Silence Unbroken

Silence Unbroken Chapter 5: Speechless

By: Midway Bridge

Fitting Music: Dearly Beloved

Silence shaved off a piece of wood from the half finished chair and blew off all of the sawdust from the arm sending the small shavings into the air.  Silence liked capentry, it was an artform that required time, patience, and delicate care.  Silence had all of these things, but time was something that he had an overabundance of.

He usually spent most of his time learning new things.  Silence would often borrow books from Mr. Loosebindings, the Travelers makeshift book keeper who made a living buying and selling books as well as repairing damaged ones.  Silence would read about history and books by famous writers like Shakespony.  He would even teach himself how to read books in different languages.

When Silence wasn't reading a book he would constantly bug the other members of the Travelers to teach him how to do their job.  He could do all sorts of things, painting, smithing, cloting making, and various performing arts like firebreathing, but his favorite aquired craft was still carpentry.  His freind Mahogany taught most of what he knew when it came to working with wood.  He was no expert like her but, he could make various things on his own.

“Your carpentry hasn’t improved much,” joked Mahogany as she entered Silence's tent. “You making a wheel?”

“You’d think a carpenter would recognize a chair when she sees one...” muttered Silence angrily.  He set the chisel down and faced his friend.  He knew she was joking but he was particulary sensitive to others critisism, after all he grew up with a speech impediment and everypony was always barking things like, "Speak clearly!" "Get on with it!" and Silence's least favorite, "Spit it out!

“I’m just teasing, no need to get all defensive,” retorted Mahogany raising her hooves as if to block the anger. “That’s a sturdy design I guess. A bit too fancy for my tastes, even if most of the time the pretty things sell well.”

“I’m not selling this one when it’s done. I’m making this chair for me.” Silence stepped back admiring his work. It was half completed, but Silence was beginning to see that the chair was starting to shape into what he envisioned.

"Soooooo... we're staying here for two weeks," said Mahogany. "That's something new and exciting I guess."

"Kind of," said Silence, "I mean it's only two weeks, what could possibly happen in two weeks?"

"A lot can happen in two weeks, we could be halfway across the country in two weeks."

"True."  There was a pause.

“Are you excited to go to Ponyville?” asked Mahogany suddenly.

“Very, once they finish setting up the tents and stuff, and we make enough things to sell, we could go to town together,” offered Silence.

“You know it only takes a few ponies to set up the tents, I could finish up the work here by myself if you want to sneak out early,” suggested Mahogany with a wink.

“Are you sure?” questioned Silence. He didn’t particularly want to leave all of the work to his friend.

“Go on, get your blank flank out of here, I’ll cover for you.  They won't even know that your gone.”

“Thanks, you’ve always been a good friend.” Silence got up and headed to the back of the tent.

“And don’t you forget it!” Mahogany called as he checked outside to make sure nopony was watching.

Silence slipped out of the tent.

"Don't you ever forget it."

-========-

Silence happily walked through the streets of Ponyville. There were so many sights to see and Silence, for once, had time to see them. He was bombarded with sights and sounds and places he wanted to be, he couldn’t decide what he wanted to do first with his free time. His dad had given silence most of the week off of work.

All of the ponies in Ponyville were giving him friendly smiles and warm greetings. This was one of the most hospitable places in the entire world, in some towns Silence and the rest of the Travelers were met with much colder receptions before, sometimes they were even driven out. His dad was right; there was something special about this place, perhaps even magical.

"Hey you there!" called out a voice. Silence swerved around to see who it belonged to. A stallion that looked slightly older but was much leaner and less toned approached him. He was an earth pony who was yellow coated and had a messy carrot top mane that he covered with a pink and white bakers cap. He smiled brightly with a slight under bite. His face was freckled and he had nice emerald eyes. He had a tray of cupcakes mounted on one of his hoofs."Can you try one of these?"

"Sure." Silence concentrated his attention on the pastry. He focused his mind to call upon the magic inside of him. Silences horn gave a sudden burst of white light as it was set aglow with magic. The cupcake followed suit as it slowly but steadily rose off of the tray and over towards him. Yes it actually worked! Silence did a mental cheer in his head he usually messed this spell up. He celebrated too soon; he broke his concentration releasing the small pastry from his magical grasp and sent it plummeting unto the ground with a splat.

Silence smiled with embarrassment, "sorry been working on that."

"No worries I have plenty," the baker said offering another

Silence picked up a cupcake in his hoof this time knowing that he'd most likely drop another if he tried magic again.

