165 - Royalty Denied
Silver was led through the hallways, Samantha and Night at his sides and back. Other ponies were slow to notice things had changed. If he kept his wings folded tightly, the pony perception seemed to shield them from noticing he had become something more, and he was alright with that. No need to rush.
"S-Silver?!" A startled and frightened Carrot Plate stood before the procession, jaw dropped and eyes wide. Given enough ponies, Silver figured one would have to notice, and why not someone he knew? Destiny loved that kind of thing. "What happened? You?!" She glanced left and right quickly. "This is where I get banished, isn't it?"
Silver smiled a little. "We already had this conversation. Why would I banish you? You made a mistake, you paid for it, it's done." He extended a wing half-way. "How do I look?" Why not get an outside opinion while the chance was there.
Carrot Plate shook herself out. "It looks... Really, you?!" She flopped back against a table beside her. "I attacked a future royalty..."
The guard before Silver cleared his throat. "We should keep moving." And so they did, leaving Carrot Plate to gather her wits behind them.
Samantha came up on his right side. "You look great!"
Night said nothing. She looked deeply occupied in her head as she followed along. Silver wanted to broach the topic with her, but they were far from alone, and he felt certain it was no public matter.
He spread his wings and gathered up his wives at his sides, with the side bonus of getting his foals for no additional fee. His family was close, and he intended to keep it that way.
Together, they entered one of the dining halls. The guard at their front pointed to the table. "Please wait here. We'll bring Princess Celestia at her earliest convenience."
How was it that important business always ended up around a table of food? Silver moved to take a place at the side of the table. He wasn't presumptuous enough to take one of the heads of the long table. As he sat, he worked his wing this way and that, feeling the subtle differences between the bird-like wings of pegasi and the bat-like wings of lunar pegasi. Even internally, there were differences, though he still felt like he had a leg up from his dream time. The wings didn't feel like alien parts, just different in so many tiny ways.
Samantha reached for one of the flexing wings and grabbed it in her hooves. "Did it hurt? I can't imagine growing two new limbs would be easy or painless, to say nothing of all these feathers!"
Silver brushed that wing over Samantha's snout, and she sneezed. He could see why Celestia loved doing it to him. She seemed so adorable and innocent at that moment even as she looked faintly dazed from the forced sneeze. "Funny thing, but the actual transformation was entirely painless, I had to endure pain before it."
Night perked an ear. "Before it? What... What happened? Can you please tell me now?"
Silver reached with his other wing, encircling Night. "It's almost over, so, yes, I can say a lot now. I experienced a lot of 'it could have beens' in Equestria. 'What if's, if you prefer. What if Sombra had taken over the Crystal Empire on his return and waged a war on Equestria, a true war. What if Nightmare Moon had come back and won, ruling the world in perpetual shadows? They were all fairly grim, and ended in a world completely destroyed. Just... ash in the wind."
Samantha blinked rapidly. "Fascinating. Oh, I wish your trackers had worked while you were away. The readings I would have gotten!" She clopped her forehooves together with excitement. "It's alright, you're back now and that's much more important. Congratulations, you've raised from third favorite subject to first, no, second. Yes, definitely second favorite subject."
Night tilted her head faintly at Samantha. "You have a list? Who's the first?"
Samantha pointed at Night. "The lunar pegasus that produced two entirely new tribes of ponies, of course. I may be a little biased, since she's also my alpha mare, but I gave up trying to be not-biased when it comes to you two, and these two." She nuzzled each of the foals at her side. "I'm just going to be all biased, but I'll take good notes, and hope it's helpful to somepony."
Silver glanced between his wives. One was all smiles, practically bouncing with building joy. The other was quiet and brooding. He turned a little towards the brooder and leaned in. "What's wrong, First Wife." The title was more than a pet name, it was her legal standing. "How can I help turn that sour expression bright again?"
Night glanced away and back at Silver. "You're changing, again."
"I am." There wasn't much he could say to change that. "In a bad way?"
