Silver rose from her sleep with a start, shaking off the mugginess and the clinging headache. Twilight looked up, apparently awakened by the movement, "Hnnnh?"
Silver smiled at her and sat on her haunches. "Sorry. Is it late, or early?" She had lost most ability to tell on her own on awakening, and the drawn blinds didn't help.
The conversation roused Night, who stretched and rolled over, pulling Twilight into a tight hug. Silver warmed at the sight and a giggle escaped her. "Good... morning?"
Night mumbled something before she sat up. Twilight looked more awake and sat up herself. Last awake but quickest to sit up, Fast Change sprung up and looked around. "Are we having a meeting?"
Silver nodded. "I would like to, if you're all available? I have a problem that could become our problem if not handled correctly."
Twilight's attention focused. "Is it dangerous? Tell us."
Night bobbed her head in agreement. "We're listening. Did you do something foolish?"
Fast slid around until he was behind Silver and pulled her back into his lap, snuggling. "Was it sexy?"
Silver snorted softly, relaxing into Fast's grip. "A little foolish, but I don't think dangerous. When I was dreamwalking, I visited a very old friend of mine, Rough Tumble."
Night perked up with recognition. "The abused colt? How's he doing?"
Silver lifted her shoulders. "From the sounds of it, he's pulled it together, financially. He owns a business in a new field and he's making a name for himself."
Twilight nodded a little. "Alright, that sounds great! So what's the problem?"
Silver wobbled a hoof. "We were herd-mates, very briefly... He's had a crush on me from even before that... He's had other boy... oh." She clopped her hooves. "He is... or was... a colt cuddler, so... He had some other coltfriends over the years, but they were all kind of jerks, drawn to his insecurity and they took advantage of him."
Night snorted. "Sounds a little like someone I know."
Silver leaned out of Fast's grip to kiss Night on the cheek. "I shudder to think where I'd be without you as my guardian angel."
Night raised a hoof. "So that means you'll listen to us about Starlight Glimmer?"
Silver stiffened. "This isn't about her! Can we focus please?" She grumbled a little, which was ignored by and large by the others.
Twilight tilted her head. "I think I'm starting to get the picture."
Night nodded in agreement. "He's looking for you, the one that got away, and didn't abuse him."
Fast shook her head. "If he's a good pony, why would it be bad if he found you?"
Silver went rigid. "I'm... in a four-pony herd that's about to become a six-pony herd. Two of them are alicorns, and the two others? Rulers of the nation..." She sagged her head. "Even if I did fall for him and you all agreed, would he get the time he deserves? I... feel..." She searched her emotions. "I feel... like I'd be abusing him by accepting his advance. He'd sit there with a smile, happy as could be, but he wouldn't be getting the attention he deserves."
Fast squeezed Silver from behind. "The more you talk, the more it sounds like you. You wanted to roll over and be an alicorn's pet before, didn't you? Think about how happy you were."
Silver began to color as she thought back to when she threw herself at Luna's hooves, and the satisfaction of being loved by her. "I..." She closed her eyes, drawing back to the memory. "She felt so large... Even when she barely had time, it made me so happy. Just basking beside her..."
Night nodded quickly. "I know that feeling too well... I miss her."
Silver opened her eyes with a sad frown. "I'm sorry for poking a sore spot. Would I really fill that kind of void? Am I that... large? Should I really... accept that for him?"
Twilight pointed at Silver. "You have asked many times that you be allowed to choose. This time, I think you need to let another pony make their choice. The shoe is on the other hoof. Will you decide for Tumble or let him decide? If this is really what he wants, knowing all the facts... Just be honest. That's the most fair thing you can do. Be honest, with him, and yourself."
Night nodded in agreement with Twilight. "That was perfect, Twilight." She leaned in and kissed the princess on the cheek. "Well said."
Fast seemed to also agree. "The way I see it, this is your chance to prove if you were sincere, or a hypocrite. You're the princess now, and he is the lonely little normal pony. If he loves you half as much as you're implying, will you tell him to shove off because 'it's complicated'? What if Luna had done that to you?"
Silver frowned a little. "She tried, at first. I was very stubborn."
Fast grinned. "I get the feeling your friend will be just as stubborn."
Silver sagged against Fast. "What about the rest of you? It's another stallion in the herd. Most of you have never met the pony. Are you OK with this?"
Twilight shook her head. "I'm not likely to sleep with the pony, but herds don't all... do that..." She swallowed heavily. "If... you somehow got the royal sisters, I would... be quite confident they would never touch one another, but they would be herd-mates all the same." She looked quite flustered on speaking on the subject, red and embarrassed.
