Silver parted with Celestia after a few quiet moments spent together. He moved to depart and ran into a unicorn mare. She looked familiar...
The mare bowed her head and moved to scoot around, when Silver extended a wing to block her. "Carrot Plate?"
She tilted her head at him. "That's my name, your highness. Did you need something?"
Silver wasn't sure how to react. His former assaulter appeared to not recognize him at the moment. "Uh, do you remember a small brown unicorn you ran into in a warehouse one time?"
Carrot Plate scowled a bit. "What ab..." She trailed off as she looked Silver over again and flopped onto her haunches. "It can't be... He wasn't lunar, or so big, or..." She tilted her head. "Big."
Silver smiled gently. "It is me. How are you?"
Carrot Plate grit her teeth a moment. "How am I? I... After all that you just ask how I am? Shouldn't you be calling the guards and having me thrown away forever, or sent to some awful place?"
Silver leaned in, taller than the mare that had once loomed over him. "Is that what you want? I prefer to forgive. So, again, how are you?"
Carrot glanced around a moment before looking up at the alicorn prince. "I'm fine. Celestia still has me working at the orphanage." She frowned at him. "I hate it. You must be ever so pleased with yourself."
Silver reached out a hoof and Carrot flinched back. He set it back on the ground. "Tell me honestly. I won't hold anything you say against you. What do you think, of that time you had me in that warehouse?"
Carrot's eyes narrowed. "I think you were soft, and you still are."
"And you?" Silver pointed at Carrot.
Carrot shuffled in place, "Not my brightest idea... I... I was a bit harsh on Rough Tumble. I've met a lot more colts and fillies from broken families like his. I should have been there, for him, when he needed me instead of going after a new toy."
Silver heard no regret towards her actions towards him, but he found it good enough. "Funny thing about that."
Carrot tilted her head. "What?"
"He's a colt cuddler."
Carrot blinked with confusion. "What? We did it plenty of times. Are you trying to make me feel guilty, or what?"
Silver tapped at his chin thoughtfully. "I think, maybe, he wasn't being truthful with himself. I'm not trying to make you feel bad. Tell me, if you weren't working at the orphanage, what would you be doing?"
Carrot flashed a smile. "I want to open a store for refined eyewear."
Carrot Plate. Silver got it and chuckled softly. "That would be lovely. Would you harass anypony else ever again?"
Carrot's smile withered on the vine. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
How much time had passed? Equestria was a terrible place to keep track of it. "I will speak to Celestia. We all deserve forgiveness when we are ready to become better ponies."
Silver delayed his departure to seek out Celestia again. He shared a description of their encounter, and his wish that she be free to pursue her dreams.
Celestia nodded. "If you believe she is reformed, there is no further need to have her work where she does not wish to. She's been properly compensated for her work, so if she's saved, she should be able to see her dream through."
Silver tilted his head. "She has her parents too. Do you know if they've calmed down?"
Celestia shook her head. "They are quite irritated at you, but, perhaps, this will help ease their discontent. Thank you, for being kind."
Silver smiled and they shared a brief nuzzle before he slipped from the room and escaped the castle. He took to the air and returned to Ponyville's airspace. Darting out from behind a cloud, a familiar sky-blue pegasus rushed out to meet him. "Hey RD. What's up?"
Rainbow looked nervous, rubbing one foreleg with the other. "Well, uh, hey Silver. So, uh... Applejack wants to talk to you." She sped off towards the farm. After a moment, Silver followed curiously.
They soon arrived to find Applejack and Big Mac working busily side-by-side, in a field. Rainbow landed beside Applejack first and spoke quietly to her as Silver landed nearby.
Big Mac strode up to Silver, competing for size. He looked over Silver with a quiet intensity. He reached out and nudged Silver lightly. "Nope."
Applejack raised an ear as she trotted over. "Whattaya mean nope? It's my decision!"
Big Mac shook his head. "Ain't no way a pony that hasn't worked a few days on tha farm's being allowed ta do that."
Silver only grew more confused, though he had a few ideas what was going on. "Applejack, did you call me here to stud?"
Applejack went red quickly. "Maybe... Yes."
Rainbow Dash approached with a grin. "I think Big Mac has a point. In fact, I have an idea."
Applejack tilted her head at Rainbow. "And what, pray tell, is that idea?"
"A competition." She grinned widely. "I bet I can do more work faster than Silver. If he wins, he can stud. If he loses, we don't need him anyway."
Applejack lowered her stetson in front of her eyes. "RD... We talked... Ugh, fine." She looked up at Silver. "Whattaya say?"
Silver looked between the grinning Rainbow Dash, the mildly-resigned Applejack, and the quietly-disapproving Big Mac. "Well, alright... but I have a few conditions of my own. My wife, Fast Change, wants to meet any mare I stud for, and, uh... maybe join, if you like."
