Jail-House Blues

Chapters

Why Today?
Just Another Mare
As We Move On
Sometimes Winter Isn't the Coldest
Inside Us All
The Gift of Prophecy
Picking up the Pieces

Why Today?

Jail-House Blue

By: Little Dashie

Chapter One:

Why Today?

Luna walked past Celestia with a sullen look. She just didn't want to do anything anymore. Celestia had tried her best to talk with Luna but it was all in vain.

"Lulu..." Celestia said trying to get her little sister's attention.

"Hmm?"

"Something wrong dear sister?" Luna shook her head and continued down the hall at an extremely slow pace. Luna really needed some more exitement in her life. "Luna..."

"What Tia?"

"When was the last time you ever did something fun?" Luna stopped dead in her slow tracks. She thought about it for what seemed like minutes. She tried to anwer her sister but everytime she opened her mouth she would shake her head and close it again.

"Nightmare Night... A few years ago..." Luna had enjoyed her first Nightmare Night back but ever since then she just never got out of the castle to try anything. It took a few months just to convince her to learn modern speech. Luna trotted off trying to sneak away from her sister while she was deep in thought.

Sure there was fun things to do around the castle but she had done all of it TWICE before she found it all to become boring. Leaving the castle was no fun because Celestia always had a few guards to follow her whenever she went to find some fun. She had went to a fancy resteraunt and the guards came out of nowhere and ate most of the food to check for poison.

Luna went to a festival and played a few games but the guards had ripped apart the bean bags to check for some hidden danger. Soon Luna just stopped leaving the castle. She tried to play games with her sister but she was always busy or said she had a meeting she had to prepare for. It was true most of the time but Luna knew that Celestia just never wanted to spend time with her.

Luna sought somepony to just be around but with constant watch with the guards she never got to make a friend outside of the element bearers. Even then they weren't able to come to the castle often enough to spend time with Luna. She went to them one or two times but most of the time they were busy just like Celestia. Luna began to feel as if no pony ever wanted to be around her.

If no pony really cared she would just have to show them she doesn't care either.

Silver Watch sat on the small cot that the prison had provided. It wasn't so bad. He got food, he got shelter and he got a place to sleep. Sure it wasn't five star quality like the rest of the castle but it was definatly better than what he lived in. The small jewlery store he ran in the middle of the poorer district of Canterlot wasn't his greatest occamplishments. Leaving his parents house to persue his dream was probably his best.

Not a bit to his name, he left the house and traveled the world until he wound up in Canterlot. He tried some odd ball jobs here and there and he tried the higher end of the jewelry business. He enjoyed watching the mare comes in and some times dragging stallions along just so they could have a sparkly necklace or earrings. He thought it was funny for a while but he soon found it to be boring.

Getting fired for hitting on a few mares wasn't what he expected. Well, more than a few. Okay a LOT of mares. He grew tight on money when he had lost the job. He soon grew behind on the payments for his home and the guards were on his tail in a matter of days.

The prison was a nice place. It wasn't ratty like other prisons. It was very nice and clean. They fed high quality food that could have been in resteraunts. The rooms were nice and calming. Each had an extra room with a toilet and a sink. The bed was bunk but with a great matress and a very fluffly pillow. He almost had to sleep in a ball every night. Being a clydesdale pony made it hard to sleep on normal size beds.

Some ponies in this prison only wish for the life the prison has to offer. Sure you're isolated from the rest of Equestria but at least here a pony could feel what the rich life was like. Silver was enjoying his stay at the Canterlot prison. Sure he was in jail and that was really gonna effect him when he looks for a new job but that won't be anytime soon. He was stuck in the pen for at least 10 years even on good behavoir just for how much he owed.

Celestia hadn't seen Luna since their small chat in the hallway a few days ago. She was getting truely worried. Walking down the hall to Luna's room. The guards stationed outside her door hadn't seen Luna in a few days either. Slowly Celestia knocked on the door.

"Lulu? Lulu are you in there?"

"Go away Tia..." Celestia was concerned she opened the door with her magic and strode into the dark room. It was day outside Celestia had just raised the sun so there should be no reason for it to be dark in here. She opened the windows and curtains with her magic and gasped in shock.

Luna was laying on the floor in a heap. She looked as if she hadn't eaten in weeks. Celestia pushed her gently with her hoof. Luna weakly pushed her sister's hoof away.

"What are you doing to yourself Luna?!"

"You don't care... So why should I?"

"That's no way to talk!"

"I don't care..." Celestia motioned for the guards. They rushed to the princess' side.

"Take my sister to the medical wing..."

"But princess..."

"No arguments just do it..."

"Yes ma'am! But, the medical wing is full at the moment..."

"What? How?"

"Food poisoning..."

"Then take her to the warden... He'll keep a good eye on her or will know a pony who will."

"Yes ma'am!" The guards picked Luna's body up and caried her out the door. Celestia followed the little procession and closed the door on her way out.

"She doesn't have to be constantly watched but she is not to leave until I approve of it..."

"Yes ma'am!" Celestia sighed as she watched the guards round the corner with her sister in tow.

Crystal sighed as she looked at the pile of papers on her desk. She was swarmed these days. There wasn't much more to do than paper work. Not much ever happened in Cell Block C. This block was for the magical. Even then it wasn't that bad. There were three main prisons. The regulars who actually commit crimes, which was in the poor district of Canterlot. The High value criminals who have murdered or even worse, which was deep within the mountain. And then there was this one; it wasn't much but the poor who couldn't pay for their land or pay the bills. Each prison was sub divided into cell blocks. Magical, flying and of course just plain old cells. It seemed like over kill for this prison.

A knock at Crystal's door shook her from her thoughts. "Yes? Come in!" A guard opened the door and allowed her guests to enter the room. She steeled herself as they approached with a dark blue pony on their back. "My, my, my. What do we have here?"

"Princess Luna of Canterlot! Ma'am!" Crystal jumped back in shock as she hear the name of the night princess. After the initial shock passed she walked closer to examine her. She was in no shape to be here at all. Her mane was a mess just to start with. She was thin enough to see her ribs. Her eyes were closed but when Crystal leaned in close enough her eyes fluttered open and instead of the light teal her eyes were almost black. This sent a shiver down Crystal's spine. "Why is the princess here?"

"Apparently her sister isn't happy with her in this condition and wants her to be watched."

"Hmmm... Needs a watchful eye? Did you talk to the warden?"

"He sent us here... He knew you would be able to take care of her."

"That I will... Alright boys... Run her through the system... I got to pay a friend a visit... I'll direct her to her cell myself..." With that the guards exited the room with the dark mare and continued down the hall to the entry room. Sighing once more Crystal walked down the other hall and continued down into the cell block.

"Silver you in?" Silver looked opened his eyes from his would-be nap.

"Yeah, who is it?"

"Oh, come on you know this one..." He heard the slight melotical tone to the mare's voice.

"Crystal?"

"Yep." Her head popped around the corner into the room. That was another thing he liked. The bathroom blocked the bed from looking out the cell door. "Got a minute?"

"I got years..." Crystal laughed and walked in sitting down on the bottom bunk next to Silver. There was no reason to fear almost every single pony in this jail enjoyed it. "So what's on your mind?"

"We got a new visitor..."

"And this conserns me why?"

"She's not a prisoner but she needs somepony to look after her..."

"Okay?"

"You're a little slow aren't you?"

"No I understand what your saying but I'm just wondering why we are still sitting here when we could be 'welcoming' our visitor..."

"Not your's at all mine..."

"Sounds like this pony is real important..."

"She is... She'll be staying with you. I need to to take good care of her..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... I got you." Silver laid his head back down and closed his eyes.

"She'll be here soon... Show her around and do your thing okay? I might even take a year or two off if you can pull off what I hope you can..." Silver's ears perked up when he heard years off his sentence.