Night nodded in agreement. "We can make our own decisions, starting with deciding if he's a good pony. That's up to us. You don't worry about that part. Your part is to decide if you will accept him, then we get to do our part." She flashed her fangs. "If you accept him and we turn him away, well, you did your part, didn't you?"
Silver snorted softly. "I suppose that's true... I told him I was in Ponyville. I get the idea from the way he was talking he'll be here in a few days at most, looking for me. I don't know if he'll know to look here, but most people in town know where to find the lunar princess, so that won't take long."
Fast nuzzled into Silver's neck softly. "Are you going to get prettied up and try to meet him at the station?"
Night tilted her head. "You should. Find out when he's coming, visit him in his dreams again if you have to, and make the first step he takes off the train or his truck or whatever else be the last breath he takes for a while."
Silver squirmed around in Fast's grip. "That seems very mean. What if I don't accept him? Then I'm just teasing the guy."
Twilight slapped Silver over the head with a wing. "Sorry, but you deserve that." She pulled herself up to her full height, clearing her throat. "This is a date. You should look your best, whether or not things work out afterwards is a separate affair." A piece of parchment appeared. "I know what you need! A checklist. I'll have one ready for you shortly." She hopped off the bed and made her way to a nearby desk to start scribbling.
Silver couldn't help but giggle, watching her. "Don't ever change, Twilight."
The room suddenly lowered as Fast picked her up in his magic. "Pretty time!"
Night snorted with a smile. "Put her down. We don't know when Tumble is arriving yet."
Fast looked like he was ready to carry her off anyway. She let her magic flow and pressed her silver glow against Fast's grip, breaking the hold and flopping to the ground almost-gracefully. "I'll get dressed when it's time, promise." She trotted over to the window and pulled the blinds enough to see the sun had risen. "At least I didn't wake everyone up in the middle of the night." Silver allowed the sun in fully.
Night rolled out of bed, stretching her pudgy body. "Time for me to get to work. That road won't build itself."
Fast leaned over the edge. "How's that going? Want some company?"
Night tilted her head. "If you want to move a lot of heavy things around, you're welcome to join the team. You'll probably have more fun here."
Fast hopped down beside Night. "If you're there, I'll have fun. Lead on, my amazing leader."
Night leaned in and kissed Fast's nose. "I don't want to hear a single cry when I work you into the ground."
"Oh you know just how to talk dirty to me." Fast walked off after Night, a grin on his face.
Twilight held up a list triumphantly. "Here you are! Follow this and I'm sure the date will go perfectly."
Silver took hold of the letter in her own magic and brought it over, reading it curiously. "Really? All of this?"
"Every single step." Twilight reached out and put a hoof on Silver's shoulder. "This is very important. It's your chance to really show you're an adult now, a master of your own destiny. I'll want to hear all about it after it's over."
Silver shrunk a little as the weight of Twilight's words sank in. "I'll do my best." She fidgeted a moment. "Tumble deserves a chance, a real one. I'll give him a good date and, I guess, we'll see?" She folded up the checklist and tucked it away. "Thanks, Twilight."
Twilight glanced around at the empty room before suddenly jumping at Silver. They crashed to the ground and Twilight kissed Silver fiercely. Silver was dumbfounded by Twilight's sudden aggression, but was soon squeezing her tightly and enjoying every moment of it.
When she drew back, Twilight nodded. "That's for showing me how wonderful married life can be, even if we aren't official yet. You do what's best. We're here for you."
Silver leaned up to rub noses with Twilight. "Would it be selfish to request some 'Twilight Time' later?"
Twilight tickled at Silver's side with her wings. "After your date, and I'm assuming you mean a bout of copulation, not educational time." She tilted her head. "Or do you? I could do either. Just not at the same time, that would be very counterproductive."
Silver burst into giggles, squirming under Twilight's tickles and her manner of speech. "I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy either if you were involved, but I think... I really want to be your mare again." She flashed her fangs. "One time isn't enough."
Twilight nodded a little stiffly. "Alright, then I'll promise. You do what's right and handle it like a friend and an adult, and we will spend some... quality time together." She leaned in closer, sniffing. "You're not receptive are you?"
Silver flushed dark. "I still don't know how to tell. Am I?"
Twilight poked Silver in the belly. "I don't think so, but you still have half a foal in there. Let's not complicate matters. I think the two foals we have in this herd is plenty." She stepped off of Silver. "Be good. I want to hear all about it afterwards."
Wow, that was fast, I can't wait for the next chapter. I hope to see the next one soon.
