When Two Worlds Collide

Chapters

Running
Thinking
Posters and Cider
At Last
New Bonds
The Rescue
The Perfomance
Taking Flight
Journey to Ponyville
What a Night
New Friends, New Town, and a New Start To Things
I Promise
Thank You
Experiments and Hidden Potentials
Lightning Music Streak
Prologue
Discovery
Explanations and Arguments

Running

Epic Ace's POV

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I step out of the dark alley way of Manehattan and I look at the orange-ish sky with sleepy, sky blue eyes. It's dusk and the streets are still crowded slightly, but not so much as it was before. I let out a sigh as my stomach releases a low growl. I'm hungry again, but I barely just ate an hour ago. With a heavy sigh, I walk slowly towards the market in my black cloak and the hood attached to it up and masking my black and red mane and eyes. The ponies around me keep on casting odd looks at me like I'm some freak. I shrugged it off, a few of the cold stares sending shivers down my spine. After all the bizarre stares and awkward glances, I arrive at the market. It's semi-busy today, so that will make it somewhat easier for me. I push myself into the crowd, walking towards an apple stand in the middle of it to try and avoid as much attention as I possibly could. I walk by it and quickly snag an apple, trotting away casually. As usual, it seems he saw me take the ripe, red apple because I heard the old orange coated stallion yell out, "Thief! Guards! We have a thief!"

With those word I started to run, but about half way into my sprint, I run into the husky guards, blocking my first escape route I planned in my head. "Oh my," I muttered under my breath. Though it wasn't a very skillful and thought out plan, I thought of another, trying to see if there was any way out of this situation. I looked to my left and my right, my mane barely peaking through the hood of my cloak. I decided to turn around and run.

I turned tail and booked it the other way. I open up my wings in an attempt to get away, but without much thought or care, I ended up with a sharp pain striking through my right wing. I looked at my wing, an arrow penetrating through it and preventing me from taking flight. I push through the pain and break pass some guards on my way out of the crowded market. For the moment, I think I'm free, but that was an illusion I wanted to believe. I wasn't free, not just yet. This is my normal routine and I've always successfully ditched these guys. But, without my wings, this very encounter is different. I run forward, not caring who's in front of me or who I bump into anymore. I bumped carelessly into a young colt, making him fall. I didn't care, I had one goal to fulfill. Get out of there alive and not go to prison again. There's no time to think or plan, just time to run, just like I've always done since that horrible day.

Without paying attention to my surroundings, I realized I've run into a dead end. I looked behind me, the many guards gaining on me. In a panic, I began jumping wall to wall, reaching the top of the lavender roof just over the wall in a matter of seconds and stand there, looking at the guards momentarily before I jump down on the other side. That was too close. I thought, looking down as I notice I've lost my most prized possession. "Oh why?! Why did I have to lose the only thing I have to remember them by?" I panicked, letting out an exasperated sigh and I trotted away at a brisk pace. "I don't have any time to look for it now. Tomorrow is a new day," I spoke softly as I made my way to the outskirts of Manehatten.

* * *

I trotted into an alley way cautiously, making sure there were no signs of anypony who would report me. There were posters of me in my dark cloak everywhere, saying WANTED in bold, capitalized letters. I sat down, preening my injured wing to try and smooth out the feathers that stuck out everywhere after I cut the arrow off a bit to where I could at least hide it under my cloak. I hadn't bothered to go to the hospital, knowing they're going to report me as soon as they finished treating me. I sighed, hanging my head. "I wish my life was how it used to be," pausing, I switched to my other wing and began again in between breaks, "maybe then I'd live a what mostly everypony called a normal life and not be such a screw up."

I heard the rustle of leaves as the trees swayed softly in the wind, wind chimes making a loud but beautiful ringing noise not too far away. I kept my mind on my necklace, the one thing I had left of my life before now. I kept casting fearful glances in case anypony were to randomly turn up out of the blue and attempt to take me into custody. Honestly, that was my worst fear. Jail was not a pleasant place for a stallion like me, a pony who was once rich and had a chance to rule but it all ended on my birthday. I fled the scene, tears coating my white coat and my mane blowing wildly behind me as I flew carelessly through the pale blue sky on my fourteenth birthday. I could still hear him laughing sadistically as I moved forward, his words taunting me. "Happy birthday," he spoke with a smile and blood on his hooves.

