Silver departed the town hall with a slip of paper in her magic grip. She parted ways with Applejack and headed for home with a smile. "Night's going to be so excited." She said it to herself, trotting along. She remembered she planned to run and began to accelerate into a full gallop, allowing her magic to run freely through her. While she ran, she thought on her magic use and wondered a moment. How many unicorns outside those who qualified for the university she attended actually fully appreciate the flow of their power, or earth ponies, or pegasi? Maybe even those other ponies who passed were using some other method and were not conscious of the flow of energy through them.
Silver filed the thought away for later asking as she fueled her lungs and legs, gaining speed bit by bit until everything went racing by in a blur of colors.
"What's the rush?"
Silver looked to the side and saw Discord skating alongside her with no apparent effort. "You really should watch where you're going."
A smart retort came to her just before she ran straight into Twilight's castle. She slid to the ground, dizzy and in pain, and yet... Not as much pain as she figured such an impact should have delivered. Silver shook her head out. "Hi Discord."
Discord smiled with glee at the fallen alicorn. "Oh my, you're still polite after all this time. I must say that is a surprise."
Silver rose to her hooves and shook herself out. "Why wouldn't I be? You're still the crazy rascal you always were."
Discord pointed at Silver. "But you aren't. You've fallen for almost every trope in the book! I mean really, I thought better of you." He shook his head with a soft tsk tsk tsk.
Silver tilted her head a bit. "What do you mean?" She settled on her haunches. "It's nice to see you again. It's been... a long time since we played cards."
Discord smiled gently. "Ah yes. Well, it is good to see you haven't changed too much, but so much of you." He reached out and ran a finger over one of Silver's wings, making her shiver. "I really don't think you're much 'princess' material, your highness."
Silver ruffled out her wings. "I blundered into it. I'm trying to own up to it now."
Discord nodded lightly. "Oh, I've seen. Now you're setting up to have a herd with nearly all the snooty royal ponies, minus pretty-pink and her surfer stallion."
Silver frowned a bit at that. "That is really not how I want it."
Discord was suddenly on her back, laying across her with great ease. "Oh come now. You can lie to yourself, but not me. As if you aren't excited at the idea of having sunbutt and moonbutt officially as smoochy-smoochy lovers?"
Silver craned her neck to keep the chaos spirit in sight. "Not at the cost of those who suffered so much to help me get to this point."
Discord easily snatched the paper that was held in Silver's magic. "Hm, looks like work to me."
"Work she wants to do." Silver gently pulled the note back. "She wants to be useful, and to use her talents. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
Discord shrugged softly. "I suppose not. So how's the whole 'female' thing working out? Missing the old dangly bits?" He popped out of existence and was seated in front of Silver on a comfy-looking chair.
Silver tilted her head. "I can get them back when I want them. I've gotten pretty used to myself, which is nice. It... may come off as odd, but I understand you better. I've been there, stared at for being alarming looking."
Discord scoffed and flicked one of Silver's eartufts. "Bat pony's an interesting look."
Silver rolled her eyes. "Don't call them that, it really irks them."
Discord raised his brows. "Them? Not you? Well... What should I call them then?"
"Lunar ponies. And I'm still a human by birth, it's hard to be as reactive about racial slurs on my new race. So... Do you think I'm making a mistake?"
Discord put a hand to his chest. "You're asking moi for advice? You are a crazy one." He smiled and leaned in. "That's why I like you. If you accept Celestia, it will only be a matter of time before Luna wants in too. She had you first, and she's not going to let her sister end up with you in the end. If you have them both, and Twilight, somepony's going to get the idea that all the princesses should be considered some new kind of herd and then, bang, you get pretty-pink too."
Silver flushed deep at the idea of it. "I never wanted to bother Cadance. She's quite happy with Shining Armor."
Discord shrugged. "Just calling it as I see it. Do you think I'm wrong?"
Silver shook her head. "No, that sounds mostly right. But that wasn't the question. Do you think I'm making a mistake?"
Discord looked at Silver a moment. "That depends what you plan to accomplish, if you have a plan. Plans are overrated I find. If you want to be part of the greatest herd the world's ever seen? You're on the right track. If you ever want to live a quiet life? You should start running now and don't stop until you stop seeing ponies. Frankly, I think you gave up on the quiet option."
Silver gave a stiff nod. "I think so too... but what about my non-alicorn wives? I want them to be happy. I think Fast will be delighted. I can't see him or her being upset with the idea of being not only allowed, but mandated to climb into a bed with Celestia or Luna."
Discord snorted. "Too tawdry for me, thanks. But you're asking about that bat pony, oh sorry, 'lunar pony'." He made quotes in the air as he said it. "I don't know her as well as you do, so you're on your own with that. All I can say is don't try to get the sisters in bed at the same time." He chuckled darkly. "There is no happy end there." He waved dismissively at Silver. "Off with you now. You have a wife to excite with that little scrap of yours."
Silver nodded at Discord and moved to skirt around him. "I'm going to do just that, but don't be a stranger. You obviously know where I live, so come say hi sometime. Thanks for the talk."