Dragonfox
5922875 At least 2k a day, have no fear. Any thoughts on this one?
5922884
You can say that he needs guards! Not just for his defence but to handle the ponys so he wont kill them by accident. He is now a alicorn and his power is much grater. He was strong be for he was a alicorn, with his spell crafting skill, he have the power to do things that no one has dream of. He is a potential danger but a great ally and need guards. they wood keep sum of the problem ponys from starting things and give him a chants to defend himself. The guards wood need to be removed before they can kidnap him or killed him. Luna had it rite when she had Night there to keep an eye on him. Now the job is bigger. Now will it be Luna Guards or Celestia? How much fun it will be to see them decide the matter. How will Silver handle having guards there 24 hr a day.
Why are they destroying his combat spells? Yes they are dangers to having them around. Celestia just needs to keep them in a safe location for times of need. If she memorized them they wood be safe.
It wood be funny to see that Blueblood was the leader of the ones that try to stop Silver from becoming a Princess as will as pointing out he has no Royal blood and cannot marry Celestia or Luna. It not good to have human blood in the Royal family.
I like to fine out in the story if Silver Star and Twilight Sparkles has become Immortal? It was pointed out to Luna that Princess Cadence is not. Is this the same for Silver Star and Twilight Sparkles.
Dragonfox
it is so touching our little Silver is growing in to a beautiful princess and is luring to behave as a true princess of Equestria.
I think my numbers from the last comment are a bit off .
Twilight and Silver saving there foal 95%
princess Luna joining the herd 40% and that is giving a lot changes I am still thinking not happening.
princess celestia 70% and only if she can keep her snout out of Silver and Twilight life and accept the fact that she will not be the #1 mare, that is Night Wing all the way.
the herd backing up for even a short time to change the laws 0%.
but now Rough Tumble joining the herd this is a hard one after thinking about it from the past history I am forced to say 50 / 50 , Silver has felling yes but are they the right feelings or just because she feels sorry for him ?? that is the big problem.
on a interesting side note of Tumble is there when Silver receives her crown it would be interesting if on of or both of the princess are taken with his looks and give him a chance at herding with them. 40% on that one.
ok to early to think this hard EST here need more coffee. need to kill monsters (diablo3)
harts fire will be watching for chapter's to day I want to know.
Harts Fire
5923209
Why are they destroying his combat spells?
the combat spell's are in the archive and safe, they destroyed the spell that allowed Twilight (the dangly bits spell) to become a father but are allowing the herd to use the spell as fats is now a stallion, and Twilight and Silver are both going to enjoy this at some point in the story.
I like to fine out in the story if Silver Star and Twilight Sparkles has become Immortal? It was pointed out to Luna that Princess Cadence is not. Is this the same for Silver Star and Twilight Sparkles.
the short answer no they will grow old and pass but as alicorn there life is much grater then the normal pony I mean to the point of 1 or 2 k years. but even Twilight does not know this yet.
David Silver if I have any of this wrong pleas to correct it.
Harts Fire
Capitalize the "c" in "Change."
There are two spaces between "to" and "if."
They were "herd-mates."
He "had" some other coltfriends over the years (which seems odd, since Tumble has only been "out" since Silver met him, and that was a few months ago.
She's in a "four-pony" herd that's about to become a "six-pony" herd.
Not an error here, but I snickered at the thought of this being "horseshoe."
They would be "herd-mates" all the same.
There needs to be a closing quotation mark at the end of this sentence.
She made her way to a "nearby" desk to start scribbling.
5923892 Twilight has shown the typos the errors of their ways through a few hours of carefully presented graphs and charts.
5923996 As the author's note, er, noted, this chapter had Silver's herd slapping some sense into her. I for one was thankful for it. The fact is, I'm still very suspicious of Silver's reluctance as being about "I wouldn't be able to give him the attention he deserves," due to a combination of A) that particular anxiety has never been manifest with any other (potential) addition to the herd, and B) Silver's prior homophobia. To be fair, worrying about being able to give love and attention to every member of her herd is a valid concern when it's grown this large, but for it to only come up with regards to Tumble feels like a fig-leaf. It wasn't a coincidence, in that regard, that Silver wanted Twilight to do her like a stallion again (though it might have been better if she's asked Fast to climb on top of her) - hopefully Silver is willing to indulge in her new-found appetite for being mounted by stallions now that Tumble is back in the picture.
