An Equestrian Rogue

Silver was the first to wake up as the sunlight crawled over the bed. She still felt Thorne’s chest against her back. His left had managed to worm under the pillow, giving her and Dusk a more fluffed up headrest. His right had shifted from holding the colt to his palm resting deep in the tuft of chest fur the mare had. His fingers were practically buried in the thick coat. When she shifted ever-so-slightly, she was greeted with those fingers slipping an inch lower down her barrel. It was an odd sensation, but not bad. She could see the appeal of fingers and their dexterous nature versus hooves.

Her mind lingering on appendages was cut in upon as the dock of her tail brushed against something stiff and hidden below the feel of fabric. Given where his torso was in line with hers, and having seen the human bare out of the shower, she concluded it was his stallion-hood. With that knowledge in mind, she cleared her throat and looked back at the still slumbering man.

“Thorne?” She got no response. “Thorne!” She said it a bit louder and with a hint of impatience.

At that, eyes shot open. She was greeted to a one-eyed leer as the other was hidden in a pillow and parts of her mane. He grumbled in response. The mare merely flicked the dock of her tail again, her eyes squinting at him. The next response was him nearly jolting out of the bed in a panic. “Holy shi--mmm! Sorry! Sorry!”

His panic startled Dusk awake who leapt out of his mother's embrace. “Huh?! Wha?” The colt’s voice was laden with a water-starved throat. Thorne, now done with his jolt of energy, marched himself into the bathroom while Dusk sat there confused as to why there was such an alarming wake up.

Silver was chuckling at the response. Thorne came back in after the flush of the toilet. “Sorry, really. Probably not used to that. Likely a male human only evolutionary trait.” Dusk was next in line to head to the bathroom since he was already at the edge of the bed after having a rude awakening. Thorne took his spot and sat down, sighing. “What an awkward morning. Haven’t had one of those in years…” He gave an earnest snicker.

The mare finally climbed up and shifted to the edge of the bed, stepping down from it. “Evolutionary trait, hmm? Sure it was just that?” Her comment earned her a flat look from the human to which made the amusement on her face grow. “I’m sorry I startled you so.” Silver gave a rather hollow sounding apology.

“No, you’re having fun with it. It’s fine. I deserved that. You get a kick out of it and that’s fine.” He shook his head and smirked. “And yes, an evolutionary trait. So I don’t wake up needing to take a bathroom break every few hours. If I ever made it to old age, gods, I’d dread not having that as a safeguard.”

The mare looked at him confused; gone was her face of amusement. It was only broken by Dusk who reentered. He flapped his wings and took off, going to land back on the bed. She shrugged off Thorne’s comment and instead excused herself for her turn in the bathroom.

Thorne looked to Dusk. “Morning, Dusk. Sleep well?”

“I was sleeping great until the rude awakening. What happened?” The colt looked up to the human.

Thorne’s face went a hint of red and he looked away. “Your mother just startled me is all. I was sleeping a little too close and a sudden nudge and there I went.”

It was Dusk’s turn to let a chuckle and wear an amused face. “Scaredy cat! You must have been having a bad dream to be woken up like that all from a nudge!”

There was a laugh and then a nod. “Maybe not so much a bad dream, but maybe just an unrestful sleep.”

“Should really get the Nightmother to help!” The colt beamed. “Bad dreams and fitful sleeping is all her domain!”

“Do you know how she came to rule over dreams and sleep?”

“Uhm. I think she learned how to do it while on the moon.”

“On… the moon. So wait. That banishment story… was literal?”

“It was,” Silver’s voice cut in as she exited the bathroom, “and our Nightmother served out a thousand years of punishment for her fall to madness.”

“Amazed she didn’t go even more insane. Years of isolation on a desolate rock? I guess that explains how she got the ability to walk in dreams. Even if you were a tyrant, you’d need something to stave off the call of the void.”

“Call of the void?” Dusk asked. “What’s that?”

“Oh…” Thorne cleared his throat and looked away. “It’s uhm…” He looked to Silver who raised an eyebrow. “It’s a… I guess you could say a kind of ‘spell’? Something that over takes you when you’re… high in the air! Or standing at a cliff edge. This thought that ‘what if I just leapt’ or ‘what if I closed my wings’.”

The colt shivered. “That sounds terrifying! How does one prevent it?!”

Thorne smiled and reached over, rubbing the colt’s head. “Be happy and content with everything you have and want within reason. That’s how you prevent it.” There was a content noise from the youngling as his head got pet.

Silver trotted over, a soft smile on her face as she watched the two. “So Thorne?” “Yeah?” “What happened last night?”

He pulled his hand from the boy’s head and grunted. “Right. There are three ponies helping the Master. ‘The Herald’, ‘Faith’, and ‘Justice’. They apparently tricked a group into helping them and branded them much like myself. I was able to escort our failed assassin out of the cell and into the night and the guards all turned the other way. No idea why. Maybe something to do with that ghost I saw.” He shrugged.