I shook my head, trotting away from this alley way, still hearing his voice and laugh as I attempted to fly again. My wing gave out just as I lifted up off the ground and I fell, nearly twisting my right hind ankle. I gave up with flying for now since the pain in my wing wouldn't ditch me. I sighed, continuing my trot to go somewhere. Anywhere but here. I needed time to clear my head. "I want my necklace," I muttered, now out of the alley way and on the dark streets of Manehattan. "But everypony wants something, and it's rare when that somepony gets what they want," I finished, my stomach growling once more. I ignored it as I passed by a bar called the Drinking Days. I managed to pick pocket a few ponies before I made my way for the apple stand earlier today. I thought about it, then counted my bits. I have just enough for two hard ciders. With a smile, I stepped inside, the soft music going through my ears as I took a seat at the counter with the hood of my cloak up, letting my tail fall between the middle gap in the seat.

"What would you like?" The unicorn bartender spoke to me while washing out a cup with his magic.

"One hard cider," I said, turning around. The unicorn stallion nodded his head, his short brown mane bouncing as he did so. I then turned again as he set the glass down. I counted five bits out and put them on the counter. "Thanks, man."

I chugged the cider down, my head barely spinning. I waved the stallion back over and asked for another, putting my remaining stolen bits on the counter. Chugging down my last one, I got off the stool, the music too much for me to handle.

I stepped onto the streets of Manehattan once more, my head slightly spinning and I'm beginning to relax. I trot on, still letting my head stay in the game and, staying focused on my necklace and the risk of being caught, I stick to the darkness of the alleyways once more.

Thinking

Epic Ace's POV

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I kept a steady trot as I try to push the scene I was just in to the back of my mind. The cider was kicking in now and I had no idea on what to do or where to go at the moment. "Maybe drinking wasn't such a good idea after all," I mumbled softly. I was pissed off. Pissed off at myself and my stupidity. How can I lose a necklace that practically means the world to me? I shook my head, the hood upon it barely budging as I did so. I looked at the sky again, the moon still high. My stomach lets out a low growl and I sigh. There's no time to grieve over this. I thought to myself. I looked at my wounded wing, some of the arrow still stuck in it. I winced as I tried to fold it again, the pain shooting from the joint in my shoulder back to the tip of it. Beautiful. I'm hungry, in a ton of pain, and I have a pretty much useless wing. What else could go wrong? I thought and then I spoke, "Seriously, what else can go wrong now?

I looked around and surveyed my surroundings. The moonlight barely cast light in this area, hiding my presence so I believed I was safe here for a bit. I trotted in yet another alley way, laying down behind an old, beat up dumpster. "Just another day in the streets of Manehattan and another day I barely made it through," I said softly aloud as I hear a hint of a stallions voice. Peeking out from behind the dumpster after I hear voices and the faint tapping of hooves. Momentarily it stops and then it begins to get further away. I released a sigh of relief as the sounds disappeared into the distance. I slid my cloak off skillfully and used it as a blanket, placing it over my body and keeping my wounded wing spread out to reduce the amount of pain I'd be in. I rested my head on the fading red wall to my right. I began thinking, letting my mind spew out questions as to why I'm still alive or if I was to die back then. Images of them flowed into my mind and I just recalled something. I hated thinking mostly because I always seemed to think about them. I looked at myself in the reflection of a puddle forming just by me from a downspout nearby. "I never looked like this," I muttered, my brain pounding hard against my skull. "And things weren't always like this for me."

With all the memories, the aching heart residing in my chest, and the pain jolting from my wing joint to the tip of my wing occasionally, I start to drift off. I hide the pain I'm in, holding all my emotions in can darken my heart further. Yet, I have no one to talk to. No one to help me. No one to confide it. I have no one and nothing, so why am I still fighting? Why am I still trying? Why do I care about anyone now? It's because I'm Epic Ace, and nothing will put an end to my story without me dying while trying. I fell asleep by then, the voices arguing within my head to answer the questions being unraveled so very quickly and answered unreasonably and inaccurate.