"Hmmm... You've sparked my intrest... What do you want me to do?"

"Just take care of her... Okay well I got a shit load of paper work..." She smiled at him before leaving the cell and returning to her office. Dinner time would be soon and then recreation time would follow that. That was another nice thing about the prison. The food was delivered directly to the cells. Sure there wasn't that many prisoners but hey all the better. 'Colt, this place has more perks than negatives.' Silver thought to himself.

*CLINK CLINK CLINK*

"Meal time." *TINK TINK* The tray was set down on the reciever and Silver listened as the cart wheeled on its route. 'Mmmmm...' It smelled really good. Silver got up from his bed and trotted over to the tray. The only thing on it was a note.

Dear Silver,

As you can see you don't get a meal. This is a little cruel yes but since we weren't expecting a new guest yours goes to her. By the way this was planned way before you were notified just a few minutes prior.

I'm just that big of an ass,

-Crystal

Silver smiled and shook his head before heading off to the Rec. room.

When Silver got to the large room he looked around. A few ponies sat around playing card games or board games. He sighed. He missed his magic. Eventually they gave back flying and magic after a few years but only on good behavior. He had only been in for one and even then he probably needed at least another before the warden would even think about it.

He sat down at a small table with a few chess pieces laid out. He set up a game by hoof and waited for his opponent to arrive. He knew it would probably be a little of a wait before they arrived but that was okay with him. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and toyed with it for a while. He didn't smoke but they worked as a form of currency in here. This pack could get him quite a few things on its own but he really needed it for later.

There was a guard lounging at the side of the room and Silver decided he was to bored to sit and wait here. As he aprroached he caught the guard's eye. They knew each other and chatted from time to time. All of the guards were laid back here. It was sort of a paid vacation for them. They chill and relax while watching the prisoners, all in tacky looking black uniforms, and they can pretty much just be themselves without having to be foral or expecting anything from any pony.

A guard had told Silver a while back that 'standing around all day can get so boring and sometimes it is just pure tourture when some random pony adresses you because you can't talk back and maybe have a nice chat or make a new friend.' AS Silver sat down he held out the pack of cigarettes.

"Got the book?" The guard shook his head. "Well, you'll get the rest later." He promply took the package and put it in his bag. Silver sat back in the chair and sighed. This was the life. Sure there could be better things to do than lounge around all day but at least it was better than starving on the streets. Two mares passed in front of the pair and giggled.

The prison functioned in the weirdest way. You were incouraged to rebuild your life from the inside but when you got out it was ten times harder to actually maintain it. Sure some got finacial aid until they were back on their feet but that didn't happen often enough for ponies to slack off. There were only a few rules. They were posted on a sign not but four hooves away.

1) Follow the Warden's orders.

2) Respect the guards.

3) No fghting.

4) No sex.

That was broken the most often in the prison. It was co-ed so there was a few affairs here and there but all ponies were careful no pony wanted a foal in prison. It was to much work without the added stress.

5) You MUST do one year of work to get out.

6) Good behavior is rewarded with previliges.

This one was pretty ironic. For unicorns it was the gift of using magic again and pegasus ponies got to use their wings. No pony tried to escape before but they disable wings and magic with special clasps that attach to the base of the wings and onto the very base of the horn. Sure magic and flying was a dependency for some ponies but for others just a convieniance.

7) You know this is better than you regular life. Why would you try to escape?

To put it plainly this was the only real rule that mattered in this prison. Crystal was sleeping with the high warden just so she could maintain her status. Well that's what we assume. She hates him and it shows when she talks about him. The guards are lazy and very friendly and sometimes even they get laid. Hay Silver knew if you paid off a certain guards she'd go at you for a night. Not many other ponies knew about it and Silver really didn't exploit any mares here.

The guard tapped Silver's shoulder and pointed to the door. He looked up to the door and then the clock just above the door. 'Right on time.' He thought smiling as he got up from the chair. They sat down at the little chess table and a little clock was set up for timed play.

"She's in your room. Go meet her after we're done then you should try to show her around if you can. Don't force her to do anything but if she doesn't move by morning carry her around. Got it?"

"Wait what?" Silver looked up from the clock he was setting to the right time. Crystal had a look of concern on her face.

"She doesn't move very often..."

"What do you mean?" Silver asked.

"She's very depressed and is quite a mess... Treat her well and maybe you can lift her spirits... Geez, I haven't seen a pony that low since my mom was on her coke addiction..."

"Druggy?"

"No, just depressed..."

"Okay, well let's begin..." Silver sat the clock down and clicked down his side starting her time.

Just Another Mare

Chapter Two:

Just Another Mare

Silver walked into his room and looked around. No pony was in here. 'Did Crystal lie to me? No, she wouldn't do that...' He shrugged and sat down on the bed before kicking off his greaves. If he didn't have to do anything he might as well get a little nap in before yard time. As he laid down he closed his eyes and sighed. A slight movement startled him.

He sat straight up and looked in the bed next to him. A dark mare lay there looking as though she had been abused for weeks. Silver was at a loss for words. His jaw hung open as his eyes wandered around looking at her. Her mane was dark blue and frayed everywhere and her horn lay in the middle of the fray. She was so thin that her ribs were poking out from her sides. Her belly didn't exist and her legs probably couldn't even hold her up. She was a mess to say the least and she probably hadn't showered in weeks either.

He slowly reached out and lightly touched her. He closed his mouth and gulped. Moving ever so gently he ran his hoof down her side. He stopped when he felt a bump and then he realized that they were wings. He hadn't noticed them because they weren't spiked all crazy like the rest of her coat but they were matted tight against her sides.

"Lu-lu-lu-... Luna?" Dark blue eyes flashed open and stared up at him. "Is that really you?" She didn't respond instead she closed her eyes and snorted. "What happened to you?" The dark mare rolled onto her other side and snorted once again. Silver reached out again and shook her out of her slump.

Luna rolled over and pinned Silver against the bed. Her eyes screamed murder but she looked to weak to do anything. She sighed and just slumped down against him. She closed her eyes and Silver could almost here her wimper as she began to cry softly. Small drops of water landed on his white coat matting it down.

"It's okay... You're here so I can help you." Silver felt a little uncomfortable. The princess of the night was laying on his chest crying her heart out. He gently patted her back with his fore hoof. This only got him another murderous stare. He sighed and just laid there limply. It was gonna be a long night in his mind. "Good night Luna..."

Silver woke up on the top bunk. 'What the...' He looked over the edge to see Luna sleeping in the bed below. 'Well that wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be...' He crawled over to the ladder and lowered himself to the ground. 'Sorry Luna...' He reached out and forcefully shoved her to wake up. "Come on shower time..." She didn't move so Silver shoved her again. This time she rolled over and spread her legs weakly. He looked at her confused at first but then he got the idea.

He laid down on the bed with his back facing her. Slowly but surely her legs wrapped arounf him. He looked at her legs and sighed. She would need to get some uniforms later. Standing up he walked out into the hall and looked around. He judged that he was the first one up. When he reached the hall just outside the shower room he was mistaken.

Walking in he peaked the corner and saw all the ponies inside enjoying the hot water. A couple of mares in the back were giggling as they showered right next to each other. 'Lesbians...' He scanned the room for a shower close by that he could get to without any pony seeing him with this mess of a mare on him. The closest one was in a corner at the far side of the room. Sighing he walked in and tried his best to be stealthy as he crossed the room. Luckily not to many ponies were paying attention to the door.

When he reached the shower he set Luna down and began to get undressed. Throwing his uniform aside he reached out for the shampoo and conditioner the guards set out for this morning's shower. He turned to see Luna laying on her stomach legs spread out. 'You're two steps ahead I see...' He turned on the water facing the head away from Luna, checking the temperature before turning it over to her.