“Ghost?” Silver asked. Dusk merely repeated it but in a more terrified manner only to be told ‘there are no such things’ from his mother.

“Strangest thing. Spoke rather cryptically. Said she’d been watching me since I stepped foot in Equestria. Something tells me she isn’t the only one. Kind of looked like she may have been Cadence’s mom, but apparently was ‘a distant relative’.” Again he shrugged. “She showed me a secret passage and told me to find it again when we returned. Said ‘I’d find what I was looking for’. Whatever that meant.”

There were a few words that sounded like a prayer that slipped from Silver’s mouth. She shook her head. “Why is all this strange stuff happening around you? Why are you so strange?!”

“Don’t blame me! And probably because this world doesn’t like me! I shouldn’t be here! It’s probably trying to oust me!” Throne replied with a defensive tone.

Silver rolled her eyes. “It isn’t trying to oust you, Thorne.”

“Could have fooled me. But yeah. That’s what happened. But if that wasn’t responsible for the ease of what happened…?” He raised an eyebrow at Silver who merely smirked at him.

“Princess Cadence was willing to hear me out and accept your idea. She was willing to set aside what you may be after I kind of… Blurted it out.” Her realization made the smirk fade and instead turned into a sheepish look. “She’ll likely tell the other princesses of your predicament…”

Thorne sighed and put his face in his palms. He rubbed at his face in several up and down motions until finally dragging his digits down his cheeks and off his jaw line. “It’s honestly fine. Better that way. Long as it stays between all of us. This skitters a line I’m growing more and more cautious of since we’re playing with my life…” He looked away, not wanting to admit the morbid truth of how he felt when it came to the value of his life.

“But one more thing,” Silver interrupted his dark thoughts, “I was going to ask why you chose to essentially cuddle Dusk and I.”

Thorne sat there a moment, his face in disbelief that she was asking. It swiftly went to him feeling rather stupid and embarrassed. “I… You know what, that’s on me. Apologies if I crossed a line.” He lowered his head.

“I just wondered what brought it on. You seemed like you needed the comfort, though. It makes me happy that you’re at least showing a little vulnerability.” Silver had moved closer to him, putting a hoof on his knee.

He looked away and huffed. “Yeah. Vulnerable. Not something I should be, but it certainly felt better than stewing in all that I learned. I lost myself to my anger and took it out on that stallion then felt horrible afterwards when I learned he was just as much a prisoner as me.”

Golden eyes connected as he looked back to her. “We should get ready to leave. Quicker we get this done with, the quicker I can go see that home.”

The morning sun beamed down on the Empire and the cold north. Thorne had gathered their supplies and was carrying a pack over his shoulder while Silver had the map. They had set out just after dawn and after traversing an early morning walk from the castle, had come to the back path that led out into the snow-filled mountains that separated the continent at the top. On the other side resided very few ponies, wild creatures, and yaks.

“That’s one small step for man… One giant leap for--shit that’s cold!” Thorne had stepped beyond the barrier in a mocking fashion, the idle spring warmth of the Empire-proper being replaced by the bitter, enduring cold. It only served to garner a snicker from his thestral companion. He rolled his eyes and bundled himself up, making sure the enchanted cloak was properly around his form. He tugged his hood and mask up for even more warmth.

Meanwhile, Silver stepped over the boundary and was entirely unimpeded. In fact, it looked as though she loved the cold. Thorne opened his mouth to comment but was interrupted as Silver pranced forward. “This way, Thorne!” She exclaimed happily.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!” He called out and began to march, following in her hoofsteps as she led the way.

Silence fell over the two as they walked. Every now and again wind would buffet the two and it made Thorne yearn for a pair of goggles like he had made for Silver. It made him wonder if any pony had made any leeway in the pair he had freely given for them to replicate. Again he took notice that Silver was practically thriving, regardless of how chilling the wind cut to the bone. He envied the resilience of her species.

‘If ever there was such a thing as reincarnation, let me come back as a handsome batpony stallion in this world.’ He almost prayed as if anything would hear him. A chill went down his spine as he swore he heard the wind respond ‘Granted.’ He sighed, knowing that was just wishful thinking and him hearing things. ‘Don’t go making mountains of molehills, Thorne. World may be full of magic and seemingly out to get you, but you know that isn’t the case. Don’t be silly.’ He told himself. ‘Though I guess I’ve been making mountains lately…’

He continued to trudge along, thankful for Silver leading him and for her legs in clearing the snow away. It wasn’t thick and the path wasn’t icy, but it was still a hindrance to walk through without proper snow boots. She, however, plowed through it like a champion thoroughbred. It amazed him to no end that she seemed completely fit for this type of terrain and weather.

“Don’t fall behind!” She called out to the man. “I won’t, I’m right behind you!” He responded back. In truth, the distance had gotten rather wide between them. But he had slowed due the uphill slant their path now took into the forestry that went along the base of the mountains.

