Chapter 51 - For Explanations
1003-08-04 / January 4, 2017
The three of us walked through the portal at 8:00 in the evening, Equestria time. On the human side, it was only two hours earlier. It was one of the more tolerable time shifts we were going to face thanks to the difference between the two worlds. Fortunately, we had set aside four days to recover before school went back into session. Now I was going to need every one of those days just to feel normal again.
It had taken only a small amount of convincing to get Twilight to join us on Earth for one more night together before she finally returned her focus to her duties. Spike didn’t feel inclined to transform himself into a canine tonight so he went to stay with Applejack at the farm.
Becoming human again was unexpectedly disorienting. Even though I retained my human body during the night while dreamwalking, it took me longer than normal to overcome the days of quadrupedal living. Especially given how important my comfort in that body had been near the end. Being at peace with being a pony was literally a life or death decision this morning. I flexed my fingers several times as we walked to the car, trying to clear out the disorientation of being back in the body I was born with.
So we found ourselves driving back up the snowy roads in the little hatchback car I had been permitted to leave in the school parking lot while we were away. There were benefits to having a positive relationship with the school administrators. I glanced into the mirror to smile at my girlfriends riding together in the back. They looked content holding each other’s hands as they watched the scenery roll by. Still, the silence was also a bit unnerving
“What are your plans after this visit, Twilight?” Sunset asked.
“More than I should be dealing with,” Twilight sighed. “There are quite a few things beyond my normal duties coming up in the new few months.
Once winter wrap up is done, there’s a good chance a delegation from Yakyakistan will be coming to Ponyville. Possibly within the next few days.”
“Really?” Sunset mused. “They’ve been isolated for centuries, I wonder what changed?”
“I’m not sure, but now I’m just worried their isolation from Equestria might be related to the Starlight Council incident,” Twilight muttered. “It’s frustrating having to question everything I was taught about history. Either way, it’s my first time negotiating with a foreign state. The only reason I’m not freaking out is there hasn’t been time to worry about it. Of course, my friends are going to help but it’s still a scary responsibility.”
Sunset leaned over to nuzzle Twilight’s cheek. “You’ll do fine princess. Just say the word if any of us can help from this world. Even if you just need a kiss for luck.”
“I will probably take you two up on that,” Twilight grinned. “There’s also a summit with delegates from all the different regions of Equestria in Canterlot in about a month and a bit. A number of other things as well but that’s the price of being a Princess I suppose. On a lighter note, Cranky Doodle is getting married in a few weeks. It’s going to be a huge event.”
“Seriously?” I asked. “You know, I don’t even know if he has a girlfriend in this world. How huge are we talking?”
“Celestia, Luna, Cadance and my brother are all attending,” Twilight giggled. “Apparently during his adventures to find his lost love he helped them out in exchange for their help. Funny enough, it was Pinkie Pie who finally found her, already in Ponyville. Again, if you can make the time around school, you’re welcome to come with me. Oh, I think Rarity’s new boutique in Canterlot opens in about a month as well.”
“Impressive!” Sunset gasped. “She must be doing extremely well to afford that. Our Rarity isn’t actually the full owner of the Carousel Boutique yet. Her family owns the building but the business isn’t hers yet. The details aren’t mine to share but there is a partnership involved. At least she didn’t have to go looking for a summer job.”
Twilight tapped her finger on her chin as she considered Sunset’s words. “Even though we’re all around the same age, my friends and I all have adult responsibilities by the standards of this world.”
“You know, your father and I had a good chat on that topic,” I commented. “We concluded cutie marks give ponies a huge shortcut as far as education goes. You can specialize far younger than humans.”
“He’s right,” Sunset added. “They aren’t the only thing that gives us a head start over humans but our cutie marks do provide us with an early hint about our talents.”
I happened to be looking in the rear view mirror at that moment and noticed a dark cloud pass over Twilight’s face for just a moment. It was brief but for a moment she looked almost haunted. She didn’t follow up on Sunset’s comment so I didn’t say anything but I filed that little observation away in the back of my mind. I watched two cars pass through the intersection in front of me and then turned on to the road home. As I drove us up the road, a random thought popped into my mind.
“Why do our friends all wear emblems that perfectly match their counterpart’s cutie marks? It wasn’t really a thing in Manhattan but it seems to be the thing everyone does here in Canterlot. Even your counterpart wore a hairband with your star on it Twilight.”
I saw my girlfriends exchanging a look in the rearview mirror.
“I have no idea,” Sunset replied. “I didn’t actually consider how odd it was until now. I just assumed they were the human equivalent but cutie marks are inherently magical. If this world had no magic before I brought your crown here, the people shouldn’t have marks. Rarity mentioned her three diamonds symbol feeling right somehow which is interesting.”
Twilight hummed a few notes of one of the Rainboom Songs while she considered the possibilities. “There’s certainly something odd going in this world and it started long before you brought the element of magic here.”
Sunset stared at Twilight and then nodded. “With any luck, I’ll be able to measure the magic potential of our friends and figure out what’s going on. I’m going to need to figure out how to compare those results to their pony counterparts. Hope you can help me with that Twilight.”
“I will make sure of it!” Twilight said, enthusiastically nuzzling Sunset’s cheek. “Oh my gosh, I’ll be able to do a proper collaboration with a pony who knows as much as me about magic! Even better, a brilliant pony that I respect! It’s going to be great!”
Sunset raised her eyebrow and took both of Twilight’s hands in hers. She gently kissed the back of each one and then looked into her eyes with a smile.
“I love you, Twilight,” Sunset sighed. “You’re right, this is going to be great.”
If I hadn’t been glancing regularly in the rearview mirror, I would have missed it. Twilight’s eyes widened briefly at Sunset’s choice of words. When Sunset let go and leaned back in her chair she shook her head and looked back out the window. I was going to ask Twilight if she was ok but the question died on my tongue when my house came into view.
“Don’t plan on getting anything done tonight,” I laughed as we pulled into the driveway. “It looks like Pinkie had another hunch.”
Four extra cars were parked in the driveway. One of them was Rarity’s family car and another was the Apple family’s pickup truck. The third one was a metallic blue sedan that I’d never seen before but it was clearly expensive. Tthe fourth was a tiny pink and yellow smart car that had to belong to Fluttershy. It was pretty easy to guess what was going on and the four of us were quite amused as we made our way along the path through the snow to my front door. I pulled it open and we were immediately confronted by a vibrating Pinkie Pie.
“SURPRISE!” Pinkie yelled. “Well, not really a surprise ‘cause our cars are parked out there so you obviously knew something was going on but still, it’s worth saying and oooh and you brought Twilight so surprise to us as well! Hi!”
Sunset laughed warmly and put her bag down by the door. “Hey Pinkie. Hi everyone! It’s good to see you! Has everyone been having a good holiday?”
The room was full, the five Rainbooms and the three Dazzlings taking up every available seat. The arrangement of our guests was intriguing. Sonata, Pinkie, and Applejack had taken our couch. Adagio had taken my recliner and Fluttershy was sitting cross-legged on the floor beside it. Rainbow Dash had pulled the rolling chair out of the office while Aria was lounging in the second easy chair.
