Silence Unbroken

Silence Unbroken Chapter 2: Party Tricks

By: Midway Bridge

Some fitting music: here

Rainbow Dash soared over the small town of Ponyville, swimming in the sea of clouds. She smiled as the air whistled through her mane, enjoying every minute of the vivid sensation. She did a loop and laughed with glee as she had no care in the world.

In the distance she heard a low soft rumbling in the distance. She slowed down and turned her head, only to see a blur of blue and orange race past her. Oh it was on. Rainbow sped after the smoky black trail following the figure. Lightning streaks shot out of the streak of black clouds. This was no ordinary pegasus who challenged Rainbow Dash, this opponent was a Wonderbolt; a perfect time for Rainbow to show her stuff and prove to herself and all the naysayers that she can beat them.  That she was worthy to wear the Wonderbolt garb.

Dash flapped her wings and propelled herself towards the Wonderbolt.  The adrenaline from the thrill of the race kicked in making her speed faster than she had ever flown before.  She was slowly gaining on the Wonderbolt who was trying her best to shake off her opponent. The Wonderbolt did loops and turns but the actions were in vain as Rainbow now followed behind only 4 lengths. The Wonderbolt then dove into a steep dive plummeting towards the earth.

Dash followed her with a dive of her own. Adrenaline filled the rainbow maned pony as she flew faster and faster and descended closer and closer to the ground. She gritted her teeth; this was the moment she had been waiting for.

She was now neck and neck with the Wonderbolt who now had a look of disbelief on her masked face.  No average pony could possibly match the Wonderbolt's speed.  Both sped forward getting closer and closer to the ground.  Rainbow dash surpassed her rival and flew ahead.  She had out matched one of Equestria's best fliers.

The two slowed down and landed on the soft grass covered hills out skirting Ponyville.

"Well if it isn't Rainbow Dash," the Wonderbolt declared removing the weather goggles, "my my you have grown into a strong pegasus."

"Hey Spitfire," Rainbow Dash wanted to play it cool, she couldn’t blow this moment.  No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t keep a star struck grin on her face.

"That was great flying back there, one could even call it 'Wonderful'," mused Spitfire with a purr she got close to Rainbow Dash.  She inched closer into Rainbow Dashes personal space. "And you know what that means..." her voice now a whisper.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" squealed Dash, "Do I get to finally join the Wonderbolts?!” Dash beamed hopefully. This was it the moment she had been waiting for all of her life.  All those years of training and preparing have led her to now.  This was the moment of truth.

"No, silly it means we got to throw a Party!" Spitfire exclaimed her voice suddenly going higher pitched.  A voice that sounded like the sugar driven mare who works at the bakery...

"Wait what?"

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

"Rainbow Daaaaash!~" sang a merry voice. The sky blue pegasus woke with a startle, hoping that her dreams had not been just dreams. They were just dreams of course because Pinkie Pie was flying some sort of pedal powered helicopter contraption thing up to the cloud Dash was napping on. Apparently 2 miles above Ponyville wasn't high enough to get a good undisturbed snooze.

Rainbow rolled over, "Hey Pinkie what’s' up?"

"You’re up I would say!" joked Pinikie Pie who was now level with the cloud that Rainbow was resting on.

Rainbow rolled her eyes at the pun; she walked right into that one.

"Dashie you've been invited to a Welcome-to-Ponyville-pony-who’s-name-I-don't-know-Party!" beamed Pinkie Pie.  Her flying machine made a whirring sound as the propellers sliced through the air.

"A new pony in Ponyville party?! Oh I am so there! Ooo what’s she like?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"You mean what’s HE like, he’s a stallion. I couldn’t tell you much about him; he’s always playing the quiet game so he never talks, which is amazing because whenever I played with my mom I couldn’t do it for nearly that long. My record was like 10 seconds."

"Wow that’s amazing," exclaimed Dash sarcastically. Dash rolled over and tried to catch up for lost sleep and wonderful dreams.

"So you'll be there right?" asked Pinkie.

"Yeah yeah," said Rainbow who was dismissively waving a hoof.

"Okie-dokie-lokie!" shouted Pinkie Pie who was now slowly descending towards the ground.