Thorne admired the scenery as they passed. The forest wasn’t thick or dense by any stretch of the imagination, but it was vast. Clearings had been made from several logging ventures and it was obvious that ponies had stuck roots further toward the mountains. Even along their trail, they noticed offshoots that led to homesteads. Smoke from hearths rose above the thin tree line and was whisked away by the ever-present winds.

The sounds of animals went quiet as he went by. Silver’s ears twitched and turned as she listened to bird songs that were present one moment then went deathly silent as the shadow of Thorne passed. They resumed as he walked by and away, yet she noticed that gap all the same. Thorne noticed it too, but had been experiencing that since his arrival.

“Won’t be long now. We’re nearly to the cabin,” Silver remarked. “Should be atop this ridge.”

“Good,” Thorne idly remarked. “Noticing a lot more rocky terrain now. Amazed there isn’t any ice built up.”

“There’d be more if the snow melted faster, but it usually stays pretty thick.”

“I can tell. Though I thought it’d be much thicker than this. It’s only about ankle high for me. Glad you took the lead.” Thorne stated as Silver looked back to notice him following directly in her trail that she left. He gave her a grin which she only rolled her eyes at and continued on. “So, any information on these two?”

“Tempest Shadow you already know some things about. Unicorn but with a broken horn, dark orchid coat, a kind of dark rose-ish mane. Always in her Storm King armor. Blue-green eyes. Scar over her right eye. And she’s apparently got a temper.” Silver spoke as if she was reading from a document. “As far as Glitter Drops, well, she works here in the Crystal Empire as part of arctic patrol. She’s a unicorn and very good with animals, apparently. And good at illusions. They’ve already had to deal with an Ursa Minor that wandered down the mountains--”

Thorne sped up and interrupted her. “Wait, wait. They’ve already dealt with a baby, basically. And now we’re here to help with a Major. And… how did they deal with that little one?”

Silver cleared her throat. “Glitter used illusion magic to lure it away. As I was saying… Glitter Drops has a blue-green coat and a pale sky-blue mane. Pale-purple-ish eye color… cheerful disposition but takes her job seriously.”

There was a sigh from the man behind her. “That’s great and all, but really… They’ve already had this issue and now it got substantially bigger. I worry about you ponies, I really do. Non-violence and tricks only work for so long. I get the harmony thing, but really.”

The mare looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. She extended her wings and let the sun glint off the blades and into his face. “I suppose I wear these for nothing then?”

Thorne put a hand in front of his face to shield himself from the glint. “Ow. And no, I guess there are some who are willing to work in the dark to maintain peace and prosperity. But it’s just an animal.”

“Exactly why it shouldn’t be slain so callously.”

“But it can hurt ponies.”

“So can every other pony when they’re hurt, cornered, or scared.”

Thorne let a sigh. “I can’t argue that. We’ll do it Cadence’s way then. Or we’ll try. I just have a bad feeling that I can’t shake...”

“You’ve had that since Canterlot, haven’t you?” She smirked at him.

“I will grab you by the ears and twist.” He said sourly. “But yes.”

Silver put her ears down at the painful thought. Thorne chuckled ominously at the response.

Silence fell over them once again as they neared the ridge. Once they were over it, Silver checked the map one final time. “There!” She raised a hoof and pointed to a lone cabin with smoke pouring from the chimney. A sign read ‘Arctic Patrol Station 01’ hung from the roof over the porch the wooden structure had.

“Huh. How many stations do they have up here?” Thorne questioned as he stood atop the ridge and gazed out at the clearing. Several trails went in different directions from the circular clearing that was surrounded by rocky landscape and a tree line. In the middle sat the two story wooden cabin. Of the trails, four looked freshly used as pony hoofprints and animal tracks went along those trails. There was also a pony-drawn cart that was coated in snow. It looked as though it was used for carrying wounded or sick down to the Empire proper.

“There are three. Each has one pony stationed at them. This one has two simply because Tempest had helped Glitter before,” Silver informed him.

Thorne rubbed his masked chin. “Interesting. Only one, though? I suppose that makes sense. We had fire-watch towers in Montana and those were usually occupied by one, but they had radios…”

“They stay in radio contact.”

“Ponies have radios?!” Thorne shouted in stunned surprise.

“Yes? Why is it so surprising?”

“I just never see anyone listening to a radio. I had seen a nightclub and it had a DJ playing, so I know you all have advanced sound systems, but I have yet to see someone with a radio. Wait, why wasn’t the patrol ship using a radio?! They were using friggin’ magic!”

“You have your answer. Magic is easier. Radio is rather limited and short range.”

There was an audible smack as he facepalmed. “Right. Magic. Of course. Magic is easier. Hey world, you want to give me some magic, maybe? I already gave my left arm, that’s enough right? It’s like a unicorn horn!” He waved his prosthetic around. It made Silver giggle and him grumble. “You know what, actually, I already said I’d like a pair of wings. Oo! Can I be an alicorn?!”