"This is gonna be a long shower girl..." Silver heard what sounded like a growl from Luna but he couldn't really tell over the roar of the shower room. He got down on his nees and shot a glob of shampoo onto Luna's coat. Setting the bottle down he worked the goop around and soon it began to bubble. Her coat was greasy and matted beyond out of control. He just sat there and worked the shampoo as deep into the coat as he could.

After about fifteen rinses and rescrubs her coat finally looked presentable. He coated her in conditioner and then moved onto her mane. This was easier because it had been soaking for the past hour and a half. He rubbed the conditioner into her mane and washed her body off then moved onto her tail. He blushed as he rubbed the base of her tail. 'Don't get any dirty thoughts Silver...'

"You should have been a spa pony Silver." Silver looked up to see Gold Mint. He was a gruff pony for a banker. His coat was light gray from age and his muzzle had grown a gray beard over time.

"So?"

"Just saying... So who's this?" As if to answer his question Luna flared out her wings and laid them down on the tiled floor. "No... It can't be..." Silver just nodded as he applied a new glob of shampoo. "When did she get here?"

"Yesterday..."

"Why?" Silver shrugged.

"All I know is that she isn't a regular per say. Just that she is staying here until she feels better."

"What?"

"Yeah, that's what I said at first... She's a bucking mess and aparently Celestia wasn't to happy so she sent her here to be looked after..."

"Why not the medical wing? I know the castle has one..."

"Food poisoning... We've had a few of the regs leave for the Med Wing a few days ago..."

"Huh... The more ya know..."

"Yeah... Alright... Watch her so I can wash off..."

"'Ight..." Gold leaned up against the small divider wall and looked at the poor mare before *TSK*ing. "Poor thing..." Luna growled at him. "Some pony has an attitude..."

"Watch her she bites!" Gold laughed.

"I bet." Silver showered off pretty wuickly and then dried off. He tossed Gold a towel.

"I can trust you to dry her off right?"

"I ain't got any in fourty-eight years... Why would I try now?"

"I'm not to sure... Anyways get her dried up so we can go eat..." Gold nodded and wrapped the towel around Luna. Silver dried off and put on his uniform and laid down next to her. She wrapped around Silver and gripped tight as he got onto his hooves. The small group walked out into the main hall and stopped. There was a sizable crowd waiting to get into the lunch room for breakfast.

"What the hold-up?" Gold asked a petite peagasus mare

"Cookie is just a little late..."

"A little?"

"No he probably has food poisoning like every other pony..."

"Understandable... Did we ever figure out what it was?"

"Bad tomatoes..."

"Really?"

"QUICK GET RID OF ALL THE KETCHUP!" Silver blurted.

"Naw... Just the stuff from last Tuesday was bad... Warden is cutting corners again and bought the shit to far away to make the trip..."

"Hmmmm..." Gold shrugged and walked around to the side entrance. Silver hualed Luna back to the room and gently laid her down on the bottom mattress.

"You're gonna take this aren't you?" Luna just blinked at Silver before rolling over and just ignoring everything. "You know that you got to eat?" Luna didn't say anything. Silver sighed and sat down on the bed. It slunk in just a bit making it feel more depressing than Luna looked. "You're going to be a pain in my flank aren't you?" Luna snorted. "Well, at least you're honest... Alright time to go..." Luna rolled over and latched on to Silver pretty quickly.

Walking back to the cafiteria Silver smiled as he watched ponies happily eat their meals. Biscuts and gravy just like momma use to make. Silver trotted over and grabbed a tray completely forgetting about Luna until she began to slide off. "Buck me..." Silver planted all fours back on the ground and just slid the tray over getting all the fixings for the morning. "Want a banana?" Luna snorted. "You really need to have something else to answer me with than a rude little snort." Luna's muzzle closed in on Silver's ear.

She breathed in deeply and snorted. "Thanks..." Silver got all that he wanted. He didn't mind sharing with Luna because he knew he would get more later from somepony else. He looked around for the small table. The usal group sat there he smiled and trotted over expertly holding the tray full of food in his mouth.

Setting the tray down Silver sat Luna down next to him. She growled at every pony at the table. Silver sighed. "We really need to work on your pony skills." Silver sat down next to Luna on the bench and stuck his spork in the biscuts. "So... Have you all met Luna?" The mares from earlier were sitting across from Luna and they shook their heads. Gold shrugged. Silver socked him in the shoulder making Gold chuckle.

"So Silver, you actually gonna have a marefriend?" A red unicorn mare asked. She was more of a blast of colors comapared to Gold's gray pelt. Her mane was a darker blue with a wierd combination of yellow and red stripes in it. Her cutie mark confused Silver the first time he saw it. It is a hammer and a sickle crossed over each other. She said it was for blacksmithing but Silver laughed.

"Shut up Steel... How's your marefriend working out?" The light mare sitting beside her slammed her hoof on the table in objection.

"That's mahogany!" Gold yelled lowering his head down to the table and gently stroking it while whispering comforting words. The group looked at him like he was crazy. Well, all execpt Luna who was off in her little hell. Every pony went back to the argument at hoof.

"Hey don't talk to my bitch like that!" Motus was almost a blinding white when she sat it the sunand could probably match Celestia is she flared out he wings. Her mane was the only thing that gave her away when she was in a white room. It pretty much controlled itself constantly changing every so often into different collors depending on her mood. Right now it was a blood red with a hint of purple in it. She was joking behind her little raging fit.

"I'm sorry who's the bitch here?" Steel stood up and flexed her muscles making herself look more like a stallion.

"Do I need to backhoof a filly?" Gold asked sitting striaght up.

"Who you calling a filly? Colt!" Steel said looking him in the eye. He slumped back a little admitting defeat. Silver laughed before slugging his friend again.

"Hey Gold I'll be right back I'm gonna get another serving of biscuits and gravy."

"This makes fourteen though!"

"Going for the record!" Gold luaghed and continued to watch the fueding pair.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here." Silver turned around from his arguing friends to see two large stallions. A red one and a yellow one. They had matching manes that were blue and grey with a green stripe down the middle.

"I think this is a Lowly Luna." The yellow one said poking Luna.

"I thin k you're right brother of mine!" The red one poked at Luna too. Silver swatted their hooves away and stood up. They were taller than Silver by a long shot but they definately weren't as smart.

"You two must be new!" Silver said with a big fat smile and some fake cheer. "Well, let me tell you a few of the rules here... You don't buck with my friends and you DEFINATELY don't buck with me, I'm the boss around here... Now, this half of the lunch room here," Silver waved his hooves in an invisible line. "This is the experienced side where we don't buck with each other and know what to do. Your half is a bunch of new colts on the block who think they are cool. Now is there any questions before I have Snowflake bash your heads in?" They looked at Silver and then each other before laughing.

"You the boss? HAHAHAHA!!!! Don't make me luagh!" The red one said nudging his brother who was luaghing even harder. He slowed down to wipe a tear from his eye.

"And who's this Snowflake? She sounds like a push over to me!" They both luaghed harder than before. Silver shook his head.

"You two just made a BIG mistake..." He leaned down and whispered to them before standing straight up. "HEY SNOWFLAKE!" Silver said in a very filly like voice. The two looked at each other and couldn't even stop from crying they were luaghing so hard.

*CRUNCH*

The pair stopped luaghing as the floor shook benieth them. A large and extremely muscled hoof wrapped around each of them. A large white head of a stallion pushed its way between them. He pulled them together against his extremely muscled body and snorted.

"It seems some new fillies here are making fun of my friends... Well... I don't take to kindly to that... I think you tow have some very purdy mouths... I'm gonna enjoy my new bitches, thanks Silver!" He pulled them closer and dragged them off as they cried like little foals.