What's less noticeable but just as important, however, was Twilight's statement about how she (probably) wouldn't sleep with the new addition to their herd. That seemed like a rather premature statement to me; Twilight thought she was heterosexual, before, and she's been quite open about being with Fast, Night, and Silver...and now even Celestia. Writing off Tumble without knowing anything about him seemed rather defensive of her. That's not out-of-character for Twilight, who seems to cringe at anything paradigm-changing, but it was still rather irking to see how everyone's embracing the idea of Tumble so reluctantly. Is this more of the whole "a herd with two stallions?" attitude from way back when David and Rough Draft wanted to form a herd with Lyra and Bon Bon? That'd be more acceptable than the idea that nopony really wants Tumble there.
None of that was what I meant by "just as important," though. Rather, what I was talking about is that Twilight inadvertently pointed out how the herd is growing to the point of balkanizing. That's a problem, because the entire point of a herd is that it's supposed to be a single unit, where every member has a special, loving bond with every other member. Now, we're developing sub-units, with Twilight-Celestia, Tumble-Silver, Luna-Silver-Night, and Silver-Twilight-Night-Fast, etc. These are, in essence, fault lines in what should be a single unified grouping. This is the real reason not to have a herd grow so large. It's the introduction of weak points (such as jealousies) that can serve to undermine the entire thing.
Hopefully, some sort of solution will present itself in the long-term. For the short-term, however, it's good to see that Silver is willing to go on a date with Tumble. I especially liked the comparison of how Tumble views Silver to how the old Silver viewed Luna. Nothing like seeing the (horse)shoe being on the other foot to really stop you in your tracks, huh Silver? That said, going on a date with another stallion, when Silver's public profile is already so muddled, might add some confusion to how everypony sees her. Hopefully the citizens of Ponyville will continue to be upstanding in how non-judgmental they are. (But it'd be funny if the CMC showed up and guilelessly asked some rather awkward questions about why Silver is going to get married to Twilight (if they know that) but dating a stallion.)
5924051 Oh CMC, don't ever change, and yet, you must. They can't be foals forever. Anywho! Stuff happened, mostly good, and yes, the groupings that are forming could be seen as a growing concern as the herd grows beyond the suggested serving size. At four, everypony loved everypony else pretty equally. Upping it even to six creates very noticeable groups and makes that love a craggy topography instead of a smooth sheet. More care will be needed to navigate it, instead of easy sailing on auto-pilot.
Is it really a herd, or something new?
5923826
You can find this part in chapter 49. Return to Ponyville
Celestia nodded slowly. "You made a spell for Cadance and Shining Armor. They say it was very rough around the edges, but it worked admirably." She raised Silver's muzzle up to face her directly. "Will you help Twilight as well?"
Silver looked away from Celestia. "Questions like that make me wonder how well you know me..."
Celestia leaned in, nose-to-nose with Silver. "I thought you said you wanted us to ask more, instead of assuming?"
Silver let an immature impulse get the better of her and raised a hoof, resting it on Celestia's nose in a boop. "I did say that. I will do everything I can to help Twilight. She is a wonderful soul. Aren't you mad that I made such a destructive spell? I thought I'd be hearing more about that."
This is why I think Silvers combat spells are being deleted as being to dangerous. But it was not Princess Celestia that deleted it but Princess Cadence that did it.
Now about Princess Silver Star and Princess Twilight Sparkles Immortality?
You can find this part in chapter 51 Astral Sense.
Celestia frowned in thought. "She has not yet advanced to that level. She has not yet bonded to the fabric of the world." She brushed a hoof through her flowing mane. "When we accepted our destinies and began to move the sun and the moon, they tethered us to that fabric, and their power flows through us. Twilight will find her own tether, of this I'm certain. You too, perhaps. Without it, she should not return here."
Is this the key that gave Princess Celestia and Princess Luna there Immortality? Is this sum thing that can happen to Silver Star and Twilight Sparkles? Wood this be sum thing they wood want? Was this sum thing that Celestia and Luna Wanted win they were young? Or was it sum thing that happen after they became Alicorns?
Dragonfox
5925563 I'll leave final word to David, as the fanfic elder that he is, but I can suggest that from pondering over Nyx from Past Sins, I think the 3 minor Alicorns will remain mortal unless they too can find a source of magic to claim as their own of immortal strength. The sun & moon are forever so that feeds sunbutt & moonbutt there immortality. While love & friendship are powerful, they are fleeting and not permanent so ergo mortal power for Twi & Cadance. The only other immortal power I see spare is the Earth itself, Silver could claim that if he is clever enough.
Even after all the herd inclusion/exclusion problems, everyone is pretty quick to be cool with Silver potentially adding another pony to the pile. The 'discussion' went straight from "who's this" to "date time with him!" without pause, moment of reflection, or passing Go.
honestly, i agree with silver. their herd is getting pretty large. with 2 spots already reserved thats 7 ponies