Night pointed at herself. "I haven't... I never change..." She grit her teeth a moment. "I'm the same bat pony you ran into, just a little older."
Bat pony? Silver knew Night had to be seriously upset to use that term. "You have grown and matured in wonderful ways, Night. Do you want me to start counting them?"
Night scowled at him. "You're just being nice to your wife. I haven't grown."
"But you have." Silver sat up. "Let's start with the most obvious. You're a mother now, and no pony becomes a mother without changing, certainly not the loving sort of mother you have become."
Night squirmed a little. "Great, I can get pregnant. Big accomplishment..."
Silver prodded Night in the chest. "Despite what they say, you did as much, if not more, to bring peace to the umbrum. You took a pony mad with pain and desperation and turned him into a friend. The umbrum owe you so much, and you wouldn't have done that when I first met you. You have changed, for the better, I say."
Samantha leaned around Silver. "You used to be scared of me, but now we're herd-sisters. You changed, and I'm so grateful you opened your heart to make room for me." She rubbed at her cheek. "I know I'm not the perfect partner, but I'll keep trying to change, to grow, just like you want to. We'll grow together, as a family."
Night quirked a little smile. "As a family... But this..." She gestured at Silver broadly. "You've jumped past us, to a plateau far over our heads. You can do everything we can do, in theory, but better."
Silver snorted softly at that. "I doubt I'll ever be the warrior you are, Night. That isn't something a few lessons gives you. It's part of who you are."
Night jabbed him with a sharp hoof. "You say that! I've seen you fighting when you take it seriously. You have some warrior's spirit in there, you just don't bring it out very easily. You don't... like hurting ponies. Please don't change that."
Silver nuzzled at her cheek gently. "Then be my lovely warrior, grow with us, but never change that."
Night shuddered softly. "That all sounds lovely, but you're... You're a wizard. You're a wizard with even more magic now. What do you need me for?"
Silver nudged at her shoulder. "First of all, we didn't become partners out of a 'need', not like that."
"I won't be useless!" She suddenly screamed.
Celestia tilted her head at the door. "Is this a bad time?"
Night shook her head quickly. "No. No... Sorry." She curled up a bit on herself but went quiet.
Samantha waved at Celestia eagerly. "Look what happened!"
Celestia approached the table slowly. "I see..." She was quiet a moment as she circled around to take a place opposite Silver and his family. Nopony took the head of the table. "So it happened."
Silver tilted his head faintly. "You sound far less surprised than I thought you might be."
"Oh, I am." Celestia rolled a hoof. "I expected to be the one to guide you through this step. I took it for granted. Cadance, Twilight, I guided them both to this point, and I saw no reason why I wouldn't for you as well. Did you carry yourself through that place? That is more than I would have guessed possible."
Silver was ready to explain Star Swirl's interference, but the words would not come to him. He ended up just looking awkward and tongue-tied.
"You have surprised me again." Celestia smiled gently, extending a wing to brush over one of his own. "We'll have to plan a coronation."
"No."
Celestia blinked softly. "I know you're probably very nervous. I rea--"
Silver held up a hoof. "It's not about fear, or trying to avoid responsibilities. I'll face those, but let's be smart about this."
Celestia raised a brow then. "Explain?"
Silver smiled a little. "Twilight was a Canterlot pony from the start, a unicorn, raised by you basically. Her ascension likely caused the least ripples. Cadance, a pegasus, probably more of an upset, but you adopted her, and she was, at the least, a pony." He directed a hoof at himself. "Too many know my past. If you declare me prince, it will create bitter and intense hatreds. I will earn that title, not be given it. I'm no princess ponies can write off to destiny. They don't understand the idea of a prince, not like this. I will show them first, then bow my head and be crowned by the very same ponies that would have hated me before."
Celestia's doubtful face turned slowly to a radiant smile. "I see. I confess, I was certain you would be frightened. Your..." She faltered, glancing between the two ponies in the room that hadn't read the journal. "I'm glad I was wrong. Will you remain an ambassador then?"
