Silence Unbroken

Silence Unbroken Chapter 8: The Festival of Flames

By: Midway Bridge

Pinkie Pie, like on most days, had not a worry in the world.  Sure she had responsibilities to watch after Pumpkin and Pound Cake, but it was also quite fun on most days.  And today was a successful day indeed.  She had entertained the two while keeping the room spotless.  Well… mostly spotless.  There was a bit of a mess made on the floor from the toys sprawled carelessly across the room, but other than that there was nothing that required anything short of a mop and a bucket of water.  The twins now lay in their bed taking their midday nap.  Pound and Carrot mumbled and cooed in their sleep as the pink mare stooped over their crib.

"You did good today Pinkie," she told herself quietly as to not disturb their sleep, "you did real good."

There was a bell ringing down stairs signaling somepony had walked into the store.  Pinkie found this to be odd as the sign out front said that the store was closed. She walked downstairs to investigate who could possibly be here right now.

"Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, but I'm sorry you're going to have to leave now because we're open today," she called out to whomever walked in.

"Pinkie, you can't ask us to leave our own bakery," said a voice that Pinkie instantly recognized as Mrs. Cake's.

"Oh!  Hi Mr. and Mrs. Cake you're back early!  How did the baker’s convention go?"

"Quite splendidly actually, our multi-flavored rainbow cakes were a big hit and won second prize," said Mr. Cake brandishing a big red ribbon with a number two on it.

"And since it ran short," continued Mrs. Cake, "we decided it would be best to come home a bit earlier than usual as a sort of surprise.  Were the twins good?"

"Yeseroo!  They were a synch!  Or was it a piece of cake? Oh I could go for some cake right now since I didn't eat lunch yet. but not a big cake more like a small cupcake.  Oh even better!  What if we have a cupcake without icing?  That would be the bestest thing ever.  It'll be a bald cupcake!  What do you think?"

"Wouldn't that make it a muffin?"  Asked Mrs. Cake with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh yeah," giggled Pinkie.  "Too bad you missed my big party for this new guy in town it was spectacular."

"It seems as if every party you throw is great.  Did he enjoy it?" asked Mrs. Cake. It wasn't a question really, almost anypony loved Pinkie's parties.

"I don't know which is a bit of a doozy.  He was great but awfully quiet.  I guess that’s because his name was Silence; he’s not much of a talker."

"Hold the thought, Silence as in Silvertongue!?" exclaimed Mr. Cake.

"Do you know him?" asked Pinkie wondering when he could have possibly met him before.

"That name brings me way back down memory lane," reminisced Mr. Cake.

"I don't know where that is, would it be near Mane Street or in a different town?" asked Pinkie Pie naively.

Carrot ignored the comment; to him she was just being Pinkie Pie. "It's been what fifteen years?"

"Sixteen actually," corrected Mrs. Cake.

"Right.  Before we were married.  The whole town was abuzz since a trade caravan arrived and everyponys business was booming.  The best part is that the caravan came right before the Festival of Flames started and they agreed to help us host it."

"How does than involve Silence?"

"Well, Silence isn't from around here; he was from the trade caravan that stopped in.  Quite a spirited fellow he was, always off romanticizing.  In fact Silence was the one who helped convince me to tie the knot with the Mrs."

"Was it a square knot or an overhoof knot?"

"It's a figure of speech Pinkie," sighed Mr. Cake.  He was used to things like that blowing right over her head.

"Right.  'kay." She sat down expectantly for a long winded story.

Mr. Cake knew she would wait there until he shared one.  She actually waited an entire day sitting perfectly still waiting.  He wasn't sure how she did it, but she is Pinkie Pie after all and much stranger things seem to happen when she is involved.   Mr. Cake cleared his throat. "So anyways fifteen-"

"Sixteen," interrupted Mrs. Cake who was now in a different room but still listening in on the conversation.

"-fifteen or sixteen years ago..."

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

"Just think about it Carrot, Cup Cake is just a perfect name."  She wove her hoof through the air as if reading off an imaginary banner with her name plastered on it.

"Yeah it does have a nice ring to it," admitted Carrot who was busy slowly shaving the remnants of a 4 o'clock shadow.  His eyes were completely focused on the task at hand, rendering him completely unaware to his marefriends exasperated sigh as she sank down beneath the covers again.

She'd been subtly pushing Carrot to ask her hoof in marriage, but now she was unsure if he was just oblivious or if he was having second thoughts about their relationship.  She was beginning to think it was a bit of both.   They basically were married in a sense.  They lived in the same house, and even slept in the same bed.  The only thing their relationship lacked was the official label.

There was a sudden knock at the door.  Cup looked at the clock.  It read quarter of 5 in the morning.  Who in Equestria would be here 2 hours before opening time?    Bakers usually got up earlier than most ponies did so they could provide fresh products before the store opened but any earlier than that was practically murder for them.  It was bad enough that Carrot woke her up, now she won't be able to go back to sleep.  She prayed to Celestia whomever was at the door would just go away.

The knocking persisted, and it was much louder this time.  She groaned and rolled out of bed.  Quickly fixing her mane and shuffling to the door Cup opened the front door.

"Can I help you?" she asked stifling a yawn.  Despite all of her urges to tell them off until business hours.

"Hi Cup," said the visitor.  It was the towns librarian, Page Readheart, a personal friend of the baker.  "Sorry to bother you so early, but I figured bakers were already up at these early hours of the day."

"Oh I don't mind, friends are always welcome here, come in," yawned Mrs. Cake she would have sounded more enthusiastic about it if she wasn't thinking about sleep right now.  "Could I offer you some… coffee?"  Coffee sounded good right now to her.

"No thanks," said Page.  "I had tea at my house."  No way she had tea already unless she was up much earlier than Cup.  In reality Page didn't sleep at all yet it barely showed in her face.

"Suit yourself." Cup poured herself a full mug of coffee all the way to the rim.  Perhaps she'll have two cups this morning.  It already felt like a two cup morning and it wasn't even past 6 yet.  The two friends sat down at the kitchen counter.  "What can I do for you?"

"How do you know if you like somepony else?  I met this stallion, and he was real sweet."

The bakers ears perked up this was a first for Page; she never expressed interest in dating before.  "Was he cute?" asked Cup intrigued with the news.

"He was strongly built," Page explained. "And he had a rugged look about him, but he upheld an old timey dignity about him that I suppose that would attract most mares."

"Most mares?  What about you?"

"Well, I do find is physical appearance appealing to say the least but, it's his personality that's so wonderful about him.”  Page said dreamily.  “He's shy at times but he is approachable and a real charmer."

"Sounds too good to be true,"

"I thought so too, but get this: he likes to read books and learn new things.  He seems genuinely interested in me."

"That's always important, I had to practically drag Carrot with me to get anywhere with him."