"I love to see Snowflake screw with the new colts..." Luna slumped against Silver at that moment. She didn't look to good.

"Sorry guys but Luna takes priority here..." He picked her up and slung her over his back before picking up the banana in his mouth. "Buhh guhhs!" He waved a hoof before walking off to the room.

Silver spat out the banana on the small metal shelf that the dinners sat on at night. He laid Luna down in the bed. She was sweating a little bit but it was really hot in this room for some reason. Silver grabbed the banana and peeled it. He gently nudged Luna waking her from her inner demons. "Hey... I know it's not the best time but you need some food and now..." She nodded and opened her mouth letting Silver put small pieves of the yellow fruit into her mouth. "I can't chew for your lazy flank..." She rolled her eyes while he fed her.

Luna passed out after being fed. Silver sighed sitting on the bed like a parent with a sick foal. He raised his hoof up to her head to check her temperature. She was cold. "Just a little overload from the day... You're gonna love it here..." Silver sighed again before running off to the yard.

As We Move On

Chapter Three:

As We Move On

As the weeks went by Luna slowly grew more accustom to Silver watching her every move. She had to be drug to the shower and forced to eat. Other than the shower she wouldn't leave the room but she would walk around it every so often when Silver thought she was to cramped up in the bed. Every day while playing chess with Crystal she would ask how Luna was coming along. Silver never had good news for her but Crystal kind of expected that.

"Celestia is coming to visit her sister tomorrow and you need to show her you're taking good care of her... Otherwise I get in trouble... And if I get in trouble, you're going to be in some deep shit my friend..." Silver nodded before ending the game. Crystal had played a little distracted and set herself up. "Buck you..." Silver laughed before standing up to leave. "I mean it Silver... Celestia doesn't put up with horseshit..."

"I got ya... I can handle this Crystal... Just keep on supporting this and it should go smoothly..."

"Fine... But I would like some results soon..." Silver nodded before walking out of the door. He accidently bumped into a pony on the way out.

"Oh sorry..." He said not looking at the pony before walking off.

Silver looked at the large alicorn in front of him. Crystal had said she would come by today but he really didn't expect at four in the morning. He almost had the mind to curse at the pony who woke him but then zipped his lip when he saw the princess.

"So... What can I do ya for?" Silver asked as he picked his jaw up off the floor. Celestia chuckled and pushed the tall unicron aside. She knelt down to her sister and took a good look. She stood back up and stared hard at Silver.

"Look here punk... I know your only in here because you're tight on money, but I'm offering you a chance to redeem yourself... It's simple really, you make my sister better and you get out when she does... I'm giving you two years to do this okay... I've seen ponies in deeper slumps than this but it's going to take some time... If you need anything I will be here to help... Also I will check in on you two monthly... Maybe not early in the morning but I will still show up."

"Uhm... Okay..." Celestia stalked out of the room and closed the door silently. Silver looked at the doorway blankly. He heard the sheets ruffle a little and he jumped when he saw Luna sanding in front of him. He sighed. "Luna please don't do that..." She just pushed him out of the way and walked over to the door.

Luna peeped her head through the small window and then walked back to Silver. He looked at her worridly. "Something wrong Luna?" She shook her head and crawled back into bed. Silver sighed again. He was going to have to get use to this.

Months rolled by and soon it was late autumn. Silver was out in the yard more often enjoying the cool air in the warm sun. He finally paid off the guard yesterday and he waited for him to show up. Thiss was going to be a great day indeed. He would get Luna out of the room later and he would finally get to read the book every pony had been buzzing about for some time.

Gold walked up to him and waved his hoof in Silver's face. He didn't notice. "Hey Equestria to Silver!" Silver jumped a little and then blinked. He looked up at Gold.

"Oh hey, what's up?" Gold pointed to a nearby guard.

"He's got it..."

"Bout time!" Silver raced off to the guard and stopped short. It wasn't the same guard at all. He looked about the same but the new guard was a little taller and leaner. "Uhm... Excuse me?"

"Oh, you must be Silver Band!" The guard said cheerfully.

"Yeah... So can I have it?" The guard blinked.

"Huh? Oh yeah..." He pulled a large book out of his saddle bag and gave it to Silver. Silver took a quick glance over it. Brand new and it even had that new book smell. Like any other self respecting ponies he had his share of secrets He loved books but didn't like others to know.

"Thanks!" Silver said before rushing out of the yard.

When Silver closed the cell door and walked into the room casually he stopped when he saw Luna sitting up in the bed. She just sat there looking at the chair that sat in the corner.

"You okay Luna?" She turned and looked dully at him. With a quick nod she curled up and continued to stare the chair down. "I'm just gonna sit here okay?" She just blinked. Pulling out the book he sighed and flipped through the acknowledgements and chapter list. He looked at the title and smiled. My Second Life: The Story Begins by a one Coal Buck. Luna coughed which made Silver look up. "Something wrong?" Luna cleared her throat.

"Is that My Second Life?" She croaked. Silver's jaw hit the floor. He sat there for a minute staring at her.

"Di-did... Did you just speak?" Luna nodded. Silver smiled before hopping up and pouncing on Luna and hugging her. "Yay! Making progress!" Luna pushed him off and growled.

"Is it?" Luna asked him again.

"What? Oh! Yes." Silver picked up the book he had thrown to hug Luna. He showed her the large hardback book. "It took me forever to get it..." Luna nodded and pushed Silver a little further away.

"Read it to me..." Her voice was very hoarse. Silver nodded and sat down in the chair.

Silver clears his throat and turns the page to chapter one. "Six a.m. rolls around and my alarm goes off. I jump out of bed and stop the alarm before the third beep. “Why do alarm clocks have to be so damn obnoxious!?” I swear under my breath. “Auuuugh! I really need to stop doing this! I don’t have to work until 3:00 p.m. today! Why do I keep getting up so early!?”

I slide into my computer chair, getting comfortable, before turning on the monitor. Once the flash is over and my sight returns to me, the silhouette of Rainbow Dash as my desktop background graces my eyes. “Oh yeah, that’s why.”

The next several hours pass with my reading of fanfiction and checking Equestria Daily and My Little Brony Meme Base for new material. Currently, my desire for anything and everything pony is what solely gives me joy in life. You see, I have always been a bit introverted. I have had people I would call “buddies” in the past, but we were only close due to circumstance. We were friends because we went to the same school or worked the same job, but once life took over, each friendship would end without a single word being spoken about it. Those friendships simply ended as if they had never existed in the first place.

Silver continued on for a few chapters and set the book down. "Alright I think I'm done for the night..." He looked out the door to see the lights out and he sighed. He had read way longer than he should have. Luna lay in the bed and looked at Silver.

"Keep reading..." Silver shook his head and moved to get up onto his bunk.

"No, I need some sleep..." He stopped when he saw the book levitate over to Luna and she waved it around a little.

"Just a few more chapters?" Silver sighed.

"Fine but just a few more..." He reached out for the book but Luna kept it out of his reach. "Oh come on give it..." She shook her head.

"I want to actually read it and I know you do too..." She sat the book down next to her. Silver crawled into the bunk and rested his head against a pillow and held up the book. Luna opened it to the page bookmarked and set the mark down on the small shelf next to the beds. Luna scooted closer to Silver and rested her head next to his to read the book along with him.

Silver sat there reading quietly when Luna cleared her throat. "What?"

"Read it to me..." Silver sighed and began to read. Luna turned the pages when he got close enough and held the book up with her magic. He read through two more chapters before he finally stopped. The book itself was a good hundred chapters at least. He didn't know he skipped the chapter list.

Silver crawled out of the bunk and crawled up to his own. "Good night Luna..."

