Silence Unbroken

Silence Unbroken Chapter 1: Greetings and Salutations

By: Midway Bridge

Some fitting music: Here

“All arise for his honor Grand Inquisitor Gavel,” said the plaintiff as a black robed pony walked into the room. All the ponies rose respectfully. When Gavel took a seat his respective podium, all ponies sat save for three: The plaintiff, the prosecutor, and the defendant. The courtroom was silent. No pony dared to speak for the fate of one soul hung by a thread.

The Grand Inquisitor usually liked his job, acquitting the innocent and condemning the misguided; but today’s trial was different. So different in fact that in his 40 long years of serving as Equestria’s advocate of justice he had never encountered a case remotely similar before. The defendant before him had been convicted of something not seen in Equestrian law for a very long, long, time. He had to even request a law book from the Royal Canterlot library, to find any sort of preceding case. The long night of studying the large text before the trial had proven fruitless, and hadn’t improved the head inquisitor’s mood at all for that matter. He rubbed his temples with his fore hooves thinking of the best way to start the hearing. With nothing coming to mind he just started with the charges.

"You have been convicted of blasphemy, high treason against her Royal Highness Princess Celestia, and the most unthinkable act of murder in the first degree. Do you deny these accusations?" stated the Grand Inquisitor. He loved the sound of his voice in the courtroom, the way it rang throughout the room demanding the attention of all within.

"…" The stallion on trial said nothing.

"Well?" Gavel inquired, starting to get impatient with the defendant. The defendant had been doing this the entire day, not saying a single word before the trial. He didn’t even get a defense attorney to plead his case. “Even if he did want an attorney no pony in their right mind would possibly want to defend him,” thought the Grand Inquisitor, “there were mountains of evidence that pointed directly toward him. Even the newest of prosecutors could easily get a victory.”

The defendant shook his head no, accepting his inevitable fate.

"Then by the power invested in this court we find you guilty of your crimes," proclaimed the head inquisitor, "as punishment, we sentence you… to death." He hit the gavel on his podium solidifying his ruling. Gasps and murmurs filled the courtroom; there hasn’t been a death sentence since as far back as any pony could remember. Some ponies expected the convicted stallion to go into some state of shock or attempt to lessen his ruling, yet the convicted pony remained silent and still as ever, acting as if nothing happened. He closed his eyes and waited for the plaintiff to take him away.

"No I have a better idea," interrupted a powerful voice behind him. All turned to see the goddess of the sun herself entering the courtroom. She grandly made her entrance known to the room, gracefully walking into the room without a sound. All the ponies in the room bowed. All except for the one on trial who remained standing in defiance against the voice of authority.

Princess Celestia ignored the minor insult. "Grand Inquisitor Gavel, I respectfully request to take the defendant into my own personal custody," she addressed the pony in charge.

“Request granted,” he said glad to be rid of the guilt of condemning a criminal to death. Besides who would refuse Princess Celestia her wishes?

"Come my little pony," she called out to the stallion. She ushered him under wing belittling him with her giant figure. His head hung low, for the goddess who he had previously insulted had just saved his life. The two walked out of the courtroom leaving the rest with looks of confusion.

The pair navigated the castle which to most was a pervasive maze that one could easily get lost in, but the royal princess knew it like the back of her hoof.

When they reached the throne room, she sat on her throne and stared at the criminal ahead of her eyes lost in thought. He looked at his surroundings and the stained glass walls, many of which depicted scenes of history. The Discord crisis, the establishment of Canterlot, the return of Nightmare Moon, as well as a few other important moments of Equestrian past, were all present in the hall.

"I never liked the death sentence," sighed the solar princess suddenly breaking the silence between the two, "tried to be rid of it 6 centuries ago. It makes no sense to waste some pony with the raw abilities like you." She was once again lost in thought. "Why did you kill her?" she finally asked him. The question lingered in the air.

"…"

"Well?" said Celestia awaiting a response. She was rather used to quick responses from any pony. But before her was no ordinary pony.

"…"

"Not going to answer that one?" she mused silently impressed by his determination. “No matter, I have a task for you,” she said, “no pony else will know of it, not even my dearest sister Luna. But before I assign it to you, I have but one more question." She looked at the stallion before her sizing him up, "If you are to answer only one question, answer me this."