"Well in my defense I was just being precautious," said Carrot Cake as he arrived on the scene.  "What are you two mares gossiping about now at this early in the morning?"

"Page got a coltfriend," Cup said in a teasing manner.

"I do not!" huffed Page.  "He's just a friend that I met."

"What's his name?"

"Silence."

"I’ll be. I don't believe it," said Carrot in disbelief.  "It was just the other day when I met him and told him about getting a marefriend.  By Celestia he moves fast."

"I can think of somepony who doesn't," snorted Cup in amusement Playfully nudging her coltfreind.

"I'm going to ignore that last comment," said Carrot.  "Anyways he seemed like a nice guy and he's lucky to have met a wonderful mare such as you."

"How flattering."

Cup couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous at that moment, but she suppressed it.  After all, stallions don't always think before they speak.  "Carrot dear could you bring me more coffee?"  She passed her empty mug over to him.

"Sure sugar."  He refilled the mug and passed it back.  The brown liquid's aroma alone was simply strong enough to wake her up.

"So is he going to ask you out on a date or are you going to have to ask him like I did?"

Carrot rolled his eyes at his mare friend; she always tried to make him feel bad about not asking her out first by bringing it up as often as she could.

"Well," Page said with a tired sigh she was beginning to regret not having that cup of coffee, "we are going to the Festival of Flames tonight."

"Oooh how romantic, I hear there'll be even more fun this year since that one group of merchants came to town.  I've even caught wind of a firework display that they've decided to show to commemorate the occasion."

"Yes it will be rather exciting…" Page trailed off.  She started to twiddle with her red mane a bit; something she did when she was in thought.

"What's on your mind?"

"It's just that I've never really gotten to know him or vise versa.  It doesn't right to be going out on this 'date' with him this early."

"Just do what your heart tells you to and you'll never go wrong." She eyed up her male companion who was now sitting aside her.   "Most of the time."

"I love you too," said Carrot with playful sarcasm.  He kissed her on the cheek before rising from the chair.  "Well I've got to start on the desserts for tonight if we can sell all of them before 9:00 we can make our own carnival memories."

Pages eyes wandered over to a clock.  "Oh shoot!" she exclaimed, "The library opens in fifteen minutes.  Bye!  Thanks for the chat!"

"Good luck!" called Cup before the librarian galloped through the front door.  When she was sure Page left she slumped down in her chair.  "Who in Equestria opens a library at 5:30 in the morning?"

"More coffee?" asked Carrot holding the coffee pot in front of her nose.

Cup eyed her near empty mug; she had practically drained it's contents already. "Definitely."

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

Fitting Music: Warm Summer Nights

Silence walked to the Ponyville library.  It was almost sundown and Silence was getting into a giddy excitement about the whole festival and his plans for tonight.  Silence was technically supposed to help the others with setting up the wagons to do trade, but Augur got him a free pass for the day to do what he wanted.

Silence looked in the window of the tree library, the lights were all out leaving it dark and empty save for the shelves of books whose silhouettes could barely be seen.  Silence walked around to see if Page had just closed up and he could catch her before she went home. When he did there wasn't any sign of her, however, on the door was a note that read:

"Library closed early for festival.  Anypony with book emergencies see me at my house across the street.

-Page."

So Page definitely wasn't here after all.  "Did I already miss my opportunity?"  Silence thought to himself.  He hoped not.

"Hey Silence," called a familiar voice.  The grey stallion turned to see Carrot Cake approaching him.  "You’re looking sharp today."

"Thanks." Silence had decided to wear a three piece black pinstripe suit today for the festival along with gelling back his mane to give him a more gentlecolt-like appearance.  He wore a gold pocket watch mostly for show since the actual timepiece was broken and showed the right time twice a day.  "How are preparations for tonight?  I hear you'll be catering for the festivities."

"The preparations for the festival are almost complete but what needs to be done is now a bit of a personal matter."

"Oh?  What might that be? If you don't mind sharing that is." Silence realized that he barely knew the guy yet he already considered him a friend.

"Well I've been mulling over the thought of marring Cup, my marefriend.  But I'm unsure if she'll say yes.  I was thinking about proposing to her tonight but I need a ring, something nice but not too expensive.”

"Well I know a very fine jewel cutter who has a very wide assortment of diamonds that could be set into a band.  He would probably give you a discount if you tell him I sent you."

"That would be mighty kind of you, but I'm not sure if a proposal tonight would be appropriate timing."

"Well I think I would be wonderful if you asked her to be your wife today. Of all the days a festival would be perfect, you can have a great time at the fairs games and then take her away on the dance floor.  Then have a romantic dinner with a musician, rose petals, fine wine and a dimly lit setting for the mood.  Then walk up on a grassy hill and watch the fireworks burst in the sky.  Then before the grand finale you ask her the question in the pale moonlight, she'd say yes without a doubt and you'll have one of the best proposal stories to share."

"Wow you are quite the envisioning type.  I had something a little less… romantic planned but that sounds much better than anything I could come up with," Carrot admitted.

"I think of myself as a hopeless romantic.  I can dream of it, but it never comes to reality for me."

"That's not what I hear; word is that you and Page are getting together."

"Gossip travels fast in small towns I suppose." Silence wanted to keep it on the down low since he didn’t really know anyone else in the town or what Page thought of the matter.

"Nah, she told me herself.  She's been a lifelong friend of Cup's since grade school.  Stopped over at our place this morning for a quick chat."

"Oh." Perhaps she didn't seem to care what the town thought.  "I'm supposed to be meeting her here, but it seems that she closed early for the festivities.  She didn't seem to tell me about it."

"She's probably nervous that’s all.  Or she forgot.  Probably forgot.  She can be a bit scatterbrained at times,” sighed Carrot Cake.  “I think that you should visit her house is right over there across from the library."

"Oh thanks, I guess," said Silence.

"What’s wrong?"

"I'm just nervous that’s all."

"Nerves are good; they let you know when you're either making a great decision…” Carrot Cake encouraged “…or a horrible one."

"Are you nervous for tonight?  A proposal is a big thing you know," Silence said.

"Ever since I met my marefriend I've been nervous every waking moment and slept with one eye open."

"If you don't mind, I can help with your anxiety."

"Help?  How?"

"I can find out how the evening is going to fair for you before you ask the question."

"Unless you can see the future, which I sincerely doubt, I think you're outta luck; Cup has never been the predictable sort."

"I think that I can, but it's up to you.  Do you want to find your fate before it finds you?"

"I wouldn't mind knowing what will happen tonight to avoid a catastrophe."

"Good, I'll let you know soon enough when I'm 100% sure.  Now if you're getting the ring now go talk to Gem Stone, one of the Travelers, he'll hook you up with the right one for you."

"Thanks good luck with your date tonight!"

"Good luck to you too!" Silence called back.

