Redux: Life In A New World

by Tohshi

Chapter Six

Silver Crest stood nervously at the far end of the table trying to stay at attention. I could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he stood with his helmet under his arm. Without the enchantment from the helm he had soft gray fur and a dark black mane. He looked like the most plain pony I had seen yet and there was something about him that drew me towards him. I walked closer to him as Luna and Shinning Armor Talked. He paid me no heed but I knew that was from his training. I could see him shake slightly as I came closer and I wondered if I scared him. Olympia snoozed in my arms and I towered over him.

“Do I make you afraid?” I asked.

“No,” said Silver. “The princess makes me nervous is all.”

“What ever you have heard, she is really nice,” I said. “I’m who they want you to help. I need help with my girls and I need to know if you are going to be nice to them. Even though we are a bit different than what you are used to.”

“It would sully the name of our very country to do so,” said Silver. “I’d rather die than do that.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” I said. “Why are you trying to be a guard? You seem nice to me. Why not find some other line of work?”

“I have to,” said Silver. “My family has always been guards. Even my mother for a while. I have too. It just isn’t a thing I can not do.”

“I don’t know if they will keep you in the guard if you take this spot,” I said. “I think you would be castle staff then. Do you think that would be good enough for them?”

“I don’t know,” said Silver. “I just have to be a guard.”

“Well maybe we can keep you in title or something,” I said. “Now have you dealt with diapers before and really any answer is good because I am not looking forward to that in a bit?”

“I haven’t,” said Silver.

“Cool we have that in common,” I said. “Or at least I think so. Kinda have some amnesia.”

“Okay,” said Silver. “How do you have a toddler then?”

“That is a surprisingly long story,” I said. “So apparently I am connected to a number of realms and one of them keeps spewing energy through me and that apparently turns into children.”

“Okay…” said Silver.

“I know kinda…crazy,” I said. “It is the truth I think that or someone is kicking babies through a portal that goes through me. Luna closed the connect but it can be reopened. Some little tyke decided to force the issue so now I have two children. Which is why I need your help?”

“Okay,” said Silver. “But why me?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Cadence thinks you should be given the chance. Why don’t you tell me?”

“If we could interject,” said Luna as she walked over to us. “Normally we give recruits two months to show improvement before discharge. However after reviewing your results I think that a wait of two more weeks would be pointless. Silver Crest, I hearby discharge you from service of the guard.”

“Wait,” said Silver. “Please don’t. I have to do this. My father will…please.”

“My desicion is final,” said Luna. “I ask you for your service with Duchess Persephone. Surely your father will find personal assitant to a Duchess as more than prestigious enough.”

“If there is no way to change your desicion then I don’t see I have much choice, your highness,” said Silver. “A letter explaining my position would smooth things over at home. When do you want me to start?”

“Now,” I said. “I want to see how Pandora acts around you. She gets a bit shy at times.”

Silver just nodded he looked crushed but when presented Pandora he brightened up. I could tell he was hiding his pain for her but she wasn’t having any of it and she pet his head gently and hugged him tightly. A few tears ran down his checks as he hugged her back and then he perked up.

“You have a very special little filly here,” said Silver. “What sort of creature is she?”

“Demon, we think,” I said. “But I don’t rightly know. All that matters is she is my little ball of sunshine.”

“Ma?” asked Pandora. She was still griping Silver tightly but her bright yellow eyes stared my direction.

“Can you say Silver?” I asked her. “Silver.”

“Sisser?” Pandora asked.
“No Silver.

“Si-silver,” said Pandora. “Silver.”

There was a bright light that came from Silver Crest’s flank that filled the room and we all looked to see a smiling heart had formed on his flank. Pandora giggled with suprised as everyone in the room looked happy except for Silver himself. He fell on his rump and I caught Pandora as she tripped backwards. He reacted to her falling as well but slowly. Still he hadn’t meant to knock her over and I didn’t worry. Falls were bound to happen. Still I couldn’t help as my sense of worry boiled to the top. Why was Silver reacting so poorly to the emblem on his flank and why had it appeared like this?

“I say we have made a fine choice in this today,” said Luna. “Why are you so shocked young one?”

“I…I…nothing it is fine,” said Silver. He shook his head and a fake smile forced its way across his face.

“No,” said Pandora. “No. No.”

She hugged him tighter and I couldn’t help but wonder what storm was brewing in his heart. I only saw his facade breaking and I watched as tears started to roll down his cheeks. Soon he was sobbing into Pandora’s shoulder who cried with him. Even Olympia seemed disturbed by his emotions and I gently rocked her as she softly whined. I sat down next to Silver and leaned against him his strong form holding me up easily enough. Even being so much taller than him he had more bulk than I did and I felt my own worries boiling to my surface. I didn’t notice till Olympia brushed her hand against my cheek that I was crying as well.

