Rainbow flew literal circles around Silver. She went around his barrel easily as he flew carefully, mindful of her lessons. "We're high enough that you shouldn't be flapping so often."
"Huh?"
"Spread your wings nice and wide and let the air do the rest," she advised, and soon the two of them were gliding along with the sky itself to support them. "So, uh, who's best pony?"
Silver started at the question, losing a few inches in the shock. "Huh?"
"Best pony. You're a human right, wings and horns or not, you had to have one. Who is best pony?" demanded Rainbow Dash. "Was it me?"
Silver smiled gently. "You're a wonderful pony, RD, and I think you're great, but were you the best? Not my favorite, especially not back in my actually human days."
RD felt both relief and jealousy well within her. Who was better than her? "So who's best pony?" If the alicorn prince didn't think she was best, she wanted to know who was.
"Are we talking about before I came here?"
"Sure sure, you can tell me how it updated afterwards." She rolled a hoof in the air. "Out with it, who's best pony?"
Silver quirked a smile. "There were two ponies I felt kinship for different reasons. I appreciated Twilight's mental drive and her nerdiness was right up my alley."
"Two huh? Twilight..." She tapped her chin. That geek? Well... "And she's a princess. You like princesses plenty, right?"
"I'm involved with three of them, but that's not why. One of them I knew as a crippled unicorn long before she got a crown, and she was lovely either way. I always..." He suddenly blushed and went quiet.
"Well?" She bumped against him lightly. "Come on. Just between us and the clouds, and clouds don't talk, promise."
Silver smiled a bit at that. "That would be awkward.... So... I actually kind of liked Twilight better before she became a princess, but she's still Twilight, and I got used to it. Wings or not, she remains the same geek."
"You got that right." RD snorted softly. How did she lose to Twilight of all ponies? "And number two?"
"Um, well, don't tell her, but Rarity."
"Rarity?!" Why did humans always name her or her friends? Kind of creepy in some ways, but she wasn't named, which irritated her. "What's so good about her?"
"She's a creator, and a business owner. I was both of those things as a human. I wrote for a living for my own business, so I saw a lot of Rarity's struggles as my own. I mean, you're great, don't get me wrong, but I was never that physical."
"You're flying now." She raised a brow. "Sure seems physical to me."
"Becoming a pony has changed many things," he agreed. "I barely write these days, and I miss that sometimes. There's always something else going on that demands my attention, so no writing, all doing. I went from writing stories to living them. Could be worse, right?"
"Yeah..." He wasn't eying her up. For a filthy jerk, he was saying all the wrong things. Did he think she was ugly? Maybe he didn't dig pegasi? That would explain his wife... "So... Ya like lunar ponies huh?"
"Huh? Of course. They're good people, like all the pony types I've met so far."
That was hardly the answer she was fishing for. "Better than pegasi?"
"At what? Seeing in the dark, I suppose. Hey." He looked aside at her. "Has one ever tried out for the Wonderbolts?"
Rainbow swallowed heavily. "With the Wonderbolts forming to protect Celestia after Luna buggered off, lunar's weren't exactly welcome... and that never really officially..."
Silver's expression darkened faintly. "Another bit."
"What?"
"Just another way lunar ponies are kept down."
RD shook her head violently. "It's on the book because nopony is thinking about it. I bet if a really good lunar pony tried out these days, they'd get in."
"And how likely is that?" Silver raised a brow. "It takes an exceptionally brave member of a disadvantaged people to try and buck those barriers. If a young flier feels they have talent, and they are lunar, they'll just not consider the Wonderbolts as a valid target, more often than not."
RD fluffed up. "Hey! The Wonderbolts aren't trying to keep down anypony!"
"Like you said, they aren't thinking about it." He circled around her suddenly, cutting her off. "Rainbow, I'd like your help."
She came up short, blinking. Oh boy, was he about to hit on her? "Yeah?"
"You're working hard to join the Wonderbolts." He leaned in, wings flapping to keep him pinned in the same place. "When you get in, help to make a deserving lunar after you."
Rainbow felt a fierce blush rush across her face without her consent or even understanding. "I... alright... I mean, if one asks, sure, why not?"
Silver shook his head. "No, too passive. Look for one. There's got to be a lunar pegasus worth having on the team, find him or her, and be their mentor. Don't wait for them to build the gumption, destroy that wall yourself."
RD gave an uncertain nod. "S-sure. I'll look." She glanced away and back. "So, we were headed somewhere?"
They resumed their journey, a little quieter for the second portion.
Samantha cleared her throat before she knocked on the door lightly.
The door opened a little, allowing her to see the partially concealed face of Moonbeam. He squeaked at seeing her and slammed the door shut, but her magic kept it from completely closing. "We need to speak."
"Don't hurt me!" His efforts to close the door were futile and he finally backed away, allowing Samantha into the apartment.
She looked around. "Where are your parents?" She was far from an expert, but he seemed young to be alone.