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

Silence knocked on the door.  Softly at first but upon hearing no answer he knocked louder.  Silence waited and as he did he listened intently for sounds of someone coming to the door.  He didn't hear any, however there was the faintest sound from inside.  Silence pressed his ear to the door.  He could now clearly hear music being played.

Silence waited for the composition to be finished before knocking again.  This time Page answered.

"Oh shoot! Um, hello!" she said she nervously brushed her mane which was a bit untidy. A few red strands sprung out a bit here and there.

"Hi," Silence simply said.

"Sorry, I lost track of time.  Music does that to me.  Wow you look sharp today!  You clean up real well," Page said in rapid succession leading Silence to believe that she was a bit more nervous than he.

"Thanks," Silence said.

"Umm…" She laughed nervously.  "Would you mind stepping in while I um, prepare for tonight?"

"Not at all." Silence walked into the house.  The room wasn't exactly tidy but it didn't look like a tornado tore through it either.  There were books sprawled all over the entire house some opened and read through halfway, others were closed and stacked in piles next to chairs and recliners.  She obviously was a bit of a bookworm, not surprising given her profession and cutie mark.  He did note however, that there were no books turned on their spine or had anything on top of them so in a way she did keep care of the books.  The house itself was old fashioned and had an overall vintage feel to it.  "Nice place."

"Thanks, sorry about the mess," she said as she compulsively cleaned things with her magic picking up books and restocking shelves.  She looked like a mixture of flustered and embarrassed as she did so.   "I usually don't have guests over."

"No, I don't mind.  There's no need to stress yourself over the little things." Silence walked over to a grand piano that wad tucked away in the corner of the room next to a brick fireplace.  "I heard you playing music.  It was very beautiful."

"You think so?  I've been playing for eight years now and I still can't play well." Satisfied that things looked in order in the home, she turned back to Silence who was eying the piano curiously. "Do you play anything?"

"No, but I always wanted to," Silence admitted.  "Music has always fascinated me, but life on the road really prohibited any instrument larger than a flute, harmonica, or drum.  It's a shame really."  Silence sighed long fully; he never got to stay in one place long enough to learn how to learn something that required practice and patience to do.  His whole life was so fast paced and constantly transitioning from one place to another that he felt that staying still was actually a step forward in a new direction.

"We still have some time before the festival begins; I could teach you the basics to piano if you want."

"Are you sure?" Silence asked hesitantly, "I don't want to burden you with anything."

"No, it'll be fun."

"Alright." Silence sat down on the bench in front of the grand piano.

"Do you have any prior knowledge of any music, how it’s written?"

"Not the slightest idea." There weren’t any books that were on musical theory that the Travelers had.

"We’ll start with the absolute basics then.  Each note has a name this here is middle C."  She pointed to the corresponding key.  Each white key above C goes D, E, F, G, A, B, C and repeats." She played the notes as she played them, completing a major scale.  Now you try."

He plunked down on one key of the piano.  It sounded a single note sustained through the air.  Silence got a weird feeling, like when he used his remembrancer ability, but this time it was different; he didn't make contact with someone else, he just touched a piano.

A familiar sharp pain centered on his forehead.  His vision flooded with scenes of practice sessions in front of the piano well before it moved to this house. Countless ponies tinkered at the bench that stood before it.  The vision sped up rapidly accelerating in pace.  Each player was different and unrecognizable.  Thousands of sheets of music passed in front of Silence till they were but an in cohesive blur of black and white.  Notes of music played melodies harmonies and countermelodies too fast for silence to comprehend any individual piece.  Silence had no idea what was going on it wasn't like any other time he relived the past.  This time he could feel the movement of time as it passed by, experiencing the process of trial and error as the players made mistakes and fixed them.  It felt like he was the one playing the instrument or rather than the player.  The strange out of body experience took Silence back.  He withdrew his hoof from the piano like he just touched a hot stove that burned him.

"It's not going to bite you know," Page giggled.  Once again she didn't notice the wave of pain overtake him or the fact that he was suddenly sweating profusely.  Not that she needed to see that.  "Try again seeing if you can remember the names of the keys."

"The keys are arranged acoustically, each white key for the natural pitches and the blacks for the flats and sharps."  Silence had no idea where that information came from but he strongly believed that it was true.  "Based off of the different modes, the notes you played make the Ionian mode commonly known as a major scale… right?" Part of Silence wasn't sure if was spouting gibberish and the other half felt that he was speaking as a prime musical theorist.

"And you said you knew nothing about music!  Where did that come from?"

Silence thought of something quickly.  "I guess I must have remembered it from some book I read a while back and it just popped into my head suddenly," Silence lied averting his eyes from hers.  He didn't need to tell her the truth, not yet at least.

"Funny, that happens to me sometimes although a bit less over the top than that.  You were ranting off like a college professor."

"Sorry, I didn't know what overcame me there. I guess that was a bit weird."

"Just a little," Page said with a smile.

"So let’s play something," Silence tried a few keys on the piano.  To his relief nothing happened no flashbacks or memories happened, just simple notes being played.  Silence began to play the keys in synchronized patterns.  Each time the figure got more complex and new rhythms and chords were implemented, soon his tinkering formed into a full melody with a strong bass line.  Page just stood there dumbfounded her mouth agape as she watched him take her away with his playing.  Silence was just as surprised by his apparent skill with the piano he stared bewildered as his hooves moved seemingly on their own to play a melody that was familiar and yet not to Silence.  It was the feeling like when you forget something, but backwards; he didn't know how he learned it, it just... happened.

When Silence finished she applauded,  "Oh you're funny tell me you never played before and to teach you piano. Ha!  You were just teasing me to show off.  How long have you been playing?"

"Umm… about 10."

"Ten years?! Wow that’s a few more years than me but you're so much better."

Silence resisted the urge to tell her he really meant ten minutes but she wouldn't believe him.  Heck Silence couldn't believe it himself.

"You had me going there for a while with teaching you, was that some sort of way to impress me?"

"Is it working?" asked Silence meeting her gaze.  Silence couldn't help but smile.

"I'd say no, but it would be a lie.  Yes, I am most impressed.  Now you go play something while I get dressed for tonight." She walked upstairs.

Silence watched her go.  He sighed,  as far as he could tell his first date was going well.  He was more relieved that she had no suspicions about his 'gift,' and he hoped it would stay that way for a while.  Zecora was ridiculed by these ponies simply because she looked different, Silence shuddered as to see what would happen if he were to be discovered because he was truly different.  Not that he expected anything hostile, he just wanted to be sure.

He turned his attention back the piano.  "Now how did I do that?  Hmm…"

Silence inspected the piano and all around it.  He probed it with magic carefully feeling it out for any magical properties, but nothing was amiss; it was just a normal piano.  Since it wasn't the piano and he didn't cast any spell to his knowledge, so it must have been his gift somehow.  Not entirely satisfied with that answer, he decided to wait until tomorrow to ask his father about it.  In the meantime, Silence wanted to know the extent of his newfound talent.  Silence played tunes that he wasn't even sure if they existed, they felt familiar in a way but was unsure where they came from.  After about three songs Silence was interrupted by page walking down the stairs.