Everyone looked pleased to see us and while I was glad to see them as well, I wasn’t looking forward to explaining my condition. I tried to slip in the door behind my girlfriends without drawing too much attention but the gasps of surprise from the room indicated I had been noticed. Rainbow Dash got out of her chair, walked up to me, and looked at the discoloration on my face.
“Silver, you look like hell,” Dash said flatly.
“RAINBOW DASH!” Rarity gasped. “Have a little tact!”
“Oh come on Rarity, he’s got a black eye, a new batch of scratches, and he looks exhausted! What did you get into this time?!”
Aria walked over to have a closer look at me. “At least you’re not limping. What’s the rest of the damage?”
Before I could answer, Sunset snorted. “On top of the obvious black eye, he’s acquired two separate head injuries, various cuts, and bruises. Oh, and we can’t forget to include the second-degree burns on his back and wings. Speaking of which, you need to get your wings out for another treatment shortly.”
“Well dang,” Aria whistled. “How about the other guy?”
“I managed to get a medical summary since the pony he fought was from the Royal Guard,” Twilight sighed. “Silver’s opponent had four broken ribs, two sprained ankles, a hairline crack on his horn and a nasty case of magic burnout. I’m nearly certain the last one is a result of the backlash from Silver shattering his shield spell. He’ll be at least a month recovering.”
I should probably feel worse about that than I do.
Buck guilt. He could have backed down.
Agreed. We did what we had to.
“Seriously?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, rolling her eyes. “It hasn’t even been three weeks since the mess with Gilda. Now you’re picking a fight with royal guards!”
Fortunately, I knew Dash as just messing with me so I just let out a weary chuckle. “For the record, I didn’t ‘pick’ a fight with anypony. It’s been an . . . interesting week. Just let me take this up to my room and we’ll fill you in on the events of the past couple days.”
I was about to follow through on just that plan when the chest caught my eye. Before we left on holiday we had exhausted every obvious pattern of combinations to open the box. At that time, I had been certain the solution was just another hidden latching mechanism and I hadn’t really spared it much thought while I was away. Now, looking at it with fresh eyes and new knowledge, a completely different solution occurred to me. Something I would never have guessed before I met the other Thestrals. At that moment, I felt like my heart had stopped.
“You have got to be bucking kidding me,” I muttered, staring at the box.
“What’s wrong Silver?” Rarity asked curiously.
I ignored her and the other questions floating around me as my partner chimed in.
Buck me, I think you’re right Silver.
It has to be right.
“It can’t be that simple, can it?” I muttered in a dazed voice, letting my backpack drop to the floor. “Could someone get the first aid kit from the closet?”
Sunset looked at me with a worried expression but hurried over to the front hall closet. “Is your back bothering you again? I have the salve in my bag.”
I marched into the kitchen and grabbed a small knife. “No, but I’ll need a bandage in a moment.”
Twilight grabbed my wrist as I walked past the kitchen table. “What are you doing?! Haven’t you been hurt enough already today?”
I stopped and carefully put the knife down beside me. Then I took her hand in mine and held it tightly. I looked into her worried purple eyes and smiled in an attempt to be reassuring.
“That vexing puzzle box is made of Lunar Iron,” I said quietly. “You saw how the metal works first hoof during the tribunal. If my hunch is right, we can solve this mystery now. You’re just as curious as I am about what’s inside so it comes down to one thing: Do you trust me?”
“Yes I do,” Twilight replied without hesitation. “I hate seeing you hurt but now I understand where you’re going with this. Your reasoning is solid given what we witnessed last night. Should we test your bracers as well?”
“Might as well,” I shrugged. “If I’m going to be bleeding anyhow, we might as well. I threw them in my backpack after we came through the portal.”
“Could one of you explain what’s going on?” Aria asked flatly. “You’re talking but the words aren’t making any sense.”
Sunset laughed at their confusion. “At this moment, what’s going on has everything to do with the purple metal box none of you noticed in the corner.”
Everyone looked over to where Sunset was pointing. Apparently, the ‘notice-me-not’ enchantment wasn’t proof against being pointed out by someone in the know. There were surprised mutters from the people in the room as they realized the box was there. The iridescent, patterned metal shone in the lamplight, making it look even more alien than normal. Which it actually was.
“What the hell is that?!” Dash demanded. “Ugh, I feel like it’s telling me to look away.”
“Remember the weirdly heavy crate on Silver’s unpacking day?” Sunset asked in response. “That’s what was inside. Pinkie was right, it is a treasure. We just have to figure out how to open it.”
Everyone else was asking questions all at once but it was Adagio’s expression that caught my eye for some reason. Her eyes had gone wide upon noticing the box beside her. I walked over and knelt down beside her. The color had drained from her face and her hand was actually shaking as she gently ran a finger over the metal.
“I saw something exactly like this once,” she whispered in a dazed tone. “This is a Thestral artifact from Equis. Why do you have it?”
That comment just compounded the complexity of the Siren’s history. I was surprised she recognized this but how was a question for another day. I pricked my finger carefully with the knife, watching as a small red droplet emerged. My voice was almost bereft of emotion as I answered her.
“I have it because it was passed down through my family from the ponies who created it. If this metal really is from Equestria, this will merely confirm everything else I learned today. Some of my ancestors are from Equestria.”
With that, I pushed my bleeding fingertip against the spot where a keyhole or latch should have been. While I waited for something to happen, I felt Twilight’s presence next to me. She silently held out the Lunar Iron bracers the portal had created when I returned from Equestria the first time. I pressed a droplet of blood onto each bracer as well.
After only a moment, Spark shimmered into existence beside me, taking on a human body shape. My ghostly twin gazed longingly over at Sunset and then turned to study Twilight for a moment. He brushed his hand over her cheek before carefully sliding his wrists through the bracers. Twilight actually shivered as his astral form slid past and through her arm. Gasps filled the room as the bracers vanished out of Twilight’s hands. I barely paid their reactions any mind as I turned my attention back to the box and to my brother speaking in my mind.
I think it worked.
Yeah, I can see that. Can you do anything with the box?
Not exactly. It’s like there’s another copy of it here in the astral realm.
Really?
Yeah, I can feel both of them existing but they’re . . . I dunno, overlapping or something.
So what do we do about that?
Hold on, I think I can . . . urgh!
With that grunt of exertion, the box in front of us seemed to shimmer like a mirage. The latches and seams from the various mechanisms that made up the puzzle box twisted out of reality. After mere moments what was left was a nearly normal looking box made of Lunar Iron, complete with an elaborate old-fashioned lock. The room was dead silent until Sunset leaned in next to me to examine it.
“Well, that worked better than I expected,” Sunset marveled. “What did Spark discover once you bonded with it?”
“There was another box hidden on the Astral Plane that he couldn’t see until the soulbond was established. Spark just switched which one was in the real world,” I explained.