“You’d make a wonderful princess,” Silver teased.

“Princess of violence, maybe.” He huffed. “Come on. Let’s go introduce ourselves and see what’s on the agenda.”

There was a nod from the mare who fluttered her wings and easily flew over to the cabin. Thorne picked up the pace, walking down the minor slope that led into the ridge’s basin and the cabin. He had to hike his legs up a bit more to keep from stumbling over--and to make sure his feet found good footing with each step. He was thankful when he reached the porch, treating it like he was adrift at sea and this was an island he had landed upon. Silver had made it there before him and was simply watching the entire time.

At the porch, the sound of hooves could be heard inside and they were coming to the door. “Someone out there?” A voice that Thorne could only internalize as ‘bright’ sounded off. Without pause, Thorne knocked at the door. “We’re on assignment from Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. We’re here to assist with the Ursa Major. Thorne and Silver, reporting in.” Thorne replied with a practiced tone from years of service.

“Oh! One second!” The meager sound of a lock being undone clicked from behind the door. Said door swung open, revealing Glitter Drops wrapped in a blue scarf. Everything else was as Silver had described. She had a warm smile that only paled to the warmth of the cabin. Warmth that was now pouring out into the cold air. “Come in, come in! Get yourselves out of the cold.”

Thorne bowed slightly and motioned for Silver to go first. She obliged and he followed after her. Glitter locked the door behind them. “Fizzy is in the kitchen and will be out in a sec, you two find the place alright?”

“Fizzy?” Thorne asked but his question was drowned out by Silver responding. “We had a map so it was relatively easy. I could have flown about if we got lost.”

At that, the unicorn looked over the thestral. “Ah! That’s right. Batpony! The cold and winds here must be refreshing for you. Your companion, however… Hardly any fur and such a lanky body! Good thing he has that cloak! Plus all the other apparel! Though that armor looks like it must be freezing.”

Thorne shook his head dismissively. “Cloak keeps it all rather pleasant.” He tugged his hood and mask down. “Anywhere to put our items?”

“Upstairs! Guest room is there. Though going to have to share a room.” Glitter looked between the two with a bit of an awkward glance, but Thorne shrugged and replied with ‘it’s fine’ before heading up the stairs to put down the sack he carried.

“Those daggers at his hips… and was that a crossbow on his back? He does know this is meant to be a bloodless mission, yes?” Glitter asked with a worried look to the batpony. Silver simply nodded. “Okay, good.” The unicorn sighed with relief.

The rattle of dishes finished in the kitchen and the metal hoofsteps on wood echoed into the den as Tempest Shadow emerged. “Hey Dropsy--” the broken-horned mare paused as her eyes went to Silver. Then the creaks of the stairs being descended filled the minor pause.

“Our items are up there if you need ‘em, Silver.” Thorne idly stated, not caring if he interrupted something. He felt the eyes of the room go to him and his golden orbs went to the dark orchid colored mare that now was in the den with the other two. He stopped midway through his journey to the bottom. A thought from left field went soaring into his mind: ‘Only now does it dawn on me that this society has a very skewed gender ratio. Or at least it feels like it. Is that sexist? I feel like that’s sexist. Unfortunately, I don’t know if it’s sexist toward males or females. But chalk another point up on the irony board. I wanted women. I got women. Just not the way I thought.’

“You must be the two we got a letter about. Don’t look like much.” Tempest scoffed.

“That coming from the commander of the Storm King’s armies pains me so. And here I thought I’d get a glowing compliment.” Thorne’s sarcasm was enough to choke any ursa. “Nice to meet you too, Fizzy.” He took a shot in the dark, but the reaction of offense told him he was right on target.

“Oh you do not get to use that name, monkey!” Several sparks began to shoot from Tempest’s horn as her anger flared.

There was a ‘pff’ from the man and he went down the rest of the stairs. “Calm down, O unicorn of the Storm and the uniform. Rather like the design, though. If I were a pony, definitely would choose something like that. Looks light and effective.” He gave a thumbs up and a bored look. The arcing of lightning ceased and instead was replaced with a sigh.

“If you must know, I wear this uniform for protection and because it just feels right. But never call me ‘Fizzy’. Only reserved for the closest of friends. It’s Tempest, got it?”

“As you wish. I am Thorne. That is Silver. And as you know, we’re here to assist. So what are we doing first?”

Tempest looked to Glitter. “I was about to tell Glitter Drops that the dishes were done and that we should go on patrol. But since you two are here, I suppose we need to discuss what’s been happening and what to expect. Which is her area of expertise.” She raised a hoof, motioning Glitter Drops to go ahead.

Glitter stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Now that introductions are out of the way, then we can get on with this. Though we’ll need a few days I think. The plan is to hunt and watch this Ursa Major and make sure we can get it back into the mountains without it hurting anypony.”