She had her red hair pulled back behind her ears fully revealing her beautiful cyan eyes that seemed to sparkle in the lighting of the room.  She wore a beautiful red dress that matched her mane color that flowed down just barely touching the floor.  She had dangling earrings that were lined with diamonds that shined with intense radiance.  Around her legs she wore simple gold banded bracelets that accented the dress.  She smiled but her ears were flat out of modesty; she wasn't really used to dressing so nicely, or getting jaw dropped gapes from stallions.  "I look ridiculous don't I?"

Silence shook his head a few times to clear up his thoughts. "Hardly, you look simply beautiful," Silence said in awe.

Her cheeks flushed a hot red and she tried to hide it; she didn't want to appear embarrassed in front of Silence especially since he paid her such a nice compliment.

"Are you ready to go?"

She nodded and the two walked side by side out of the house.

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

"Wow, they really went all out this year," said Page.  The town was all alight by candlelight and fires, no electricity was used, but that is simply the nature of the Festival of Flames.  There were ribbons and streamers all throughout the town, banners and flags hung down from the roofs all fitting into a common motif and color scheme: Red orange and yellow flames. Open fires burned on every lamppost that was erected just for this very night.  The dim lighting and the sun that was beginning to set beyond the horizon, made a very romantic mood.  Couples would walk the streets nuzzle each other and resting their heads on their partners neck.

Silence felt Page brush up against him.  Lightly at first as if unsure whether or not it was okay, but after a moment of hesitation she walked with Silence the way the other couples did.  Butterflies flew in Silences stomach, he was equally nervous and overjoyed that she did so.

"So what do you want to do first?" he asked.

"I suppose we could try some of the games, but whatever you want to do I'll be fine with."

"What if I want to just stay indoors and sleep?" joked Silence.

"I won't be okay with that obviously." Page smiled.  "I think they have new games this year, if you catch my subtle innuendo."

"Carnival games it is."

After countless games of the ring toss, knocking over wooden bottles of milk, landing ping pong balls in little cups, attempting to pop balloons with darts, winning prizes and spending a lot of bits in the process, Page and Silence settled down in the main square where the food was being served.

"I could have sworn that I would've knocked all of those cans over," Silence muttered.

"What did I tell you?  I said that those games are designed to make you lose."

"I know but it was fun wasn't it, and in the end isn't that what really matters?"

"I suppose.  So what shall we get to eat?" asked Page as she eyed the multiple tables of food trying to decide where to start.

"There’s a lot to choose from," Silence looked over and he saw Carrot Cake eating a few tables over.  "I just remembered I have something I need to check on, can you go get us something while I'm gone?"

"Oh, okay." Page seemed a bit disheartened.  Silence guessed she wanted him to come with her or vise versa.

"I promise I'll rush back as soon as I can."

"Don't take too long," said Page.

"I won't." with that Silence trotted off wading through the crowd. He made his way over to the baker.

"Hey, buddy!" called Carrot.  "What can I do for you?"

"Hey, did you get the ring?"

"Sure did, you were right, your friend sure is the best jeweler there is.  Mighty generous too, he gave it to me for half price!"  He quickly flashed a small red box for Silence to see before stowing it away.  "I can't thank you enough."

"That's great!" exclaimed Silence glad to see his friend came through.  "So are you going to ask the question?"

"Definitely.  You seem really chipper right now," observed Carrot.  "I assume your date is going well?"

"I really think it is, were having a lot of fun." said Silence.  But enough about me, do you need me to 'predict' the outcome of the question?  I could very well do it now if you'd like."

"I've given it some thought, and you know what?  Is it better to know what she'll say because I get somepony to predict the future?  Or should I know because I know she loves me?  So in light of that, I'll leave it up to her to decide."

"An insightful decision.  I think she’s lucky to have a guy like you, and that you have nothing to worry about."

"Oh, hello dear," said Carrot.

"Who's your friend?" The mare asked sitting down next to Carrot.

"This here is Silence, he's one of the Travelers," he answered.

"Oh hello.  Wait." She had a look of pondering cross her face.    You're that guy Page was talking about!" exclaimed the cyan mare.  "She was right you are one handsome stallion indeed, dressed to the nine and everything."

"Thanks," said Silence, "Well, I should get going, my date is probably waiting for me."

"Good luck to you then."

"Likewise."

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

"So what was that all about?" asked Page suddenly putting down her plate of food.  She made a gesture behind him.

"What was what all about?"  he followed her gaze then saw what she meant she pointed at the two bakers who were having a marvelous time.

"I saw you talking to Carrot over there.  I'm just curious as to why."

"Alright then," said Silence wiping his chin with a napkin before setting it down, "can you keep a secret?"

"That depends on the secret."

"Carrot is going to ask his marefriend to marry him tonight."

"That's great news!" said Page. "I just know she'll say yes."

"I hope so, Carrots been juggling that question around for a while now and he's pretty nervous about it."

"What I want to know now is how you're involved with it all."

"Well, Carrot needed somepony to help him buck up, he just didn't know it.  I set him up with a game plan and a ring and all he had to was be himself."

"That's kind of you," said Page.  "It's nice how you help others without expecting anything in return.  You seem change lives in a matter of seconds."  She played with her fork for a bit, and her eyes grew distant.  Silence wondered what she was thinking about.  He knew he could easily find out, but the very thought of using his ability to do so at the very least seemed wrong.  It didn't feel right to him to invade others' privacy.

"So what is the whole tradition behind this festival?" asked Silence trying to change the subject that set Page off thinking.

"Well, actually it's based off of a story a rather tragic one that doesn't end well for everypony."

"Go on." Silence shifted in his seat till he was comfortable.  "Tell me this story."

"It all started when a lowly simple unicorn fell in love with a princess.  At first the princess had no desire to be with him but, over time she learned to love him back.  Sadly, since he was not of royal birth, their love was forbidden by society where they were reared apart.  They could only gaze longingly at each other from a distance knowing their worlds could intertwine, but never touch.  In spite of their separation, the two met secretly at nightfall spending as long as they could together before sunrise separated them.  Soon it wasn't enough for the stallion to only meet at the night, so he vowed to become a soldier where nobility had the ever so slim chance of being granted to commoners.  The princess begged him not to, for she feared he would be lost to her, or no longer keep her in his heart.  He said to her that every night she should light a flaming beacon in the night sky to let him know that she was still in love with him, and he in return would always remain vigil and faithful.  Reluctantly she agreed and every night after sun fall, the princess would light a fire in the tallest tower of the palace, and every night he would see the flame comforted by its faint glow that his princess was still waiting for him.  Many years pass by and the stallion becomes a great general of the army, and more importantly worthy of marriage to the princess.”