“It still needs a key though,” Sunset mused, running her finger over the top of the box. “Ah, I know!”
We watched her rush upstairs to her room. Rainbow Dash was
“Wait, where did those bracers go?!” she demanded.
I raised one arm in the air and with Sparks help summoned the appropriate bracer into existence on my forearm where everybody could see. As my friends asked Twilight about the magic, it occurred to me that the portal must have somehow known what I was the moment I stepped through. Somehow it had created items that were unique to my ancestry. Twilight crouched down and put her arm around my shoulder. She seemed quite pleased with the turn of events.
“It feels like exactly the kind of trick the Thestrals would have used,” she mumbled. “Layers of false security and misdirection. They built a complex puzzle with no actual solution to distract ponies while the real treasure isn’t locked away, inaccessible without the explicit cooperation of a Spirit Guide. It’s brilliant!”
Sunset came running back down with the Lunar Iron key in hand. “How much do you want to bet this little trinket will finish the job?”
“No bet, my angel!” I laughed. “I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t. Considering touching it started us down this pathway, it would be an elegant way to finish the loop.”
I took the lunar iron key from Sunset and looked at it. It was hard to believe this simple bracelet had unleashed the mystery only a couple weeks earlier. I slipped the key into the lock and carefully turned it. A loud click echoed through the room and the lid lifted slightly. Interestingly, a few of the people in the room sighed with relief.
“Well that’s better,” Applejack grunted. “At least it’s not yelling at us to look away. I still don’t get what’s going on though.”
Rarity had walked over and was crouched down beside it. “It’s gorgeous. This is the same metal Sunset was excited about all those weeks ago right? You called it . . . dear me I can’t remember.”
“It’s called Lunar Iron,” Twilight said. “We now know it’s a metal created in Equestria by the Thestral tribe and that it is somehow linked with dreamwalking. The method for creating it was lost a thousand years ago . . . along with a frightening quantity of Equestria’s history. Speaking of which, we need to talk Adagio.”
“You finally found something more?” she asked curiously.
“Celestia and Luna told us everything earlier today,” Sunset replied. “You might hate Princess Celestia but she saved every record she could find, including memory crystals. They’ve asked Twilight and her friends to help figure out how to make the truth about the Starlight Council and the war public. Still, your story will provide an excellent alternative perspective.”
“Surprising,” Adagio muttered, leaning back against the wall. “Very surprising indeed. My compliments, Princess Twilight, you’ve actually impressed me. I will, of course, fulfill my end of our bargain as best I can at a later date.”
Adagio’s eyes flickered over to Sonata who looked close to tears. Pinkie moved over next to her and pulled her into a big hug.
“You don’t have to treat me like a little child, Dagi,” Sonata sniffled. “I know I’m an emotional ditz and I usually freak out like this when we talk about the past. I’m ok, this is different. I know Princess Twilight is our friend because she’s shown us we didn’t fail our family! I don’t have to be angry anymore. I want just to help her know everything she needs to make things better, ya know? Now, are you going to open that box or just sit there staring at it Silvy?”
I was just sitting there holding the key staring at the chest. I hadn’t actually expected the box to unlock that easily. For weeks I had been stuck with a forgotten dream but now the truth was possibly just under this lid. I was frozen until Sunset crouched down and wrapped an arm around my other shoulder. It was nice being snuggled by my two mares but I could tell they were concerned.
“Everything ok Silver?”
“I’m just nervous,” I admitted after a moment. “The past few days have been a whirlwind of overwhelming discoveries. What if there’s a new magical disaster inside this box? Maybe it was locked for good reason.”
“We’ll face it together with our friends,” Sunset said. “Just like we’ve dealt with every problem since Twilight saved us.”
Everyone in the room echoed Sunset’s sentiment, surprisingly even the three Dazzlings. Before the brief boost of confidence vanished, I lifted the lid and flipped it completely over. Nothing horrifying came screaming out of the box. Instead, it was filled to the brim with something. A large deep blue banner covered the contents. It had been folded to show a crescent moon that looked exactly like Luna’s cutie mark. A rolled scroll was sitting on top wrapped in a blue ribbon. It was placed perfectly cradled by the crescent moon on the banner.
There was almost no doubt that whoever packed the box wanted the scroll read first. Having no idea what was actually inside, I was quite willing to read before disturbing anything else. I carefully picked up the scroll and leaned against the wall while I carefully unrolled it. For how old it could be, it seemed to be in fantastic condition. I stared at the writing on the scroll, straining my eyes to interpret what I was seeing.
“Well?” Aria said. “What does it say?”
“Ummm, I have no idea,” I replied, lowering the scroll. “I’ve never seen a language like this in my life.”
Twilight took the scroll and examined it, her eyes widened as they scanned the page. “They’re old Equestrian runes. The style was abandoned a long time ago in favor of the generic form of hoofwriting. It’s a good thing our modern languages are so similar. Anyhow, it looks like it’s a letter.”
“Well don’t leave us hanging!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Get to reading!”
Twilight scanned the first sentences as if getting a feel for the dialect on the page. Then she cleared her throat and began to read.
My dearest descendent,
If thou art reading this, then a miracle has occurred. Tis impossible to guess how it might be possible but somehow in this barren world, you have found magic. There is no doubt that you have learned to walk the astral realm. Furthermore, through providence or accident, you have discovered one of the secrets of Lunar Iron. Without those two achievements by somepony of our bloodline, I fear this letter will remain sealed away for eternity. I can only hope for the best.
I swear on the soul of the Moon Goddess what I write here is a simple truth. Thine ancestors are not of this world. We were not born with these strange bipedal bodies. Only months ago, we lived on four hooves and flew through the night sky on silent wings. We called ourselves Thestrals.
There is much history I would convey to help you understand but sadly we are nearing the end of our meager supply of paper and ink. In short, there was a war between two factions in our homeland. We fought under the banner of the goddess of the moon, Luna. Tragically, and in spite of our best efforts, we lost. Our patron deity was killed by her sister, the Uncaring Sun and our enemies regrouped to drive us away. T’was only a short time later the Sun Goddess began her campaign of vengeance. She ordered her troops to sack our cities and slay every creature that allied with Luna. Our allies scattered to the four winds.
The surviving Thestrals retreated to our last haven, far to the north in the hopes we could hide and regroup. Alas, it was impossible and the Solar Army arrived at our doorstep. Before they attacked, Arcane Vision, the first advisor to the goddesses stepped forth to request an audience. Our honored goddess had always assured us this advisor was one of her few steadfast allies in the Solar Court so we chose to listen.
Arcane Vision informed us that for our tribe to be preserved, some of us would have to make the ultimate sacrifice. The rage of the army outside would not be sated by mere ink and paper. She presented us with a list of ponies. There was no surprise, only grim acceptance that my entire family was at the top of that list. If we refused, she warned us there was nothing she could do to prevent the army from simply destroying everything we held dear. T’was a terrible choice to make: the guaranteed death of my family or the probable death of all Thestrals. Without our allies or goddess to turn to, there was only one path that remained.