“I think he’ll have some fun at this party,” Rainbow Dash thought aloud. “Perhaps I’ll set some pranks up for him…” Rainbow Dash wondered how the new pony would take a prank, but her mind slipped back into her own little world of dreams.

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

Rarity sighed as her muscles lost their tension under the rhythmic massage of Lotus's hooves. Fluttershy was feeling the same way as Aloe used a slightly less rough technique for her. Their typical weekly spa get together was going by wonderfully.

"Soooo… Fluttershy," purred the white unicorn enjoying the sensation of the massage, "what do you think about Big Mac?"

"What do you mean?" asked Fluttershy.

"Oh don't play coy," mused Rarity.  "You can't be completely oblivious to the way he looks; his massive muscular body, his soft eyes…" Rarity gazed off dreamily.  A naughty smile spread across her face, "I could have a stallion like that any day of the week."

"…Have him?" asked Fluttershy nervously, afraid of the answer her friend would say.

"You know what I mean," cooed Rarity. "He so cute I must say."

"Oh my, I never thought of him that way," replied Fluttershy with a blush starting to redden her face. They never really talked about this topic, and when they did it usually got awkward for Fluttershy. Rarity, who was more open about it, had no shame in discussing what goes on when Sweetie Belle is out of the house.

"Any stallion you fancy?" inquired Rarity who was now having her horn filed.

"Oh I don't talk to stallions really…" the yellow pegasus murmured.

"Now that’s just silly Fluttershy, stallions are great company. you should try it sometime you'd probably like them," teased Rarity.

"Oh! Um, I'm usually not that forward." Her face reddening even more till it looked like a cherry.

"Oh. OH! Fluttershy dear I didn't mean it in THAT way," retorted the unicorn appalled that her friend would think that. "Stallions are mostly courteous and considerate and are very gentlecolt like. Much unlike a particular prince I had the unfortunate luck of meeting." Rarity grinded her teeth at the memory of her encounter with the stuck up nephew of Princess Celestia.

"I don't know. I really don't like stallions that much…"

"Oh I understand, if only Rainbow Dash could come out like you. I'm completely convinced she's into mares too..." sighed Rarity as Lotus placed cucumber slices over her eyes.

"No I'm not gay," squeaked Fluttershy her blush turning her face redder than Big Macs face, "I just don't really want to know any stallions.”

"Forgive me, for that last statement then, but have you ever tried to talk to a kind gentle stallion? I'm sure I could hook you up with a few suitors, it’s been a while since I played matchmaker,” she clapped her hooves together in delight. “Didn't work out so well for Twilight last time though…"

"I mean no offence Rarity, but your friends are a teeny tiny bit um, well..." thought Fluttershy, "I don't think it would be a good idea to meet them."

"You're right," said Rarity vaguely recalling that most of the ones she knew were already married or in a relationship. "How about someone that neither if us know. Say… what about that one unicorn that walked into town just this morning?"

"Oh the one Pinkie’s throwing a party for?"

"Yes, him," clarified Rarity, "he’s supposed to be a quiet stallion that’s kind and calm according to Pinkie Pie.  He'd be perfect for you."

“Oh I don’t know…”

“Oh please please please please pleeeaase!” Rarity begged putting on her best puppy eyed face she could followed by a quivering lip. “All you have to do is talk to him. Promise me you’ll at least try.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy sighed giving into her friend, “fine.”

“Eeeee!” Rarity gave an unladylike squeal. “Tonight was going to be a night that you are definitely going remember.”

"...yay?"

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

Twilight looked at the clock 4:49. It was almost time to head over to the welcome party. Spike who now had fully recovered from the experiment from earlier that morning was ecstatic. He was busily working through his chores but Twilight could spy him stealing glances at the clock.

"Spike, you're awfully excited to go to the party," observed the lavender coated mare. She flipped through the pages of the book still not sure what to be looking for.

“Yeah well it is a Pinkie Party, aren’t you exited too?” asked Spike. He was busy sweeping the dust off of the floor that came from the books Twilight was hurriedly pulling off of the shelves.

“Yes but, you’re a bit more chipper than before other pinkie parties.”

"Twilight you don't get it. It’s another guy!" Spike attempted to explain, "The male-female ratio in this town is skewed like 1 to 17. There aren’t too many guys to talk to around here."