Page paused before continuing.

“But the years were long and the young lovers were now strangers to each other's gaze.  They aged they changed but always they tried to make it work.  The princess wasn't the only one with eyes on the new general, the many nobles were aware the stallions sudden rise into aristocracy.  Many of the bachelorettes who made up the upper class as well as the princess's own sister also took fancy to him.  While the princess was performing her duties the older sister met the stallion and immediately fell in love with him unaware that his heart was already set on somepony else.  The sister was tenacious and didn't give up on the stallion, eventually over many days something formed between the two of them.”

“That guy seems a bit shallow to fall for her sister.”

“We don’t choose who we love," said Page.  "Sometimes it just happens.”

“Continue."

"While at night the one princess continued to love him, the other stole his heart during the day.  The brave general was treated to luxuries and the fine life that he had always dreamed of when he was but a poor dweller in the streets.  But every night he would still meet with his first love splitting himself between them.  Torn between his two lovers, the stallion had to chose either his old forbidden love in the shadows of the night or his new flame that burns brightly in the day.  When his first love discovered her stallion’s betrayal she shut her heart to him and for that night the beacon remained unlit.   The next night the stallion waited for her, and again the beacon remained unlit.  His heart broken and forced to make a decision, the stallion asked the princesses sister to marry him, and she said yes.  Some say it was just jealousy, while others say it was vengeance and rage that was built up over the years, but to punish the stallion’s disloyalty and to pay back her sister for her insolence, blind with animosity, the princess used her flaming beacon to set fire to the palace."

"That's bit extreme."

"To say the least,” Page laughed. “Yes it was."

"Please continue, how does the story end?"

"Well, during the fire the two sisters fight and the handsome stallion tosses himself between the two.  While it is unclear who cast it, but the crossfire he becomes mortally wounded.  In his last moments he asked the two sisters for forgiveness for him and for each other and to never forget him.  Ever since then the sisters never did.   Never did they let another stallion come between them or even wed.  To their dying days they ruled their kingdom together in peace starting a golden era of prosperity for all of their subjects.  In tradition with the two sisters the Princesses of the Sun and Moon, Celestia and Luna, have ruled over Equestria ever since similarly to the sisters of old.  That is until the Nightmare Moon incident, but that is another tale for another time."

Silence took all that she said in.  "You are a beautiful story teller, you become so immersed with your story that it seems that you become a part of it."

"Thank you, its part of my talent." She pointed at her flank where her cutie mark was hidden under the folds of her dress.

"So why do you celebrate a festival for such a dreary tale anyways?"

"Why make a celebration out of hearts and hooves day?  That was based off of a failed romance."

"Not very many cheery holidays around here are there?"

"Not all holidays are meant to be cheerful or have the happiest ending tales, but for the most part they are genuinely celebrated in a light hearted manner.  Nightmare Night is a prime example.  Some scholars believe that during the everlasting night of Nightmare Moon.  Horrifying nightmares of the worst kind plagued all who slept for an entire week.  At the end of it ponies stayed awake through entire day’s worth of time so they didn't have to face the haunting dreams when they slept.  Nowadays it transformed over to one of lighthearted pranks and costume dressing.  A very different story.  In fact so different are the holiday from where it came that few actually know what started the holiday at all."

"But why today's holiday isn't it a story about a mistake?"

"I think we learn best from our mistakes.  Why not teach a moral lesson through history so we can understand the consequences?  Not to mention it explains a small part of how we get our current government and encouraging for there to be a smaller gap between the rich and the poor.  You see during the Festival of Flames, not only do we celebrate the joining of lovers, but the mix of the rich and the poor.  It's almost like these fairy tales speak to our generation even though their time is long gone."

"My father always said that in Equestrian history fairy tales are often based on fact and events while teaching morals," Silence said.

"He's right many are.  Though there are a few that are very farfetched."

"Like the lost city of Atlantis,” said Silence.  “I find that one remarkably hard to actually grasp."

"Agreed a whole city sinking into the sea?  That can't be possible."

"What makes you say that?"  Silence asked.

"Well, nopony is powerful enough to capsize an entire city with magic."

"We don't know that,” said Silence.  “Stranger things have happened."

The band sitting near the corner of the town square began playing an upbeat tune, one that Silence vaguely recognized as a popular Equestrian dance tune; his father would sometimes whistle it while he worked.  Silence had an idea.

"Page do you want to dance?"

"Dance?" a look of uncertainty crossed her eyes.  "I'm not much of a dancer.  Besides I'm wearing a nice dress it could get ruined."

"Don't worry I know how to dance very well, just trust me."  Silence stretched a hoof across the table.

"... alright but I'm warning you I can't dance well at all I can barely manage the Mexicolt Hat Dance."

"What about something a bit more complicated… say a 2 hoof waltz?"

"A traditional dancer are you?  I'm willing to try, if you teach me."

"There’s nothing to it." That was a bit of a lie, 2 hoof dances are extremely difficult.  The whole point of a two hoof dance is to walk completely bipedal using ones weight to counterbalance their partners.  It's a very old traditional dance type that was extremely popular within the classical era among the aristocrats and nobles.  It died out over the ages since it was much more difficult than a standard four legged dance.  "Common, let’s go."

Silence pulled Page from the table and into the thickening crowd that surrounded the makeshift dance floor.  "Alright, now first we grasp our forelegs together like this." Silence took his right hoof and interlocked it with hers.  "Then you extend your other foreleg out like this." Silence pulled his and her hoof till it was completely parallel with the ground.  "And walk inward till you are completely upright."  They walked inwards and the two stood completely straight upwards.  As they did so the hooves that they had interlocked naturally slid down and behind each other until they were completely around their backsides.  Page wobbled a bit, but Silence held her up.

"Now what?" asked Page.

"Now we dance," said Silence.  "Just remember to always start with your left since I'm leading with my right.  Try to feel the beat of the music and anticipate my movements."

The piece that the band was playing was in 3/4 time, which was the typical waltz time signature.  "Now on beat one we move.  Are you ready?"

"I think so."

Silence took a step forward as Page took a step backwards.  Then the next step backwards the reverse direction that they started in.  Then they took a step to Silence's left.  Then right.  The whole movement then repeated again.  All the while Silence called out the counts of the beat.  Page rigidly stumbled through the movements at first stepping all over Silences hooves and once on his tail which was rather painful for him, but soon the dance became natural and fluid.  It felt like their two legs each slowly became one set of four, like together during the dance they were just one pony and not two individuals.  Their dance got more complicated as the song progressed.  Silence would now throw in spins and different steps.

