Tumble drove them both back to the castle, and Silver led him inside. Fast was there and raised a hoof, waving at them. He advanced and looked over Tumble. "So you're him?"
Tumble looked a little nervous. "Yes? I don't know which 'him' you mean?"
Fast leaned in. "The one that wants to get hot and sweaty with my Silver."
Tumble practically fell apart, sinking to the ground fearfully. Silver moved between them. "Fast, really. He isn't the teasing kind."
Fast stuck out his tongue. "Oh foo. I'm only joking, promise. Stand up."
Tumble peeked up before slowly rising. "Oh... uh... hi?"
Fast shoved a hoof forward. "My name's Fast Change, and I live up to my name. I hear you're interested in Silver."
Tumble met the hoof in a soft clop. "We've been friends a long time... Uh... I'm her guard now."
Fast brilliantly smiled. "Is that a fact?" He turned to Silver. "Getting your own guard together now? You'll need to toughen him up. It won't do to have guard ponies that fall apart under pressure."
Tumble took a more sure stance. "I wasn't afraid of you. I was afraid of making a bad impression. If you threatened Silver I'd do anything to stop you."
Fast perked an ear. "That a fact?" He suddenly thwapped Silver over the head with a hoof, making a soft clunk of a noise. Silver squawked in irritation and minor pain.
Tumble advanced with a growl. "You'd better not do that again."
"Or?" Fast bounced left and right, grinning. "Come on, show me what you'll do."
Tumble charged at Fast, having never learned many other fighting moves other than pounding or charging. Fast suddenly became a bear and grabbed Tumble, turning him upside down as he held him aloft. "Aw, you're adorable. But you need some practice." Tumble squirmed frantically as Fast started rubbing his belly, making him laugh and struggle all the harder. "At least you had the balls to try. We can work with that."
Silver gestured to the ground and Fast put him down. "Be nice."
Fast bobbed his head. "I am! I mean it. If you're up for it, Tumble, we'll practice together."
Tumble looked uncertain, but curious. "Seriously?"
Fast nodded. "For serious. If you're going to guard Silver, I want you ready to do just that. She's one of the most important mares in my life, so I'm totally serious about this, except when I'm not." Fast suddenly transitioned into a copy of Silver, leaning close to Tumble and invading his personal space without a delay. "I'm sure we could do other fun things."
Tumble went scarlet and scrambled away, only to bump into the real Silver. He squealed and went dashing off into the kitchen
Fast returned to his red unicorn self and smiled at Silver. "You picked an odd one for guard captain."
Silver huffed softly. "He'll shape up, just don't tease him so much. He's... He's been abused, by the ponies that should have loved him most." She clopped a hoof down. "Help him become all he can be."
Fast's grin only grew wider. "Oh, commanding me? I like it. You're really becoming a princess." He gave a quick salute. "I'll get him into shape, promise, but there's one little issue I want resolved first."
Silver tilted her head. "What's that?"
Fast reached out, putting a hoof under Silver's chin. "If you're not afraid of stallions anymore, there's no reason for me to hold back. I want you the way a stallion should have his mares, not just cuddling."
Silver went red. "Can... I have you as old Fast, with extras?"
Fast shook his head. "Nope. I want you just the way I am."
Silver leaned forward and sniffed at Fast gently. "Well... OK... You're still Fast."
Fast held up a hoof. "I don't want you envisioning my old self the whole time. You should enjoy a stallion for a stallion. You are a mare now, and the parts work. What are you afraid of?"
Silver rocked left and right as she saw Tumble shyly reenter the room. She sighed and sat on her haunches. "Nothing logical. You're right. I do have all the parts, and I love you, so there's no reason we shouldn't be together like that, whether you're a mare, stallion, bear, dragon, or whatever else you have up your metaphorical sleeves."
Fast smiled, then looked to Tumble. "Sorry for yanking your chain there. Meet me at sunrise just outside the castle and we'll get to training. I'll show you the strengths of the earth pony body." She clopped her hooves together. "Some of my best lovers were earth ponies."
Tumble shook his head. "Uh, really? Are... you a colt cuddler?" He sounded quite uncertain, looking between Fast and Silver. "I mean, you have Silver, right? She's a mare."
Fast snorted softly. "I've evolved beyond such labels. I can be a mare or stallion or both or neither on command. You tell me what I am."
Tumble suddenly smiled. "Interesting."
Fast laughed and threw a leg over Tumble's shoulder, hugging him. "Good answer! Be there and I'll teach you things. Welcome to the herd."
Tumble blinked in confusion. "I'm not part of the herd. I'm Princess Silver Star's guard."
Fast snorted. "Any royal guard captain has to be familiar with the royalty they're guarding. If Silver Stars doesn't consider you family, you're not the right pony for the job." He looked to Silver. "So, is he?"