"I live alone," he spoke in small words, squirming. "Are you here to beat me up?"
She started at the question. "That would be a violation of the Golden Rule. Did you know what you were doing to me, and the others?"
He trembled and sniffled a little. "Y-yeah..."
"Why?"
His wings flared out wide. "You had bits! I didn't..."
She looked around slowly. Though the walls were peeling and old, he had some new things, even expensive things laying about. The conflict confused her. He even wore shoes that were new and fancy by her estimate. "Why?"
"What? I just said." He blinked up at her.
"Why did you get into this at all?" She gestured around. "For everything, there is a reason. Getting in this was a mistake, but I doubt my reasons are yours. Tell me, please. If you tell me, I will tell you mine."
"How about I tell you and you promise not to be angry anymore?" He ventured hopefully.
"I can't promise that." Samantha raised a hoof and he winced. "But I won't harm you. I'm not here to do that. Tell me."
He moved past her and closed the door and began to lock it with a great many deadbolts and chains. "M-my parents died, not both at once, but they did, and I didn't want to go to no orphanage." He sat down beside the door. "Don't look at me like that! I didn't ask for your pity."
She put a hoof on her chest. "My mother died producing me. I know that pain."
He hesitated a moment. "But... you're a unicorn. I mean... you were one of my best customers! You had bits..."
"Bits doesn't assure happiness," spoke Samantha.
"Not having them sure seems to assure something." He brushed the floor with his hooves. "Then I ran into them, the brothers. It was my last chance really. I gathered up all the money I had, even... borrowed some from some friends... and there I was."
"I borrowed money too," admitted Samantha. "It was wrong. I feel... I am guilty of a golden rule violation. Did you pay your friends back?"
"I meant to..."
"Do you have money left?" She quirked an ear at the small lunar pony. He seemed so small and sad. She reached for him. He tried to squirm away from her, but she managed a brief hug before he kicked away from her, leaving a bruise for her efforts. She had violated a social norm. She accepted her injury as penance.
"Stay on your side," he hissed. "I... have a little."
"You should pay your friends back."
"Then what? I have to eat..."
Samantha rose to her hooves. "Why do you not seek a way to gain this without such violations?"
He raised a brow. "Alright, what do you do for a living, uh, miss?"
Samantha sat down. What did she do? She did science! But she received no compensation for that. She was a daughter, and was paid for that, but that... "I..."
"Now you're starting to get it." He rose up. "I quit school for this, thinkin' it would work out. It did, for a while."
"Are orphanages that terrible, if they allow you to return to school?"
He raised a brow. "Ever been to one?"
"No." Her ears fell. Every argument she had was being shot down. "What do you need?"
"Huh? I said."
"No, what do you need to get what you need." She tapped at the floor. "I think you should return to school, learn what it is you wish to pursue, as an adult. A child should be free to be a child."
He suddenly shoved her, knocking her right over with the sudden violence of it. "Don't you get it! I don't get to be a child, in or out of the system. Even if I wasn't lunar, which I am miss stupid, I got no future. I ain't heard no one that went on to be a great pony after orphanage."
Samantha rolled upright, puzzling through this. She was paid... "What if you weren't an orphan?"
"What?" He raised an ear. "Look, unicorn magic is great, but not that great."
"I can't bring back your parents, and I don't want to replace them. My adopted parents do not replace my dead mother. They are different." She offered a hoof. "Will you accept me as a mother? I will pay you a fair wage, and see that you are schooled and cared for."
He looked baffled. "You'll pay me to be your foal?"
Samantha tilted her head. "Is it not customary for parents to dispense a small amount of funds to their children at regular intervals?"
He blinked twice before he started to laugh. The whole idea was so preposterous that he fell forward, banging on the floor, only to get it banged from the other end with a loud insistence that he be quiet. "You're crazy!" he blurted, rising to his hooves. "Bonkers."
"I may be..." It was far from the first time she'd heard those words used against her. "I am serious. Will you accept me as your legal mother?"
He looked around his small home a moment, then back at the hopeful unicorn before him. "I didn't ask for your sympathy."
"But you have received it. We are too similar for me to feel otherwise."
"Yeah?" He backed up a step, then paused. "If I come with you, will I have to do what you say?"
"That is the usual agreement. I will give you commands for your betterment. You will complete your homework and avoid dangerous activities." She nodded. "I foalsit for two foals, perhaps you can assist? They are lunar too."
He blinked with surprise. She dealt with lunars regularly? Maybe... "I'll... try."
Honestly...I can't see Equestria as having mountains of paperwork to swim through.
Beside, her "father" is a high ranking government official with quite a bit of power in an autocracy government...This shouldn't cause nearly as much problem as our world.
Silver is so nice that after their little chat, he doesnt start singing the theme to the Lego movie.