After bidding a tearful farewell to everypony, the first of us were escorted out to the Solar Army. The jeers and shouting froze my blood as they demanded our deaths. Their vile hatred for our tribe ran so deep they were actually cheering for the approaching death of my young foals. It was a small mercy that Arcane Vision muffled their hearing before leading us to our doom. She dramatically informed the crowd we would be executed on the spot. She had chosen disintegration, leaving no evidence of our passing. As she ignited her horn to finish the deed, I stood proudly and waiting for my life to be snuffed out.
The light of the spell blinded me but a comfortable warm wave flowed over me. If this was death, I was relieved my foals would pass in comfort. When a cold breeze then bit into my fur, I blinked the brightness away and tried to figure out where I was. Instead of the gates of Elysium, my family and I were standing in a massive warehouse with no visible doors or windows. A portal was set up at one end of the room, illuminating the room in a soft white glow. In the middle of the room was an illusion that looked like Arcane Vision; an illusory messenger of some sort.
The messenger apologized for the horrifying deception about our execution but it explained was necessary for her creator’s gambit to work. Apparently, the Solar Army blamed the Astral Sentinels for the nightmares they had suffered after they sacked Hipacelion City. They were tired, angry, and they were thirsty for blood. The illusion regretfully informed us it had been a challenge to get the army to accept her proposal for a cease-fire and she was grateful we had played our part. The only way to save everypony was to ensure the army believed every single Astral Sentinel and Thestral Lord was dead.
The messenger beseeched us to wait and for us to be patient while Arcane Vision finished up her terrible work. Once everypony had been “executed”, we were to gather everything we could carry and to pass through the portal to a new world. The one-way trip would transform us into forms suitable for the new world; bodies that you will no doubt find familiar when you read this. It was an easy decision. We had already given up our lives to save the other Thestrals, now we had a chance to live on.
By the time the day was through, over a thousand ponies were transported to the warehouse to join us. According to those who came later, Arcane Vision had made a big show of gathering up many of our artifacts, books, and other dangerous items to ‘destroy’ along with their vile creators. So much could have been lost but here it all was, delivered by the pony we believed was our executioner. The mood was confused; split between sorrow for what was lost and joy for the chance we now had to survive.
Adjusting to the new world has not been easy but we will adapt and survive. The land in this region is cold but fertile. Our crops are doing well and fishing the coastline has been productive as well. I believe we are well prepared to survive the upcoming winter. However, our survival is going to come with a price. We cannot afford to have our descendants grieving the loss of a world we can never reach and so we have chosen to let our true history fade into legend. Everything that describes what we were was placed in the three puzzle boxes and sealed away on the Astral Plane. Trapped in a place where time has no meaning.
A path to our homeland does exist though its location is unknown to us. When you do make the journey, do not expect a warm welcome. Take the knowledge contained in this box and arm yourself with the tools necessary to survive. On the other side of the gateway lies a dangerous world. It is a world filled with ponies that would see you dead before they offered the hoof of friendship. Find our brethren who I pray still live. They will help you.
“. . . May the stars guide your path and lead you to our homeland,” Twilight paused at looked at me with wide eyes. “Your ancestor, Bronze Trance.”
My heart had nearly stopped while Twilight read the letter. This wasn’t just a hint or a vague clue. The letter answered some key questions perfectly, especially the one detailing how my ancestors had escaped execution. It was no surprise the tone of the letter was biased heavily against Celestia and her followers. The irony was, I trusted my pony friends more than any of the Thestrals I had met so far.
“Well that was a thing,” Aria grumbled. “So what does this mean?”
“It wasn’t random chance that my ancestors escaped,” I murmured. “If this is real, Arcane Vision tricked all of Equestria and saved most of the Thestrals from the purge. How did she organize that without anyone noticing?”
“Like Celestia said, she was a prophet,” Sunset shrugged. “It’s entirely possible she set it all up long before the conflict even started. Twilight, do you think-”
Rainbow Dash stood up and started waving at us to stop. “This is great and all but you two eggheads have totally lost us. This is worse than skipping to the end of a Daring Do story! Show us what’s in the box so we can get to the storytelling!”
I carefully pulled the banner out of the box. It was a battle standard in gorgeous condition, with elegant designs of stars and planets that reminded me of Luna. Underneath, the box was packed as tightly as possible with books and scroll cases. They all seemed to be written in a similar language to the letter. Beside me, Twilight had gone rigid and was staring at the box with wide eyes.
“B- B- Ther- a . . . a . . . books-” Twilight stuttered. “B- B- old- scrolls- Books-”
“Breath Twilight,” I said, beginning to worry about my marefriend.
She was rocking on her heels with wide eyes as she drank in the dozens of ancient books, all in immaculate condition. Her pupils had shrunk to pinpricks as she stared hungrily at the treasure hidden inside. Twilight was almost shaking from the excitement as she drew in a huge breath.
“Oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh!” she gasped as her excitement overflowed. “So many books about how knows what?! New forms of magic! Unaltered history! So much to learn!”
She pulled in another ragged breath as she tried and failed to find her equilibrium. “I just . . . I thought-! I can’t . . . !”
“Wow,” Sunset giggled. “You sure you’re up for helping us go through all of this Twilight?”
Twilight spun around and grabbed the front of Sunset’s shirt with a slightly crazed look on her face.
“DON’T TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME!” she almost howled.
Sunset stared at Twilight with a small smirk on her face. She gently removed Twilight’s hands from her shirt and pulled her into a firm, passionate kiss on the lips. Twilight’s eyes went wide with surprise before she relaxed into the kiss. After a moment, Twilight let out a little moan. The others in the room were watching with amused and somewhat embarrassed expressions on their faces. My girlfriends didn’t seem to care until Dash whistled her appreciation.
“I’d never do that to you Twi,” Sunset replied when she broke the kiss. “We’re a team, right Silver?”
I grinned at the content expression on Twilight’s face. “No doubt about it Sunset.”
“Okay!” Twilight sighed happily.
Rarity cleared her throat, pulling our attention away from the box. “As fascinating as this is, I believe you were going to provide an explanation?”
“Right, just a minute; I need to get comfortable so we can take care of my injuries,” I said, getting up to my feet.
The length of the day and the duel was catching up with me. Even worse, my back was starting to sting again. I walked back to the kitchen and pulled a chair out so I could sit and lean against it so Sunset could get at my burns. I stripped off my shirt before summoning my wings and sitting down. That decision caused a few unexpected yells of appreciation from the girls sitting around the room.
“Hell yes, another show before a story!” Rainbow Dash laughed.
“Woo! Take it off!” Sonata yelled, abruptly seeming far more cheerful. “Oooh, nice wings!”
I couldn’t avoid blushing but I didn’t really make an effort to cover myself as I settled in. Sunset pulled up a chair behind me and sat down to examine my injuries. I sighed with relief as she began applying the salve to my back and wings. I noticed Rarity was looking at me with undisguised glee. Actually, most of my friends looked incredibly amused now that I thought about it but the fashionista’s expression seemed a bit over the top. I raised an eyebrow at Rarity.