He bit into it. For being a pony who didn't like sweets the cupcake had tasted quite good; too much icing on top of it in Silence’s opinion, but good a good pastry none the less.

"Do you like it?" asked the Baker.

Silence nodded his mouth still full with the cupcake. He swallowed and couldn’t help a toothy grin.

"Hey you must be new!" the yellow stallion announced.

"Yeah my caravan is staying just out of town," Silence answered.

"Welcome to Ponyville then! My name's Carrot Cake."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Cake."

"Please," said the baker with a chuckle, "just call me Carrot."

"My name is Silence Silvertongue of the Travelers son of Augur and Olive."  Silence did a slight bow and raised his right hoof slightly off of the ground, a traditional greeting that Augur taught Silence to do when introducing himself.

Carrot raised his eyebrow at the formal greeting, "your folk ain't from around here right?"

"That's right, how could you tell?" Silence returned to his normal standing pose.

"The whole old fashioned greeting thing has been outdated since my father was a colt."

"Oh. I guess customs change over the years," Silence denoted with slight embarrassment. "I think I went a bit over the top."

"Don't worry 'bout it," laughed Carrot. "The ponies 'round here don't mind those sort of things." He dropped the tray in a nearby table."So what brings a nice guy like you to our humble town?"

"The thrill of adventure I suppose, the caravan would say otherwise though."

"What would they say?"

"Trade. Knowledge. Goods. Those sorts of things," listed Silence, “anything to make an extra coin here and there.”

"Well I have to get going, there’s a marefriend who is waiting for me at home can’t keep her waiting for too long; a sturdy guy such as yourself must know what that’s like.”

“Actually I don’t,” admitted Silence. He never really had a chance to develop an intimate relationship with any mare. The closest would be Mahogany but she’s just a good friend, nothing more. Both he and Mahogany decided it would be best if they didn’t go down that path in case something went wrong they still wanted to be just friends.  “Never had time for that sort of thing.”

“Well when it happens it happens, it’ll get everyone eventually.”

“That’s what they say about cutie marks, but I’m still waiting for mine,” remarked Silence.

Carrot looked at Silences flank and sure enough there was no cutie mark there. “How old are you?”

“Eighteen,” replied Silence.

“Wow that’s practically unheard of, eighteen and still no cutie mark,” said Carrot who had a cutie mark of three carrot cakes. “Can’t imagine what its like.”

“Nah I’m used to it,” Silence said. “I’ve always been a late bloomer; late to speak, late to walk, late to develop magic, but they all came to me eventually. I half expect my cutie mark to appear after I turn twenty.”

“I bet you that it might come sooner than you think. There’s no better place in the world to discover your talent than in Ponyville,” said the baker. “I have to get going, the cakes aren’t going to bake themselves.”  He picked up the tray of cupcakes before leaving.

“Perhaps I’ll see you later then?” asked Silence.

“Most definitely,” Carrot Cake replied walking down the street. He began to whistle a merry tune as he left.

“Charming fellow,” murmured Silence to himself watching the baker turn the corner. Silence wondered if all of the ponies in Ponyville, or even Equestria were this nice. He resumed his leisurely stroll though the town. It was a nice place, the buildings basic but strong architecture that suggested that it was founded by Earth ponies, most of them were all uniformly made and colored but there were a few buildings that stuck out. In to the center of the town was a large tower-like structure that was most likely the town center. Then off to the side of the town was a rather nice looking boutique, but the building that stuck out the most was a large tree-home.

Fascinated by the large wooden monolith Silence gradually drew closer to the strange structure. He looked at it closely inspecting the tree. Next to the door was a sign with an open book on it; a near universal sign of a library. Silence opened the door and walked in. The whole inside of the building was carved out; leaving a rather spacious interior that was lined with all sorts of colorfully bound books. The leaves on the branches told him that the tree was still alive, but with the whole inside missing, the tree should be dead. The tree must have some sort of enchantment or magical property that kept the tree alive and growing despite being hollowed out.

“Amazing, simply amazing,” gasped Silence in awe as he walked in. He walked about the shelves and looked at the titles of the books; there were books on History, herbology, musical theory, and magic. Magic, a subject that Silence had little resources in studying, was something that he really wanted to look up on as the travelers didn’t have any books on it. Maybe he could find out why he’s so bad at using his magic, or even better improve his abilities. Silence stopped on the small brown book titled "Magic a Basic Guide for Unicorns in Need." Silence picked up the small text and opened to the first page.