"What about Snips and Snails?" She closed the book and placed it on the growing stack next to her. She then grabbed a new book and scanned through it.

He gave her a look that said, “You’re kidding right?”

"Okay maybe not them, but what about Big Mac." She threw another book on the pile.

"He’s too shy. Not many interesting conversations, just a lot of yes and no questions and a bunch of Eeyups."

"The Doctor?" Twilight snapped the book closed with a frustrated growl and pulled another off the shelf with her telekinesis.

"I don't even know what he’s talking about half the time; he’s always going on about time-space travel and things he calls 'Daleks'. Besides he lives in a small tiny blue box out of town.  That can't be good for his health.”

"You have a point there," admitted Twilight who was now on her 20th book as she tossed another into the heaping pile next to her.

"What are you reading up on?" he inquired as he read the books titles. 'Ancient Ailments', '101 Things about Obscure Sicknesses', 'Super Naturals', the list went on, most of them were about illnesses but a few were psychology books and a few history texts.

"This guy, the new pony, something’s off about him," Twilight remarked, "He seems… well I don't really know how to say… ill at ease when I spoke to him." Spike gave her a confused look. "I don't know how else to explain it."

"Twilight your over reacting over something that really doesn't involve you.  Don't stress over it, I think he was just nervous," reasoned Spike. "Maybe he needs to talk to a guy to help him loosen up."

"Your right," said Twilight closing her book, "perhaps I'm being overly analytic." She helped Spike clean up the mess of books that she made. When it was five minutes before the party Twilight with Spike on her back left for Sugarcube Corner.

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

The grey stallion fixed his mane as he approached the gingerbread house, the lights were all off and there were sounds of shuffling that he could hear from behind the door. He could tell that something was going to happen when he opened the door. He was a bit late for the party that was meant for and he hoped the hostess didn't mind. Getting settled in had taken longer than expected, but he needed to be sure that everything was prepared. He sighed, here went nothing. He knocked on the door.  Sounds came from through the other side. What happened next he didn't expect at all.

He was greeted by blaring horns and colorful pops of confetti and streamers. He was pulled into the room by a strong hoof. The lights turned on and music began to play. The whole room was filled with merry singing from all sorts of ponies.

(To the tune of Happy Happy Birthday)

"Welcome Welcome Welcome!

To Ponyville my friend;

We threw this party for you

So we could just extend

Our gratefulness you came here

To our little town;

So go and have a lot of fun

we hope you stay around!"

There was a mixed applause and cheering led by a pink mare.

“SPEECH!” called a pony from the crowd. He could only see the pony for a few seconds but he was sure that the mare’s mane was a colorful spectrum of all the colors of a rainbow.

“Yeah! Speech!” called out another.

The silver stallion glanced around nervously; he obviously did not like to be the center of attention. The calls for a speech slowly grew into a chant from the crowd that was rapidly gaining tempo.

He just shook his head rapidly no.

“Okay guys, he doesn’t have to give a speech if he doesn't want to,” called out the purple mare he remembered as Twilight from earlier today. There were grumbling from the crowd, but the party soon went on and a happy buzz of chatter and laughing started. He walked over to the table avoiding all other ponies; he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the public party.

“Sorry about that, didn’t mean to put you on the spotlight,” apologized Twilight who now stood next to him.

He shrugged dismissively. Twilight realized that he was still carrying his saddlebags. Twilight wondered what could possibly be worth keeping in those bags with him all the time.

“We didn’t know your name so we just left it blank,” stated Twilight apologetically.

He looked to see what she was talking about. As it turned out there was a cake that was laid out next to the punch bowl and a stack of plates. The cake had just the words ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ but there was a big empty space in the white icing that was most likely intended for a name, more specifically his name. He noticed a small tube of decorative icing next to the cake that was left there by mistake, forgotten by its owner who had written the words on the cake beforehand. He smiled as he had a grand idea.

He picked up the small tube of icing in his mouth and stood over the cake. He carefully but artistically gently squeezed the icing between his teeth and wrote something on the cake. When satisfied he stood back and observed.

The finished product read, “Welcome to Ponyville, Silence Silvertongue,” the latter two words in finely stylistic cursive letters.