“What’s funny?”
“Oh my, how quickly you’ve forgotten darling,” Rarity giggled. “I’m just remembering the first time I had you to come to the shop for a fitting. It’s quite refreshing to see you so much more comfortable in your skin. You must admit, you’ve come quite far to remove your shirt in our company without a second thought.”
I blinked and looked down at my arms, littered with scars. The ragged evidence of my unfortunate encounter with a window that covered my upper arms and torso, the knife wound on my stomach, and even the clean parallel lines I had inflicted on myself during one of my lowest moments were all clearly visible. Their appearance still made me a bit anxious and I certainly wouldn’t go shirtless in public but Rarity was right. I was coming to terms with the remnants of my injuries and that actually put a small smile on my face.
“I guess you’re right,” I mused, winking at Rarity. “Well, if anyone here deserves credit for pushing me to start getting comfortable, it’s you and Sunset. Looking back at it, I can’t help but wonder if wearing swimsuits for a measuring session was strictly necessary.”
Rarity coughed and “Perhaps it was excessive but I will always maintain it was for the greater good.”
“Well it appears to have worked,” Twilight commented as she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “It seems there’s a great deal you haven’t told me about those weeks after my first visit.”
I laughed nervously. “Oh yeah, I’m sure there is. The past three months have been ridiculous but I fear this one day has topped them all.”
“Enough distractions!” Sonata interrupted. “Come on, I wanna hear a story!”
Twilight pulled up another chair beside me and took my hand with hers. Once we were comfortable, we began telling the tale of our vacation gone weird.
“I guess I’ll start,” I said quietly. “All things considered equal, the vacation was going pretty nicely until just about four days ago. That’s when we left Ponyville to meet up with Twilight and your counterparts who were wrapping up preparations for the Grand Galloping Gala . . .”
It took nearly an hour to give our friends the summary of the insanity we had experienced over the past few days. So much had happened we wound up skimming over a fair number of details but we did our best to get everyone on this side of the portal briefed on the bizarre truths that cropped up. Other than a few questions, everyone had listened patiently.
“Silver, what are you going to do about the other Thestrals?” Fluttershy asked.
“I honestly don’t care,” I shrugged wearily. “I’ll be quite content if I never have to deal with them again.”
“That seems rather final,” Rarity comment. “You really think so poorly of them?”
“They hurt Sunset,” I simply replied. “They were guards in a position of authority and they abused their position just to take me in. They would have banned me from seeing my girlfriends, possibly assigned me to a mare that was intent on gelding me or worse. I sympathize with their distrust of the three core tribes but I am not getting involved with a culture that believes everything they did to us is right. Not a chance.”
Sunset sighed and leaned her head on my back. “Don’t hold that grudge too hard love. It’ll destroy you if you’re not careful.”
I knew Sunset was right so I leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“Something’s bothering me about that letter from earlier,” Adagio said before anyone else could speak. “Princess, you are aware that English has almost nothing in common with Equish, right?”
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “Everpony here is speaking perfectly normal Equish. What do you mean, English is different?”
“Don’t be silly!” Sonata chirped. “They’re as different as tacos and toucans! This is English and <this is Equish!> Can’t you tell the difference?”
Sonata’s attempt at speaking what she called Equish had a bit of a strange accent but it still sounded perfectly normal as far as I could tell. From the look on Twilight and Sunset’s face, neither could they. The only reason I began to think something was wrong was the shocked expressions on the faces of our five friends who had never traveled through the portal.
“Woah, that was cool!” Pinkie gasped. “It sounded almost musical! Say something else!”
Sonata grinned. “<Something else!>”
“Ok, I’m a little worried,” I muttered. “All of that sounded the same to me. Why can’t I tell the difference?!”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Aria snorted. “We were banished to this world against our will. You came through a purpose-built gateway.”
Twilight silently pulled her tablet out of her backpack and started the video she had recorded of our conversation with Celestia and Luna. Again, I couldn’t tell anything was different but it was clear our human friends were utterly mystified by what they were hearing.
Oh, I see it now, Silver.
What do you mean Spark?
There’s a smidge of magic in here I never paid any attention to. Now it makes sense.
Sorry, what?
Just listen carefully.
At first, nothing changed but as I focused on the audio stream, I could just barely hear the echo of something else. There was a musical language that sounded entirely alien hiding behind what seemed like normal English. It was a struggle to get past whatever was translating for me but it was there.
Sunset’s eyes had widened. “I can hear it if I really focus but only just barely. How did I miss the language difference! For Celestia’s sake, I’ve lived here six years and I didn’t even think about it!”
“Well, I can’t understand a word of anything they’re saying,” Dash complained. “So how on Earth did you eggheads miss this?”
“The portal must be far more sophisticated than I ever imagined,” Twilight marveled as she stopped the playback. “The transformation of our bodies is just the beginning of it. The translation is so perfectly executed it never even occurred to me that our worlds had different languages. The layer of spells necessary to create such a flawless translation is mind-boggling. The portal taught us to speak, read, and write a new language without us being aware of the change! Oh my goodness, this is almost as exciting as the books!”
Sunset gasped and pulled out the communication book. She flipped through some of the early entries and then showed several pages to Rarity. She examined the book with clear curiosity, her eyes scanning the pages.
“Your native language has a lovely flowing style,” she exclaimed. “The first entry that I can read is the one you wrote to ask Twilight for help before the Battle of the Bands. This first message you received from Twilight after is also in English.”
Sunset nodded. “My old entries are still in Equish but the message Twilight wrote in Equestria has been translated. I wonder if that has anything to do with the book link passing through the gateway. We’ll have to look into this more, Twilight.”
“Ummm, how does the portal know what language to use?” Fluttershy asked quietly.
“It learns from us, silly!” Pinkie laughed before Twilight or Sunset could speak up. “Why else would the portal be in front of a school on our side?”
Sunset’s jaw dropped. “That’s actually a decent explanation. The Equestrian mirror was stored at Celestia’s school in Equestria for years. Now it’s in Ponyville which would still provide enough reference. Actually, that would explain why Silver can’t read the runes. They aren’t commonly used anymore. Twilight and I only learned so we could study ancient spells while in school.”
“Where did the statue come from?” I wondered. “This region has barely been settled for two hundred years but the portal is clearly much older.”
Nobody had an answer to that question so it was clear we would have to research it. It looked like I was going to have to try and learn a new language if I was going to learn anything from the incredible legacy I had just received.
“So is it safe?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I wanna go visit Equestria but I have enough trouble in school without getting my brain scrambled by magic.”
"You never know, it might be an improvement," Adagio laughed, getting a dirty look from Rainbow.
“Sunset, Silver and I, have made the trip several times with no issues,” Twilight replied. “If I was designing this, the enchantment would be a perception filter that simply fools our senses. Even knowing, I still have to focus to notice the difference. I suppose there might be a problem if the statue was moved to a different country while you were in Equestria but I think that’s a low risk.”
