Four days, two hours, six minutes post - Canterlot Invasion.
Silver Star slowly pushed open the front door of her house, horn aglow with the distinctive starry silver that her magic embodied. The rush of heated air from within was a welcome change from the chill accompanying the light snowfall that frequented the little town of Ponyville, yet it was a pleasure lost on the silver-hued unicorn. It was there, on the welcome mat of her own house, the mare stood, staring into the darkened house, unmoving.
No sound passed between the sole being within and the sole being outside for several moments, until a nearly inaudible sigh emerged from the darkness, a voice accompanying it shortly.
“Please, Silver, come in,” It said, the warped tone betraying the always-happy pony attached to it to be not quite as happy as was the norm. “I have some tea for you on the stove, if you want.”
Still standing prone in the doorway, the unicorn shook her head. She opened her mouth, and left it ajar for several endless seconds before words finally emerged in a tone befitting somepony reluctant to speak. “No, thank you - but I’d like to ask you a question, Puzzling Prism.”
A moment of cold silence, the beckoning warmth from within chilled from two immovable blocks of ice that seemed to rest upon two hearts in tandem.
“Please don’t, Silver, don’t do this,” The echoing voice replied after a little while, pleading, stating its sole desire. “Not after all we’ve been through, after all we’ve achieved together.”
“I’m coming in.”
“ …. The tea is in the kitchen, I’ve kept it warm for you as best I could. I know how you despise it when it’s cold.”
Silver Star raised a hoof, brought it forward, and let it hover above the mahogany floor of the house they’d lived in for nearly five years. Setting it down would mark the end of all she remembered – that much was all she dared to think. All of the memories, the experiences, and the love: none of these things would be as they were if she let her limb touch the floor they built of their sweat and devotion.
The pony within heard the distinctive squeak of a hoof settling on the floor, shortly followed by the quiet click of the door. The normal shuffling of a cloak being hung on the gold-hued hook was a sound that failed to reach the being’s ears, the uncompleted action failing to surprise him in the least.
The kitchen door failed to open before the familiar sound of hoofsteps rang out behind him.
“No tea then, I’m assuming.” The strange, rattling voice noted, letting loose another sigh. A dull flash of green magic, and the stove in the nearby room flickered off.
Silver Star stopped walking as she reached the living room, where the only source of light was a fading blaze in the ornate fireplace, and the only inhabitant facing towards it, face obscured by the back of a large red chair. She allowed the glow surrounding her horn to take on a more jagged form, swirling and shifting the calm, heated air.
Again, she stood in a state between contemplating and thoughtless - unspeaking and unmoving.
The being facing away from her allowed his face to fall into his hooves, trying and failing to remove the guilt that had piled on his shoulders from nine years of joy. He knew she knew, and had long since admitted that there was no way to hide it.
“Just ask, Silver. You should know I can’t stop you.”
The unicorn made her way to the larger of the two fancy red chairs, where the being sat, and draped her hooves around it, managing to feel the thing that was once her husband for the briefest of moments.
“Why?”
Another sigh, and the shell of a hoof grasped hers gently in a way that she was all too familiar with. It was there they remained for what seemed like an eternity, silver pony hugging the back of a large red loveseat with a single blackened hoof holding tightly to her own. Silver’s breathing began to grow deeper, and the tightness of her grasp increased with the intensity of the volatile magic burning near the peak of the chair.
As the hum of her magic began to overpower the crackling of the fire and the groaning of the poor chair could be heard, the being attached to the hissing voice refused to move, eyes still locked in sadness on the fire. Even as the smell of melting polyester and the splintering of wood could be heard, he didn’t tighten his loose grip. Even when the oak beneath the polyester backing of the chair began to burn and the thousand-year old material that the chair was composed of gave a horrifying snap, he didn’t flinch.
“Why did you do this to me, Puzzling Prism?” Spoke the mare, the voice once filled with hollow grief now near to bursting with nothing but raw, volcanic anger. “Why did you lie to me for all this time? Was this one Celestia-damned secret worth more than everything we’ve become?!”
The voice gave one last sigh, and let go of her hoof. A hollow clatter rang out as his hooves hit the floor, and a steady, dull clicking could be heard as he walked around the chair to gaze at the unicorn wielding a hail of magical death around her horn and a blazing fire in her eyes with an expression that could be described as nothing but pained.
“Because, Silver Star, while it may sound cheesy, I love you.” Replied the coal-black being, allowing his crystalline blue eyes to lock onto her golden-yellow set, just as he’d done so many times before with the emerald set he’d grown to recognize as his own. “I love you with every fiber of my being; I’d do anything for you, Silver – I’ve spent every second, every moment, of my life cherishing what I hold for you.”