Applejack's orange fur turned deeper red as she swallowed. "Oh, uh..." Big Mac didn't look any better.
Rainbow snickered at the proposal. "You know how to party, Silver Stars, but you have to beat me first." She held out a hoof, and Silver met it with a soft clop sound. "Tomorrow. Bring your wife so she can see you lose against the best." She took off into the air, zipping away with her rainbow contrail.
Silver turned his eyes back to Applejack. "I thought Rainbow was going to be the mare in this?"
Applejack huffed. "She won't play bottom for any pony that ain't me, and ah ain't got those parts, so here we are. Now ah gotta remind ya, seeing as ya get attached real easy ta ponies. This foal will be ours, Rainbow's and mine. Ya won't be its parent. We won't even be tellin' it who studded for it. Ya understand that?"
The idea of not even being a remote father figure didn't sit quite right with him and he ruffled his wings. "That's rather absolute. Can't I be an uncle? I've been one of those before."
Applejack smiled gently. "Ya ain't no brother of mine. Anypony with eyes could tell that." She tilted her head. "But there ain't no harm in not being a stranger, just remember that you ain't the parent. We decide what happens to our foal, not you."
Silver nodded quickly though Big Mac cut in. "If ya win."
Applejack rolled her eyes. "Right, if ya win. Ah'll expect the both of ya here at sunup, so go get some rest." Applejack rose up and got back to work.
Big Mac waited until she was a small distance away before nodding towards Silver. "If ya hurt mah sister, yer crown won't save you."
Silver's ears flipped back. "Applejack is a dear friend of mine. She's stood up for me many times, and I will treat her like the wonderful pony she is."
Big Mac smiled gently, seemingly pleased with the words. Silently he rose up and walked away. Alone, Silver took flight and returned to the castle, or so he originally thought. Halfway there, he changed course and instead winged over the Everfree, coming down on the road that penetrated most of the way through it. He found Tumble quickly enough and trotted up to him.
Tumble shouldered off a heavy looking load and smiled at Silver. "Hey!" He rushed up and nuzzled Silver before he could react. Silver decided to accept it, rather than make a stink of it partway in. "What are you doing here?"
Silver shook his head. "I got back from the castle. Celestia was firmly against you coming." Tumble looked dejected quickly. "I'm sorry. She thinks you need more training before you can pull it off."
Tumble huffed. "Then give it to me."
Silver frowned thoughtfully. "Well you've been training with Fast, right?"
Tumble nodded quickly.
"Alright, let me talk to her and see what she thinks the next step should be." He quickly trotted away, finding Fast beside Night. Night was going over some plans with her, and they were talking animatedly. Silver sat close by and waited his turn, which came a few minutes later when they noticed his arrival.
Night trotted up and nuzzled his cheek. "Hello there! What brings you this way?" She paused a moment. "You're here for Fast Change."
"Right in one." Silver kissed Night gently, then looked to Fast. "Who should I send Tumble to next for training as a guard captain?"
Fast frowned a moment. "Well not me. I know how to fight dirty, but everything else is past me. You should try Canterlot. I bet Celestia knows a lot of good guard ponies, considering she hires most of them."
Silver nodded before rolling a hoof. "Another thing. Applejack wants to have me stud for her and Rainbow Dash."
Night tensed. "They're awfully close, to us I mean. That is almost certain to cause emotional complications for you later."
Fast waved a hoof. "Big-hearted Silver here? I bet he already loves both of them in his own way."
Silver couldn't argue that fact, so he didn't. "I have to do a farming competition with Rainbow before I'm allowed to proceed. Tomorrow, dawn. You wanted to be there, right?"
Fast bobbed her head. "Couldn't pay me enough to keep me away." She gave Silver a swift punch in the ribs. "And that's for knocking up Starlight without me being there! Sheesh. Was it hot? Is she a screamer? She looks like a screamer..."
Silver shook his head quickly. "I don't want to talk about somepony like that. That's... wrong."
Fast waved a hoof. "Fine fine, that's why I wanted to be there. You're an awful gossip. I'll be there tomorrow though!"
Night frowned. "Am I not invited?"
Silver tilted his head. "I thought... you didn't even really want to know what was going on? Night, you have sent me very conflicting signals in this."
Night squirmed. "I'm feeling very conflicted myself. I want to be there."
Silver nodded. "Then be there." He leaned in and kissed Night on the nose. "I will never send you away."
Night smiled, looking relieved. She pulled Silver into a hug, her round belly pressed against him. "I'll be there. Get some sleep. I won't have my stallion being beat by some jock."