Honestly, the more I thought about the situation, the less it bothered me. I mean, there was the issue that something was added to my mind without me knowing but that was the story of my life with Spark. It was just another quirk of magic that made traveling through the portal incredibly easy.
“Y'all said ya got banished and had to learn human languages the hard way, right Adagio?” Applejack inquired. When she nodded Applejack’s brow furrowed. “So how’d ya get transformed into humans?”
The three former sirens exchanged a looked with one another. Adagio's brow furrowed as she tried to remember and her expression became worried.
“I . . . I can’t remember,” she whispered in disbelief. “Aria? Sonata? Do either of you remember how we transformed?”
Sonata and Aria both shook their heads. I could tell the realization actually had the three of them worried but Adagio suddenly looked particularly distraught. I decided against bringing up the discrepancy in their story’s timeline until another day. To my surprise, Fluttershy put her hand on Adagio’s arm and gave it a comforting squeeze. I’m not sure anyone else noticed but I filed it away as an intriguing development.
“Just another mystery I guess,” I said, letting out a yawn. “Good grief, I’m going to have to turn in soon. I’ve been running almost non-stop since I regained consciousness just before midnight last night.”
“Speaking of sleeping, why’s one of the bedrooms upstairs locked?” Dash asked. “Some of us were gonna sleep in there.”
“Oh . . .” I glanced over at Sunset. There was a something we hadn’t actually told our friends yet. Pinkie of course looked like she was about to explode from containing her excitement. She’d been incredibly patient keeping the secret this whole time so it was time to let her off the hook.
Sunset put her arm around my waist. “I guess we did forget to mention that. Silver asked me to move in with him and I accepted. That’s my bedroom now.”
“Woohoo, finally!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Housewarming party for Sunset next weekend everyone!”
“Even better, Twilight and I now have legal identities this world,” Sunset added enthusiastically. “I can get a job! No more random odd jobs for this girl!”
“Aww man, seriously?” Rainbow Dash moaned. “I already know I’m gonna have to get a job this summer but did you have to bring it up already?”
“Considering I’ve been an illegal alien in multiple senses of the term ever since I arrived here, yes,” Sunset chuckled. “The sooner I get employed, the sooner I can feel like I’m contributing to my new home. Silver deserves better than dead weight.”
“You know I’d never think that angel,” I murmured over my shoulder, fighting a yawn. “I do appreciate the help though. We should get some sleep soon; I’m dead on my hooves.”
“Ah’ think ya left your hooves in Equestria,” Applejack chuckled. “We call ‘em feet here, Silver.”
I got up out of my chair. “Right. If I’m forgetting what shape my body is, it really means I need to sleep. Don’t stop the party on my account but I think I’m finished. Night everyone.”
Twilight Sparkle:
When Silver started on his way, the group pulled out one of Dash's fancy electronic machines and started up a party game of some sort on the TV. Normally, I would have been right in there learning about this quirk of human culture but I wasn’t particularly interested tonight. Instead, I watched Silver head up the stairs. To say my stallion looked tired was an understatement. Though he had put on a brave face through the longest day of his life, I could tell he was done. He vanished into his room and quietly closed the door.
I sighed and leaned back in the kitchen chair I was sitting in. It had been a long day for me as well even though I’d managed to sleep during the chariot ride back to Canterlot. Everything I’d learned today was weighing heavily on my mind. I had done my best to hide it well but the revelations of the day had left me badly shaken. It was going to take time to come to terms with what Celestia had told us and even longer to figure out how to reveal the truth to the rest of Equestria. Especially coupled with the realization that in many ways, ponies were just as racist as they were a thousand years earlier.
The other difficulty I was desperately sorting out was the unexpected revelations about Silver’s family history. I was still having trouble grasping the idea that he was related to the princesses, even if it was distant. There was simply too much to think about at once and trying to parse it into manageable sections in my mind was harder than I expected. Silver’s family history was tangled up with the secrets so I could add him to the list of secrets that would eventually have to be revealed. On the other hoof, maybe it would be better to keep my relationship separate along with the human world stuff. Plus, my train of thought kept getting derailed by thoughts of my significant others and the fact that I was going home. It wasn’t a bad thing per say but it was frustrating to be so unfocused. I was so tangled up trying to sort everything out I almost didn’t notice Sunset sliding her chair up next to me. She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and gave me a hug.
“Hey gorgeous,” Sunset whispered.
A small smile crossed my face at the casual compliment my beautiful marefriend gave me. I mean I knew it was just a bit of kind exaggeration on her part. Even after my ascension, I knew I was still an average looking pony by Equestria's standards. I also knew I feel quite short in this form based on what I had learned about humans so far. Still, it was nice to hear so I leaned my head against her shoulder.
“Hey,” I responded quietly.
“You look stressed out. What’s on your mind?”
I glanced over at the stairs before I could stop myself.
“Oh, I see,” Sunset chuckled as a mischievous smile appeared on her face. “You want him, don't you?”
I felt my cheeks turning red at her blunt guess about my thoughts and looked away at the floor. It was more complicated than that but I had no idea how the phrase it. At the same time, she was also kind of right; it was embarrassing, and I wasn’t really sure what to do. Sunset took my hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“Twilight, why don’t you keep our boyfriend company tonight? I’ll keep the others from spying so you can have a bit of fun.”
I tore my gaze away from the tile floor to stare at her in shock. Sunset winked at me with that dang sexy smirk on her face. Normally I loved seeing this confidence in my marefriend after everything she’d been through. This time the insinuation made my already rosy cheeks flare to scarlet. I looked around the room, hoping nobody was watching. By some miracle, they were all focused on picking characters for their game.
“Sunset!” I hissed. “We haven’t- I mean- I shouldn’t-! I’m not going to-”
She leaned in and kissed me gently on the lips stopping what could have become another freak-out before it started. It was both wonderful and mildly frustrating that Sunset could stop my panic attacks so easily. When she broke the frustratingly short, chaste kiss I must have looked slightly dazed because Sunset giggled when she saw my face.
“You know that’s not what I meant, princess,” she whispered, brushing my cheek with her hand. “Just go take care of him, like we did every night in Equestria. The difference is, tonight he’s all yours; I'll sleep in my own bed. Seriously, I actually slept last night, so go relax!”
How could I say no to that? I was pretty tired after everything we’d been through over the past few days and I really did want to spend some time with Silver. I took her hand and kissed the back of it, enjoying the small gasp of delight the small touch elicited. It wasn't exactly a competition but it was still nice to know I could get a reaction out of her as well. I watched as Sunset went over to join the party and waited until it was clear my friends were distracted before slipping up the stairs. When I reached the door, I put my hand on my chest and took a deep breath. After I had slowly let the air out, I opened the door and slipped into the dark room.
“It’s just me,” I whispered in the quietest voice I could muster. If Silver was still awake I knew he would hear me. It seemed his senses were becoming sharper with every passing day, even while he was in his human form.
“Hey there,” he replied in a sleepy voice. “Coming to bed already?”