“Silence Silvertongue…” read Twilight out loud, “…is that your name?”

The now named silver stallion nodded his head in agreement.

“Well it’s nice to meet you Silence.” Twilight held out a hoof offering a hoof shake.

Silence didn’t shake. He just sighed and dug at the floor avoiding physical contact.

An awkward silence ensued. Both ponies listened to the Low rumbling of the party around them.

“I guess that explains why you’re quiet, your name being Silence and all,” said Twilight trying to drum up a conversation with him.

His mouth started to form a word but stopped. He looked like he wanted to speak but something was holding him back. He frowned in frustration. Twilight realized he wanted to talk but couldn’t bring himself to say words.

“I have an idea!” she suddenly exclaimed. “Wait here.”

And with that she jogged off into the party. When she returned she was levitating a notepad and quill.

“Just write what you want to say on this paper.”

He nodded and grabbed the quill in one hoof and began to scribble something down. When finished he handed it over for Twilight to see.

“Twilight, I want to thank you and your friends for throwing this party.” The hoofwriting on the paper was incredibly neat despite having been written by hoof and not by his magic. Twilight tried writing by hoof once and it didn't even look remotely legible.

“Oh it was nothing really,” dismissed Twilight handing the notepad back to Silence, “Glad we could arrange some way to talk. But why won’t you say anything?”

He thought for a moment then slowly wrote something out, he sighed. He showed the notepad to her.

“I can’t.”

“Are you too shy or what?”

He shook his head and wrote one word.

“Mute.”

Twilight looked over the word puzzled at first, and then it hit her. “Oh I’m terribly sorry! How could I have been so inconsiderate?”

More writing, “It’s okay I’m used to it by now. A terrible thing getting used to others taking pity on you, make one feel broken."

“I can’t imag-,” Twilight was cut short by Rainbow Dash who swooped into the conversation.  Literally.

"Hi I'm Rainbow Dash," introduced the pegasus loudly butting right in front of Twilight. "Hey there new friend, I got a present for you." she held up a box with a big red bow on top.

He took it and eyed it peculiarly. Rainbow stifled a snigger as Silence slowly opened the “present”. He removed the lid and hundreds of spring loaded fake snakes flew out. But since he had the lid facing Dash all of the snakes flew straight at the sky-blue pegasus. She let out a holler of surprise as the prank backfired on her.

Twilight just laughed; it was about time somepony had gotten Rainbow Dash back for all the pranks she pulls at parties. But Silence had an apologetic look on his face. He grabbed the notepad and quickly scribbled down something.

"Sorry."

"It’s alright," huffed Dash who was obviously distressed. She pulled a few snakes out of her hair and combed it down into her familiar multicolored bangs. "I guess I was asking for that to happen."

“Rainbow this here is Silence,” introduced Twilight.

Her silent companion gave a respectful nod of his head.

“What’s with the mime act?” joked Rainbow Dash.

Silence looked disheartened and shook his head as he walked away from the two, obviously insulted by the remark.

Twilight gave a murderous glare to her friend.

“Was it something I said?”

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

Not being much of a partier, he didn’t know what to expect at the welcome party but so far it wasn’t too bad. Many of the other ponies busied themselves with talking with their friends, but there was a game of pin the tail on the pony, a white unicorn DJ playing some sort of techno music that a group of ponies were dancing to, and an intense game of DDR between the one pony he came to know as Pinkie Pie and the apple farmer that he bought apples from that morning.

Silence took a red plastic cup from the stack and poured himself a drink from the purple punchbowl. He took a sip and immediately spat it out. There was the distinct taste of fermentation in the mix, somepony obviously spiked it. Across the room he could hear the captain weather pegasus break into hysterical laughter. Silence discarded the drink distastefully.

“I hate it when Rainbow does that- Oh my stars aren’t those saddle bags just divine?” asked a distinctly feminine voice behind Silence. He turned to see a bleach white unicorn inspecting his apparel. Her purple mane and tail were expertly curled in a fashionable way that radiated style and grace. The unicorn herself emanated raw beauty and upheld a certain magical glow about her. She would be a rather attractive catch for any eligible bachelor.

She smiled a beautiful smile, “The names Rarity, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She stood there waiting for a response.