* * *

A sudden breaking of glass and the thud of a crate hitting the ground awoke me from my slumber as I shot up from the ground and attempted to fly up out of fear, causing me to land unevenly on my hooves. My wing was now swollen due to the lack of medical treatment and I didn't want to lose it, but I had no choice but to avoid any hospitals, no matter how much regret would follow me. The questions would be never ending. What would I say? Oh, yeah, I got shot by the Royal Guard while trying to steal an apple. Ha, no thanks. The crimson color was screaming at me, the pain beginning to jolt back and forth once more. My heart pumped loudly and I was breathing heavy, both eventually calming down. I looked at the dumpster, seeing my reflection stare menacingly back at me. My mane appeared to be wet and my eyes had dark bags underneath them. I stood shakily, still a little frightened of what had fell so close to me to wake me like it had. My stomach was almost flat from barely eating, my ribs nearly visible and the feathers on my wings were dulling, the once pure white color was cursed with dark spots of dirt and grime from my life now. I shook my head, stumbling just slightly as I slid my cloak back on, hiding my figure once more.

I trot out slowly from the alley, almost stepping on the shattered glass that lay near my once resting area. I looked left and right cautiously and continued out, blending in with the rest of the towns ponies. My wing was concealed, but a small bump was formed in the cloak where the remaining piece of the arrow resided. I say, it was a horrible idea to keep it in there and not yank it out when I first obtained the stupid arrow. I was looking around when suddenly something bumped into me, causing me to step backwards a few times before I fell onto my plot. It was a young colt, his orange mane was long but his tail was just a mere nub. His yellow coat also seemed a bit damp, but I guess he hadn't noticed me for he was searching frantically around for something, placing his hooves everywhere around him in the diameter of his body. "I'm terribly sorry sir, I-"

I cut the young colt off, standing up as strong as I could. "It's all right," I say soothingly, "you didn't see me, though I think I should have paid more attention to where I was going," I finished, looking at him with a small smile. "What do you appear to be looking for?"

"I lost my glasses when I bumped into you. I wasn't watching where I was going and I lost them. I can't see very well without them," the colt said with a sigh.

I looked around, spotting a pair of black glasses with tinted lenses. "One moment, stay here," I spoke as I trotted over to the glasses, picking them up in my jaw as I trotted back over to the yellow earth pony. "Are these yours?" I questioned, holding out the item to the young colt.

He grabbed them in his front hooves, sliding them back on effortlessly. "Yes! Thank you so much!" the colt exclaimed, standing up and casting me a delightful grin.

"No problem. Don't mention it," I smiled back and continued, "now run along before your mom starts to wonder where you scurried off to. I won't say a word, I promise," I winked and the colt galloped off, waving good-bye before he left. Such an enthusiastic young colt. He reminds me of myself when I was younger. I thought, chuckling softly as I watched him disappear into the morning crowd. I return to my steady trot, and suddenly, my stomach lets out a loud growl, alerting other ponies around me. I recieved a few glances in my direction and at me for this and I silently cursed my hunger. I really have to eat or I might as well be known as the Hungry Stomach. I started running through the crowd, pushing and shoving the many ponies out of the way, many cursing me with foul mouths as I was pick pocketing a few clueless ones along my way. I knew what I was going to do. Maybe a drug dealer found my necklace and I just need enough to pay them.

I hid in a dark alley, counting aloud over two-hundred bits before I hid them in a pocket inside my cloak. I walked out onto the streets again once I decided it was safe. Instead of going through the normal and busy streets, I stick to the allies again. What I'd do for some food right now. I thought, coming across an unattended apple stand in one of the allies. I snagged about five apples and trotted away casually, making sure nopony saw me this time. I smirked, biting into one of them and feeling accomplished. I finished them within a course of fifteen minutes, three minutes or so per each. It silenced my stomach for a while as I continued my journey to find my lost necklace. What if I never find it? I thought sadly before I pushed the negative thoughts to the back of my head and filled them with positive ones.