Luna sat with us and I couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking about. It was clear that she was as she looked at the four of us sitting in a pile. Her eyes were glued on Silver and I knew she was as worried as I felt. I couldn’t keep the shakes from taking over me and I wasn’t certain why I felt so drawn to Silver but there was something connecting us already. Something unspoken but there.

“Is your father abusive, Silver?” asked Luna. “I promise you that I shall not let any harm come to you further. One doesn’t normally break down when they receive their cutie mark like this. Something must be the matter?”

“I…I…Please it isn’t his fault,” said Silver. “I am just worthless. I can’t do anything right. I even got a feminine mark. He is going to be so mad at me. I can’t do anything right.”

“Silver I will visit your dreams and find the truth one way or another,” said Luna. “Please I need to know if I must take action.”

“Please, he just has some issues with his anger is all,” said Silver. “I just am not the son he wanted is all. It is my fault really. If I was just a normal colt.”

“We should talk more later,” said Luna. “I have enough for a formal investigation. If you will excuse me I have a number of things to attend to and now that you have an assistant I feel comfortable leaving you to your devices. Silver Crest you have all the authority of a Seneshal to acquire anything that Duchess Persephone Lunaris may need. Oh and before I forget, Persephone as I have adopted you as my ward that places you as a Duchess of Equestria and my heir should the worst happen. Such things are exceedingly unlikely to occur and this really just gives you the political clout to live in the Castle. Tia said we may need something like that as soon as word gets out you are mother of demons. Have a good day.”

Luna disappeared in a pop of light and I was left staring at Cadence and Shinning Armor. I was a duchess now? What did that mean? Was I expected to help out with the running of this nation I knew nothing about? I held Olympia tight to my chest and my eyes bounced between the remaining ponies in the room.

“Oh don’t worry,” said Cadence. “Really just a formality is all. That and the Council is not as gungho about Luna as they should be.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked. “What is this council?”

“Princess Celestia set up the Governing Council three years after the Lunar Rebelion,” said Cadence. “The Council is meant as representation and governece of Equestria while Princess Celestia is more of a guiding factor anymore. The council is a bit concerned with Luna as she was missing for the Invasion of Canterlot a couple weeks back and so things are more rocky than they should be right now. Still nothing you have to worry about. The council can’t do anything to you without directly attacking Luna and they won’t be so bold. Even if they may have some political clout to do so.”

“So politics are as weird here as well,” I said. “Cool. Good to know. So on less me related issues, Silver are you feeling better?”

“Yes,” said Silver. “I’m sorry. I just…”

“It is fine,” I said. “But hey lets go have a good rest of the day. I’m sure that there is plenty to be done to have fun with a small little one around here?”

“The gardens are open to us,” said Silver.

“I love to go read there,” said Twilight. “Sadly I won’t be able to join you for long. I have to go do some research on anti necromantic spells.”

“Dear I don’t mean to pry but I found you in the library this morning and I know you didn’t sleep last night,” said Rarity. “Shouldn’t you get some rest the books can wait? We don’t even know if we will be sent out to deal with Grogar at all.”

“I just want to be prepared. I don’t want it to be another event like the Invasion,” said Twilight.

“It won’t be,” said Shining Armor. “As your big brother I have to insist that Rarity is right. You need to take a break, Sis.”

“Fine,” said Twilight.

“Besides, someone needs to teach Persephone how to contorl her magic,” said Cadence. “I’m sure you will have loads of fun with that. I need to be off though. I’m attending a meeting with Fancy Pants in a few to keep up appearences. Sorry to dash.”

“The Fancy Pants?” asked Rarity who followed Cadence out of the room.

I turned to Silver and motioned that we should go. A bit in the gardens sounded wonderful to me. I looked at little Olympia and switched arms as my arm was growing tired. I needed a baby carrier. Rarity had her work cut out for her but I didn’t fret. For now sunshine called.

Author's Note:

So yeah I don't like waiting very much to post these things so here is two chapters in a day as I get wrapped up in writing pony fic again...Hurray...I mean who am I kidding I love writing and this is writing.

Comments

[Chrome Masquerade]

“We should talk more later,” said Luna. “I have enough for a formal investigation. If you will excuse me I have a number of things to attend to and now that you have an assistant I feel comfortable leaving you to your devices. Silver Crest you have all the authority of a Senishal to aquire anything that Duchess Persephone Lunaris may need.

I do not envy whatever stallion is going to be on the receiving eng of Luna's judjment. Still don't feel sorry for him, though.
Seneschal

[Tohshi]

8722363
Thank you for the spelling error fix.

Yes Silver Crest's father is in for a world of hurt when Luna finishes her investigation.