Silence wanted to say something but he left the notepad over by the cake table. He’d curse his stupidity right now if he could vocalize.

“Oh, that’s right, Twilight said you were… mute,” she pulled out the notepad that he was writing on from before. Twilight must have given it to her. The front page was torn off and a fresh one was blank and awaited his writing. “Here you go.”

He took the pad and quill and composed a response.

“It is nice to make your acquaintance too Miss Rarity.”

“You are well mannered as well as handsome; I think we’ll get along fine,” said Rarity. “Now those saddle bags are quite nice, who designed it? Hoity Toity? You simply must tell me.” She looked intently at the bag taking in all of its details. The fashionista’s trained azure eyes looked over the bags. Upon closer inspection they were clearly hoof made and in such an intricate manner that suggested masterful practice with lots of time and effort were put into it.

More writing on the notepad, “I did.”

Rarity was appalled, “You are quite skilled. What is this made of? Dragon leather? And this embroidery, it shines with such radiance… what did you used to make it?”

Scribbles: “Golden Thread that I made myself, and then sewed it by hoof.”

“Impressive, I must say I am not acquainted with working with golden thread perhaps you could share a few pointers sometime.”

“Perhaps I will, though I haven’t been at work with needle and thread for a very long time.”

Rarity quickly read through his words. “That simply mustn’t do!” she exclaimed grandly, “Come by my boutique sometime in the near future. Talent like yours cannot be wasted.”

He wrote and flipped the notepad so that she could see. “I’ll see that it isn’t.”

“Um, excuse me um, Rarity,” said a small voice. It belonged to a butter coated pegasus who was trying to wedge past Rarity to get to some other part of the party.

“Oh hello Fluttershy, this here is Silence,” greeted Rarity introducing the two to each other.  She gave a suggestive nod towards the quiet grey stallion.

The pegasus smiled nervously, “…um, Hi.” A cute bashful blush reddened her face. She partly hid behind her unicorn friend.

He scratched a note. “Hello Fluttershy.”

Rarity smiled as she sidestepped to her right forcing her pegasus friend to stand up straight, and come out of hiding.

“Well, we should meet up again sometime and talk about this golden thread embroidery,” remarked Rarity, “until then Ciao!” The unicorn left Fluttershy with her newly acquainted stallion. Both gave nervous looks and smiles to each other.

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

“Two bits says Fluttershy is gonna bail in less than five minutes!” gambled Rainbow dash who poured another cup of the spiked punch from the bowl.

“Betting on Fluttershy’s bashfulness, really?” asked Applejack raising an eye brow, “What the hay, four bits and you’re on.”

“AJ!” retorted Twilight.

“What were just havin’ a bit o fun that’s all!”

“You’ve drank from the punchbowl didn’t you?”

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

“So um, Silence?” asked Fluttershy. The pair now sat at a table off to the side of the room away from all the other ponies.

He turned his full attention to her.

“Where are you from?”

He thought for a moment, “I come from a lot of places.”

"This wasn't going to be easy," Fluttershy thought to herself silently. Fluttershy looked over to where Rarity was standing. Rarity drew a smile on her face and signaled Fluttershy to do the same. Fluttershy smiled unnaturally big, stopped when she realized it made her look silly, which was followed by a sort of nervous coughing fit. This wasn't going well.

Silence wrote something else, "So what do you do for a living?"

"Oh I take care of animals. I'm like the town vet I suppose, but I used to have a career in fashion as a model," answered Fluttershy.

He wrote a reply, and then showed Fluttershy, “I can’t really strike me as much of the modeling type.” He suddenly jerked the notepad out and crossed out the last line and wrote, “Sorry.”

"Oh, it’s okay, I hated it. Photo Finish was always parading me around Equestria doing photo shoots and soon I had no time for my friends. The worst part was being followed by ponies I never knew who were taking pictures and judging you. It was so nerve racking. I guess fashion isn't for all of us." She looked at the saddlebags.

Silence picked up on the hint, "I'm not much of a fashion pony either," he wrote.

"What do you do then?" asked Fluttershy quizzically thinking she thought she had him figured as the fancy high-maintenance type.

