank to his haunches. "I feel silly. Thank you, Hem."
Hem flashed a smile at Silver. "Not a problem, just take care of my little watch, or the next won't be so nice."
Night glared at Hem. "Connie, that's not funny."
Hem waved it off. "Just a joke. Look, your stallion's smiling." She began cleaning her supplies diligently. "He'll take care of you. I feel fairly certain about that. Maybe we could be friends."
Night glanced up at Silver and back at Hem. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind that. He seems to like collecting friends, when he can be pried away from his studies."
Hem snorted softly. "A stallion after my own heart? Careful, or I'll steal him from you."
Silver's ears rolled back, which only made Hem laugh. "Oh yeah, he loves you. You take care of him too, alright?"
Night slid in against Silver. "I will." She licked her dry lips, suddenly awkward. "We're still friends, right?"
"What? Of course we are, my lovely little watch." Hem trotted towards Night directly. "Night guard or not, I hope you don't go trotting out of my life like that." Without hesitation she walked right up to Night and kissed her on the lips, making Night recoil in surprise, but Hem followed her.
Silver went a bright red through his fur. Jealousy rose, but was shoved aside. He didn't want to come between them in that awkward moment and remained quiet.
Hem glanced up at him as she sat back. "I expected more from him... You either trained him well or he's... No matter." She flashed a bright smile. "Go on. I'll be here if you need me."
Night shook herself out of shock then slid to her hooves. "Yes, right... Take care, Connie."
Soon they were back in the alleyway and Night sank against a wall. "I had no idea for so long... It makes a lot of sense, looking back on it."
Silver nuzzled into her side gently. "Does it make you sad?"
Night's ears pinned back. "I'm not unfaithful!"
Silver sat on his haunches. "It's not unfaithful to think, Night. That was clearly a close friend. Did you... like her, that way?"
Night shook her head fiercely. "Until Fast, I never even considered mares like that. It's likely why I never even considered Connie's feelings. I still prefer stallions." She reached out and prodded him in the chest. "Especially this one."
Silver smiled and gently pulled her closer with his magic. "And I love a particularly bright mare, touched by the night, blessed with a powerful mind and keen insight."
They met in a gentle kiss, embracing there in the darkness for a moment, and all emotional turmoil was set aside in the comfort of their shared commitment to one another.
Rough pulled back from a similar kiss with Trixie, not knowing how well their timings had worked out. "What book has you so enraptured?"
Trixie pointed at the tome. "Since our colt has permission, she saw no reason not to take advantage as well. It's as interesting as he promised, even if Trixie plans to do it the right way and not hurry through it."
Rough nuzzled into the side of her neck. "You're even lovelier when you're excited."
Trixie giggled softly. "Then you should get her more rare books of magic, dear husband." She ran her magic over him, petting him with enhanced feeling. "Shall we experiment a little?"
Rough Draft had no objection, so they did.
The test was quite successful.
Celestia looked up at the sound of a door banging open. Luna stood there with ruffled wings and determination in her eyes. "I'm ready."
"Ready for what?" Celestia tilted her head at her sister. Silently, she was glad Luna came to speak to her of whatever it was. Progress was being made.
Luna approached Celestia quickly. "I am ready to face my feelings, for good or ill."
Celestia smiled slowly. "I'm glad to hear that. How do you plan to go about it?"
Luna raised a hoof to her head. "He was eager to barge into the dream world and even mine own dreams, I will turn the tables on him. I will intrude on his, and we will speak where none can interfere."
Celestia tilted her head a little. "And what do you hope he'll say?"
Luna's determination dwindled and she sank slowly to her haunches. "I'm uncertain..."
Celestia poured a fresh cup of tea and lifted it in her magic towards Luna. "What if he agrees to your desires? What if he wishes to be your stallion, despite, or even because of, what he's been through?"
Luna accepted the cup and stared into the amber fluid a moment before she sipped from it. "Then I will approach his wife. I will not try to separate them."