“Chapter 1: Magic, an Introduction,” he read aloud to himself, “Magic is an innate ability that is gifted to all ponies. While Earth ponies and pegasai have their magic aligned to their domains of sky and ground, unicorns have the ability to use their horns to manipulate the world around them. This is known as ‘practical magic.’” Silence sat down in a nearby chair before reading on. “Magic is a force that surrounds all living creatures in fields known as Magical Planes. Some species like unicorns that generate forms of magical energy, can tap into the Magical Planes in various ways depending on their skill level. The use of Magic by unicorns takes their magical energy and converts it from the Magical Planes into what we view as reality.”

Silence stopped reading, “something tells me this isn’t a basics guide,” he said talking to no one in particular. He decided he’d check the book out of the library. Silence took a look around the room and realized that no one was here, not even a librarian. He noticed a stairwell leading up, “maybe there’s somepony upstairs…”

Silence walked up the stairs quietly holding the book in his mouth. “With this I’ll never have to taste books again,” he thought to himself.

At the top of the staircase was a door that was left slightly ajar. Silence nudged it open and walked into the room. When he closed the door it made a small creaking sound.

“Hello?”

"Eeep!" squeaked a frightened voice.

Crack! Silence felt a sudden pain strike him on his head. He fell to the floor in a daze. His ears were ringing loudly.

"Oh my goodness I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

"Ugh," Silence rubbed his head. His eyesight was all hazy making it hard to see who was talking. "Yeah I'll be fine."

"I'm so sorry you startled me, and I dropped a book and it well... I’m so sorry..."

"No it’s my fault really, I didn’t  knock," he said, "I would like to-"

Silence looked up and his eyes met hers. She had beautiful sapphire blue eyes that sparkled and radiated like gemstones. Her coat was a deep shade of yellow that seemed to sparkle like the morning sunlight. Her mane was a blazing red that flowed down to her shoulders that was only parted around her horn.

From the first time he laid his eyes on her he felt an unknown feeling. He felt a strange sensation in his chest that caused his heart to race, rapidly increasing its pounding tempo. He felt rushed when he had all the time in the world. He felt anxious when there was no reason to be. She was the perfect match for him; a smile for his frown; a golden sun to his silver moon. He would be anything for her. Do anything for her. Be her shield, her friend, her lover. For the first time in his life it wasn’t an impediment that left him speechless.

He wanted to say something but one thousand words wanted to come out at once he couldn’t decide what to say. "I do not have a speech impediment. I can speak clearly and can dictate my words with precision and accuracy," Silence recited in his head hoping the words would calm down his racing thoughts, but it was to no avail.

“What’s your name?” she asked innocently. She helped lift him up off of the ground and brushed him off.

He was still struck by her beauty making it hard for him to find his voice.  He swallowed. "…Si-Silence," he stammered.

"My names Page," She said, "You don't look to good, are you sure your okay?"

"Mmm-hmm, I feel fine. Great really." He really did, minus the bump to his head

Page levitated a book from the ground. It was a thick textbook that looked rather heavy, but she lifted it without a problem. Silence doubted he could do that. Why was his magic so much weaker than every other unicorn he met?

"Nopony usually visits the library, much less check out a book. That's why I was so surprised when you walked in," explained Page as she shelved the book in its proper place. "It's sad really. I'm the only one who reads these books."

"I'd like to check out one."

"Really?!" she exclaimed suddenly her face was all smiles. "I'll get the catalog."

She led Silence downstairs. She walked over to a shelf and pulled out a huge book that Silence assumed was the catalog. She blew over the cover sending dust into the air. She opened it to a blank page; the third page to be exact. She wasn’t kidding when she said that nopony checked out any books.

“Here we are,” she announced, “just sign your name, and the book’s title.” She handed him a quill and ink.

He quickly penned his name and the book.

”Perfect!” she exclaimed, “now if you’re interested in other magic texts might I recommend…”

Silence wasn’t exactly paying attention to what she was saying but she looked so happy to talk about her books. Her blue eyes glistened with a thrill of life that Silence had hardly seen in the many ponies that he met.

“-so what do you think?” She looked at him with her ocean blue eyes awaiting an answer.

“Oh. S-sorry I kind of spaced out there, can you repeat the question?”

“Um, sure. You spaced out…” She looked crestfallen.  She withdrew back behind her mane, hiding her face.