“Has it hurt anypony yet?” Thorne asked. “Not yet, no. But it does seem to be getting pushy in looking for food.” Glitter responded. Thorne pulled up a nearby chair and sat down, putting his hands in his lap in thought.

“We need to isolate it. I can try to use an illusion to lure it away, but the problem is… I don’t know if that will work.”

“What about a food trail?” Silver suggested.

Tempest was the one who responded, “It might work, but the problem is it came out of the mountains looking for food. Once it eats everything we lay out, what is stopping it from turning around?” Glitter nodded in agreement.

“I’d suggest scaring it off, but does anything actually scare them?” Thorne looked to Glitter.

“Not really, no,” she shook her head. “Loud noises, bright lights, but it’s only momentary. Nothing that would permanently run it off.”

Thorne scratched his head. “We are at an impasse… Agreed, then. We should observe it. Maybe we could figure something out.”

The mares shook their heads. “In the meantime, Silver and I should get to know the area better. You two mind if we spend some time out getting familiar with the terrain and with the trails? We’ll be back by sunset.”

“Not at all!” “That’s actually a sound plan.” The two mares responded. Thorne looked to Silver who nodded in agreement. He stood up and stretched. “I’ll grab some rations. Try to see what you can see from the air, Silver.”

“Try not to stumble in the snow, Thorne.” Silver remarked as she went to the door. The human scoffed. “Yeah, yeah. I’m jealous of the wings, you know this. Jealous of a lot of things around here.” He rolled his eyes and disappeared back up the stairs.

Thorne sat outside with just his clothing on and the enchanted heat cloak wrapped around him firmly. Night had fallen over the cabin but he was outside to smoke and drink and ruminate on the following days. He had brought a bottle of whiskey in his pack and now sat with it out on the steps of the porch.

The rest of the day after they had left the cabin had consisted of boring walking. He hadn’t had the time to talk with Silver, both of them instead choosing to focus on work. They had spent all day outside and gotten back by sunset after learning the terrain. He probably should have been inside after spending so much time outside. But something about the chill and the warmth of the cloak made Thorne comfortable. He had spent so many years in deserts, he had actually forgotten what arctic weather might have been like. He had the training in it, but it had been so long since that training was put to any use.

The wind was light in the moonlit night. It ruffled his cloak and hair. It was cool enough to be refreshing, though as the night droned on, he knew it would become harsher. Just outside of the cabin he could see the tree line lit by the glow of the moon and it brought a peace of mind. Between it and his face danced a flurry of snow that had steadily been falling since night overtook day. He unscrewed the cap on his bottle and swallowed a bitter mouthful. It warmed his innards once it sat in his belly. From a pocket he pulled a cigar and a match. He shielded the flame from the wind with his mechanical hand and finally got the embers to catch on his oral fixation. The match was tossed and he let the flavor fill his mouth before he exhaled a plume of smoke into the darkness.

From behind him, he heard the door open. He turned his head to see who it was and was greeted to a bare silver coat in the moonlight. She stepped out onto the porch and shut the door swiftly to keep the heat of the fireplace from getting swept away in the chill of night. “Thorne…?”

He looked away and pulled the cigar from his lips. “What’s up, Silver?” He responded.

Silver made a soft ‘mmm’ and shook her head. “Nothing. Just wanted to make sure you’re alright. Mind if I sat with you?”

He took another swig of his drink and patted the wood next to him. “If you’re up for it, sure. It’s cold out, though. Are you going to be okay?”

She gave a half chuckle and sat down next to him. “I’ll be fine. My homeland is just as cold and we’re adapted for it. You’re the one who should be worrying about being too cold.”

He offered the bottle to her. “Glad to hear. And yeah, got to admit, your coat is thick.” Silver took the bottle and took a swig only to recoil and cough. It made Thorne laugh and he offered to take it back. She denied him, instead choosing to take another larger swig to prove herself. It got an inquisitive eyebrow and a smirk. “Nicely done.” He praised her. When she passed it back, it dawned on him. “Silver? How do you hold things with a hoof? I’ve seen ponies use their mouths, hold things in the crook of their forelegs, but… You just held that with a hoof.”

She gave a curious tilt of her head. An image went back in her mind of the first time he had shown her his prosthetic arm. She held out her left hoof. “Here. Look.”

Thorne looked to the hoof and then to her to see if it was okay as he raised his right hand up to inspect the appendage. She nodded and he turned slightly, putting his hand on her leg. He brought it up a little and poured over it in the low light. He could see plainly, but shadows made it difficult to gauge depths.

He ran his thumb over the inside of the hoof. Thorne was shocked to find that the interior wasn’t beveled inward and it wasn’t all keratin like the horses of his world. The outer part had a shell of the substance to provide rigidity and strength, but the interior was almost a stylized and plump heart shape. It was a pale pink in color. And it seemed to have muscle. But there was something more. An unseen force that slightly gripped at his thumb as it trailed over the soft-but-resilient tissue. “Magic,” he uttered in a tone of disbelief. “It’s weak but it’s there. So… do all ponies have some type of magic in them that allow this?”