Celestia raised a brow. "That would be prudent. Do you intend to make him a Prince Consort?"
Luna darkened in her already dark fur. "Should I?"
The fact that the question was asked made Celestia's heart jump. They had grown closer. A wall was wearing down. Celestia spread her wings and spread them over her sister, embracing her quietly. "Let's consider this, together."
What doesn't it have? Something that would make Cloud Kicker blush.
An enjoyable chapter, with the hint of perhaps another former human if I read that right. Blueblood isn't murderous, just a jerk.
And then there's Luna...
Her's and Silver' relationship is almost the definition of toxic, being poisoned by brainwashing, suicide, abuse, and of course the prerequisite secrets and lies.
Enjoying it most thoroughly.
Heh, half expected for Silver to pipe up, "I was a mare once too, you know." but that would probably not have the desired effect...
Stupid elitist unicorns and their games. Well, Silver will just have to get back at him, right? Probably the opposite test, we think...
Keep going! ;)
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Their relationship is most definitely toxic bordering on abusive, I personally don't understand why there is so much support for Sliver x Luna. In any other setting we'd cry foul.
Keep up the good work.
Set typos=0
*****
Excellent chapter with new characters that immediately have a feeling of depth and added mystery, a bit of movement on the Luna issue, and some reassurance that Silver's enemies if any are not lashing out without thought, not necessarily in that order.
Once again I'm led astray by a chapter title that is germane but also a bit of a red herring by our clever author. I have been leaping at shadows. Well played sir.
If the Scmooze didnt exist beforehand, after all those unicorn nobles read the Book Of Slime, it would ba wonder if the world didnt end up a blob of digesting jelly ooze.
every thing considered I am still hoping thing between Luna and Silver Watch work out and if things are not to be I hope they end as vary close friends.
If things work out for the possible new herd I am really hoping Silver can quicken Luna as I think they all would be super happy.
I think Luna should be approaching Night Watch first about this proposal if we're getting back to the herd rules again as in the dream.
7067984 Seen too many 50's movies I think.
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7067996 So many strong feelings. I will note that Silver didn't actually commit suicide. Dunderhead just slipped.
7068312 And I will note that Celine did, in fact commit suicide. That kicked right in the feels. Woona just melted into aethersphere. That was some brutal shit right there.
7068354 True enough, but that was her choice, not Luna's or Silver's. She isn't 'there' to comment.
7068418 A common symptom of suicide.
7068540 Neither was Cadance or Misses Cake. Hiding it is clearly an easy trick.
7068540
this is vary true but remember one thing David Silver is righting this and it will go ware his muse pulls him.
7068312
Yet Luna still messed with Silver's mind anyway in the "dream" if we can even still call it a dream did Silver gain things from the dream? Yes he did, but it was still forced mind magic changing.
And for you good sir
7067996
Let's recap the standouts;
Luna used pheromones to *slightly manipulate Silver.
"Destroyed" the life he was promised with draining his magic with Triek.
Dream.
That pimp back hoof and subsequent jailing.
The chance of Silver x Luna is 6 feet deep. Leave it there.
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you are all still missing one key thing.
Silver loved Luna and we all know he would do any thing for her.
What doesn't this chapter have?.......
Chuck Norris rideing a tiger atop a tank being dropped from a high altitude bomber with adragoness in a cheesecake pose fore nose art. It doesn't have that!
Can we get more magic?
I could really do without all the casual sexism against males in this story. That there is such a prevalent anti-male bias that an entire city can openly discriminate against males living there shows that this version of Equestria is actually pretty horrible.
I'm still waiting for the moment Celestia says, "Surprise everypony, Luna and Silver are already married! She offered a favor, he asked for her, she gave herself 'for the natural span of his life,' and the whole thing was witnessed to by another princess. That's as official as it gets!"
Replace with <to>.
Why is it that every post by Damaged I'v seen has been deleted? have the typos come up with a new weapon to censor with?
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I do not know. I certainly didn't touch them.