"Good night..." Silver fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Silver walked into the Rec. room and sat down at the usual board and began setting up the pieces. Crystal arrived right on time as soon as the last piece was put into place. Instead of sitting down she stopped and pulled the ring off his horn. Silver looked up to her with his mouth agape.

"Just got the orders today. I wasn't surprised since you've been doing a good job with Luna and all... Maybe you'll get out early... Anyways how has she been?"

"Same as always... Quiet and passive... Oh! I did get her to eat most of breakfast... Though she's still so scrawny..."

"I agree... You're first... It just takes time Silver... You don't remember when you arrived?" Silver stopped for a moment and sighed. He remembered just a few years ago. He looked and felt just as defeated as Luna was now.

"Don't remind me..." Crystal rested a hoof on Silver's shoulder.

"Hey, everything is going to be fine... You just can't give up hope..."

"Yeah that's what they all say... But the only real improvement was when I started reading the book. I don't think I can help her in a few years... Maybe after a long term but that's it..." He ended up getting his cutie mark in the prison. Silver use to be very depressed. He ended up bunking with an older stallion who was just as bad maybe even worse. After a while the two became a pair of good friends and ended up getting the stallion out and back on to his hooves.

Later that week Gold had complimented him on him cutie mark and that sparked their friendship. He has a nice little silver watch brandished on his flank showing off his therapy ability. He helps ponies with problems every now and then but this is putting stress on him and usually he's not as tense but he just had a nagging feeling. Crystal saw it in his eyes.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I just need some sleep..." He tipped he king over and walked away. He didn't even use his magic to close the door.

Sometimes Winter Isn't the Coldest

Author's Notes:

I'd like to thank you all for sticking in this far! This has been a five month project I still haven't finished...

Warning: This is the last prewritten chapter I have currently and the next may not make my daily deadline...

Warning: This may also have some grammatical and spelling errors as my editor is an ass and won't speed up his reading... Please leave a comment if you find a mistake...

Chapter Four:

Sometimes Winter Isn't the Coldest

As the days rolled on Silver fell into another groove. Wake up and drag Luna to shower then breakfast and then go to the yard for a little while it was warm then come back for lunch and chess with Crystal, who always asked for an update, and then dinner and finally reading with Luna. It turns out the book was a lot bigger than they had thought. It had a magical property that let it hold more pages than it looked like. Apparently each book in the trilogy held a thousand chapters. Some very large and some pretty small but there was a lot of reading to do at their four chapters a night pace.

"Okay I think we're done for the night..." Silver said putting the bookmark in and setting over on the shelf. Silver sighed and looked down. He hadn't noticed that Luna's fore hoof was across his body. He looked over at the dark mare who was snuggled into his shoulder. His own fore hoof was wrapped around her and holding her side.

He lifted her hoof off and tried to roll her off his foreleg. She grunted as she rolled over. Silver sat up and leaned over the edge. He rested his head on his hooves and rubbed his eyes before sighing. This felt like foal sitting full time. He did that for a long time as well. Wasn't the best of jobs but it paid the bills for a while.

"Silver?" Luna whispered. Silver sighed.

"Yeah?" He felt hooves wrap around him and pull him back a bit.

"Here come sleep down here tonight. It's a little warmer." Silver felt cold but he thought he could make it through the night without the extra heat.

"You cold?"

"Yeah..." Silver laid back and pulled the blanket up over them. They laid back to back and soon fell asleep under the warm covers.

Silver awoke with a wide yawn. Smacking his lips he opened his eyes to see himself wrapped around Luna. He backed up and rolled out of the bed. Luna yawned and sat up on her haunches. "Come on. Shower time."

Luna crawled onto Silver's back and laid there as he walked off into the long halls of the prison.

Winter came quick and kept most of the ponies indoors and bundled up. There wasn't any heat in the building that rested on the side of the mountain. Fires were lit here and there and ponies that had magical abilities kept them going all of the time. Silver had his share of times at the fire and he even dragged Luna along when he had to go. She wasn't to happy about leaving the room but she stopped complaining when they reached the fire.

"Roll over..." Silver said to a shivering Luna. "Come one curl up and try to hold still." Luna tried her best to curl up into a ball and have Silver wrap himself around her. It was an extremely cold night and for Luna it was probably a frozen hell. He pulled the covers tighter around the pair and tried to warm her up with his breath.

"I'-I-I-'m so-o-o-so c-c-cold..." Silver frowned and hugged her tighter. There wasn't much more he could do to keep her warm. There was three sets of blankets covering them.

"I'm sorry..." He rubbed her back gently. "I can't light a fire in here..."

"I know..." She sneezed surprising the both of them.

"Woah there!" Silver laughed. Luna growled at Silver who just chuckled. They sat there for a while before Silver had an idea. "Luna?"

"Hmmm?" She mumbled.

"How much do you trust me?"

"What?"

"I said, how much do you trust me..."

"You're the only pony I trust right now..." She popped her head up and looked in him the eyes. "Why?"

"I think I can help you..." He rolled her over on her back and hovered over her trying not to crush her frail body. Luna blushed at the suggestive position before turning away and looking at him with one eye.

"I don't know how this is gonna help."

"Well I haven't told you the idea yet." Luna turned back to him and looked at him with utter confusion.

"What was your idea?" It was Silver's turn to blush as he lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"Well, I kinda know a way to warm you up and fast... But I needed to know if you would trust me..." Luna's muzzled Silver.

"Of course I trust you." Silver lightly nibbled her ear. "What... Mmm..." As the night dragged on Luna wasn't cold any more.

Spring time came and everything warmed up and looked a little brighter. Even Luna seemed a little cheerier even though they had stopped sleeping together. Since it was such a nice day Silver decided it was time to drag Luna outside for once. He threw on his uniform and made sure Luna was dressed before he led her out into the open. It was a bright day and Luna was instantly blinded from the light.

"Ah! It hurts!" Luna yelled as she backed up rubbing her eyes. Silver wrapped a hoof around her and coaxed her to open her eyes.

"Open them slowly..." She did as he said. As her vision started to clear up she got a good view of the prison yard. Close to the building was a large set of lifting equipment that some ponies were working out at. Further away were two basketball courts and a few ponies shooting hoops. Out in the center of the yard was an open space where a few ponies were break dancing on a few broken down boxes. Further back sat two volleyball courts in sand. Over on the other side close to the building sat a lounging area were most ponies sat. She instantly headed for a nearby chair in the shade. Silver followed her and took a seat right by her more in the sun.

Gold trotted up to the pair with Motus and Steel close behind. He looked happy to see Silver. They hadn't talked much since winter went into full swing. Motus' mane was a yellow but it was hard to see behind her bright coat. Steel finally got her magic back and was abusing it by dragging a poor stallion by the ear.

"I see you finally got out of that cave you call a cell."

"Oh shush!" Motus said. She could be extremely violent when she gets pissed but other than that she is sensitive and a jokester. Silver learned this when a younger stallion tried getting her attention in the cafeteria. Lets just say the hospital wing had quite a few new ponies they had to tend to. "Can't you see he's hanging with his marefriend." Silver rolled his eyes.

"So what's up?" Silver asked the group.

"Well," Gold said sounding like a little filly. "we were going to play some volleyball but as you see we area little uneven on teams and I didn't want to dominate them to bad." This earned him a slug in the shoulder from Steel.

"Look we're playing a game wanna join in?" Silver looked at Luna who was reading My Second Life. She looked up to Silver and looked over to Gold and the mares.

"Go have fun." She said waving a hoof before burying herself back in the book. Gold's, Steel's and Motus' jaw hit the ground. Silver shrugged and looked to his friends.

"Did..." Steel said.

"... she just..." Motus continued her sentence before stopping herself.