The creature gave a long blink and looked to the floor in the deepest pits of despair, where he could see clearly the stains of tears long since shed. “And that's why I haven't told you. I... I didn't - I don't - want to give up everything we've made together for something as stupid as this. No amount of truth is worth risking you, Silver. Not again. Never again..."
Silver Star blinked. She gave a small smile. And she aimed the aura of death she had conjured at Puzzling Prism’s chest, pointing directly to the hollow that never held a heart.
“That should make this all the more satisfying then, changeling.”
Prism slowly blinked his eyes shut, accepting whatever was to come. It was at that moment, before any magic had been neither flung nor bodily harm inflicted, Puzzling Prism felt the pain he’d been expecting. It was a peculiar pain that numbed the limbs and sent splinters of emptiness straight to the core of one’s self. A pain that, for lack of better wording, was merciful in how thoroughly it ravaged every aspect of the soul. A pain that drained sorrow, fear, and even hope, leaving nothing but a shell befitting the skin he had tried to leave behind for nearly nine years.
A pain he’d have hoped to never feel again.
Eight years, ten months, four days pre - Canterlot Invasion.
“… And, even after the six thousand foot fall, the vase was still full of potatoes!” exclaimed Radiant Sun, throwing her hooves in the air for emphasis. “And even then, I had to ask him out!”
Silver Star burst into raucous laughter as her friend finished her story, soaking in the amused looks emerging from random passerby. That was part of the reason the silver-hued unicorn had moved to Ponyville; the ponies there were just so friendly! It was great!
After a long pause where Silver regained control of her diaphragm, her pegasus companion wiped a mirthful tear from her eye and lifted a hoof to peer at the silver band clasped upon it. “And not too long after, he popped the question!” The orange pony melted a bit at this. “Which was, honestly, the second best moment of my life.”
“And what was the very best?” giggled out Silver, finally managing to contain her bubbling laughter.
“The blimp incident, of course!”
As one might expect, that set off both ponies into another round of joyous rolling-around-on-the-ground-while-laughing-their-heads-off. It took them several minutes to regain their senses, and by that time, had managed to stumble down a hill and into the Ponyville Park, both mares giggling like madcolts.
Eventually, their fit of mirth came to a close, and Radiant raised her head and looked up to the sun, a somewhat troubled expression quickly replacing the smile plastered there, almost as though she felt a vague sense of duty calling to her from somewhere in the sky.
“Silver, what time is it?”
Silver, still lying belly-up on the grass, let her horn glow for a moment, sending out a tendril of magic to poke the large imbued clock in Ponyville Square, the resulting rush telling the unicorn that it was…
“One oh six,” she replied, shifting her hindhooves into a position allowing for more efficient sun baskage. “Why does it matter? Are you missing a date with the colt you’re already engaged to?”
Radiant let out a silent ‘blurgh’ of not-wanting-to-move, yet rolled to all fours anyway. “Close – just replace ‘date’ with ‘cloud patrol’ and you’d be right on the money.”
Silver shut her eyes and covered them with a set of hooves, scrunching up in a distinctly immature fashion. “But I’ll be all bored if you’re off chasing clouds with Whisper!”
The pegasus gave a lazy stretch, gently pushed on Silver’s hoof to knock her over, and playfully flapped to an altitude of about two feet above ground level.
“I’m sure you’ll find something to do in the two whole hours I’m off herding clouds, Silver,” stated Radiant, gradually rising into the sky. “Even if you have to resort to talking to - horror of horrors - other ponies!”
“What? Impossible!” Shouted Silver playfully at her quickly vanishing friend, “you know you’re the only mare for me!”
Radiant fired off a long-drawn-out false evil laugh (the epitome of perfected cheesiness) and bolted off towards Cloudsdale, leaving nothing but a faint orange trail behind. Silver watched her go until she could see no farther, then promptly stood and bolted towards the center of the park, allowing a huge grin to grace her face.
There were some things that a pony could enjoy better alone, after all.
As such, after nearly two minutes of running through the picture-perfect park, occasionally giving pause to greet a smiling new face with equally cheerful demeanor, Silver came upon her destination: a meager circle of grass, made complete with a ring of unmatched blankets and a podium that was likely once the base of a large bird feeder.
And, of course, the four dozen or so ponies all gathered around, all cheering wildly at whatever had just occurred. That was a pretty good indicator that a certain snow-white showpony was somewhere in the gathering, doing what he did best. As usual.
Now grinning profusely, Silver marched into the crowd, trying to find the center of commotion. Several of the younger ponies seemed to be huddled near the center, giggling, and the unicorn casually sauntered over, all the while searching for a certain somepony. Yet, two steps from the little grouping within the larger grouping, the fillies and colts burst into motion, scattering themselves among the rest.