Silver smiled at that. "Why not? People still need me, and I can still help that way. A pair of wings doesn't suddenly get me out of those responsibilities."
"Don't dismiss them." Celestia waved a hoof gently. "What you have earned is much more than a pair of wings. Though you've chosen to delay your coronation, you are, in private, my peer." She raised a brow lightly. "I am still amazed you managed that on your own. To reforge your own body from the aether..."
Silver wanted to argue that. He had done no such thing, but the words eluded him and he ended up just looking awkward again, more like he was embarrassed from the praise instead of trying so hard to explain how he hadn't performed the miracle Celestia thought he had. Darn Star Swirl, was he that insistent on not being known?
"Luna will be ecstatic."
All three of their heads turned to Celestia. She looked between them. "Is it not obvious? When she hears you have ascended, that will change things. She is no longer inherently above you in station."
Silver paled a little, realizing what Celestia meant. Luna would become the hunter, and he the hunted. "She musn't! Certainly not before I earn that crown, least of all. If ponies see her chasing after me, that will ruin the entire thing."
"I suppose that goes for me even more than Luna." Celestia quirked a little smile. "It's just as well, we haven't grown that close."
Silver heard a defeated tone in that statement and wanted to argue it, but... did he? Suddenly everything felt confused and dizzy. "Let's deal with politics first. No new members in this herd until then."
Night suddenly quirked a smile. "Nefertari is going to be so upset to hear that."
Silver winced. "Be... that as it may, I'm not changing my mind. No herd changes until this is settled. This isn't a game."
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7203469
it was in response to this
Either A: Be born with it, lucky sods.
Or B: Do great things.
flury was the only born one due to being born form an alicorn, its canon now that thy can only breed alicorns because in the last thousand years non have been born and it just so happens to be cadences child to...
7203730 Right, so how did we break that?
7203734 there is going to be a coronation, any oc can easily hide in the canon as long as thy don't mess with the main destiny of things, for an example i could have an oc be a regular pony or human and as long as he or she does not mess with the main 6 or do something notable in history aka become and ascended, than the canon is stable. since we don't here about anything happening in the crystal north than anything could have happened their as long as it does not affect the rest of the show. To get back to the point, you have ascended some one and thy could become the prince of time since he keeps on knowing the future in some way, or the prince of magic since he can create new spells, of coarse twilight is stronger in it by default but that does not change the fact that she can't make spells from scratch or make new ones, all she did was change a word or two for star swirls spell which in reality was an ascending spell.
7203758 It sounds to me like you're worrying about what will maybe happen in the future, instead of what already happened. Read on, my friend.
Celestia just raised a good point, now that Silver is an alicorn, Luna's initial reservations about being with him is gone. Plus, this would make him the target of many would be petitioners into his herd.
Good thing he nipped it in the bud...though I wonder how long it would last before Samantha has to start stuffing ponies into closets to protect them from Night.
And when is the mark(implied to be curse) on Night going to be explained?
7203762 Im not concerned, just stating that the canon has been shattered after all of this talk of keeping the canon, i cant wait for the chaos to start
7203768 is it not self explanatory, its a mark so that when nefnef sees it she will know to punish her, the idea of her people would be to kill a trespasser and the spirit/ guardian was doing its job and thought better to not kill her and let nef deal with it since she knows she is her friend, customs would be tho that is killed her
7203778 Thrashing soundly is also an acceptable answer. Killing doesn't teach many lessons.
7203778 Hmm, I would have expected more but after reading that part again, you're right. I guess being told that her petition to join the herd is postponed is going to make Nefer a little extra unhappy with the mark...I think.
I mean, Night did invade her privacy but she still wants/is obligated to join the herd so conflict of interest?
my statement stands Silver is defiantly ready this time.