Page noticed that they were drawing most of the attention on the dance floor.  Some of the other dances cleared away to make room for them.  Soon all eyes were on them as they stood a head above all of the other viewers.  Page started to blush, the unwanted attention put her and Silence directly on the spotlight.  He didn't seem nervous at all, in fact he seemed to enjoy commanding the attention if the others.

Page could feel the song coming to the end.  And when the final chord struck Silence dipped her down still holding her up with one foreleg; a remarkable feat that most others can't accomplish.  There was applause and the sound of hooves thundering against the dirt dance floor mixed in with whistles and cheers, but no matter how loud the audience cheered it couldn't break the longing stare between the two.  Both were breathing hard, the swaying dance having sapped almost all of their energy.

Silence lifted her up and both went back down on all four legs.

"You okay?" he asked to make sure Page wasn't about to double over onto the ground like he did when he first learned how to dance like that.  But at a moment’s glance he saw she was still beaming with energy.

"Yeah," she said.  "I feel great!  That was so much fun!"

“You did fantastic yourself.  I’m rather impressed.”

“I had a great teacher.”

“I think the fireworks are about to start soon,” said Silence. “Do you want to find a spot?”

“I know the perfect place, but you’re going to have to catch me to get there.”  And with that Page sprinted off of the main road, leaving him in the dust.  She stopped before turning the corner “Common, catch me!”

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

Silence chased after Page and she laughed like a complete fool, but she didn't care; both of them felt like little foals tonight under the light of the moon.  She galloped to the towns outskirts and up a lone grassy hill.  Silence raced up to her and caught her making them both fall down unto the green grass laughing as they did so. Page rolled over so their gazes met, each staring deeply into each other’s eyes.  At such an intimate distance she could feel Silences breath he could feel hers brushing up lightly against the nape of his neck.

Silence knew that it was time to make his move; he remembered to do what Mahogany told him.  He slowly leaned forward and stopped for her to make a move.  She appeared hesitant at first moved in closer towards Silence.  Right before their mouths met both Page and Silence an explosion and a flash of light tore their attention away from each other.  The fireworks were beginning to start.  Silence realized that the moment was now lost, he should have kissed her earlier.

They sat there mesmerized by the booming sounds and bursts of color.  Burst of green and blue shot across the sky coupled with crackling streams of red and white.   A cool nighttime breeze whistled by.  Page drew closer to Silence for warmth, resting her head on his shoulder.  Silence noticed that she was still shivering so he took off his jacket that he was wearing and threw it over her, but he kept his leg around her shoulder.  She nodded her thanks and the two sat there enjoying the display as it unfolded.

“Silence?” Page asked suddenly breaking the moment between them.

Silence could sense she had a question that had been dwelling on her mind for a while.  “Yes?”

Page mustered up the courage to ask.  “What will you do when you have to leave?”

A difficult question.  Silence had been asking himself the same question, the problem drawing ever closer as the days passed by.  The fact that he was to leave was inevitable.  Or was it?  Hadn’t his father told him that he was old enough to make his own decisions and start his own path?  How could he choose her over his family and friends?  How could he ask her to leave with him and abandon the friends of her own?

After a long time of thinking it over, Silence vouched for the truth. “I don’t know.  But that’s not what’s important.  The future might be clouded with uncertainty, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the present.”

“I suppose.”

Another quiet moment passed between them saves for the explosions that partook in the sky.  He moved Pages hair out of the way of her face.  She turned towards him and his touch.  Silence inched closer, Page did the same both turned their heads to the side and closed their eyes.  When their lips met all of the nervous energies and tensions relaxed, and the world seemed to stand still around them as time slowed down.  The sensation was magical beyond compare.  The grand finale of the firework show erupted into full swing beyond them but they didn’t part for anything.  Silence began to feel a nauseating feeling.  He tried to part himself from her but he was too slow the entire feeling overtook him and blurred his senses.

Silence saw scenes of Page's childhood, but they fast forwarded into adolescents and soon to the present day.  He saw all of her memories like an open book he could pass through them.  Experience them.  Live them.  This wasn’t right.  Silence tried to resist the visions but they came anyways as if they had their own thoughts.  He had no control over it.  This wasn't how he wanted it to be.

When he came to he found himself on the ground.  A roaring pain in his head and his ringing ears made it too difficult to think straight.  Between the hazy visions of the past he saw Page sitting over him shaking him and shouting something but he couldn’t make out words.  He could only stare blankly at her eyes which were wide and full of concern.  She turned and called out to someone else, presumably for help.  Silence only made it for a few more moments before seeing more shadowy figures approach him before blacking out completely.

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

"Are you sure we have to go this far from town Rarity?  Our usual picnic spot is half this distance."

"Of course we have to go this far," replied Rarity who was leading the pack.  "There's this wonderful little place I spotted that looked simply divine, and I thought to myself, 'Rarity you are going to have a spectacular picnic there someday,' so to there we go."

"Is it much farther? My hooves are killing me."

"Were nearly there, you can see it from here." Rarity pointed ahead towards a large grassy hill.  The two were so busy with their walk up the hillside that they didn't realize they left Silence behind at the base of the grassy knoll.  He stood there right before the incline began with his eyes closed.  He knew this place.

When Fluttershy noticed he wasn't following her anymore, she flew back over to him.  "Is everything alright?"

He opened his stormy gray eyes and heaved a heavy sigh.  He put the notepad on the ground and scribbled something down.  After dusting a bit of dirt off of it, he passed it over to the curious yellow pegasus.

"Everything is fine.  It's just this hill holds some sentimental value to me.  I don't want to bring back the good memories I have from here."

"Is it really that bad to bring back good memories?"

He nodded his head and motioned for the notepad again.  She gave it to him and he wrote something else.   "I don't deserve happiness, or any good memories that have to do with her.  All the good memories do is remind me of the bad ones."

"Who?"

More writing. "Page."

"Why not?"

Silence didn't answer instead he took a step forward but quickly retracted his hoof like the hillside was hot to touch.  He relaxed and began to cautiously walk forward.  Fluttershy eyed his behavior with curiosity but lost interest when he resumed a normal walking pace.  She followed behind him to make sure he didn’t make any more sudden stops.

When they reached the top Rarity had already spread out the blanket on the grass and began spreading the plates of food.

"There you two are I was wondering when you were coming.  Sit and enjoy the feast, I made it all myself."

"Wow these foods look lovely."

"I'm sure it isn't close to compare with what Silence could make.  I hear he's a bit of a chef."

Silence wrote something and showed it so the pair of friends could see.  "I'm no chef, but my mother was.  I only had cooking lessons from her, she went to culinary school."

"That explains one of the many mysteries of Silence Silvertongue," declared Rarity over dramatically. "I find it amazing how well you keep to yourself.  Let's see, you have an uncanny knowledge of various skills, you don't speak or use magic to my knowledge, you have a strange cutie mark, and you have or had a marefriend that you choose to not talk about.  Oh! Let’s not forget the strange hospitalization, or your current situation." Rarity gestured to all of the cuts Silence had.  "We don't even know your age."