Discord watched Silver go before vanishing off to whatever other business he had.
Silver entered the castle past the guards and found Night reading a book. She had a hoof over her belly, rubbing the dome softly while looking uncomfortable. Silver frowned a little and moved up to her. "Night, love. I have something for you."
Night quickly rolled to her hooves, as if embarrassed to be caught. "Oh! I hadn't heard you come in. What is that?" She pointed at the floating paper, spotting it immediately.
Silver brought it into her easy reach. "You, my darling and talented wife, have been offered the position of manager for the construction of a road, and not just any road. This road cuts clean through the Everfree. It will require someone with a keen eye for detail and extensive experience in security to keep the crew safe and on schedule."
Night's eyes scanned back and forth over the paper. "Is this real?" She looked up at Silver's hopeful face. "It is." She flopped onto her haunches. "This is going to take a lot of planning..."
Silver tilted her head. "Is that bad?"
Night shook her head slowly. "No... it's wonderful. Thank you." She rose up and approached Silver, kissing her on both cheeks. "I'm going to put my all into this. They'll have that road built a month ahead of schedule."
Silver smiled with renewed joy. "I bet you will, just... be careful. My wife being in the Everfree is enough to make me nervous. I trust you, however, so just use that keen wit I love so much in you."
Night wrapped Silver in her wings, squeezing her a moment. "I'll be fine, and thank you for the trust." She raised a brow with a sudden thought. "I wonder what poison joke would do to you."
Silver coughed into a laugh. "Oh lord. There's no way that'd turn out well. If you plan to prank me with some, please have the antidote already close at hand, alright?"
"Hoof." Night rolled her eyes. "But I'll bear in mind that you're alright with that as a prank."
Silver leaned in and rubbed noses with Night gently. "I know it feels hard to believe it, but you will always be my most beloved."
Night jerked back, ears going up. "More than Fast, or Twilight?"
Silver wrinkled her nose. "Fast is fun... but you think more like me. Twilight is crazy. I like that crazy... but you're better." She softly rubbed noses again. "You are the first wife, no matter what herd we may end up in. You will always be my first wife. Say the word, and I will run away with you, and leave this all behind."
Night raised a hoof and set it on Silver's nose, pushing her back. "That was extremely romantic, but no. You are not leaving Fast nor Twilight behind. No more running. I heard you make that promise. I'm holding you to it."
Silver smiled around the hoof. "Then I will stand at your side, beloved. I just want you to know how much I adore you."
Night smiled gently. "I'm going to plan for this. You know where to find me if I'm not here..."
Silver nuzzled against her side, moving around the hoof. "I will visit you at least once a day to see how you're doing, but I expect you'll eagerly share the story with us? I want to hear it all."
Night nibbled at one of Silver's ears a quiet moment before she nodded. "Thank you. I already feel better..."
I love Discord showing up and asking if Silver misses the dangly bits. Though, I'm kinda waiting for the next action packed event to occur. That seems to be Silver's life in a nutshell.
Is Discord speaking from experience? roundstable.com/forums/images/smilies/isee.png
~Crystalline Electrostatic~
5919383 As if he'd admit it if he was.
5919393 You're right... at least until he finds it the perfect time to release the information in the most hilariously unpredictable of ways.
~Crystalline Electrostatic~
5919407 This is why he and Silver get along so well. Silver accepts him as he is with barely a question ever asked. It's just so novel! No disgust, nor distrust. Silver greets him as a friend, and Discord rises to the distinction. It's kind of cute in a way how well they get along.
5919421 Discord should become part of Silver's herd. roundstable.com/forums/images/smilies/excellent.gif
~Crystalline Electrostatic~
a interesting chapter, I am more then a little worried about Night being in the Everfree with pony's trying to get to Silver. I can see a hostage being made of her.
not positive but I see something building in the back ground.
and how will all of Equestria react to Silver coronation? after all she is not the most popular pony.
I am betting this is going to be exciting and a bit hart braking and a bit of love thrown in to make it good.
Harts Fire
There should be a closing quotation mark at the end of this sentence.
This isn't a rule or anything, but I really feel like there should be a hyphen in "smoochy smoochy."
He was seated on a "comfy-looking" chair.
Stared at for being "alarming-looking."
She's not going to let her sister end up "with" you in the end.
Both instances of "firstwife" should be "first wife."
5920484 I tried to banish the typos to Tartarus, but they said they were full up. I settled in Chicago instead.
5920497 I confess that I've never been comfortable with very chaotic characters in general, and there's also a certain need for caution when writing characters with great power as well. Hence, I always find myself somewhat tense when Discord appears in a story, simply because it's very easy to write him as being out-of-character. Outside of actual adventures, he tends to function best - both in the show and in fiction - when he's acting to present exposition or kick off an adventure, all the while amusing himself with his reality-editing powers. Fortunately, this fic has done a good job of keeping him firmly in-character (mostly by having him stick to exposition). He's absolutely a character with whom a deft touch is required.