Silver nodded. “It’s how pegasi control the weather. How earth ponies just know what to do to make the land fertile. Magic is a part of our life, Thorne. Of course it’s also a part of us. Not just unicorns that have it.”

There was a consuming silence as he released her hoof and went back to his drinking and smoking. With a strong exhale that bellowed out dark smoke, he spoke, “I had every reason to be worried about the magic in this world. I had asked Celestia and Luna what would happen if the magic faded. Something I asked my Master was ‘what happens when the magical forces of this world go out of control’ and he just waved my question off. And the two absolute rulers of it couldn’t answer my question either. They simply had faith that all of you would adapt.”

He took another swallow before passing the bottle back to her. Silver accepted and took a swig herself. “That is all we can do, Thorne. Besides, what threat is there to magic?”

“I am a threat, Silver. Clearly the world thinks I am. The magic keeps reacting to me in strange ways.”

“You know that isn’t true. It’s simply showing you… something.” She passed the bottle back. Thorne set it between the two of them. He had given a grumble in response and chose to focus on his cigar.

The lull in conversation made his mind go wandering to other questions. Questions he didn’t want to bring up, but knew he would need too. “So. You have a homeland. You all seem to worship Luna like a god. You have fangs and cat-like eyes.” There was a hesitant ‘Yes?’ from the mare. Thorne continued. “Are you all vampires? I’ve seen you walking out in the daylight without a care in the world, but you look physically drained in it.”

She blinked at him. Then she chuckled. “Ah! This question.” She let her Canterlot accent drop and the heavy vampire-insinuating tone came in. “No. We aren’t vampires. And I look drained in sunlight because I am. It’s hot and tiring and we are nocturnal. The Nightmother is our goddess, yes. And the fangs are to help us eat the more thick-skinned fruit that grew in our mountains. We enjoy drinking the juices.”

“I see. So no blood then? Not going to wake up with holes in my neck?” He teased, obviously joking.

“No, no blood. Though blood holds importance to us for sacred reasons. Am I ruining a fantasy?” She leaned over a little giving him a questioning-but-playful look.

He snatched the bottle up and took a deep drink only to recoil with a sigh. “Not drunk enough for those insinuations but if you bite me, you’re getting bit right back. Not the only one with fangs.” He grinned, showing off the canines. The thestral laughed at that. She made a motion to be handed the bottle and he obliged. He let her take a swig and swallow before he assaulted her with another question.

“So how old are you and Dusk? You read my journal, so you should know how old I am. Though, I don’t know years or months or ‘moons’ here in Equestria.”

The mare set the bottle between them again. “I’m twenty seven. Dusk is seven.”

“Had him at twenty, huh?”

“He was our little surprise…”

Thorne opened his mouth to question something like contraceptives but instead there was a click of his teeth as his jaw shut, choosing not to bring it up. Instead, he chose the harder router. He took a swig of the alcohol and another puff. “So what happened to his father?”

Silver twitched, one that Thorne saw. She let a sigh and took the bottle, choosing to drink heavily enough to force a coughing fit. When she set it down and wiped her muzzle, she looked forlornly to the tree line in the dark. “Two years ago he was a part of a changeling hunt. Before the changelings turned to their new king, they were ruled by an evil, spiteful, love-sucking monster!” She spat the words.

There was a pause as she let her anger simmer. “I still harbor resentment toward them all, but in these two years I’ve tried to let it go and move on for Dusk’s sake.” Her voice trembled. “My dear Blue Nebula. It’s the reason I was called ‘Silver’. He gave me the nickname. He called me his ‘silver dancer’...” There was a soft sniffle. “Dusk looks so much like him it hurts.” She took another shaky breath to calm herself before continuing with the story of what happened.

“It was here in the Crystal Empire. The Prince and Princess had just gotten news that they were expecting a foal and the ponies were giving an outpouring of love. Shining had requested extra guard. The Nightmother suggested a dancer go as well. Blue was the one who went. He eventually found the changelings but he was outnumbered.”

Thorne heard another sniffle. A foreleg came up and brushed under Silver’s eyes. “The other guards couldn’t get to his aid in time. He had defeated three of the four and the last one eventually got hunted down, but… They couldn’t save him from the wounds he suffered.” Her eyes looked up to the brilliant moon that illuminated the landscape and the hundreds of other stars that surrounded the luminous orb. Tears were streaming down her face. “His last words were ‘I’m sorry’.”

An emotional dagger went ripping through his chest like it was shot from a railgun. He dropped his cigar into the snow at the revelation and was now listening to the mare at his side try to stem the tide of emotions. He could tell she was trying to bottle it all up again. She had likely blockaded it all away and now it threatened to burst free. Thorne had his own surge of emotion at the eerie last words.