Somewhat offput, Silver peered over her shoulder. Perhaps he was hiding behind her, following her around without a sound? Or maybe he was flying above her, snickering at her inability to find him. Or maybe, even, the foal was-
“Miss?” rang out a peeping voice, breaking Silver from her train of thought. Swinging around her head, the silver-coated unicorn found herself face-to-face with a little gryphon, probably no more than three years old. The little ball of infantile fluff looked up to her with huge, blue, adorable eyes, and gave a little chirp. “Can you help me find somepony, please?”
Silver’s heart melted.
“Sure, little guy, do you know the name of this somepony?” she replied, soaking up every ounce of the adorable radiating from the gryphonlet, “Or a description, at least?”
The little gryphon opened his mouth to speak, gave her a real look, blinked, and shut his mouth. In lieu of talking, he smoothed back the fluff on his head, cleared his throat, and pulled a bouquet of vivid red roses from somewhere.
“Never mind - I found you,” said the toddler confidently, holding out the bundle of flowers. “And I must admit, you look stunning, Silver! Did you trim your mane? Get a hooficure?”
The golden-eyed unicorn blinked once, confused for a moment, when all of a sudden a light clicked on in her brain. Without delay, she swept up the little gryphon into her hooves and began hugging his adorable self in a highly conspicuous way, allowing the flowers to drop to the ground.
“Puzzle, you foal!” she laughed, continuing to glomp the gryphon. “This is the most adorable thing you’ve ever been, ever!”
The little gryphon opened his beak, only to have his sentence cut short to another exclamation.
“Oooooo and you even have the adorable little baby fluff! How can you even change into something so much smaller than you usually are – I thought you were stuck into the pony size range!”
“Um, miss?”
“And the voice! You have it down perfectly! Not like that other time you tried to fake someone who hadn’t gone through puberty yet! That was hilarious, but this time it fits so perfectly! How did you get the pitch so perfect?”
“Miss…”
“Argghh I could just hug you ALL DAY you’re so cuuutee and I love this one you should stay like this for an entire week!”
“Miss!!!”
Silver – with an unbelievable amount of effort - snapped her mouth shut.
“Yes?” She asked, still holding the fluffy being aloft
“Miss Star, I’m not mister Prism,” replied said fluffy being innocently, shrugging his adorable little shoulders, “… Are you okay?”
***
Silver stared blankly at the gryphonlet for several more seconds before managing to let out a little squeak. Shortly after, her face burst into a blush only slightly redder than the bundle of roses lying on the grass. Gently setting down the young gryphon, she mumbled out the best apology she could, gently skittering a hoof back and forth from embarrassment.
It was about then when a blinding flash of white light burst out from Silver’s left, accompanied by an old, rattling (yet undeniably side-splitting) laugh. Swerving around, the unicorn brought her head up to gaze at none other than…
“… Grampy Temper?” she sputtered, taking in the sight of the aged stallion rolling around on the ground and not knowing quite what to think. “Why in the world are you…”
Silver paused, finally noticing the camera strapped around the dirt-brown pony’s neck. And then it all clicked together.
“Puzzle, you… you…!” she sputtered, face still bright red, unable to find the exact words she wished to impart upon him. “You jerk!”
Still lost in laughter, Grampy continued to roll around on the grass, not bothering to get up and respond. With a little angry roar, Silver stomped over and, without hesitation, kicked the eighty-year-old pony in the ribs as hard as she could muster.
The crowd – which, despite having remained in a silenced amusement throughout the entire display, was still there – let out a collective ‘ooh’ at how much that had to hurt, then burst out into further applause. Silver, meanwhile, looked down on the stallion on the ground (that was now clutching his chest in pain yet still unable to contain his mirth) for nearly a full minute before he managed to stop laughing and climb up onto all fours. The silver unicorn gave him a glare that would likely melt ice.
With an immature sigh, Grampy booped Silver’s nose.
“You’re no fun, Silver,” He said with a grin, stepping back as the air began to thicken and shimmer around him. “But hey, at least I got a picture this time!”
Despite it all, she felt a smile begin to sneak its way onto her face. For all of the raw annoying bottled up within him, Silver couldn’t help but enjoy the company of the playful colt.
‘But still…’ she thought, shifting her gaze away from the magical spectacle sure to occur and to the camera still planted firmly on the ground. ‘A little revenge couldn’t hurt…’
***
Amidst the crowd, Grampy – or rather, Puzzle – felt positively euphoric just where he was, surrounded by an awe-struck crowd (many of which he had befriended earlier), doing what he loved doing, and with a picture of a beet-red Silver stored safely in his camera. Life was good.
Much better than he thought it would be.