In that regard, he does well enough to gently chastise Silver here. Classical court jesters were expected to - among other things - blatantly point out impolite truths that everyone else danced around, and Discord does so here with noting that Silver is about to have all of the alicorns join his herd. Even though there's no obvious reason to have Cadance and Shining Armor join, if all of the others do then the entire idea takes on a weight of its own, acting with a sort of "social gravity" to draw the two of them in. It would be less a question of "if" and more of "when" at that point, simply because the entire dynamic that's drawing them together would take on an inertia of its own...if it hasn't already.
Of course, the impish warning not to try and bed Luna and Celestia at the same time is likely wise advice, but also self-evidently a bad idea anyway. Of course, that's probably not enough to chase the fantasies away...after all, if you've achieved that much already, its hard to avoid at least imagining throwing away all restraint and propriety and try and indulge every appetite, no matter how debased. If they do draw in Cadance and Shining Armor, after all, a significant portion of the herd will be related to each other, by blood or pre-existing social ties, so the entire family unit that they've formed will practically scream "we have embraced decadence!" Needless to say, I expect Fast Change to be the first one to run into this particular situation, with all of the messy consequences that result.
We caught a glimpse of another side of Night Watch here, with how uncomfortable she seemed with her own pregnant belly. I'm trying to recall if she ever actually said how she felt about being a mother, but the fact remains that I don't think that she's had very much of a chance to let her feelings out in that regard either. As it is, even her current dissatisfaction would never have come to light if Silver hadn't been snooping in her dreams. She may not want to be "the rock," but she seems to have internalized the role, and its attendant restriction against speaking out about her own unhappiness. Or maybe it's more simple than that; maybe she thinks that "being useful" means never complaining about things, and that she should fix her own problems rather than talking about them.
Either way, it's obvious that she's not totally comfortable with the idea of having a child of her own. Hopefully it's just nervousness about what kind of parent she's going to be - after all, she was the one who demanded that she be the first one pregnant, back when they were still with Luna. Also, has she been told that they're going to have a colt? I seem to recall that being established in an earlier chapter.
That said, it's nice that Silver found her a project that she can work on. Now that's how you show your love, with deeds rather than words. Although, Silver's confession that Night is first in his heart was a powerful thing to admit. That's a double-edged sword, however, as jealousy is what tears a multiple-marriage apart, so hopefully they'll have the good sense to keep that exchange in their hearts, away from the others. That said, I thought that it was a beautiful sentiment. Night is the one who has always been there for Silver, selflessly supporting her and never giving up on her; losing Fast drove Silver to attempt suicide, but if she ever lost Night I'd expect that she'd succeed at it.
5920555 Well, we'll have to hope Silver never has to cross that particular bridge. Hasn't she suffered enough? Of course she hasn't! We'd end the story if we were completely done with that. There are plenty of ways to struggle that don't involve Night's abrupt end. I like her. She stays. Harumph! Of course, I've thought that about other things. Heck, I didn't see Silver going through with the suicide attempt, but there he went.
5920599 Let's just hope that everything goes okay with the actual birthing. We know from the show that pony hospitals have maternity wards, which seems to suggest that they go through childbirth with all of the attendant issues that human mothers do...including the (potentially fatal) complications. Here's hoping that Night and the foal will come through alright!
5920695 She has an attentive midwife that has been at her side and overseeing things for quite some time. Zecora is a pretty good ward against that.
5918631 the gender changing itself isn't that odd, its how he doesn't object more against it that i find odd. And if he really did want to "walk a mile in a mare's shoes" why not use the heart crystal and "ordinary" unicorn magic for a timed/easily reversed change, and not getting bullied by celestia to be changed permanently.
and really! s/he need to grow a spine, and stopping being a doormat/to much forgiving, starting to say what s/he really want, not rolling over when told what to do by everybody. (or is s/he trying to please/be loved? by everybody over s/he own happiness? as paraphrased what s/he sade to fast change, "be yourself, not somebody else"? )
other than that the story is a pretty good mix of action, romance, adventures, maybe copy paste the "sex" chapters to a new mature story for those chapters to expand the clop action more?
( about to read chapter 53, and yes, i gonna read the rest of the story to see how its playout, before deciding what bookshelf its being added to.)
ps. sorry for the late answer but the "Notifications bell" did not show i had any new notifications.
5920747 It was explained that adding female bits takes stupid amounts of magic, far beyond what Silver could muster, or anyone else around her at the time. Celestia and Twilight put their horns together to pull it off on Silver, making it a 'pretty big deal', and beyond the tricks Silver could have tried for a weekend of fun. Glad to hear you're still reading! I do like feedback.
Dragon voice activate.
this story is awesome
5965137 Thanks kindly, any favorite parts?
Alright, it's finished, I have some time. Let's do this!
Making up with Night was nice, but I'd like to go back to an earlier chapter where Celestia said she burned the penis spell. Why? You say that it's love that gets a mare pregnant, not sperm. By that logic, the type of genitals is irrelevant because two mares would be able to make a foal anyway if they just kept at it.
6338898 The wielder of the penis, much like a horn for males, is the holder of male magic, which is required, even if shoving it into the female is technically skippable.