"TALK?!" Gold said rather loudly making the few ponies in the chairs next to the group grumble in annoyance. Silver nodded and walked off taking the ball away from Motus.

"So you coming or are you just gonna sit there and gawk at Luna?" The group picked their jaws up and turned around to go to the court. "So stallions on mares?"

"Yeah." Gold replied.

"That doesn't sound fair... Oh yeah no magic and no wings!" Silver called back at the giggling mares.

"So what are we playing to?" Steel asked.

"That depends on when you want to give up!" Gold replied.

"We'll see about that!" Steel rushed ahead of the stallions. Silver laughed and rushed forward and waited for the others to catch up. Silver served first and the game started off pretty smoothly with the stallions winning all of them. After a quick break they got back to the court.

"Okay mares, I guess we could go easy on you for once."

"We won't go easy on you anymore!"

"Wait, wha-" A white ball slammed his face and knocked him back.

"Point for us!" Steel said pounding Motus' hoof. The new game went by as hell for the stallions as the mares dominated them with each ball. Some even popped as they hit Gold repeatedly. Silver sort of lost interest after a while and sat out to watch Gold get pummeled. He sighed and lowered his head with his eyes closed. He felt a soft hoof run down his back.

Silver looked up to see Luna watching the game. "Hey... Why you over here?" Luna didn't answer him she just ran a hoof down his back again before walking off. "Wait where are you going?" He stood up and followed her back into the cell block. She didn't stop until she reached their cell where she just laid down on the bunk. "What's wrong Luna?"

"Nothing just tired is all..." Silver sighed and crawled into bed next to her wrapping his hooves around her.

"You're a bad liar you know that?" She nodded and got comfortable.

Silver couldn't sleep tonight he just had the strangest feeling something was going to happen. It didn't take long but he saw it. Two large blue eyes popped over the edge glowing in the dark. They were Luna's alright. He half way closed his eyes to make itlook like he was sleeping. She crawled up and laid next to him. He was laying on his side limply hoping she would go away but she turned her back and scooted closer.

Silver got a little nervous but then again he kind of wanted to cuddle. She scooted closer and closer and then finally stopped just shy of his hooves. Then she backed up again bumping them just slightly. Silver wanted to luagh a little but then stopped himself.

Luna backed up rather forcefully the next time and Silver let instinct take over and wrapped her close to him. He didnt think about it and it just kind of happened. He wondered how long she had been sneaking up to sleep with him. Well, that was the first question, the second was why sneak around. Luna fell asleep rather quickly and he burried his muzzle into the back of her neck and soon he drifted off.

The next morning Silver woke to his expectations. Luna wasn't there. He crawled to the edge and peeped over to look into Luna's bunk. She was sleeping soundly in the far back.

"Hmmm... I wonder..." Silver mumbled to himself.

The day went on just like they always do and when it came time to hit the hay Silver curled up in his bunk and stared at the edge waiting. Sure enough at about the same time two large blue eyes could be found looking over the edge. She sat there a little longer than last night but soon she just made her way right up to him and planted her self close and stared. Silver was trying his hardest to resist the urge to look up.

Luna laid down and Silver latched onto her immediately and let the warm embrace of sleep take him.

As spring slowly turned to summer Silver began loosing weight and fast. His friends noticed and confronted him on many occasions but just couldn't seem to get him to eat enough. Sure he ate a bit of food but it wasn't a feast like he normally had. He never went back for twelfths on biscuits and gravy day and he didn't even go back to get extras on dandelion sandwich day.

"Come on man eat!" He just waved his hoof.

"Nah, some pony else can have it."

"This ain't like you Silver... You didn't even get a second helping of biscuits and gravy!"

"I know... I ain't that hungry..." Silver said finishing the last of his tray before pushing it away. Luna sat next to him just looking off in the distance. She hadn't said much since the volleyball game and even then it was only when they were alone. Silver couldn't look at her without have the pain of guilt throb in his chest. He felt bad for what happened that winter night. He asked if she trusted him but didn't ask if he could trust himself.

"Okay but don't cry to me when you start getting hunger pains..." Steel said slipping him an ice cream cup from last night. He just pushed it away and sighed.

"Come on Luna..." Silver tapped her on the shoulder and walked away. He sighed as he took the last step out of the cafeteria.

Inside Us All

Author's Notes:

Again an unpreread chapter... I'm fairly confident but if you find a mistake leave a comment...

Also shoutout to my editor who takes four days on a 6k chapter!

Thanks for reading,

-Dashie

Chapter Six

Inside Us All

Silver lay in bed propping his head up with his hooves as he stared at the ceiling. Things could have been better but they could have been worse too. He didn't know what to do and he could tell anyone that it was killing him on the inside. Luna snuggled a little closer and yawned. She wasn't awake but it kind of reminded him of his old cat Purdy. Terrible name but she was seven years old and he didn't know how long she would last.

He sighed as he wrapped a hoof around Luna. He couldn't really stop her from sneaking up into his bunk at night but he couldn't blame her either. There was more than just depression she was caught up in. Trust issues, mild shyness and even an eating disorder. She was a wreck but she was getting better day by day. He idlely ran his hoof up and down her back as he sighed yet again.

As the past few days slipped by he had read most of the book to her and given her his food. He sighed there wasn't much left to give her. His thoughts were interupted as a muzzle nudged his chin. He looked down at Luna who stared back up with her large orbs.

"You need sleep," Silver smirked at her and nodded.

"Yeah I know I do but I got a few things on my mind," Luna frowned at him her eyes quivering back and forth as she focused on him.

"You need sleep..." Silver took a deep breath and pulled her closer.

"I know... I know..." Silver's eyes felt heavy as he yawned trying to keep his thoughts jogging but he looked to Luna who kept staring him as his eyes shut and he faded off into the sweet nothingness.

Silver woke to an empty bed as he expected. He couldn't put his hoof on it but it felt better if he woke up with her. Shrugging he hopped off the bed and was surprised to find and already awake mare sitting on the lower bunk.

"You're late," She growled a little grogily. "Hurry up I'm hungry..." Silver smiled at her and got a little grin back.

"It's a start," He mumbled under his breath as she crawled out from the bed and stood next to him. The day went on as normal and when yardtime rolled around she was right beside Silver the whole time. Opting for a chair today they sat in the shade and watched the other ponies as they went on with their lives. It felt peaceful outside.

"You don't need to sleep on the top," Silver was taken aback at the sudden comment from his companion.

"What?"

"Lay with me tonight," After shaking his head clearing his thoughts for the moment he looked over to her as she lay down eyes closed on the laid out chair.

"O-okay," She cracked an eyelid and looked at him.

"Did I hear hesitation?" Silver screwed his face up at her and sighed.

"Hey Silver!" Gold yelled from the basketball court.

"Yeah?!"

"We need another player! Mind stepping in for a while?" Gold didn't need for him to answer to know that he wouldn't come over. "Nevermind, just relax for a while!" Silver nodded his face telling his tale. Usually he would rush out and join but relaxing felt good in the warm summer day. A slight chill in the air told everypony that autum would be around the corner soon.

"I'm going in for a nap..." Silver got to his hooves and stretched a little before trotting off with a slightly annoyed Luna trailing behind him.

Silver's joints screamed in protest as he moved out to the main hall. Luna jittered her way behind him as a blast of cold air hit them like a wall when the door opened. It was easy to keep it nice and cool during the summer but winter was when hell froze over, literally. Luna shuffled the blanket around her and Silver pulled his closer. They worked their way over to the mess hall where a few barrels with fires were roaring.

Guards kept the flames going each rotating out every so often. It was a real controlled system and yet it felt like life had thrown them into the shitter and tried to flush them away only clogging it in the process. Gold waved them over to a barrel and they huddled together.

"I heard that soon their putting in those enchanted stones..." Motus muttered through a chattering muzzle. Steel nodded and hugged her closer.