NefNef is going to be a little put out when she hears about the herd hiatus. Heck, she might even think it's because Night got branded by the room-trap. Kinda odd that Silver didn't notice the mark however, or he's ignoring it in favor of spending all his brainpower on calming the waves his ascension is causing-- from personal to political circles,
I do wonder how long it'll take before all sorts of mares are (figuratively) throwing themselves at his hooves to join his herd, royal or not. And Luna, oof, I can see her chomping at the bit (or chomping at a bit while wearing tackle if it'll seduce Silver, heh!) waiting for Silver to finally win over Canterlot so he can be officially crowned a prince. And the status of Prince itself, has there ever been one? As Silver said, the word itself might not exist even if it's the logical title for a [formerly] theoretical male alicorn. Yes, there's Blueblood but even if ponies call him prince, isn't he more of a duke or something? And if he really is a prince, would that not make the alicorns Queens? Gah, Celestia, stop being so humble and take your proper title!
Hope we see more characters in Silver's past come up when they find out about his ascension. I have a feeling most will be like Carrot, waiting for the royal guard to hunt them down with leg-irons.
Silver would never let that happen, he's way too nice.
Equesria - Equestria
quirt - quiet
more than. - more, then.
was it important - was it that important
You turned a pony - You took/found a pony
over our heard - over our herd
*****
Great events are slowly unfolding, neigh, unfurling before Silver and his herd. It raises so many emotions and questions.
Well the first step seems to have been taken with minimal drama, not unexpected since Princess Celestia can be relied upon to keep her cool. I doubt she is fooled for an instant over Silver's ascension being entirely his own doing. I hope that she realizes he is not being reticent to spite her.
Princess Luna may be more of a challenge.
Carrot Plate... nobody swore her to secrecy so I'm sure that the gossip mill is already ablaze with the newest scandal involving Silver. What part will she have to play in this new book of Silver's life?
Silver's freeze on herd membership feels like a wise decision. I wonder, will it remain in place and for how long?
The silly part of me is now imagining Night and Samantha getting into the old Abbot and Costello routine.
7203850 She was hardly the only one to see him. I mean, he did appear in a ball of light right in front of the castle. That's like the opposite of subtle.
7203864 ya, but ponys are really dumb and don't notice things, hell nobody ever notices that twilight is a princes or thinks or her that way unless thy need it in the show
7203864
Ah, this is true. How quickly I forget important details. My meta hunting mode temporarily blinded me.
7203835 I've always suspected that Blueblood's title is inherited; that is, he can trace his lineage directly back to Princess Platinum (from the Hearth's Warming Eve play). That would certainly make the most sense, given his name and all.
If Whos on frst, then Samanthas question is just as valid about the foals, Whats on second.
Silver is going to have even more work cut out with the Nobles wantin g his head for bypassing their authority that they claim?
Night, what can we do to overcome your insecurities? Something more than words...
Keep going! ;)
7203758 Really, it didn't seem like Star Swirl's spell was the first time Twilight made a new spell. She comes up with random magic by the seat of her pants several times, it just never works right.
Unless 'make parasprites eat Ponyville' is a spell that she studied somewhere? That seems unlikely. It seems more likely that she tried to modify 'Want It Need It' or something along those lines.
Also, Starswirl the Bearded is credited with creating 200 new spells, but Twilight 'did something not even Starswirl the Bearded could accomplish', she created 'new magic'. So it can't just mean writing spells.
For the purposes of this story, though, Silver's time spell did the same 'screw with reality' deal that Twilight's cutie-mark scrambling did. And then they blew up. So maybe it's 'completely break the world, then fix it, then die'?
7203850 "Abbott & Costello"?
"I don't know."
"Third Base!"
"What?"
"Second!"
"ugh, I don't give a Darn"
"He's short stop!"
7203864 And first appearing(in a Glenda good witch of the North kinda a way) in public without another Alicorn in sight shows to said public that the princesses weren't apart of his ascension.