"I do a lot of things. I usually pick up odd jobs here and there. It all depends on the crowd," He then turned the notebook back to himself and added more, “I've done jobs from fortune telling to being a Doctor in a psychiatric ward.”

"Oh my, that sounds adventurous," said Fluttershy. “What was your favorite job?”

Silence was lost deep in thought. "I'm not sure, I enjoyed a lot of them, met a lot of interesting ponies."

"Was there anypony special?" Fluttershy blurted out without thinking. She instantly regretted it. She saw Silence's countenance falter and his eyes waver a bit. To her it was obvious there was somepony special in Silences heart. "You don't have to answer, that was a bit too personal sorry," Fluttershy apologized quickly.

Fluttershy was crestfallen. This was the first stallion she talked too and he was already taken by some other mare. She wanted to scream and cry at the same time but all she could do was just stammer apologies. She was just starting to get to know him too.

He ripped off the page since he was running out of room. Silence just nodded his head. He glanced around, sighed heavily. "It’s okay. We can't be together anymore."

He tapped the bottom of the page as Fluttershy read. Where he pointed was a question. "What about you?"

"No, I'm single." She let out an audible sigh of relief because he wasn't upset with her. But she felt bad for him too; forbidden love must be so tough on him. She imagined it would be like having your self ripped in two. To want to be with her and to be constantly reminded of her making it impossible to let go or fill the gap she left. It must be endless torture.

"So what’s your story?"  He obviously didn't want to share about his past, but at least he was interested in Fluttershy’s life.

“What do you want to know?”

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

From across the room Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched the clock, "Aaaand time!" announced Applejack, "Pay up RD!"

Rainbow groaned and fumbled around as she paid a smirking Applejack the bits she owed her. Rainbow Dash took another swig from her punch glass.

“Double or notin’,” she hollered then she promptly passed out.

Twilight just rolled her eyes at her two friends.

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

Fluttershy and Silence stayed together for the rest of the night just talking. He would mostly ask questions and she would answer. Countless pages had been ripped out and the notepad that was once full of pages now dwindled down to just a few left.

"So Silence why do you have the saddle bags with you? I mean they're nice and all but why do you need them?"

"I was raised to pack lightly and travel all the essential items at all times," he wrote.

"What do you have in them?"

He thought for a moment and wrote, "Food, medicine, a book or two, and a puzzle box."

"A puzzle box?"

He reached into his bag and pulled out a small black box. On top was a picture of a golden-yellow dragon that was all scrambled up its body twisted and turned in intricate ways. Upon a closer look Fluttershy could see that the parts didn't connect at some points and twisted the wrong way in others. The picture was scrambled; each length of the dragon was fit onto a tile that could be shifted into the one open space adjacent to it.

"It's beautiful… where did you get it?"

"It was my father’s but he passed it on to me.”

"May I?" asked Fluttershy who picked up the box.

"Of course."

She slid a few tiles around. Most of them had a few chips in the paint and some tiles move more smoothly than others, leading Fluttershy to believe that he had probably spent a very long time rearranging the pieces. She had only been doing this for a few minutes and if there was any progress, it was impossible to tell.

“What do you think is inside?”

More scribbling, “I think there’s a message or something, a last piece of advice from father to son.”

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

Silence's and Fluttershy’s conversation went on for a while. Fluttershy told Silence a few of the many adventures that she had with her friends. Truth be told, both enjoyed each other’s company. Rarity insisted that Twilight and co. didn't disturb the two at the table, explaining that she’s trying to get Fluttershy to be comfortable with stallions. Much to Pinkies dismay because most of the other ponies at the party were leaving and she didn't have enough players for a game of Super-Pinkie-Twister.

Rainbow Dash collapsed in a corner sound asleep hugging an empty punch cup. Pinkie Pie drew a fake rainbow colored mustache on her face which would be a hilarious surprise when the pegasus wakes up. Twilight was talking to Rarity about romantic novels, and Applejack was busy trying to keep up with Pinkie Pie in an epic final match of DDR. All in all, the party was a success. When the clock struck 11 o'clock, the group of friends and their guest of honor were ready to leave.

"Well I'm just plum tuckered out, it’s time for me to hit the hay," yawned Applejack after being defeated by her pink friend. There were murmurs of agreement.