“Don’t take it that way it’s just you seemed so happy earlier, and I couldn’t help but notice that you look so beautiful when you’re exited,” Silence blurted out without thinking.  Silence had to resist the urge to facehoof himself, he just messed up really badly.  "I blew it!" he thought.  He tried to think of ways to recover but he drew a blank.

“I do?” She had a sweet blush redden across her face. She dropped her gaze from silence avoiding eye contact. She had a nervous smile, and twirled her crimson mane around.

He could still bring this back around. “That was a bit too forward wasn't it?"

"Yes, well no, um." she was at a loss for words.  Silence couldn't count all of the times he felt that way. "I took it as a compliment. It was really sweet." She smiled endearingly.

Safe.

He let out a sigh of relief.  He didn't realize he was holding his breath.  "Thanks." Silence returned the smile. He wondered if she felt the same way for him that he did for her. Here he was, falling head over hooves for a complete stranger, a kind of story that you only read about in a romance novel. He looked at the clock in the room.  Could it already be that late?  He should leave but he didn't want to go."I have to get going."

"Goodbye Silence!"

"Goodbye Page."

"Oh! Don't forget your book."

Both of their hooves reached for the book.  When they touched, Silence felt a strange woozy sensation overtake him, followed shortly after with a sharp pain centered on his head. He felt a disturbance, and a surge of magical energy overtake him.

-========-

A small yellow filly who was busy reading a book on her bed giggling as she did so.

“Page!” called a voice from a different room.

“Coming mother!”  The little yellow filly put the book down and galloped out of the room at top speed racing towards her mother.

"There's my special daughter, what kind of adventures were you on today?"

"I sailed across the seven seas with Sunbad the Pirate finding secret treasure!" The young filly acted out a sword fighting pose. "Then we fought our way out of an ambush of evil pirates." She slashed her imaginary rapier through the air. "Then we returned to Sunset Isle to fight the- woah!" the filly slipped and fell down.

Her mother laughed and Page joined in.  The two shared a loving hug.

"I love you mother," Whispered Page.

"I love you too." Her mother whispered back.

-========-

"You okay?" asked a voice, "you kind of spaced out there."

Silence found himself back in the library.  He rubbed his head, the sharp pain was dissapating as fast as it came.

"What the heck just happened?" He looked at Page and she seemed to not be bothered by anything in particular apart from the concern she had for him.  Silence shook his head a few times attempting to clear up his thoughts. "Yeah I'm fine just a… dizzy spell.  Must be the book you dropped."

She had an apologetic look on her face.  "Okay then, the books due in a week. I hope you enjoy it, that book helped me a lot with understanding magic."  She carried on as if nothing had happened.  Had nothing happened?

"I'll see you again?" said Silence phrasing it as more of a question.

"Yeah I hope to see you soon, it would be...nice." She smiled.

"Untill then." Silence took his leave.

Silence left the room pondering what had just happened. What a strange feeling and that vision... was it in the past? It wasn't in his past, but was it hers? Silence left for the camp; he was done exploring and adventuring for one day. There was something beyond what was normal. Was it magic? If it was perhaps the book that he checked out would hold some answers to his questions...

When Silence arrived at the Travelers camp everypony was done setting up for a two week stay and each was busy preparing for their first venture into the town. Silence located his family's tent and stepped in through the draped door.

"There he is!" called out Augur as he noticed his son walk into the home. "We've been worried about you!"

"Where the hay have you been?!" demanded Olive.

"In town."

"What were you doing?"

"I don't think that's the right question," said Augur taking a step back. "We should be asking where did you get your cutie mark!?"  He pointed a hoof at Silence’s flank.

"My what?"

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

Silences eyes shot open. Twilight reared back falling over and onto the floor. Silence flicked on the lights. His mouth curved down into a snarl. He angrily scratched a note into the paper.

"Why did you do that?  Why would you do this to me?"

"Do what?"

"You know what you did!  Do you enjoy causing me pain and suffering?"

"No I just want to understand what's happening to you and what happened to Fluttershy."

"You would never understand." Silences expression softened a bit when she read the words, he realized they were a bit more hurtful than what he intended. "What did you see?"

"I-I don't know."

"Tell me."

"You were in Ponyville, but you weren't you, you were different, younger..." said Twilight, "...and you could speak!"

He sighed. "A lifetime ago I could speak my mind, but I speak no more."

"Why can't you speak?"

"Speech is something that shouldn’t be cast aside lightly. I know that now."