"To answer the last statement I'm 34."

"See, that wasn't too hard now was it?  You've got nothing to be afraid of, you're amongst friends," Rarity said trying to coax the answers out of him.  "No need to carry the burden of secrets."

"My past is none of your concern.  It is a burden that only I must carry.  If I wanted to share it with you I would, but you and your friends have already learned more than I wish to disclose.  Twilight especially has been particularly persistent in the matter."

"Now that's not entirely fair for her, she has an unnatural curiosity for things she doesn't understand."

"Then she should try to understand that I don't want to be bothered." The words came off as cold as Silence intended them to.

"Why is so hard for you to trust others?"

"It's not that I just don't trust others.  I don't trust myself.  I hope you learn that trusting me is a mistake for I cannot be trusted."

"Why not?"  Rarity found it hard to yell at someone who was incapable of yelling back.  The long wait between her response and his made her self-conscious of how loud she actually was.

"I am what I say I am.  If I tell you that I can't be trusted, then it is so."

There was a tension in the air that was drawn from the written words.  Fluttershy observed the two's half verbal debate.  On one side she agreed with Rarity that he should share what he withholds, but on the other he was allowed to keep his secrets.  She didn't need to remind herself what the paper in the black book said about him: perhaps his secrets are best left to be told when he was ready.

"Um, Rarity?  Don't you think that you're pressing him too hard for answers?  If you don't mind that is…"

Rarity took a look at her friend.  She sighed, "Perhaps I'm being overzealous with this whole ordeal.  It's completely unladylike and I apologize."

He shrugged, "I understand that you want to know more about me but it is a dark and unforgiving story."

"You see!" she exclaimed.  "Whenever you say something like that you just augment my interest."

"Rarity, please just leave him alone," Fluttershy pleaded.

Rarity eyed her friend who was clearly conflicted with the matter at and.  She pouted. "Fine."

No one touched their food.  Each was just waiting for someone else to start.  Rarity and Fluttershy exchanged nervous glances between each other.

Silence tried the food first and soon the others followed.  The tension in the air slowly dissipated while Fluttershy and Rarity made small talk while Silence listened.

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

Applejack Gazed up at the sun.  Perhaps Granny Smith was baking up some family recipe at this very moment.  She had already cleared the west field of apples without breaking a sweat.  Her string workhorse legs helped her pull through the long years of apple bucking.  It was practically midday and lunch seemed like a good idea to her

She didn't think much of the stranger who came to Ponyville. Frankly she could have cared less about him, but Applejack couldn't help notice that Fluttershy was completely captivated by him.  Applejack wasn't much of the romantic type despite Rarity's efforts to "educate" her with the art of getting a stallion, but Applejack wasn't very interested in finding a partner, her family was all she needed.

However, what really bothered her was the fact that she didn't tell the whole truth to Twilight about what she knew about Silence.  I wasn't her place to really tell her, especially when the guy was sitting right next to her.  Perhaps the truth would come out eventually; it always did one way or another.

"Applejack!" called a voice from somewhere else in the orchard.  It was Twilight from the sound of it.

"Over here Twi'," responded Applejack.  She placed down her baskets that were full of apples, expecting some sort of disaster, lecture or perhaps both to ensue after her purple friend arrived.  When the unicorn popped her head out she was looking quite frantic and her mane was a bit untidy.

"There you are Applejack, I need your help with something really important."

"Sure thing sugar cube, what is it?"

"Well," Twilight had a nervous smile.  "I need to break into a house.  Silence's house."

"Say what now?" Applejack never expected to hear her goodie-four shoes friend suggest committing a crime.  "What in tarnation has gotten into you?  Since when have ya'll turned into a petty thief?"

"Since Silence turned out to be a murderer," Twilight flatly stated.

"Now you’re just spouting a bunch of horse apples.  Where in Equestria would you get such a ridiculous idea?" Applejack laughed but the stern look her friend was giving her began to make her feel nervous.  Quietly she feared that her friend was having one of her infamous Twilight Sparkle nervous breakdowns which seemed to come out of nowhere and were never good for anyone.  "Why are you thinking this?"

"Do you remember seeing his cutie mark?"

"It'd be hard to forget."

"The mark we saw isn't actually it,” explained Twilight.  “It's just a scar left behind from the real one being burned off."

"Burned off?" Applejack eyed her own three apple cutie mark wearily.  "By Celestia that’s horrible."

"It must have been Celestia who did it; she is the only one known to be able to. And she wouldn't do it lightly or without good reason.  He must be a felon or worse."

"I trust ya'll completely, but he don't seem like the criminal type," said Applejack.  "…But it would explain why he doesn't want to share about his past."

"I guess it would."

Applejack considered her options at this point.  On one side she could end up in prison for breaking and entering, while on the other there was the fact that her friend was rather frantic about the whole ordeal and if she was right that meant the whole town was in danger.  "Why would you need to break into his house?"

"I need to find something, proof or evidence that exposes he's what I think he is."

"We'll need Rainbow for the job."

"Why?"

"We need somepony to keep watch while we…” Applejack looked for the right word to use without sounding incriminating “…investigate."

"So you're in?"

"I'm not happy 'bout it but I'm in.  But if I get in trouble for this vendetta of yours, I swear ya'll never hear the end of it."

"We won't get in trouble," said Twilight.  "Everything will be in a controlled environment."

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

"I'm so bored," yawned Rainbow Dash as she kept a lazy eye over the streets.  "I have to oversee the weather team the storm we've been planning to hit tomorrow.  I still don't know why I have to keep watch."

"Because ya'll can keep an eye in the sky for when he returns," replied Applejack. "Besides I reckon ya'll would probably break something."

"I would not!  It's not like I have bulky thighs that might knock something over."

"Why you little-" Applejack looked like she was about to pummel her pegasus friend.

"Quiet you two," Twilight hissed angrily. “I need to concentrate.”  She lowered her head down to the doorknob and closed her eyes again.  Her horn was glowing with magic as she readied the spell.

"What exactly are you doing again?"

"I'm probing the lock with magic.  All I have to do is telekinetically calibrate the locks pins in a specific way so the cylinder us able to rotate, thus allowing the deadbolt to slide inwards."

Rainbow gave her a confused look as she tried to make out what each word meant but caught up on telekinetic.

Twilight sighed. "I'm picking the lock with magic.”

"Oh!" exclaimed Dash. "Why didn't you say so?"

"Ya'll need to hurry up we don't have too much time the note on the door says they left almost a half an hour ago."

“I’m doing this as fast as I can.  I already got the first 3 pins in place all I have to do is…  Aha!” Twilight exclaimed.  There was a satisfying click and the door pushed open.  “It’s open.”