Shifting his concentration back to himself, Puzzle willed forth a brilliant white horn to fizzle into existence upon Grampy’s forehead. A spark of light grey magic flickered to life at the tip of the new appendage, and the mystical glow began to encompass the aged earth pony’s body, much to the enjoyment of his audience. When he was sure that the magical field had encompassed his entire being, Puzzle allowed the second stage of his ‘magic trick’ to take place.
Without warning, three dazzling white sparks burst into flame on the ground surrounding Grampy, sending a few of the closer bystanders to jump back in fright. The fires themselves weren’t hot enough to burn, but they were certainly warm enough to make somepony uncomfortable. After reaching the size of hoofballs, the trio of fireballs began to orbit around Grampy. They began slow, yet quickly increased their speed, and after a few endless moments had formed a sort of halo around the pony’s hooves. The crowd watched in awe – for the eighth time that day – as the ring of fire slowly began to crawl up the old earth pony, the profound effect being quite amazing to watch.
As the ring passed, agonizingly slowly, up the hide of Grampy, he seemed to (for lack of better wording) melt, all of the saggy brown texture that adorned the pony dissolving away and congealing into a surface that was younger, stronger. Pure white.
And thus, with a final laugh, the firey ring rocketed off of Puzzling Prism and high into the sky, never to be seen again. Now, instead of a rather old brown earth pony stood the stark white unicorn magician that Silver had come to know and appreciate over the past few months. Granted, he wasn’t as magnificent as the more famous pony magicians (Hoofdini, for one) with his somewhat stringy build and never-neat mane (which was a very pale grey in color), nor did he want to be; Silver found him to be happy enough as the thin, lovable, oddly cutie mark-less trickster that he embodied.
Striking a little pose after his transformation, Puzzle gave a bow to his cheering fans before climbing up onto the podium and placing a very clichéd tophat upon his head. With a quick wave of his hoof (more akin to a practiced flail than a noble swipe) the snow-white unicorn gathered the attentions of the crowd. Immediately, all conversations ground to a halt as the focus focused on the focal point of Puzzle.
“Thank you, everypony, for showing up to this week’s show!” he announced, grinning profusely at the mass of ponies. Gesturing towards a large, empty barrel, Puzzle continued. “As always, I’d appreciate any donations you’d care to give…”
The magician paused for a moment to give a certain colt in the front an obviously exaggeratedly skeptical glare. “… Unless, of course, these donations happen to be tomorrow’s lunch money.”
The red-faced colt awkwardly looked away and shuffled off, returning several gleaming bits to a pouch. Shaking his head amidst a smile, Puzzle gave a final bow and hopped off the platform.
***
“So then, I guess today’s show was a success?”
Puzzle paused at the park gates, saddlebag full to bursting with bits, and raised an amused eyebrow at Silver.
“When hasn’t it been?” he asked back innocently, extending a hoof towards the gates in a typical ‘mares first’ fashion. Silver responded by rolling her eyes and gently shoving her companion through the archway.
“Two weeks ago, Ironhide.”
He cringed a little. “Okay, not counting incidents where five-year-olds stab me with sharp metal objects.”
A roll of two golden eyes. A flick of one light yellow mane. One light punch to the shoulder blade. One overdone mock ‘ow’.
“You clown of a showpony,” Said Silver, bumping her flank into his own to throw him off-balance and almost fall into the lake, “And don’t you dare try making the phrase ‘it’s a gift’ into a comeback, because we both know it isn’t!”
Prism gave off a little ‘hmmm’ and turned to the side for a moment. Ever-so-slightly curious, Silver stopped and glanced at the back of his head for that moment.
And then he turned, face an exact replica of Neighlin Brando’s own, and pressed his nose into her own. Instantly, her face turned bright red and her cheeks flushed red. The master illusionist licked his lips and gave a downright seductive grin.
“In that case, Silver Star, I have one thing to say to you…”
She squeaked, unable to move a muscle, much less compose an adequate response to her secret actor-crush’s sudden closeness.
“… I just stole my camera back, and will be submitting your face right now to your college’s yearbook. Enjoy!”
FLASH
***
And thus began the tale that concluded, later that very day, with a bruised and bandaged Puzzling Prism buying a new camera at half price. But such was the way of the friendship between the two, and this common strangeness meant more to both than either of them would admit.
.
Author's Note
A huge thanks to Starcat5 for reminding me of this story's existance! Hopefully, I'll update again, sooner than not :D! (Though vacation ends quite soon, so... D:)
Anyways, most of this was written in ~~2011~~ mid-2012 (O_o), but I wrote a reasonable chunk to finish it off! I daresay my style has changed quite a bit, and if anyone can find the point where there's an obvious shift in author-voice / show me blatant examples of how much weirder my stuff has become, feel free to point them out!
Anyways, spoiler for next chapter: NOT-DOPTION! :D
EDIT: *sobs* why can't I make more than one blank [enter]-space! It would come in handy so much... T_T