Silver gave a soft smile. "Yes. I hope that the rest of the herd learns of his good nature in time."
Tumble stammered and backed away a little before bowing to Silver. "I'll do my best." And then he dashed off into the castle.
Fast watched him go before looking back at Silver. "He'll be fine. I'll keep him on the path towards it. Now, about us..." His horn glowed and he pulled Silver closer, rubbing muzzles with her. "My darling princess. It is long-past time we became... familiar."
Silver found her wings extending on their own along with the warmth in her cheeks. "I... lead the way, Fast." Fast turned and moved up the stairs and Silver trailed along behind. She allowed her eyes to look over him, easily spotting the part that had made her nervous before. She'd had plenty of experience with it from the other end. She knew what it was like... "Be gentle."
Fast was gentle, and tireless. By the time Fast was ready to break, Silver was left dizzy and overwhelmed, but in mostly good ways. She was on her back, and Fast was belly-to-belly with her, grinding gently but the urgency had left him. He seemed satisfied. "How was it?"
Silver answered with a hug, pulling Fast tight and close. "I feel... great."
Fast smirked a little. "The mares usually say something like that when I'm done with them. No more being scared?"
Silver shook her head. "Not if it's like that."
Fast shrugged. "Won't always be. Tumble'll need some... other... training. But I wager that has to come from you, not me."
Silver perked an ear. "Oh? You can be female whenever you want, why me?"
Fast barked out a laugh. "Because he loves you, silly mare. I haven't found a place in his heart yet. If you let him climb up on you, you're going to have to teach him what you want him to do. He looks eager enough to follow your every word." Fast leaned in, nuzzling a cheek. "Just like I am, except when you're being stupid. So... that reminds me..."
"What?
Fast rubbed softly over Silver's lower belly as he sat up on her legs. "I called dibs. You can't be that far from becoming receptive."
Silver flushed dark. "There are a few problems with that... Namely, I'm still... sorta... pregnant."
Fast poked the empty belly. "I still don't understand that. But go on."
Silver nodded. "Well, assuming I can get that child out, then I'll end up with two foals."
Fast shrugged softly. "Ponies have twins all the time, not much different. If you don't want another foal, that's fine. I'm not here to force you, Silver. I value your trust." He leaned in and nibbled at one of her tufted ears. "But if that's not the problem, I promise to help raise them, so let me make one. You know as well as I that Night will probably never consent to another foal after the first."
Silver nodded slowly. "Well, let's put this off for the moment. If I become receptive, then I'll make the decision. If I don't, there's no decision to be made. If I do decide to have a foal then, it will be you that does it." She sat up on the bed. "So... awkward as this is, how was I?"
Fast wobbled a hoof. "You could use some training of your own." Silver looked quickly dismayed. "Oh don't look like that. You were lovely on the inside, but there are things you can do on the outside to drive a stallion wild. If you're feeling braver now, I can show you some tricks." He slipped off of Silver and slid to the floor. "For now, shower time. Coming?"
Silver hopped down beside him. "That sounds lovely. Do you think Twilight and Night will get along with Tumble?"
Fast led the way to the actual bathing room. "Time will tell. I don't see him picking a fight with either, so it's just a matter of personalities. If he helps Twilight and Spike with the library, they'll warm up quickly enough. Night's a tougher nut to crack. You might want to suggest he volunteer to help with the road project. That'll put them close together, and get him plenty of exercise too."
Silver nodded quickly in agreement. "Great idea! I'll do that over dinner. That will leave me without a guard though?"
Fast shrugged softly. "You were guardless before today, what's the difference?" He stepped into the large shower and with a bit of magic had it flowing. "Come on in, the water's fine, and the company's better."
Fast stepped in and they worked to get clean, even if Fast's distractions set back the effort once or twice.
This chapter makes me smile.
5926533 Glad to hear it! Any fave part?
5926700 Silver might not like it if I were to talk about it.
Seriously though, I like that Rumble is making a return and now a chance to be a guard to Silver and apparently being Silversexual, much like Grace is Tedsexual.Comic Goodness
I am a little surprised to learn that Silver/Fast hadn't coupled before this off screen. But as spelled out it all makes sense, and makes for a cute chapter. Must be super awkward for Rough. :p
Rough does seem like an odd choice for guard at this point, but hopefully he can grow into it.
5925140 Other than Apple Bloom being the first pony to give her a chance (though Twilight seemed like she was about to), we only see her visit Zecora once that I can recall ("The Cutie Pox") and it's to pick up some potions that she needs (e.g. fix a chipped tooth, help a rooster that can't crow, etc.).
Fast "smiled brilliantly."
Saying "lifting him up upside down" is rather cumbersome. I'd change that to "turning him upside down as he held him aloft."
I'd change "titles" to "labels."