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

Rarity had left a bit earlier since she had an appointment at the local spa. She thanked Silence and Fluttershy for having such a wonderful picnic and left promptly. Fluttershy wanted to ask him so many questions, but something else was bothering her more.

"I brought you something," Fluttershy said pulling the puzzle box out for him to see.  "I've been meaning to give it back to you but every time I tried something happened, you passed out, needed medical attention."

He grabbed it and quickly inspected it for damage.  He gave a massive sigh of relief when nothing was found amiss.  Satisfied, he grasped the pen again and began to write.

“Thank you.  I was starting to worry about it, if something were to happen to it I don’t know what I would do.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Its funny how this box has been with me for 16 years and yet I’ve never seen the contents.  It’s been there since I met her.  Yet it represents something more than just her it is my choice that I made all those years ago.”  He stole the puzzle box away in his saddlebags which lay on the grass next to him as Fluttershy read the note.

“Which choice was that?”

“Love of a near complete stranger, over friends and family.”

“Was it worth it?”  Fluttershy had been wondering about that question for a while now.

“To this day I wonder what it would have been like had I chosen not to, but I know that had I not, the thought of her would be ever present in my mind like it is now.  Love does that to you I suppose, it possesses you, even if they don’t love you back you can’t help it.”

Fluttershy wondered about this.  Did she love Silence?  It felt like it.  Perhaps she did.  Maybe, despite how much he hid, she found out one true thing about him.  That maybe just maybe he might love her back.

"What do you do if you think you love somepony but you're not sure if they love you back or even if they are safe for you to be with?" asked Fluttershy.

Silence sighed. "I suppose you could flat out ask them, but I never had the courage to do that sort of thing.  I would subtly drop hints or clues and see how they react."

"Oh, okay." She wasn't sure how to break it to him any more painfully obvious than that besides just blurting it out and seeing what happens.

"I have but one word of advice.  Love is like a passionate flame.  If kindled properly it is warming and comforting. It can be a welcome home in the coldest of nights.  It is a wonderful thing. But be warned; love moderately and with great caution.  Fire burns brightest only when something else is destroyed."

"Was something destroyed when you fell in love with Page?"

"Everything was destroyed."

"So you think it's bad to fall in love?"

"No, love is powerful it is a force that is much stronger than any other I've encountered.  It drives some to heights that they never thought they could achieve.  But it was too weak for a simple stallion to hold on to."

"But you're no simple stallion.  I've seen your gift, and it frightens me.  But I know it's a part of you and you can't change it."

"I want to.  You can't deny yourself of your gift or talents, but you can sever it from yourself almost completely."

"That's horrible," gasped Fluttershy. "It's far easier to embrace what you're given with."

"What you are given isn't always good, and what's easy isn't always right.  What I have done in the past is irreversible."

"Tell me about it."

"I can't."

"Tell me."

"What good could come of it?"

"Relief of the pain.  Silence, everyday you’re suffering, physically and mentally.  You might not even realize it but you aren’t well."  The way she worded it sounded like she knew something else.

"Have you read my journal?" He didn't want to seem upset with her he just simply wanted to know the truth.

Fluttershy sighed; there was no point in saying no."Only part.  I'm sorry I didn't mean to snoop, honestly."

"It was bound to happen anyway."

"You were in a hospital?"

"An asylum.  A wretched place that deserves to be condemned."

"Are you well, you know…" Fluttershy couldn't bring herself to say the word 'crazy'.  He didn't seem insane especially now; he was the sight of complete serenity, with his mane blowing in the light breeze and stormy grey eyes gazing at her.  He was secretive yes, but not insane.

"You mean to ask if I am not of sound mind.”  He smiled then wrote something else.  “It's a paradox really;  if I tell you I'm insane then I am so, if I tell you that I am not then I'm in denial of my state.  In no way is there a way to convince you I am not crazy."

"I trust you to tell the truth."

"The truth is I don't know the truth.  Others like you don't understand so either they fear what they don't know, or seek answers.  I'm haunted by thoughts and words that aren't mine.  But I have always been since I learned of my gift.  When you read someone’s past you feel their pain, their thoughts, their ambitions, you become them in their entirety.  You're mind mixes with theirs and you change, sometimes dramatically so.  I've passed into and out of many lives each wearing me down more and more, my sense of self is inseparable with those that I have become.  Does that make me insane?  I guess it does, but who wouldn't be if they had the same gift as me. "

"I suppose that’s one way to look at it.  Tell me more about your powers, if it seems to cause all of the problems for you how come you still used it on me the night of the party?"

"It doesn't always work the way I will it to.  Sometimes I use it on my own whim.  Other times she has her own plans.  I can show them my past, see theirs, share a past event together, relieve their pain, cause them to forget the past, make them see a false one,  corrupt their memory till it is unrecognizable, steal their thoughts, impose my own will upon them.  I can drive one to complete insanity.  Plague their mind with nightmares and delusions.  I can read others thoughts, change them, stop them, control them; my curse does more harm than good."

"Everypony’s talent is meant for good."

"Do you really believe that?"  He had a weary look on his face.

"Yes."

"You ask to know my past, I cannot tell you it; it hurts too much to put into words."

"I understand. You don't have to."

"But I can show you it, if you are willing."

"I am not afraid."  Fluttershy tried to sound assertive but there was a hint of doubt in her voice.

"You should be.  I am not sure whether or not I can sustain and control it long enough to answer your questions without causing irreparable damage.  There is a chance this could go horribly wrong for you or me.  If the memories were to rapture, we may never be the same afterward."

"Rapture?  What does that mean?"

Silence didn't answer her question. "If you are sure about this, close your eyes and hold out your hoof."

Fluttershy knew that if she refused that he would never offer again, nor would Fluttershy ever be able to pull enough courage to ask.  She had to do this now or never.  She held out her arm.  She felt the cold touch of Silences hooves.  Like before, a strange cooling sensation washed over her.  She felt the presence of another conscious mixing with hers; a very strong consciousness that practically radiated raw power.

"Are you ready?" echoed a voice in her head.  It sounded distant, but not just in the physical sense; it was detached and emotionless.

"Yes," Fluttershy whispered aloud.

"Let us begin…"  She felt her mind go blank like someone wiped it clean of her thoughts.  Then the first of the visions began.

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Chapter 9 Preview: Medical History

"You do realize the gravity of what you ask of me." Silence said placing the glass down he stared the guest right in the eye.  "Given the time that had elapsed and the length the task will be long, tiresome, and outside of my experience. This knowledge will neither help nor undo the past.  With it you may be reminded of things that you wish not to know, see things that need not be seen again even learn hidden truths and lies masked by judgement and trust.  You see, some things are forgotten for a reason and maybe they are best left alone.  I understand why you want to go through with this, but this task will change you and me forever."

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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.