"Who needs those when you got a marefriend this hot?" They both blushed and Gold grumbled something about not sharing the fun.

"You don't have those yet?" They all shook their heads. "We got one a while ago..."

"Well lucky you mister 'Take the princess back to your bed every night'!" Silver sighed.

"If it makes you any better you can have it... And we don't sleep together..." Luna's brow raised up as she stared at him curiously.

"Do not deny what they already know Silver..." Steel looked over and growled.

"You could share you know?" Rolling his eyes Silver smacked a cold hoof against his numb nose.

"We're not having sex..." Motus snorted.

"Bullshit... I gaurentee you two have sex at least once a week!" Luna stepped forward and stared down the smaller mare.

"That, my dear subject, was not a lie..." Gold busted up and fell to the floor.

"Ha! She told you!" The pair of mares frowned at the old stallion as he got up wiping a tear from his eye.

"And you, I will not tolerate your grumpy attitude..." This earned her a jaw that hit the floor.

"Attitude? Well I'll show you an-" Silver put his hooves up to seperate the two.

"Enough... I've had it with you all... You all bicker over this and that... We weren't like this you know? Now you sit here and complain because of a little cold? We've faced winters much harsher than this. Why can't we all just be the friends we use to be? Huh? Is that to much to ask for?" All muzzles faced the floor as he looked over them. "Well is it?"

"No..." Came the collective answer.

"I thought so... Now please... For the love of Equestria shut up and get over it..."

"He's right... I'm sorry Silver... I just got a little carried away is all," Nodding Silver turned to Motus who was rubbing her shoulder.

"Yeah, sorry Silver," Gold grumbled.

"You're a crazy colt of a bitch some times, but I love ya and I shouldn't have griped..." Silver smiled and hugged them all in turn before turning to the Princess of the Night.

"My apologies... If you want the heating rock you may have it until the others arrive..."

"Nah... Keep it..." Luna shook her head and walked away. Silver coughed as soon as she rounded the corner which turned into a violent hacking. "You okay buddy?" He shook his head.

"No, I feel terrible... I'm sick and I don't want to tell her..."

"You should... The last thing you should ever do to a mare is not tell her what is wrong," Steel said concerned. Motus silently agreed.

"Yeah Silver, we all know you're getting just as bad as her if not worse... Like I said, I love ya and I can't have you giving up on us as a group," Silver looked over and the mares just stared him down coldly.

"I know, I know... There isn't much I can do now okay I just need some time to myself... Celestia may let me out if her sister gets better and I really would love for that to happen but I know I'm serving my time in here... The best I'm getting is a pat on the back and a good job and that worries me... And I like her... And I-"

"Hold up... You like Luna?" Silver nodded and frowned.

"That's another thing I'm gonna miss... Once she's cleared, which I suggested to Crystal she was ready, I'm gonna be lonely..."

"Tell her how you feel... You're being such a foal about this... You're pussy footing about nothing... Stallion up and grow a pair!" Steel said getting muzzle to muzzle with him.

"Fine! I tell her some time this week... Okay?"

"You better or I'm telling her for you... We may put you down for it but if you like her you deserve her... I heard she was on the brink of death... I was there when you brought her in and gave her a shower... She looks like her old self now and you deserve a good mare... You work hard and get close to nothing in return! If you don't take this chance and let it slip by... You're stupider than anypony that has ever existed!" Everypony around the pit was listening and nodding along as Gold spoke.

"Yeah!"

"Go for it!"

"Stallion up you colt!"

"Go get her!"

"Just tell her!" The ponies around the pit all but shouted at him. Silver's cheek turned a bright red and shown even more as the flames flickered and shown off his embarassment.

"ALRIGHT! I'll do it but-" His sentence was interupted by another round of hacking.

After a while Luna returned holding her blanket extra close. She sat down next to him and nuzzled him. "I put the stone in your room Gold, Steel, Motus..." They frowned but thanked her. The group watched carefully as Silver looked up to her but then turned away quickly.

"I'm tired..."

"So how is she?"

"I told you already... She can leave anytime..." He growled.

"You don't want her to do you?"

"No..."

"What are you gonna do when she leaves you behind?"

"Nothing..."

"I'm concerned for your health Silver."

"Join the group..."

"You know you have to form a queue if you want food..."

"What?"

"Nothing... Look, go get some grub and come back... We'll talk about this later..."

"Alright..." He stood up and left.

Holding Luna close Silver sighed. It was a colder than last night and it would only get worse day by day. His belly rumbled and he rubbed it softly. Only time would decide his fate.

The Gift of Prophecy

Chapter Six
The Gift of Prophecy

"So you're telling me that he requested her release?", asked Celestia.

"Yes... Quite a few times in fact... I was really hesitant to tell you because he doesn't look to good himself," Celestia frowned at the warden's response.

"You know you shouldn't have withheld this information from me, right?"

"Yes, I knew I shouldn't have done that, but I was really concerned about Silver."

"I understand that, but we could have given him the support he needed ahead of time instead of letting him slip. I owe him, more than any other pony I will ever know. He saved my sister, and I know I seem a little selfish for not motivating him with items that I could give him, instead of the ethereal thoughts I filled him with."

"No Princess, don't blame yourself. It's both of our faults. And playing the blame game won't fix the problem either."

"You're right... I'm going to speak to him... I'm hoping to let them out sometime after Winter lets up."

"That sounds perfectly fine to me. I'll get the paperwork going and have it ready when you come to let them out."

"Wonderful!" Celestia smiled and let herself out of the office.

Silver sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his eyes with his forehooves, trying to clear his head. Luna was somewhere, roaming around the prison, as he had asked. He flopped back and groaned. This is where he would be stuck. Alone and bored like always. The door creaked open and a familiar figure strode into the small cell.

"I got your letter of recommendation. Is she ready?" Celestia questioned.

"Yes, I told you twelve times already. I think she's well enough to go out and rule Equestria along your side. She needs a little attention though... I don't know how you plan on doing it, but she's a full-grown mare now and probably should get a relationship or something... I don't know what to say," Celestia frowned at Silver and pawed at the ground.

"So she just needs a friend?"

"Yeah, I guess..."

"Thank you for your service... I'll dismiss her when the season changes," Silver nodded. "You'll be released and get a start on your new life with anything you want... Within reason of course."

"Of course... Thanks, and could I ask one thing, before you leave?"

"Yes?"

"You think you could possibly let my friends out and give them a start as well?" Celestia tapped her chin and looked away thoughtfully.

"If it's part of what you want then I guess it falls within reason... Do you understand they will not receive the same start as you? The best I could give them is just a simple apartment with enough bits to last a few months."

"If that's what I get as well, then that is perfectly reasonable," Celestia smiled and turned to leave.

"Thank you very much! I'm glad my sister is doing better and I'll work on that heating problem this facility seems to have," He chuckled.

"Yeah I should have complained years ago."

"No, I should have funded this project better than what I have given it," Silver smiled and Celestia left with a chuckle and some words of advice. "Pursue your dreams with all your heart, otherwise they'll just slip away."

Silver slumped back into the bed and curled up under the sheets. It was going to be a long night.

Silver woke with a start as a firm hoof prodded him. "Wha-! Oh hey Luna," Her face was grim. "What's wrong?"

"You," Silver stared at her befuddled.

"Uhm, what?"

"You're bothering me," He frowned and looked away from her.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He crawled out from under his cozy hiding spot and hung his head as he shied away.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"I thought you said you were annoyed with me?" Luna chuckled and shook her head.

"No, not like that! I said you were bothering me!" Silver scrunched up his face and dropped his jaw.

"How is that any better?!"

"Well, I meant..." Luna rubbed the back of her neck and Silver stared her down.