There are two spaces between "Fast" and "was."
Put a comma after "Well."
That should be "If I become receptive."
I am happy to see R T back in the story and if he can help on the road he has the truck line to move thing along faster.
silver is luring about her body I am surprised she agreed to let Fast to give her a foal well kind of agreed.
how will tumble do with his training? or will fats brake him?
I find it funny that fast Sade he hade ball enough to try and stop him as fast was holding him on his back with his ball out in the open.
ok bade Harts Fire get your mind out of the gutter.
night wing only having one foal, I am betting she will be a super mother and end up wanting one with fast before long.
Harts Fire
5927789 All fixed, and before Twilight noticed. We may yet survive.
5927865 Immediately picking up where the previous chapter left off, this shows us Tumble's integration into the wider herd, and I confess that I was surprised, not because Fast was the one to do it, but because I hadn't thought of just how perfect Fast was for the role.
(I should also mention, if only before I forget, some notes about the previous chapters I'd overlooked previously. For one thing, Fast has doubtlessly left Silver too sore to play Twilight's mare with regards to the "bout of copulation" she promised her after her date with Tumble was finished. Likewise, Silver was technically wrong to ask if Tumble accepted being "conscripted" as her royal guard, because the very nature of conscription is that it's compulsory in nature.)
It was incredibly believable seeing Fast and Tumble interact in this chapter, something which felt somehow appropriate as, unlike Silver and Night, Fast had no prior relationship with the troubled earth pony, and so Tumble's acceptance by Fast felt like he was getting to know the last part of the "core" herd. (Though to be fair, Night Watch has yet to say what she thinks of him, besides seeming to consider him to be damaged goods.)
The reason for that believability was in how well Tumble and Fast complement each other. Since Tumble is naturally a brawny character, even on top of being an earth pony, Fast's physically-oriented magic is a natural fit for the guard role that Tumble has found himself in. While it did seem slightly off that Fast could "teach" Tumble very much per se - Fast's style of fighting is to morph into the biggest, meanest creature he can think of and just wade into the fray, it seems - the two of them are still the members of the herd that are oriented towards brawling. Even if nothing else develops between them, I can see the two of them being natural comrades-in-arms once Tumble becomes more self-confident, not only standing flank-to-flank when they're in the thick of it, but having learned how to actively work together.
Of course, I suspect that something else will develop between them. In a very real way, Fast represents what Tumble wants, which is a complete and total lack of pathos about having a "non-traditional" sexuality. Whereas Tumble has probably internalized a great deal of angst about how he's a "colt cuddler" - even if he is "straight for Silver" now - Fast is completely at peace with being pan-sexual, both in terms of her self-image and in not caring what anypony else thinks. While I suspect that Tumble is going to only have eyes for Silver for the near-future, it seems like it'll only be a matter of time before he and Fast become lovers as well.
That, of course, is another major step forward towards full-herd induction...with all of the problems, and privileges, that that ever-growing herd entails. But putting that aside, it's great to see how Tumble is fitting in so well. Let's just hope that Night Watch is quite as optimistic.
5927901 While your views feel keen as always, I admit some confusion that the 'second act' was skipped entirely. Was Fast/Silver's interaction uncompelling?
Fast is definitely what Tumble wants, romantically speaking. A kind male that has absolutely no shame about being with other males? Where have you been hiding all this time?! Fast is unlikely to teach Tumble terribly advanced moves, but he/she can offer something much more important, confidence and acceptance.
Night Watch would actually be a better brawling teacher, being trained as a guard in hoof-to-hoof combat. That could come up!
5928004 I admit to an oversight on my part, there. It's part of the peril of trying to write these reviews while juggling a few other things at once, in this case.
What I should have noted was that Silver's agreement to be with Fast the way that, respectively, a mare is with a stallion felt like the final step in her accepting a feminine identity for herself. It wasn't necessary anything earth-shattering, simply because Silver has been moving in this direction for quite some time, but rather was the end of a journey of self-discovery that she'd been on for a while, in terms of her sexual identity. No more considering being a stallion again, no more worrying if being with one is "gay,"; Silver is (if we have to use labels) a bisexual female now, in terms of how she likely sees herself.
I'd normally remark that that means she's caught up to where Twilight, Night, etc. have already reached, but that feels wrong to say; everyone goes through that level of learning about themselves at their own pace, so it's not really fair to compare Silver to anypony else in that regard. That said, this does feel like a turning point for the character, although an understandably-understated one. I wonder if she'll be more open about looking at, or even considering, other stallions now...issues of the herd size notwithstanding, of course.