"You took away your own voice?!" she asked.

"In a fashion." The pen strokes were slightly lighter this time. "I must ask you to leave now.”

"What? Why? I have so many questions and the doctors say that you should be watched over."

"I don't care what they say, you know not what you have just set in motion.  Now I politely ask you to GET. OUT."  His words were barely visible in the low lighting of Silences bedroom.

"I'm not leaving and you can't make me."

Silence tried to write something down but his pen ran out of ink. His eyes twitched in frustration.  He was cut off of his way with communicating with her.  He checked his nightstand to see if there were any pens quills or anything else to write with.  Finding nothing, Silence left the room and briskly trotted down the stairs.  Twilight followed behind him a few moments later.  She found him rummaging through his saddlebags he pulled out a small black book.  Curious, Twilight looked for a title but there was none to be found.  She opened it to the first page but Silences hoof quickly closed it before she could read its contents.  He gave her a death glare his stormy gray eyes staring intently at her.

"Sorry, I won't touch anything, I promise." Twilight gave a halfhearted smile.

Silence resumed his search but would constantly glance to see what Twilight was doing keeping a close watch on her.  His long search proved fruitful as his brandished a nice looking fountain pen.

"Please, don't look though my personal affects.  Some of these things hold a certain sentimental value."

"What's in this book?"

"Nothing you need to see."

"Argh! You're so difficult to work with, there's no way I can help you if you don't let me know what troubles you."

"You think you want to know what troubles me; but to know is to be encumbered with an unnecessary burden.  One that you are not fit to carry.  You just wouldn't understand."

"How could you know that? You've only just met me two days ago? I could understand if you just tell me."

"No."

"You're more stubborn than Applejack!" exasperated Twilight,  "What could possibly be so bad?"

"Twilight, I am a wicked stallion. I have caused pain and suffering in my life. You come here and care for me, not knowing that you are caring for a ghost; a mere shadow of the one I used to be. Leave me be, even a talented unicorn such as yourself cannot mend a broken heart."

"Silence, you’re not a bad pony," she said, "I've seen a part of your past and you were the sweetest guy. I'm sure Page thought so too."

A look of pain crossed Silences face. "You speak as if you know her."

"If you didn't return to Ponyville I never would have. I met her through your eyes and memories."

Silence wrote nothing.  His ear began to twitch. His eyes grew distant and begun to glaze over.

"Silence are you alright?"

"I need," he paused, "my medication.  Do.  Not.  Touch.  Anything." he tapped the words then underlined each to emphasize them.

"You have my word."

Silence walked over to the cellar door. He pulled out a key ring and slid a small key into the doorknob unlocking it. He lit a candle and walked down, his hoof steps making loud creaking noises on the old steps. He disappeared from view then did the candles glow. Twilight had a nagging feeling to follow him but she gave him her word that she would stay put. She glanced over at the small black book.  It was practically beckoning her to come over and read it. She resisted the temptation, she was already close to not being trusted by Silence, and losing a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend.

Twilights ears perked up as she heard Silence returning from the cellar. He closed the door and locked it behind him. Along with the candle he was caring a small closed vial of clear liquid. He blew out the candle and placed it down. He grabbed the pen and notepad.

"I'm going to take this and then go directly to bed. You should do the same, long nights will make one weary come tomorrow."

"Goodnight then."

"Goodnight." Silence grabbed his bags with the black book in them and walked upstairs. He closed the door and Twilight could hear the soft click of the lock. He wouldn’t risk being disturbed again.

Twilight stared at the painting of Miss Readheart that was hung over the fireplace. She looked so thoughtful and serene. In the bottom right corner of the painting was a familiar signature. "For Page, Silence Silvertongue." The only thing different was that the "i" in silence was dotted with a small heart.

"He loved her..." Twilight's thoughts trailed off, "...but where is she?"

-========-

Chapter 6: The Cursed Gift

"Hmm…" he was lost deep in thought.

"What is it Augur?" asked Olive.

"I never expected this to happen, least of all to you Silence," said Augur.

"I don't understand." Silence tried to wrap his mind around everything.

"When you touched this mare did you see a vision of the past?"

"Yes, well I think I did."

"Argur it has begun."

"You're right."

"Can somepony explain to me whats happening to me?"  Silence was a bit frightened now.  What had he done? Why was this happening to him?

"Silence you have been born with a gift, a very special gift that runs in my family for many many generations." He sighed, "Silence you're a Remembrancer."

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

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.