"Yes?"

"I meant I don't like how you act... It's just that you're always so sad that I just-"

"Just what? Hmm? There's nothing wrong with me..."

"NOTHING WRONG? LOOK AT YOU! YOU USE TO DO EVERYTHING WITH YOUR FRIENDS! NOW YOU JUST MOPE AROUND HERE ALL DAY!" Luna yelled, slipping into her Royal Canterlot Voice. Silver righted himself and pulled his mane down instead of leaving it stuck in mid air.

"Uhm... Okay?" Silver replied as Luna growled at him and then pulled him really close and held him tightly.

"Look I just wanted to say that I liked you better when you went out and did things."

Silver sighed and nodded. "Okay so I've been a little under the weather lately so what?"

"A little?"

"Okay I'm a wreck! Get off my case!" He pushed away from her and smacked his face into the wall. "I just a few things on my mind, and I can't really make go away in an instant."

"What's wrong?" Luna questioned as Silver repeatedly smashed his face into the wall.

"Nothing!" He whipped around and huffed his breath growing shorter.

"Obviously there is if you're all worked up like this. I've been watching you."

"Ironic..." He muttered.

"What was that?"

"I said it's ironic how I'm supposed to be looking after you for your sister, and yet you're the one watching me..." Silver said.

Luna thought about it for a second before nodding her agreement. "Yes I guess so."

"Besides I don't think you'd care anyways..." Silver muttered.

"What?"

"Oh forget it..." Silver walked away with a heavy head. Luna enveloped him in her blue aura and whipped him around staring him down.

"I'm not done yet... Now what did you say?"

"I said, you don't care about me..."

"Really? Did I not just say I don't like the way you act? Is that not caring?"

"No! It's not! That's just you complaining about me!"

"No it's not! I've had it with what you're doing to yourself! You act like nothing matters any more! What has gotten into you?" Luna yelled.

Silver sighed and fixed his mane again. "You really need to stop yelling... And nothing is wrong... I just..."

"Hmmm?"

"I like you okay?!" Silver exclaimed. "I wanted to leave and maybe spend some more time with you... But I didn't think you would care about some commoner who got thrown into a poor house because he can't pay for anything anymore." Luna sighed and set him down.

"I do care... I'm sorry..." She walked out and closed the door quietly. Silver cursed himself for blowing his chance.

"I'm such an idiot..."

Author's Notes:

Special thanks to Ultra for the preread and edit!

Also story will be up and flowing again... Hopefully with chapters longer than this one, I just got really distracted...

On a sadder note the story will be ending soon and that kind of makes me go damnit...

Thanks for reading!
-Dashie

Picking up the Pieces

Chapter 7

Picking up the Pieces

Silver walked around for a while shivering a little from the weather but he couldn't care less. His mind was racing with things he should have said to defuse the situation better than he had, but it just came out wrong and a little more truthfully than he'd like to put it. After what felt like an eternity he began his journey back to the room and slunk in. Luna was laying on the bed and upon seeing him enter proceeded to roll over and look away from him. She was clearly pissed by Silver's standards but those meant nothing now.

"You know you could at least be a little curtious when looking away from somepony..." Silver said crestfallen. Luna only snorted and turned her head enough to look at him with a single eye.

"You know you could at least be a little straight forward with a mare sometimes!" Silver was taken a back at the hostility in Luna's voice, "I mean seriously!" Rolling over and getting up she stared him dead in the eyes, her lips in a neutral line and her wings spread wide, "I know that you're trying to look after me and help me recover, I understand that. What I don't get is that you let yourself fall down that slippery slope right after helping me off of it." She finished softly making Silver's head fall towards the ground, his eyes finding a small dot to focus on.

Silver was shaken by her tone, getting softer as it went but all the the more frightening. He'd never seen his princess angry before and if this was any indicator of what she was like, he would have probably cried. His chest puffed out as he inhaled deeply taking in as much as he could before meeting Luna's gaze once more.

"I'm sorry..." Silver's lip quivered as he spoke, "I'm sorry I let myself slip up. I'm sorry you have to deal with my shit on a daily basis. I'm sorry you even got to know me." Silver's voice rose as tears lined the edges of his shaking orbs, "I'm sorry you're a stuck up bitch that can't take a fucking compliment after beating herself up over the same shit thinking it is completely okay to go off and say no body loves her when I stood up to my friends basically poured my heart out on the table and then am expected to follow through with something that wasn't socially acceptable in the first place!" Huffing and growling as he finished, Silver fell to the floor weeping like a babe.

Luna was surprised, she was leaning back hoof raised in defense but never needing to use it and her wings were as far out as they could possibly reach standing straight out from her back. She took a step forward and rest a soft hoof on his side and rubbing him ever so slightly, "Silver... I-I... I should be the one who is sorry. I didn't know I was causing you pain as well. After my return I felt great to be back home and with family, yet it felt like something was missing. I thought ponies would love me again and shower me with letters and gifts and the likes to show their love and appreciation. I didn't think to wait and maybe see them slowly start to pour in, I had just expected them. In the old days it was almost mandatory to thank the princesses for the gifts they had graced the land with." A drawn out sigh escaped Luna's lips as she whispered to Silver.

Silver sniffled and tried his best to regain his composure but it was very hard to do in front of the night princess, "R-really?" He managed to squeak out. Luna nodded with a small smile bringing one to Silver's own face, "I'm sorry I broke down like that. I've been having a real stressful year is all." Luna nodded and helped him up to his hooves plopping down on her rump holding a hoof on his shoulder for support.

Clearing the tears from his eyes he smiled at Luna before chuckling a little making her very confused. The slight chuckled turned into uproarious laughter as Silver fell back clutching his sides as best he could. Luna tilted her head to the side feeling her anger spark once again, "What's so funny?" She spat out.

Silver froze in an instant and swallowed hard, "Well... Um, you see..."

"See what?" She asked threateningly.

"I think its a little funny how we had a little bit of a venting session... I don't usually get involved with those..." Silver said sitting up again. He reached out to hug her smiling wide. Luna looked at him like he was crazy and turning Silver's smile upside down. Laughing she wrapped him up and squeezed him tightly.

"Thanks Luna." He said quietly and happily.

"No, thank you Silver." Luna gave him a small kiss making Silver's cheeks glow red from embarrassment making Luna bust out laughing, which in turn made his cheeks deepen in color even more. Letting go of him she stood up and crawled into the bed pawing at the spot on the bed next to her. Her anger having dissipated. Silver hopped in with her quickly finding his way under the covers and reached out to cuddle with her.

"You never told me how you felt about me you know..." Silver mumbled not really wanting to touch the topic but feeling it necessary at the moment. Luna's forelegs curled around his body and pulled him closer to her. Sighing Luna thought for a moment.

"I like you too, but..." Silver's heart skipped a beat at the mention of 'but', "I don't know if I like you as more than a friend... Or in this current case... A cuddle buddy..."

"A cuddle buddy?" Silver asked earning a shrug from Luna. "We can work on it I guess."

Over the next few days Silver scarfed down loads of food and packed on the pounds getting to a normal weight in no time at all. Luna ended up spooning with him every night as her little encouragement for him to get better. Luna herself was getting better as well.

Author's Note

NO, THE STORY IS NOT OVER.

Sorry for the short chapter, most of the shit I wanted to put in this chapter really didn't fit in with it so I ended up sticking it in the next chapter.

This was mainly a filler chapter so don't complain please.

Sorry for the wait I was busy finishing up new stories and planing out my other story.

Thanks for reading! Drop a comment below if you have something to say or any concerns!

Ideas are always welcomed! I like to add in readers ideas when they are really good. If I already have the idea planned I won't tell you but I will tell you guys if I like your idea!

Hope you enjoyed the new chapter,
-Dashie