Well it looks like certain human ideas haven't been spread yet if RD thinks being a bottom is the only way to get a foal through studding.
A bit.. flighty of a chapter. ;)
The resolution with Carrot Plate was interesting if somewhat unsatisfying.. very Silver though. Interesting to see she was still punished in a way, not clear if that was mentioned before now.
5999350 No one ever blamed Rainbow Dash of being especially creative when it came to matters of intimacy.
5999412 Celestia did mention on camera that she took care of her by giving her a position at an orphanage that would bring mild prestige to her parents while being a pain in the flank for her.
Silver and rainbow dash in a farming chaligon this may get heated as RD does not like to lose.
interesting Silver has forgiven "Carrot Plate" it is like he is cutting all the ties from his past.
Harts Fire
5999661 Cutting or resolving? Cutting is a pretty negative term.
5999740 ok severing
Woohoo I'm happy for no reason. yaaay haaaaaapy
Love dis stry
6001060 I do my best to please.
CMC levels of bad ideas AJ! Silver is/will be famous, is the only luna pony in ponyville and is the only pony in equestria capable of siring Luna unicorns (Lunicorns?) maybe luna earth ponies too (luna ponies?). How long do you think your childs lineage will remain a secret?
She's been properly "compensated" for her work.
Don't use "dart" twice. Change the second instance to "rushing out to meet him."
I'm pretty sure you should hyphenate "side by side."
Hyphenate "mildly resigned" and "quietly disapproving."
"Her round belly felt" what "against him"?
6002049 Fixed for soviet domination!
6002056 Silver wraps up another old connection to his past, and then looks to keep investing in his future; or in this case, Applejack and Rainbow Dash's future. This was a chapter that I had mixed feelings on, as it started out wobbly but ended up quite strong.
The wobbly part was with regard to Carrot Plate. Silver's conversation with her had numerous mixed signals, to the point where some of them seemed downright contradictory. She feels bad about how she acted, but still thinks he's "soft." She hates working with orphaned foals, but feels bad for ponies like Tumble that come from a broken home. It's like she's schizophrenic. Even more odd was her fondly remembering Rough Tumble - there was never any hint that she had feelings for him before this (though to be fair, she was never more than a minor character), and given her selfish (and quasi-sadistic) personality, it's weird to think of her as having empathy.
That said, I cringed at how Silver carelessly outed Tumble. While Tumble hasn't been trying to hide his sexuality, he hasn't exactly advertized it either - casually mentioning that to a noblemare that has a history of cruelty, not to mention is a female-supremacist, is a boneheaded move. She could still make Tumble's life miserable, Silver! It doesn't help that she admitted to them having sex, which she most likely pressured him into (remember what Silver went through with her?), which I doubt he remembers very fondly. Carrot Plate might be happier selling upscale glasses and contact lenses, but I seriously doubt that her happiness would mean that she's reformed.
All of that was small change compared to what came next, however. So Applejack and Rainbow Dash have decided that they want to be parents, and AJ has made the decision to have Silver stud for her! This is fairly major, and is going to be a not-inconsiderable turning point for things going forward...presuming that Silver wings the challenge.
Of course, the entire idea of a challenge is - as Applejack was obviously aware - a stupid one. It was understandable that Big Mac would disapprove of Silver; something tells me that he would find fault with any stallion who wanted to plow his little sister. I sincerely doubt that there are that many local ponies that work a farm anyway, so his "not with a pony that's never farmed" is a fairly transparent attempt to keep her celibate, at least where the opposite sex is concerned. That said, it was Rainbow's idea to have a challenge, and that's exactly the sort of scheme she'd come up with (remember how she picked out a pet?).
The problem, of course, isn't so much that that challenge is meaningless, but that it's a needless barrier to the family that they both want. Rainbow is digging her hooves in here for no reason other than the fact that she's unhappy with things not having worked out the way she wanted, e.g. using a spell to let them conceive on their own. While that's easy to empathize with, that doesn't make it any less selfish. If she really doesn't want some stallion to mount Applejack, then she should push for adoption (especially since Silver knows a mare that used to work at an orphanage)...except that Rainbow would probably like that idea even less, since that means it's a foal that's not really hers or Applejack's. In other words, this entire challenge is Rainbow's hissy fit that she can't have what she wants...and Applejack is likely to be the one who suffers for it, if Silver loses.
As it stands, it's iffy how the challenge will play out. Rainbow is likely faster (though if Silver used his magic in his wings, that might be iffy...but Rainbow has more experience flying either way), but Silver is definitely stronger. Moreover, it wouldn't be fair to disallow Silver the use of his magic either, since the entire point of this challenge is to showcase natural abilities within the context of farming. Saying that Silver couldn't use his natural telekinesis, for example, would be unfairly handicapping him. As such, there's a not-inconsiderable chance that he'd win.