7204101 lol, i can see you don't remember the show, the want it need it spell comes from cadence, and she learned a spell that makes creatures not want to eat things, going along with that she has NEVER made a new spell, she fixed star swirls spell and she did something that he could not do and it had to do with friend ship
, the thing is we don't eveing know what the spell does other than scrambling cutie marks and blowing things up
while the chance was there. - while the chance was there?
a true war. - a true war?
perpetual shadows. - perpetual shadows?
more then a pair of wings - more than a pair of wings
for me even more than. - for me even more, then. --or-- for me even more than Luna. (I apologize, I was not as clear on this as I should have been in my first comment. )
*****
Could this be more guidance from Starswirl, a kind of resistance to being manipulated by a certain solar Princess? Hmmm...
7204366 From the transcript:
Princess Celestia: You did something today that's never been done before. Something even a great unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded was not able to do, because he did not understand friendship like you do. The lessons you've learned here in Ponyville have taught you well. You have proven that you're ready, Twilight.
Later, explaining why she'd ascended at the coronation:
But today, Twilight Sparkle did something extraordinary. She created new magic, proving without a doubt that she is ready to be crowned Equestria's newest princess.
From Luna Eclipsed:
Twilight Sparkle: Star Swirl the Bearded is only the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era.
Background ponies: Yeah! Whoo-hoo!
Twilight Sparkle: He created more than two hundred spells! He even has a shelf in the Canterlot library of magic named after him. Maybe I should start up a pony group to teach ponies about history. I bet everypony would love it! Don't you, Spike?
So, 'New Magic' is what Twilight did to ascend. It is not the same as 'creating new spells' since it's something that Starswirl never did and he created more than two hundred spells.
I checked 'swarm of the century' as well, and there's nothing in it about Twilight *studying* the spell to change the parasprites. She came up with it on the spur of the moment.
7204487 not going to accept that because it was never shown that she learned how to teleport or fire horn blast and id be damned if simple spells like that did not exist, she simply already knew those spells
7204511 It's possible.
But other times that she had an idea on the spur of the moment she went and looked for a book that told how to do it (cloudwalking and wings are the ones that come to mind). Teleportation and the others (even Want It Need It) seemed presented as more 'hey, this is a place where I can use that one spell I learned!'
There are other places where it did seem like she's making up the spells on the spot (presumably, modifying some existing spell on the fly) and being surprised at some of the side effects, like summoning parasprites during the magic duel.
But yeah, it never explicitly states that she invented those spells.
7204473 Typos banished from the record. These times are confusing enough without their 'help', I say.
What will our not-prince do now? Nopony knows but him that Star Swirl was involved. Does Celestia believe him to be a miracle worker, or that he's hiding something worth telling?
7204621
She expresses what I interpret as polite skepticism twice.
That makes me think that she doesn't buy it, but is too polite to say so.
7204528 also she went to a MAGIC SCHOOL in fact THE MAGIC SCHOOL for gifted unicorns and she was celestias protoche but you know....
I have a question, is story writing your poison?
Because if so you are really good at it
7204981 Glad you're enjoying the story, but your phrasing confuses me a little? Do I make my living writing? Basically, yes. That and programming obscure languages few have heard of.
7205013 sorry I have had a grammar issue sense I was born
7203768
"How dare you! Don't you know who I *mmrfff*!?"
"Sorry. You'll thank me for this later."
Also, what came to mind when I read that chapter title: (skip to 3:02)
7205694
I almost forgot about Nefertari. She would be a bigger threat because Silver isn't going to hold her back like he'll do for Night so Samantha is definitely doing would be petitioners a favor by stuffing them into closets.
Better stuck in a closet than face a jealous Anubite(at least I think that's what Nefer's species is called)
royal…
Wife?" The
(Questions should have question marks. )
You may deny it out of some sense of propriety, but the mistresses of the celestial cycles are still inherently above those who are not. "Station," when it comes to you, the celestial sisters, can either be an insurmountable wall, or you can ignore it, because you have no equals, and will continue to not have any until such time as somepony else wields the same power and authority as you.
It dismays me that they keep choosing the insurmountable wall option even though that's guaranteed to leave them lonely for a very, very long time.