“Yeah, just give me a minute here to remember how to get out of these things,” I whispered.
I smiled, fighting back the nervousness while I fumbled with the buttons on my shirt. The only thing I found slightly frustrating about this world was the clothing. Without any fur, it made a bit of sense but clothes for sleeping just seemed ridiculous. If we were in Equestria, I could have just hopped into bed with my stallion without all this fuss. Of course, my main complaint was trying to work the buttons on the shirt the portal insisted on giving me every time I visited. My fingers were barely agile enough to manage and I think Silver knew.
“Let me know if you want some help,” Silver whispered.
I froze for a moment and giggled nervously as I actually seriously contemplated his offer. Still, given what I knew about human culture, I had to resist.
“Tempting but I’m not sure we’re to that stage in this relationship,” I replied, hoping I sounded playful. “I will keep that in mind though. Also, no getting Spark’s help peeking.”
“As you wish,” he replied quietly.
The tone in his voice made a shiver go down my spine. The first movie I had watched in the human world was a sweet love story called The Princess Bride. I suspected the movie had special significance for Silver because Sunset asked him out while it was playing. If I was to read more into it, he was quietly saying he cared no matter what but I had to be careful. The chain of thought reminded me I hadn’t been on my best behavior this evening.
“Sorry for the freak-out over the books earlier,” I apologized. “I’m a bit embarrassed; I haven’t overreacted like that in ages. There’s just so much knowledge hiding in those boxes. Honestly, I believed Arcane Vision had destroyed it all so to see all those books intact was a bit overwhelming.”
“No worries! I knew you loved learning but I don’t think I’ve seen someone as excited about knowledge as you. It was quite adorable to be perfectly honest.”
Sometimes I still found it hard to believe I’d found such an unusual stallion. The way he treated me and Sunset didn’t fit with anything I thought I knew about relationships. He always admitted he was a poor student and yet he seemed almost attracted to my intellect rather than repulsed. I quickly pushed the thought out of my mind before the bad thoughts could take over and focused on what I was doing instead. I tried to reach around my back to try and get rid of the next layer of clothing.
“Sweet Celestia, who’s the sadist who designed this bra thing? My arms don’t bend that way and the clasp is in the single hardest to reach place!”
Silver let out a sympathetic laugh. “I can’t say I’ve heard that before! Still, I suppose there are some things our friends still don’t discuss around me.”
“Well you are a stallion; well male anyhow,” I giggled while I gave up and slipped the stupid thing over my head. “I suppose some things really are universal among species and worlds."
Silver didn't comment and was quiet while I finished getting changed into my sleepwear. It was a new set made for my by Rarity as a Hearthswarming present to finally replace the ones I borrowed. It was made of a soft, pale blue fabric with patterns of stars that reminded me a bit of my first Gala dress. The real one, not the abomination I guilted my generous friend into crafting. I had to admit, the feel of the fabric against my skin was delightful. Fabric choice was more aesthetic for ponies since our fur prevented the direct contact humans got with this skin. It didn’t make up for the total absence of magic but it was still nice.
Once I was finished getting changed, I hesitated in the shadowy room. I hadn’t actually spent much time alone with Silver since our relationship had taken a slightly more intimate turn. We’d always been a trio during the nights of snuggling and I hadn’t really contemplated how things might be different when it was just two of us. I put my hand on my chest and took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Once I let it out, I quickly slipped under the covers. Almost immediately, Silver’s arm wrapped around my stomach and pulled my back up against his chest.
I tucked my head up under his chin and tried to relax. We laid there for a while, cozy under the blankets. I was feeling content but my mind loved to wander while the world was quiet. My mind drifted through the disastrous events of the past few days again. The awful incidents only served to remind me how fleeting this moment was.
“Twi? What’s bothering you?”
Apparently, my treacherous body had concluded that melancholy thoughts had to be accompanied by a sad sigh. Quite unfortunate given how observant my coltfriend was.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” I replied quietly. “You’re dealing with enough stress right now.”
Silver shifted and I had to fight off a surprised squeak as he nuzzled his face gently into my hair. My bare skin was far more sensitive than my fur as a pony and my long hair did little to dampen it. The unexpected feeling of his skin brushing mine sent shivers down my spine.
“You are not and will never be a burden to me,” he whispered in my ear. “Please, we promised to talk to each other no matter what. Let me keep my side of that agreement.”
He was right of course but I hated to bring this up again. In my mind, I knew I was overreacting but it was hard to beat back my constant doubts. The past two weeks had been so wonderful and I just had this awful feeling it couldn’t last. I knew the role I had to play in Equestria and now Silver had been hurt because of political games. I was absolutely intent on trying to downplay what was bothering me.
“I . . . well . . . this is our last night together for a while,” I admitted, fighting back tears. “Tomorrow I go back to my duties as a princess while you and Sunset go back to school. It's the same fear I've always been fighting since we started dating. When it comes down to it, we live in separate worlds. I- I wouldn't blame either of you if you decided this was too much trouble.”
Silver didn’t answer right away and I felt a moment of fear as he pulled his face away from me. Then his fingers brushed my cheek and I knew he found the tear that had slipped out. His voice was tender when he finally replied.
“You are worth it, my princess. We might be a universe apart but the portal is in your home. It’ll be just like we discussed. Afternoon naps together. We can modify our sleep schedules. Five-minute jaunts through the portal just for a moment together. We can talk to each other using your tablet or the book. We’ll stretch out our time together while we dream. Anything we can do to make sure you know how much we love you.”
He had started out listing the things we had discussed earlier in the week and I certainly didn’t disagree. It was his last sentence that made my planned reply die in my throat. Words failed me as my mind tried to wrap around what he’d said. Sunset had said the same thing in the car earlier but I thought it was just exaggeration; a joke that fit the moment. Love wasn’t a thing you talked about after only a month of dating, was it? It was a loaded word according to every book I had ever read about dating; the word that would send most stallions running to the hills if uttered too soon. Silver’s quiet confidence left me grasping for a response.
“Love? Really?” I squeaked almost involuntarily. I utterly failed to keep the disbelief out of my voice.
“Really, really. I love you Twilight Sparkle,” he whispered, his lips pressing to my neck.
The unexpectedly sensual contact along with his words made my heart skip several beats. The touch nearly erased every thought from my mind and I felt a brief moment of panic from the unexpected mental blank. Before I could stop myself, I rolled away reflexively to try and think for a second, leaving me facing him just a short distance away. I grasped around blindly in the darkness and found his hand. I gave it a squeeze to try and reassure him; desperately hoping he wouldn’t take my actions as a rejection. Then his hand found my cheek again and I was left struggling to keep my composure.
“We’ll both tell you that as often as necessary until you believe it with all your heart,” he continued, running my fingers along my cheek, wiping away more tears. “Come on, I’m supposed to be the one doubting whether he belongs in this relationship; not my beautiful princess.”