Winning might not be all it's cracked up to be, though. Golanth made a very good point: Silver's offspring is likely to be a lunar pony of some type - in fact, since alicorn females can't be knocked up by anything less than an alicorn male, that would seem to suggest that a male alicorn's genes would largely take hold over those of a non-alicorn female, which would make it extremely likely that his offspring would reflect his traits (e.g. be not only lunar, but lunar unicorns) - which means that AJ and Rainbow are dreaming if they think they can hide their child's biological father from him or her. Eventually they'll ask why they don't look like either of their mommies (that's beside the fact that they'll eventually figure out that two mares can't breed anyway)...and the more they learn about Equestria, the more they'll start to put the pieces together regarding who's siring lunar ponies left and right.
In other words, Night was entirely correct that this will cause emotional issues - for everypony involved - down the line. Usually, in the case of sperm donors, there's anonymity on both sides. The donor doesn't know who's used their donation, and the receiving family doesn't know who the donor is (well, besides a basic profile of their characteristics). That's to stop exactly this sort of situation from happening; in this case, all the parties involved know each other, know what they'll be doing, and live in close proximity. This is a soap opera waiting to happen (and I can't help but wonder how it'll be if Applejack ends up enjoying her rutting with Silver more than she ever did with Rainbow...wow will that be awkward, if she finds herself thinking of him while she's with RD, or if Rainbow hears AJ moan Silver's name in her sleep). Oh, and the entire issue with Applejack not loving Silver to begin with, and so can't conceive with him. Maybe Fast will have to look like Rainbow to get AJ's motor running?
It's also notable that Night is going back and forth over how she feels about this. She doesn't seem to be jealous - at least not exceptionally so - which is good, because jealousy is the killer of polyamorous relationships. I still wonder how much her pregnancy is driving her hormones all over the place, but at least she's being supportive, which is an encouraging sign. She and Luna really need to spend some alone time together.
6002115 Carrot Plate remains a stuck-up noble mare, though she's had some life rubbed in her face. Silver is not one to carry a grudge, as all are painfully aware. Will it come around to bite him on the flank? Maybe! Though carrying a grudge onwards from back when he was a little lost unicorn feels petty. The fact that he's in the position he's in is a punishment of its own. Ha ha, look at me, I'm an alicorn. Just without the immature mocking and laughing.
RD is definitely having her little hissy, but she's also trying to reconcile this into her world view. If Silver beats her in a competition, then letting him take something, in this case Applejack, fits better into that world view than just allowing it for nothing.
Big Mac is, as usual, the solid voice of reason in this. He's not acting entirely out of any overwhelming urge to protect Applejack (though he would to the death likely), but rather he has a pretty good idea that no child Silver begets is going to come out a nice normal Apple pony. Even if Applejack insists right now that that's OK...
6002156 One thing I forgot to mention in my review is that I kind of wished we had - for humor's sake - a call-out to how Silver, back when he was a mare, had a rather intense sex dream about Big Mac. That would have been comedy gold.
6002161 Silver has no idea how to bring that up that isn't super awkward. Hey man, I used to imagine you on top, if you know what I mean? No? You don't know? Oh...
6002156 Hm, you make a good point with regards to Big Mac. It's interesting to consider that he's seeing further into the proverbial maze that are "consequences" with regards to Silver studding Applejack. It's hard to imagine a lunar unicorn being happy being an apple farmer, and having a child that didn't want to follow in her footsteps could very well break AJ's heart (though, on the other hand, she seems just fine with the idea that Apple Bloom might not be an apple farmer when she gets her cutie mark).
6002162 I don't mean bringing it up. I just mean suddenly remembering it and being embarrassed. Exposition for the benefit of the audience, in other words.
Can't say I care for AJ's desire to keep the foal away from it's father. Seem rather cruel to go out of your way to deny a child even the knowledge of their parent.
So I'm not clear on this. The spell itself is not entirely illegal to cast, but it is illegal to distribute, learn, or use in any way which reveals the existence of that spell to one who is unaware of it, correct? If this is so, the crystal Twilight made would be illegal, but Twilight casting the spell on Applejack for an hour or two and then removing it herself... Ah well.
6792358 Damn noble privileges.
Little rascal typo, but he wasn't quick enough.
This should be send.
Also, quick question what chapter did Luna talk to Silver about being a stud in? Because I keep reading all these references to it and yet I don't actually remember reading about it....
7416020 Typo fixed! I don't remember the exact chapter, this was a bit ago.
Uhhh remind me of this again?
This an Equestrian law right why can’t they do it outside of it?
I can’t help but laugh at that because what would you call a Time Lord then?