"Yeah it was a great party Pinkie, but Spike already went home two hours ago and I got lots of studying to do tomorrow."

"Well I guess this is goodbye," said Fluttershy to her new friend.

"No it is simply goodnight," wrote Silence rising as Fluttershy left the table.

"Oh he's such a gentlecolt," gushed Rarity to Twilight.

"So Silence, what do you think of good old' Ponyville?" asked Pinkie Pie who after 6 hours of partying was still bouncing about.

All the eyes were on Silence. He cleared his throat nervously, then wrote and displayed so all could see, “It’s nice." Public attention obviously wasn't his forte. “Thanks for inviting, and having me."

"Anytime Si' ," giggled Pinkie Pie who was proud of the nickname she had given him, " ’cause we couldn't have had the party without you."

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,” apologized Rainbow Sounding a bit like a certain mail-pony.

Their grey companion realized his saddlebags were missing; they had fallen off and onto the floor next to him, their contents sprawled out upon the floor. 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.

The mark in question was definitely different than what anypony else had seen before; it was just a black splotch on his side like someone had spilled an inkwell all over his flank, devoid of all color and shape.  It was unnatural and it radiated an aura of something darker than the color it was.

Silence did nothing but just closed his eyes and shook his head a little bit.

Fluttershy put a hoof on his shoulder, "It’s alright you’re amongst friends…" The stallion’s shoulders were as cold as ice and a distant memory skulked the recesses of her mind. There was a sudden bright flash of light that flooded her vision.

~~--------------~~

"Look who it is its Klutzershy!" jeered a colt. He and his friends sniggered, "the world’s worst flyer!"

"What’s the matter afraid of heights?!" taunted one. More laughing followed.

"Maybe her father could teach her a thing or two about being a pegasus. Oh wait! He's too busy with canoodling with little fillies!"

"Oh I heard there was more going on than just canoodling…" commented another.

“That’s not true!” Fluttershy chocked out, “Stop it!"

"Stop what? Were just stating the truth," mocked the first trying to imitate her voice.

"If anything you know it better than us," called out another.

"He probably just uses you and locks you in the basement!"

"He loves me!" Fluttershy cried tears forming in her eyes.

"Is that what he tells you before he 'messes around' with you?"

"You should just get out of Cloudsdale and bring your filly-fooling father with you!"

"Yeah we don't want you here so beat it you tramp!"

Fluttershy curled into a ball and tightly shut her eyes to try to block out the insults, and the wells of tears that were forming. She wouldn’t cry in front of them; that would be the end of everything. She just wished they would leave her alone. That they would just disappear. She could not cry. Not here. Not now.

~~--------------~~

Fluttershy withdrew her hoof from Silence and shuddered. Her eyes started to water. A small whimper escaped her lips. She slowly backed away from the silvery unicorn unsure about what had just unfolded.

Silence went stiff. He looked winded like somepony had bucked him right in the gut. His eyes looked panicked, frantically darting around assessing the situation around him like a cornered beast.

"What did you do?" demanded Twilight who worried for her frightened friend’s safety.

Silence picked up his saddlebags and composed himself taking in a deep breath and releasing a sigh. He scratched one last note for the friends. He walked over to the door, dropped the notepad, and continued out the door into the cool night.

When he left the girls all read the final note. Each more confused by his memento than before having done so.

"Forget me."

Fluttershy with a trembling hoof picked up the puzzle box that was lying on the floor. It must have fallen out of the saddlebags and Silence didn't notice. She slid a few tiles around. The soft clicking of the tiles filled the room. With the puzzle box, she quickly left for her home.

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

Chapter 3: Troubled Sleep

Fluttershy was still a bit tired and a nap would work wonders for her but she was rather hungry.  She looked at the clock.  It read 11:27.  She had stayed all night and half of the day in bed she hoped that the animals didn’t mind her absence, she had prepared for them to already have their meals for today in case an incident happened at the party.  An incident had in fact happened at the party.

Her trail of thought was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.  It was a soft sort of knock so that ruled out Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Twilight never really left her house on days following parties, Rarity was already here, and Pinkie Pie usually announced her visit vocally, so who could it be at the door?

The knock came again.

“Coming,” she called out.

When she opened the door there on the doorstep was Silence Silvertongue.

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

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.