Instead of dwelling on it, he acted. Much like him saving and comforting Dusk after the fall from the sky, he had acted on impulse. This was no different. He wouldn’t allow his mind time to analyze and overthink; it was a rare occasion in which he didn’t. His action was simple and fluid. He reached out from under his cloak swiftly and grabbed Silver. She was then pulled into him as he turned even more to face her.

The mare flinched but submitted to the pull in the end. She found her face buried against Thorne’s chest and a gentle hand stroking at her mane and back. Silver resisted the first few waves that washed against her mind but ultimately failed to hold it back. She let a muffled sound against the man and broke down, crying harshly. The cloak went wrapping around her just enough to hide her away from the world as she bawled. Thorne could only steady his breathing and continue to stroke her mane as she let it out.

An age passed as she let herself cry until she couldn’t. Another passed as silence fell over the two. There was a sniffle and a sigh of ‘thanks’. Thorne took it as a sign he should stop and released her, letting her pull away slightly. She never left what was essentially his lap, however. Golden eyes met. “Can you… please keep doing that?” It was a weak request--one he barely heard over the gust of wind that whipped past both of them. But he heard it all the same. He smiled and nodded, putting his hand back and stroking along her neck. Her head found itself lying on his shoulder, muzzle buried into the crook of his neck.

“You’ve both been managing without him. I… don’t know what it must feel like. But I was worried for you both--you being what appeared to be a single mother and Dusk for constantly having to be under your eye. He’s missed schooling, hasn’t he?” Thorne eased his tone so almost a whisper, speaking more in her ear. There was a nod. “I see…” He sighed. “I wonder if there is a way to help him become a stronger flier. A way to educate him in what he’s missed quickly and efficiently…”

“It’s not your problem, Thorne.”

“You two are supposed to keep watch on me. It somewhat feels like my problem. Plus, it’s a problem. And I like solving problems. Let me take a little responsibility here for once in my life.” Thorne insisted. There was a soft chortle at his words which made him smirk, glad he got a laugh. He reached for the bottle after a moment and took a massive gulp of liquid courage.

“I’ve always soldiered on in life. Never had purpose. Never felt like I belonged. There were several times where I thought of just falling on a sword. Several times where I wish I just caught a stray shot from rifle fire and blinked out of existence… A quick and painless death.”

Silver went silent as she listened, her head tilting up to look at the man who now focused intently on the moon and stars.

“It was never in the cards,” he continued, “and it just kept getting darker all around me. It was easier to take a life than to live one. Fearless of death, yet afraid of living life.” He chuckled. “I always wanted to just vanish because… Dying is easier than living with what I’ve done. Maybe death will absolve me, somehow. Because I know I won’t be forgiven while I live.”

“What you’ve done can be forgiven.”

There was a heavy stall and then a deep inhale. “Can it?” He looked down to the mare that now rested in his arms. “Can you look me in the eyes without knowing what I’ve done and tell me that you forgive me? That I deserve some sort of redemption?”

“You deserve redemption.” She responded without skipping a beat. “You deserve a second chance. What you did was in your world and now you are here for a purpose.” She spoke louder and clearer, coming from her bout of sorrow. Her words had made his hands stop petting her and instead just clutch onto her figure. His body had tensed up and started to shiver. “And redemption and forgiveness are waiting for you. You just need to do something to earn it. You need to forgive yourself, first.”

She shifted slightly in his grasp and reached for the bottle. She took a large sip before offering it to him. The last gulp sloshed around in the bottom and he sighed. “Have we really been sitting here that long and polished off a bottle…?” He changed the subject and took the brown container from her hoof, tossing back the last swallow.

Another sigh escaped the man as he set the bottle aside in the snow next to the now soaked and ruined cigar. “The morning is going to suck…” he mused aloud. “Sorry I get a bit bleak when I’m drinking. But thank you for drinking with me.” There was a gentle hum of acknowledgement. “Feels nice just to sit.” Another hum followed his words.

“Feels nice to be held like this,” Silver added. It made a twinge of red go across Thorne’s face as he realized how it must have looked. But no one was there to question nor judge. The other two occupants of the cabin were likely asleep. “Thorne?” Her questioning way she said his name pulled his attention. “Hmm?” He responded. “You’ve never been free, have you? You’ve never felt like you had a life.”

The words hit like a brick to the back of the skull. Again she felt him tighten his grip on her a little and then relax. “Yeah. You hit the nail on the head. It’s why I asked to take responsibility for Dusk and you. At least gives me something to focus on.”

She shook her head. “You should focus on yourself…”

“Just keep soldiering on,” he remarked.

“You can’t keep using that as an excuse,” she replied. “You need to live a life, Thorne.”

“I can’t at the moment. I just need to follow orders until I figure something out.”