Samantha is finding all the holes in the goverment, society that are left behind from thrown together rules and alterations over the centuaries. Wonder if anyone will be able to work out a coherent base collection of sandards with watchdog functions to control the runaway terminal cases?
this is going to be interesting how will Silver and Night react to Samantha over this?
to support her - to support them
all doing I went - all doing. I went
I quite school - I quit school
*****
I'm really enjoying this new turn in the story, sometimes the monsters that need to be faced aren't individuals, but institutions. I imagine that Silver, his family and friends will be more successful over time in Equestria, than here, due to the spirit of harmony. But it's still quite the mountain to climb.
Samantha has been learning all this time and now she is applying her lessons to the world around her. Good for her.
7371570 The last typos, defeated! But more will come...
The worst enemies are the ones you can't point at.
7371491 I concur. While I suppose one can still be "adopted" when they're an adult, it's rather awkward that Samantha would be allowed to adopt a foal when she's still living off her "parent's" largess. The fact is, it's expensive to raise a child in any world, and Samantha has no right to bring an orphan home with her when it's not her home, and not her money that would pay for him. I won't even get into issues of her being able to legally do anything at this point (has she even been declared legally sane yet?).
This is one of those issues where reality intrudes on the fantasy. How much of a household budget do Silver and Night even have at this point? I know that he's about to become a prince, but he isn't one yet, so I question his financial situation in terms of supporting a fourth child, particularly since Night Watch doesn't seem to be working.
One thing I didn't mention was that I'm loving Rainbow's jealousy over Silver's not eyeing her. That's exactly the sort of thing Rainbow would do, not because she's interested in him per se, but because she can't stand the thought of not being "best pony." She's not so much looking for a naughty romp with a prince so much as she is looking for confirmation that she's as awesome as she thinks she is.
7371609 She works for Celestia as Silver's bodyguard and assistant. This is not strictly required, but Celestia seems alright with it.
7371620 And how much is Celestia paying her for that? Particularly since there doesn't seem to be any taxes at work that we've ever seen.
For that matter, will Night Watch keep working for Celestia after Silver's ascension? That would seem like a rather odd conflict of interest, since it would seem to follow that Silver would have his own guards, rather than another royal's (Luna has her own, after all). But somehow I can't see Night Watch being okay with Silver being, technically, her boss, after her hissy fit over wanting to be in charge (then again, given her penitent nature over that, maybe having Silver be in charge of her job would be good for her).
7371627 Maybe another reason she snapped as she did, but that has changed quite a bit. As for the conflict, that is reduced quite a bit if they all end up in one herd, and becomes more awkward at once. Being paid by a herd-sister?
7371634 I agree with the "more awkward" part.
What I was trying to point out is that there's a reason why mixing personal relationships with work relationships is such a bad idea (or at least, is popularly regarded as one). That's because personal relationships are predicated on all parties involved being equals, whereas work relationships depend on a hierarchy of command. When you entangle those, things can go awry. The classic case is when the superior person in a work hierarchy pulls rank in a matter that the other person feels is a personal relationship matter.
At some point, Night is going to come into conflict over the issue of the fact that either her husband or her "sister-wife" is also her boss, at least publicly (that gets even weirder if she outranks them as First Wife in their herd). The entire thing seems almost tailor-made to cause a conflict down the line. That's certainly going to be an issue with Samantha thinking she has the authority to adopt foals when she doesn't even pay for herself or live on her own.
Grammar radar: BING!
I understand what this statement is trying to say but it's missing something?
Does this make Silver, Night & Luna grandparents?(this deserved a double huh.)
7371643 Will Samantha be slapped across the hoof until she lets go of this idea, or will she find some way to make it work?
Does she even understand what she's getting into by taking in an inner city youth with a viewpoint so different than hers?
This all leads to further plot.
I see a flaw in Samantha's promised adoption as have the other readers. Samantha was technically deemed unsound of mind by the court and is most likely ineligible to be an adoptive mother in the eyes of the law. Sure, she's already taking care of her siblings but that's a fact that's not open to the public and if she tries to submit adoption papers, she would most likely spill the beans, which would likely stir up some trouble.
Trouble that Mr John Smith might take advantage of.
Though I am curious(and possibly forgetful), since Samantha had been selling and recruiting for Amneigh, did she neglect her lessons with Luna or did they have them 'off-screen'?
7371742 Samantha has grown quite a bit.
It's a good idea, Samantha, but I wouldn't make promises you can't keep...
Keep going! ;)
lunars
I feel like something's missing.
If you want it grammatically correct, it should be don't.
She usually capitalizes that.
it!?
Miss Stupid
Samantha, you're still legally insane. I don't think this kind of thing is allowed.
Nevermind.
orig07.deviantart.net/f4a5/f/2009/184/e/3/rip_grand_galactic_inquisitor_by_elderwyrm.jpg
7391265
What you said.
But, "insane" as she is…she just doesn't ask that question.
Y'know, I can't help but think guileless ponies works both ways, Mr. John Smith...
They won't catch your schemes beforehand...
...but when they point you out afterward, all the others will believe them.