I stared at his silhouette in the darkened room for what felt like an eternity while my mind and heart grappled with his words. Ever since they had invited me to join this experimental relationship, I’d been torn between the aching hope that this could work and the stark reality that there was literally a world between us. At this moment, none of that mattered to me anymore. To hear Silver declare such commitment to our relationship of barely thirty days was beyond anything I had ever imagined possible.
My heartbeat was like thunder in my ears and I could feel fresh moisture on my cheeks. Then, for once in my life I didn’t hesitate, consider consequences, or think things through. I just lunged forward, clumsily reaching out to find him. Fortunately, my lack of coordination was still rewarded as I wrapped my upper arm around him. I pulled myself in so close I could feel his warm breath tickling my face. My other hand trapped by the weight of my body found his and our fingers twined together. My cheeks felt like they were incandescent from the heat growing inside me and the feel of our bodies pressing together left butterflies in my stomach.
I only took a moment to register the detail of those sensations before closing the narrow gap between us. I captured his lips with mine, exploring his soft, gentle mouth with my own and enjoying the lingering taste of an unexpectedly spicy mint on his breath. My reckless attack was rewarded with a sharp gasp of delight from Silver before he responded with surprising passion. As his lips stole my breath from my lungs, I wrapped my arms tightly around him. My hands began to explore his bare back, tracing gently over the smooth, furless skin and the muscles hiding underneath.
Then one of Silver’s hands drifted over the silky fabric covering my back, sending shivers down my spine. When his fingers gently pressed into the muscles around my shoulders the tension I hadn’t realized I was holding in them just evaporated. A moan of delight slipped out of my mouth, muffled by the blissful link between us. I didn't want the moment to end but all to soon, the need to breathe properly won out. I pushed away and laid down on my back, still holding one of his hands with mine.
"Wow," Silver gasped, breathing as heavily as I was.
While a part of me wanted to kiss him again, I hesitated this time while assessing the sensations running through my body. The only time I’d felt even remotely like this was during the previous spring so I decided to let things cool down just a bit. As I shifted and nestled my head in under his chin it occurred to me that I really didn’t entirely understand the body I received while in this world. Silver didn't complain as I snuggled in closer. Instead, he wrapped one arm around me and began running his fingers through my hair.
The touch of his fingers on my head was almost indescribable, a form of intimacy I could never experience as a pony. He parted my hair and ran his hand down the length of it, sending shivers down my spine. The calm moment of intimacy was reminded me of the night Sunset asked him out. That evening I had been sitting in the recliner watching him do the exact same thing to Sunset. I was happy for them both at that moment but I also spent that evening biting back the most awful feeling of jealousy I'd ever felt. Now I had the same joy without stealing happiness from anypony. Even better, for once in my life, my heart and mind were on the same page. There was only one thing I could say at that moment.
“Silver, I love you too,” I whispered.
He was quiet for a moment, the only sign he had heart me was a short inhalation of breath. I could almost hear the smile on the face when he finally spoke. “I have seen and learned many incredible things since we became friends. In spite of that, hearing those words from you tops nearly everything, my princess.”
“You know, when ponies call me princess, it doesn’t usually make me happy,” I murmured, with a slight smile on my face. “It’s just a reminder of the responsibility I’ve been given thanks to a pair of wings.”
“Dang, I’m sorry,” Silver muttered. “I wasn’t even thinking about that when I called you that. I’ll try to stop.”
“No, see that’s the weird thing,” I breathed, pressing my forehead against his chest. “When you and Sunset call me that it doesn’t really feel like a title. I don’t know if I can put the feeling into words. Something about the way you use the word . . . it’s more of a, I don’t know . . .”
“I think I know what you mean,” Silver whispered, running his fingers through my hair. “I think it’s like when I call Sunset my angel or love.”
“Yes!” I replied. “You’re not using it as a title. Something about your tone just makes me feel safe . . . and beautiful.”
“Good because human or pony, you are gorgeous and you deserve to be happy,” he sighed, giving me a peck on the forehead. “I hope someday you’ll believe both those facts with all your heart.”
“I . . . I hope so . . .” I trailed off, snuggling against him. “It’s . . . sometimes hard to believe any of this is real. Our relationship sometimes feels like a dream and my anxiety keeps telling me I’m going to wake up any moment.”
“Well right now, let me hold you as you drift off,” Silver put a finger over my lips to stop me. “I’ll meet you in the Astral Realm and keep your fears at bay. Our dreams are our own to spend together as often as I can manage.”
“You’re right,” I yawned, feeling my eyes droop. “Hope to see you and Spark there. Love you both.”
“We love you too. We’ll be waiting on the Astral Plane for your arrival. That’s a promise.”
With that, I allowed myself to drift away, nestled against my coltfriend while he ran his hands through my hair. At that moment, the pain, drama, and confusion of the past few days became unimportant. There were a million things I could have fretted about for hours as I tried to sleep. That was how I spent many of my nights. Now, in this simple, intimate moment, I just felt content as I slowly fell asleep.
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.....................................You left out the confrontation with Bon Bon!
9131881 - Not left out, simply held off for a later date. After the last few days, avoiding confrontations is their top priority. Not to worry, that encounter is planned.
Love the story so far can't wait for more
Well, we got one question answered with the box, BUT IN IT’S PLACE MORE QUESTIONS ARISE!!! How exactly did the sirens get transformed into giant hairballs with bodies? How much historical information has the equestrian government changed to suit their needs? Is Silver truly the sole “Earth Threstral” or are there others in the world who are just as oblivious as he was? I swear if this was a paper book this would be a literal page turner!!!
9132325 - Thank you!
9132737 - Yup! Someday most of the questions will be answered but it's a long road ahead! Glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Wait, 3 boxes.
Now I wonder where the other two are.
Calling it now.
The Scorpion leader has one.
9149486 - An interesting theory. Sadly, for the moment the location of the other two boxes will have to remain a mystery.
9152001
As I’ve said during our first conversation, that was me speaking my mind. I know their fillies and we all know how cruel those two can be, but that was pushing it too far. Imagine what were to happen if Applejack, Big Mac, or, Faust forbid, Granny Smith heard them! I’d say DT and SS would receive an old-fashioned thrashing. Both verbal, AND physical.
9152017 - Yup, no worries I know where you're coming from! I wouldn't want to be in the line of fire if any of those ponies found out either! I'm not actually sure if the CMC actually told anyone about the issues they were having with DT and SS on camera. Closest I can think of is the Gabby Gums thing. They were pretty awful in the show considering the target audience. Reminded me way too much of people I knew in school.
9152808
Amen to that. If I had a dollar for every time I fell victim to a bully’s “prank”, I’d be rich enough to build my own water park.
I just noticed, is it Arcane Sight or Vision?
9192373 - In the first draft of the chapter where she's introduced, the name was actually Arcane Sight. I switched it to Arcane Vision when I published. Unfortunately, sometimes my brain decides short out and use the old name.
I had to go through and find all the places I'd glitched out. Thanks for catching it, I've made the correction.
What? How in the hell does that make any sense? They were unrepentant assholes, assaulted him multiple times, nearly executed him, but he should learn the values of "forgiveness"?????