The convicted stallion slowly nodded his head in agreement.

"You did without question… kill that mare, that much is obvious," said Celestia faltered at the word 'kill' like she wasn't comfortable with it, saying it with vile distaste. "But tell me, do you regret your actions?"

--==========--

"I don't know Twilight," said a very nervous purple and green baby dragon, "Transfiguration spells sound great and all but…" Spike trailed off, not sure how to finish. He started to fiddle around with his claws and to regret this idea.

"Hold still Spike, we both need to concentrate for this to work," said the lavender mare. Her eyes now closed as she focused on the task at hoof. Her purple horn was radiating magical energy. "Almost there." Twilight gritted her teeth in pure concentration. The spell was quite taxing and incredibly difficult to use. She found it in an old tome lent from the Canterlot library, and was quite eager to test it out. After all it wasn't everyday she came across complicated spells.

Then there was a great burst of magical light. The candles light throughout the tree house were extinguished leaving only dim streaks of light trickling through the cracks in the curtains. There was a bit of rustling and Twilight hit the light switch. Light flooded the room as she observed the results of her spell.

Her assistant was nowhere in sight; instead there was a short, deep purple colt with a spiked lime green mane. The pony was swayed a little bit and then collapsed on the floor. Twilight ran up to him, her eyes filled with concern.

"Spike? Spiiike!?" She shook his side. His coat was warm but rougher than most ponies. It was also a bit stiffer, like the hair didn’t want to be moved still retaining some of Spike’s scales’ sturdiness.

"W-what happened?" said a short raspy voice that sounded like Spike's but was slightly lower in pitch.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief her worst fears alleviated. "The spell worked Spike! You’re an earth pony now,"

“Great,” he grumbled. Spike had the worst cramp in the neck he ever had. He cracked it several times to release the tension.

"Just think of all the scientific data we can record now!” she exclaimed excitedly. “How does it feel to be a pony Spike?" Twilight was rather curious to see what he thought about being a pony since he was practically raised as one.

"Ugh… sickening," he moaned his face turned a slight shade of green. He clutched his stomach and looked like he was going to vomit, but much to Twilights relief he didn’t. He lay there for a bit longer still feeling a bit queasy from the spells effects.

Twilight levitated a quill and notepad to record her observations. "Can you stand up?"

"I'll try." After a few failed attempts, Spike slowly and carefully raised his body onto his four wobbling legs.

"Good, how about some basic exercises?” Spike nodded fully concentrated on maintaining his balance. “Okay raise your left hoof." Twilight facehooved, "Your other left Spike."

"Oh. Right, I mean left. Whatever." Spike huffed raising the proper hoof.

"Good. Now can you try to pick up that book next to you?” Twilight gestured to a book that was knocked off of the shelf by the spell.

"Um… how?" Spike asked with a blank expression.

"What do you mean how? Just pick it up," said Twilight flatly. “It’s not brain surgery.”

Spike skeptically stared at his hoof, "Twilight I don't have fingers right now, and picking up things with hooves is like imposable." To ponies picking things up with their hooves came natural; something Spike wasn’t used to doing without his claws.

“Spike I don't understand, every pony can pick things up!” said Twilight, “It just… happens.”

“Can we pass this one?” asked Spike hopefully. Twilight nodded. “What’s next?”

Twilight looked at a list of tasks that she prepared beforehand, "How about walking?"

Spike gulped, took a deep breath, and he moved one hoof. Then another. "This isn't that-whoa-ah!" Spike tripped and face planted into the hard wood floor with a crack.

"Spike are you alright?"

“That hurts so much more without scales.” The colt rubbed his head with a hoof, “I’ll be fine."

She accepted this as a response that he was okay. “Well what do you think of your appearance?” Twilight decided it was best if he didn’t do anything physical for a while.

"Oh yeah," exclaimed the colt who looked up ebulliently, "How do I look? How’s my mane?"

"You look fine Spike, but remember this is a short lasting spell. You'll only be a pony for about 6 more minutes."

"Then there’s no time to wait then! Lady Rarity, here comes the stallion of your dreams!" He stumbled towards the door, not used to running on four legs.

"Hold it there Casanova," Twilight said grabbing spike with telekinetic force. "You’re going to give poor Rarity a heart attack, just look in the mirror." Twilight pulled over a large mirror.