Insofar as the issue of pregnancy went, I'd suspect that Silver can indeed conceive again normally. Even leaving aside the issue of multiple births, as Fast pointed out, there's really nothing about Silver's current status that would arrest her ability to become pregnant again. In purely biological terms, she's not carrying a foal per se. Rather, the soul of her foal (rhyme alert! ) is still within her, diffused throughout her body but still distinct in terms of its existence. I would wonder how becoming pregnant again would affect that, since it is technically a soul without a body...it might be that conceiving again might be the way, if Silver eventually learns how to coalesce her unborn foal the way Luna did Celine, to give it a permanent body again (though what impact this would have on Silver and her foal are both completely unknown at this point).
So Night wouldn't want another child? I'm not so certain, though I can understand the viewpoint. She's happiest when she's busy with "worthwhile" tasks, and being laid up with a child tends to fly in the face of that. It's not the pregnancy that's difficult in that regard - her original plan was always to work until she couldn't any longer - but the near-constant care-giving that's required for a newborn...and since she's wed to (so much!) royalty, that shouldn't be an issue. I do think she'd want to wait, possibly for a considerable period of time, but I wouldn't write off Night's desire to have another foal just yet.
I finally understood what was creeping me out in this story. I thought about myself as about tolerant and theoretically bisexual person. Turns out it's not that simple. Forced gender change was bad, no arguing. But the way Silver finally accepted that is what unnerves me greatly. I guess I too value my masculinity to accept becoming a woman even theoretically. So the degree of genderfluidity shown by Fast(she can really change anytime) and, in lesser extent, by Silver(not only he lost his species, which would trouble me to no end, but also his original sex. Yes, he can grow his bits back anytime he wants, but that's just not the same) is pulling my strings. Well, TMYK and TIL, I guess.
6052995 There's still a gender he/she has refused to entertain and has yet to do anywhere in the story, so 100% fluidity is not Silver's to be had. Fast, on the other hand...
6053019 well, it's just technical, but both Twilight and Fast were in malemode when they went down on Silver. Sure, they are originally female, but having an organic fully functional male bits makes them male in my mind, at least for the duration of said bits.
6053037 Sure, and if you were the protag, you would have reacted very very differently, all along the way of this mad trip, of this there is no doubt.
Well Tumble seems to have calmed down a bit.
6098280 We all change a little over time.
6098739 Indeed. Just look at Silver Stars! :P Though they're hardly the norm...
6101796 Poor guy barely recognizes himself some days.
Remove the 'a'
6214971 Also fixed!
Okay, I'm just gonna point out some inconsistancies I've found thus far in this fic, but haven't voiced until now:
1) The timeline/ages are inconsistant. When Silver first became a foal, you clearly said that he was made into a 5-year-old, and would be a squire to the crown until 35 (30 years). Then you later claimed that Silver was on the cusp of being a teenager (around 12), despite only implying a few months had passed. Then you said that Silver what around 13 or 14 years old when Elizabeth showed up. Then when Night get's pregnant, you say that she would be carrying the child for about a year before giving birth, then imply that Silver and Tumble haven't seen each-other for years, despite meeting up since after Night got pregnant.
2) Your explanation of alicorn genetics is inconsistant. First, you say that Alicorns cannot breed with non-alicorns. Then you have Twilight manage to impregnate Silver despite Silver not being an Alicorn. Then you have the "Royal Herd" laws that state that a Royal herd will be dissolved if all the mares in said herd are not impregnated within a year, but that would mean that 100% of all Royal Herds are doomed to failure from the start due to the lack of Male Alicorns. Now, you have Fast and Silver planning to have a foal, when by your own canon for this story: that is not possible.
You really need to keep track of what you write...
On a side note, I finally figured out this story: you've been writing it as the fanfiction equivelent of a Soap-Opera. It doesn't matter if that's what you intended, that's what you have ended up with; a Pony Soap Opera.
6611895
There's nothing inconsistent there, just fast. 'consistently fast' is not 'inconsistent. About the only one that stands up to staring at is how they reacted to one another when they ran into each other, Tumble and Silver, and what 'feels like' a long time, but isn't on a calender, is hardly scientific. Tumble's been trying to fix his life for a long time, before Silver got Night pregnant. This is all part of that.
This is not one thing... How do you shove this all into one thing!
What characters hypothesize are proven wrong. That's how science works, and they're not even scientists. This actually comes up in a far far far far far future chapter. What you have pointed out? All true. All consistent. All true to the characters as they said them or experienced them.
There are not-alicorn royalty! See Prince Blueblood. There are others out there, lurking. Your logic, it fails.
If we're at the part of the story I think we're at? (I lose track just looking at chapter names from so long ago) Night is already swelling.
Then there's born vs made alicorns.
Then there's 'tied' vs untied alicorns, as in the ones with wavy manes and a tie to an actual force of the cosmos.
I've been down this road, mentally. Nothing is inconsistent here.
Could you like add a few dots or stars just to illustrate a pause?