“You deserve a life. You deserve some happiness. But if helping Dusk and me will give you some, then I suppose we should let you.”

Thorne gave a soft chortle. “Sounds like I’m imposing on you. And for that I’m sorry.”

There was a snort and then a soft laugh. “Always apologizing. Be a better stallion and do what you said earlier. Take responsibility so you don’t have to apologize so much!” She got a reply of ‘yes dear’ in a sarcastic tone that only served to get him a playful shove and a giggle from her. “Sometimes you remind me of him…”

“Oh? In a handsome sort of way--oof!” He got a slight jab.

“You’re… interesting. But I meant as far as stubbornness and resolve. Though he wasn’t as bleak as you. And oftentimes the sarcasm and smarminess exceed his. You’re not afraid to tell it like it is, even when speaking to your betters.”

Thorne rubbed his chin after listening to her. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing that I remind you so much of him.”

“Why would it be a bad thing…?” She questioned as she sat up slightly.

“Kind of defines us going forward, doesn’t it? Just kind of makes it sound like I might be a replacement.”

She stared at him a moment. “You aren’t a replacement,” the words were quiet. “Don’t go thinking that you could ever replace him.” She spoke that a bit harsher.

Thorne looked away. “Of course. He sounds like a hero and a good stallion. I am not those things.”

Silver looked hurt at his words. “I… I didn’t mean it like that. You are your own pony, not a replacement, is what I was saying.”

There was a sigh from the man and he brought a cold mechanical hand to his face only to be brought from his thoughts by the cold. “Ah fuck!” He exclaimed as he drew the hand away. “Fuck it’s freezing out here…”

There was a blink and then a laugh from Silver. “Idiot!”

Thorne looked at her and then chuckled. “Yeah. I am. And yeah. I know you didn’t mean it like that, just… took it that way I guess. Come on. We should get inside and warm up. It’s late.”

Silver got off of his lap with a nod in agreement, though she stumbled immediately. He was lucky to catch her and help her up, though his own coordination and reflexes were hindered. There was a swear in her language as his machine arm touched her. “That thing is so cold! How are you tolerating it?!”

Thorne needed to brace himself against the cabin and shake his head a few times to get his senses straight as the change in height sent his head spinning. “Don’t really feel it. I can sense it being cool, but can’t judge how cold it really is until I touch another part of me.”

Both of them guided each other to the door and got inside as quietly as they could. It was a mess of hooves and footsteps as they made their way to the second floor guest room. Each needed to take it slow as the alcohol wormed itself more and more into their system. Once they were finally up the stairs and behind closed doors, Thorne immediately went to wrap the enchanted cloak around his arm to warm it back up as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Silver climbed up on the bed and laid down, her eyes still looking at the man. He turned slightly to look back at her. “You look like you have a burning question,” he said.

“I do. How would it be good?”

“How would what be good?” He asked, his mind trying to recall what she was talking about. He didn’t need to wait as she answered him. “With how you remind me of my love.” “Wasn’t he your husband?” “We were never married.” “Oh.” “You’re dodging the question.” “I am.” “I believe you said it ‘defines us going forward’, didn’t you?” Thorne awkwardly looked away. “I was strictly talking about a professional relationship, Silver.”

There was a smirk from the mare and she lifted up slightly, scooting over to the human that sat on the edge. “You were thinking it is good because of what it might mean, weren’t you?” She whispered.

Thorne tried to ignore it. “You’re drunk.” “So are you.” “True…” “Were you actually thinking such things?” She asked in a coy tone. Thorne snorted. “I might be now, but no! I did mean it in a professional sense!”

There was a long ‘mhmm’ and the mare pulled away. Thorne let a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He pawned the cloak off on a nearby chair after standing. He ran his mechanical hand over his face and creased his lips in thought. He stood there a moment, just eyeballing the mare as she got under the covers of the bed. “Oh this is just unfair.”

“It is and I am unashamed. Playing fair merely means you have ample opportunity to lose and I am not a loser.” She remarked back with a hint of sass and Canterlot stuck-up-ed-ness.

“You are just a treat…” He chuckled. He moved back over to the singular bed and the mare scooted over to allow him to climb in. She pat the side he left for him with a knowing grin. Thorne sat down and laid back. He took a bit of the covers for himself and stared up at the ceiling.

“I was thinking about our friendship,” he admitted. “I can’t say that I’ve thought of you or any pony in that regard--at least what I assume what you were getting at.” There was a soft ‘mhm’ from beside him. “That and I don’t want to… ruin a budding friendship.”

“Sounds like you earnestly want to be friends,” Silver said quietly. “Honestly I thought you’d keep us at arm’s length.”

“That was the plan, but… I get nowhere doing that. But I don’t want to hurt you and Dusk. If things happen that are beyond my control…”

“Shh. Sleep. We’ll figure things out. We promised, didn’t we?” Thorne nodded at that. “Good night, Thorne.”

“Good night, Silver.”