The spell hadn’t worked perfectly; something was off about Spike but it took a moment to realize it. His eyes; they still had silted pupils. On a dragon they looked fine normal even, but to see Spikes eyes on a pony was a tad bit more than just unnerving.

"Oh," was the only thing he could say. He looked crestfallen; he closed his eyes hiding them from Twilight.

"Don't worry Spike; I'm sure Rarity would have preferred you as a dragon over a colt any day of the week,” encouraged twilight trying to pick him up from the dumps.

"Including this one?" he sighed and frowned which was incredibly difficult for him to do. He attempted many times making very odd faces before succeeding.

"Of course," replied Twilight who rolled her eyes playfully. "You know, using magic to change who you are isn’t the way to go about it Spike, you should just be yourself and eventually Rarity will come around."

"You really think so?" said Spike hopefully; his silted eyes gazing up at Twilight.

"I know so." Twilight hugged him and after some difficulty he hugged her back.

Twilight suddenly released Spike from her grasp, her face growing red in a massive blush. She let out a nervous giggle when she realized the ponified Spike was also blushing sheepishly. The awkward moment was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

"Twiiilight~," sang a cheery voice outside the tree home.

"Coming," she replied to whoever was outside. "Spike, go upstairs," she ordered. He complied stumbling up the stairs. When Spike was out of sight Twilight opened the door to reveal a bubblegum pink pony with a mane that had the consistency of cotton candy. She was beaming with pure happiness and a giant smile on her face.

"Oh hey Pinkie, what brings you here?" asked Twilight.

"I saw this pony from across town and I got excited and I was like GASP! Then I thought to myself 'He must be a new pony in town because I know every pony in Ponyville.' Then I was sad because if he was new here he might not have any friends. Then I had the best idea ever to throw a famous 'Welcome-to-Ponyville-new-friend' party and guess what? You’re invited!" Pinkie Pie was so exited she forgot to breathe in her whole story.

"Well that sounds great Pinkie,” said Twilight recalling a very similar conversation she had with Pinkie when she first came to Ponyville, “did you catch his name?"

"No he didn't say," the pink mare recollected, "In fact he didn't say anything at all. I mean really, even Cranky Donkey said something when he first came to Ponyville.”

"Pinkie, maybe he was just a bit timid like Fluttershy," Twilight reasoned.

"That’s just the thing Twilight," said the pink pony who stopped bouncing in place, "He didn't seem shy, he was just walking like he got a cupcake without icing, but I guess that would make it a muffin but a really sweet muffin I mean muffins are good and all but I personally prefer to have a-"

"That’s interesting," Twilight interrupted before Pinkie got too far off on a random tangent. “Do you really think he would want a party?” asked Twilight remembering her first experience at a Pinkie Pie party.

"Twilight are you oatmeal?! Every pony likes Pinkie parties," exclaimed Pinkie Pie, "So you'll be there right?"

"Of course," said Twilight. "When is it?"

"5:00 at Sugarcube Corner."

There was a loud crash from upstairs and a long groan from Spike.

“Twilight you should probably check on Spike, he doesn’t sound too good.” And with that the bubbly mare bounced off singing a merry tune.

Twilight closed the door, and quickly trotted upstairs to see what the entire ruckus was about. She found Spike in his normal dragon form lying on the floor, his claws covering his belly.

"Spike are you alright?" said Twilight full of concern.

"Yeah I'll be -ugh- fine," he groaned, "been through worse."

"Oh Spike," Twilight mumbled. She picked him up with her telekinesis and placed him in his small bed and covered him with his soft blue blanket.  “Rest up okay, I'll be in town for a little bit doing some errands, but I'll be right back."

--==========--

Twilight walked out into the marketplace and spotted her orange friend Applejack who was running her apple stand with Big Mac. Applejack was currently haggling with a customer over the prices of her homemade apple pies; something that most ponies around here knew was nonnegotiable. Big Mac was busy lifting the crates of apples from the wagon to the stall, carefully placing them on the wooden table. There was some angry arguing but the customer eventually gave in.

“…customers always tryn’ to steal my well earned bits,” she grumbled beneath her breath.  When she noticed her librarian friend she changed back to her friendly grin,"Well heya there Twi' what can I do you for?" called out Applejack with a wink.

"Hey Applejack, I'll have a dozen red delicious please."

"Have y'all seen the new pony in town? Pinkie went nutters like a foal on Hearths Warming Eve when she saw him." Said Applejack as she counted out the bits Twilight gave her.

"No, I can't say I have seen him," Twilight answered, "Have you?"

"Yeah, he bought a few apples and departed with a respectful nod. Ain't much fer words that feller, why he even spoke less than Fluttershy if ya'll can believe it."

"Now that is hard to believe, what did he look like? Pinkie never said."

"Ya'll can see fer yerself, said Applejack gesturing behind Twilight.  The purple unicorn turned to see the stranger standing behind them.

The stallion had a dark grey coat that made him stand out from the usual mix of vibrant colored ponies. His silver blasted back mane and tail ruffled in the gentle breeze like a duo of dancing white hot fires. His proud stature and the sharpened horn on top of his head marked him as a dignified unicorn, and hinted at the possibly of a noble or elite background. His stormy grey eyes darted around cautiously trying to monitor all movement in the marketplace. He was normal sized pony only slightly taller than Twilight and had a strong muscular composition. He wore large dark brown saddlebags that had fancy embroidery on it with intertwining initials S.S engraved on the sides. The bags covered the dull colored stallion’s cutie mark, making it impossible for Twilight to guess what his occupation might be. Although she had never seen him before she had a sinking feeling that he was familiar looking. Something about him seemed approachable. He was quite a fine stallion…

"Equestria to Twilight," said Applejack waving an orange hoof in front of her face, "Ya'll should know t'ain't polite to stare." Applejack had a grin on her face, “you fancy him don’t you Twilight.”

“No I don’t like him in that way, said Twilight breaking her gaze to hide her blushing face from her smirking friend, “it’s just he’s so…"

"Familiar, and yet can’t put yer hoof on it?” Applejack finished for her.

“I was going to say different…”

“Oh! Hehehe... I swear ‘ah know him from somewhere. But I reckon he has one of those faces that everypony seems to know.”

“He looks so out of place here in Ponyville,” commented twilight as the two watched him stroll around seemingly lost in the pervasive complex maze of streets in Ponyville.

"Twi', sugar cube, it wasn't too long ago when ya'll were in his shoes," stated Applejack. Twilight sighed; she remembered that day when she first came into Ponyville. In hindsight she acted a bit inconsiderate of the ponies who tried to be friends with her, and it took an adventure for her to realize that. Twilights eyes lit up enlightened with a grand idea.

"I know!" she exclaimed, "I'll make him feel welcome to Ponyville like what you girls did for me. Then he'll feel like he belongs!" Twilight grew more excited. "Then I could write a Friendship Report to Princess Celestia!" Twilight practically squee'd with joy at the thought.

"Don't take this personally Twi', you’re not Pinkie Pie who can make friends with just about anypony she wants to. He’s gonna be a tough nut to crack. From what I can tell he could be some pony from Canterlot with a high standard life. Perhaps ya’ll could talk with him... Pah! What do I know, good luck!" said the farm pony.

"Thanks," said Twilight who was practically galloping to meet the new pony who was across the street.

He raised his head as an overly exited purple unicorn neared. His grey eyes still fixated with their unsurprised expression, and his gloomy frown stayed as such.

"Hi! I'm Twilight Sparkle and you are?" greeted the lavender coated mare.

Silence.

He just stared at her and just raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"…um, Yeah well, I just wanted to welcome you to Ponyville.” Twilight widened her grin, hoping he would lighten up a bit.

More silence. 'This is rapidly growing awkward.' Twilight thought to herself.

“Will you be staying in Ponyville for a while?”

He nodded.

"Do you need help finding where you’re staying?" twilight looked back and forth to avoid the stare he was giving her. There was something about his piercing grey eyes that seemed to pry at Twilights mind.

The somber stallion slowly nodded his head, still saying nothing. He carefully undid the straps on his saddlebag and held a house deed in his mouth.

Twilight quickly examined the document. "Oh I know where you’re staying! Follow me!" Twilight took a mental note that he could have just used his telekinesis to pick it out…

The stallion complied and placed the deed back into the bag taking care that the parchment didn't wrinkle. He quietly followed the purple unicorn. They passed by all sorts of shops, a fashion boutique, a rather large gingerbread house named Sugarcube Corner, as well as a shop that sold only quills and sofas. How those two commodities were related was any ponies guess. At last the two unicorns stopped at a dark vacant house that was right across the street from Twilight’s tree home.

"Here we are," she exclaimed to her quiet follower. "Do you want any help unpacking?"

He nodded his head yes and used an old brass key to open the door. It swung open with a creak revealing a dimly lit home. They two walked in and looked at the interior. There were cobwebs forming on the walls and ceiling and light shed through small holes in the ceiling. The room’s furniture was covered by white sheets to prevent dust from forming on them. The curtains that hung from the wall where ragged and had tears in them and had their color rapidly fading. The stone fireplace still had the ashes from the logs the last dweller had left in it. The room itself was spacious but it had a musty feel clinging to the air. No pony had been keeping the house up to snuff so all in all, the entire home was in disrepair.

"Sorry it’s not a 5-star hotel, but no ponies lived here for 16 years so it’s a bit musty," Twilight stated.

The stallion sighed, searching around the house pulling off the white sheets off of the furniture shooting dust into the air. His gaze stopped on an aged painting that hung on the wall above the fireplace. It was a depiction of a yellow mare reading a book on a big red chair next to the fireplace. He eyed it up quizzically.

"That’s a picture of Miss Readheart; she was the librarian a few years back before I took over. I heard that she moved out on a whim to chase after some handsome stallion and no ponies lived here since."

He dusted it a bit and then continued examining the house.

"If you feel up to it, could you come to Sugarcube Corner around 5:00, my friend Pinkie Pie is throwing a party for you, and it would mean a lot to her for you to go. Fair warning, it will most likely be over the top, but a lot of fun."

He nodded in confirmation, and begun to unpack his things.

"You need anything else?"

He shook his head no but smiled appreciatively. Twilight took this as a, “no thank you.” Even when he speaks no words he comes off polite and considerate.

"Okay so if you need anything, I'll be over in the library; that’s the house over that way that is made out of a tree. So I'll see you at the party?" said Twilight who was now in the doors threshold. A cool breeze wafted through it and into the house. Twilight was starting to wonder if he would ever say a single word at all. “Maybe he’s a mute…” she silently thought to herself.

He nodded affirmatively.

"Great!” exclaimed Twilight who was happily trotting to the door, joyfully prattling about ‘friendship’ and something about a ‘report’ as well as a few other words that the grey unicorn caught wind of. He didn’t think much of it, but it did make him start to wonder who the purple librarian really was.

“Goodbye!" Twilight said walking out. The silvery unicorn waved a hoof sending his new acquaintance off. Twilight gently closed the door behind herself leaving the stallion to himself in the old house. He let out a long drawn out sigh and relaxed.

"Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle," he whispered in raspy and airy breath, so softly that it was barely audible to even him.

--==========--

Chapter 2: Party Tricks

The drunken rainbow dash arose from her spot in the corner of her room, still in a daze from the numbing effects of the alcohol.  She staggered over to where the group was standing. “Heey Guysssssssup?” she slurred heavily as she teetered back and forth trying to regain balance.  In passing by the silver unicorn she half tackled half stumbled into him knocking him to the floor.  The two lay there in a heap.  Rainbow dash got off of the unfortunate stallion and brushed the dust off herself.  “Oops smy baaad,” said Rainbow Sounding a bit like Ditzy Doo.

Their grey companion realized his saddlebags were missing; they had fallen off and onto the floor next to him.  The group fell silent.  For the first time the group of six friends excluding Rainbow, who was too out of it to notice, witnessed the sight of his cutie mark.

“My stars Darling what kind of cutie mark is that!” exclaimed the fashionista.

“That there ain’t like any mark ah has ever seen,” mumbled Applejack

“Just who exactly are you?”  asked Twilight.

--==========--

Disclaimer: I am not Laruen Faust incognito, and henceforth I do not own MLP: Friendship is Magic. I make no claim for Hasbro’s characters or world. I am just a humble fan fiction writer, nothing more.  Please leave your questions, comments, and constructive criticism in the comments below so I can better myself as a writer and enhance your experience as a reader.  Also I'm looking for any good moving / sad music to incorporate on the top of the page, leave links below.