Posters and Cider

Silver Mist's POV

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I awoke the next morning. I refused to move from my warm bed, the AC in my home turning on and blasting cold air onto my face and bed-mane. I decided to get up, mostly because I had to both go and continue my search for this mysterious DJ Pon-3 and I also had to hang up the posters all over Manehattan. I sighed, keeping my blanket over my body as I got out of bed, draping it over my back and wings. A shiver of coldness made its way down my spine as I trotted over to my desk. I enveloped the papers and the empty glass in my magic and I trotted out of my room after kissing my hoof and placing it against the picture of my parents. I closed the door behind me and trotted lazily down the stairs, the blanket trailing behind me and falling off once my hooves made contact with the light brown carpet. The blanket now rest on the bottom step but I left it there, trotting into the kitchen and placing my glass in the sink and the posters on my bar-like counter. I had chairs that looked like stools that belonged in bars. I loved the uniqueness of my home. I stood on my hind hooves while rummaging through my kitchen drawers looking for the tape I always seem to misplace.

I gave up with the tape search and flew upstairs, carrying my blanket up the stairs with me as I opened my door, throwing it on my bed carelessly. I once again made my way downstairs, closing my door and trotting into my living room, turning on the news while I now began my search for the stapler I have always misplaced along with the tape. It'd be a miracle if- "They happened to be right next to each other," I said, finishing my thought aloud as I enveloped both the tape and the stapler in my magic with a huff. "I really need to label where I put things," I mumbled, returning into my kitchen and placing both of the items down beside the posters as I went into my refrigerator, pulling out an apple and a cold cup of apple juice. I bit into the green apple, screwing up my face at how sour the taste was. I shrugged it off, still deciding to eat it as I brought the cup of apple juice to my lips, taking a sip before I sat it down on the counter, taking a seat in one of the stools. I began sketching up some more pictures on a clean sheet of paper before I heard a knock at the door. "Who is that at this time of the-oh, it's twelve. Well, I slept late today," I said to myself before getting up, trotting over to the door. "Who is it?"

"Vinyl Scratch. Uh, is this the residence of Silver," there was a pause from the voice on the other side of the door, "Mist?" they finished.

I opened up the door to see a white unicorn mare with a two-toned blue mane and short tail with purple shades covering her eyes. "Yeah, this is she. Who are you?"

Vinyl took off her glasses, enveloping them in her own magic and putting them atop of her head. "I'm sure you know who I am! Everypony here knows!"

I shrugged, obviously clueless. "I'm sorry ma'am, but I don't."

The mare facehoofed and then looked at me with her red colored eyes. "I'm DJ Pon-3."

I gasped, nearly falling backwards onto my plot. I was a mess, I realized. My mane was everywhere, my eyes had bags under them, and I was just ew. I backed away from the door, making room for Vinyl to enter my home. "Please, come in. I'll be one moment," I said once she had trotted in. She was clearly looking at the photos' of my family. "There's some cider, apple juice, water, and orange juice in the fridge, help yourself," I told her, watching her trot into the kitchen.

"Aww yeah, you got cider? Hard or light?" she questioned.

I replied, "I have both. Take which ever you'd like."

"Don't mind if I do," Vinyl said, opening up the refrigerator with her magic and taking out two ciders. I noticed one was hard and the other was light. "Thanks."

I nodded my head in reply and said, "I'll be just a moment." With that, I flew upstairs and into my bathroom, enveloping my brush in my magic and combing my mane and tail quickly. I brushed it to the right side, letting it barely fall over my right eye. I began to then wash my face and brush my teeth simultaneously. I then looked at myself in the mirror, believing I now looked presentable in the eyes of what seemed like to me a celebrity. I trotted down stairs again after I had gone into my room and put on my green peace sign necklace and examined myself in the mirror. "Okay, let's go try this again," I had said while I made my bed. I looked in the kitchen and saw Vinyl looking for something in the cabinets. "What are you looking for?" I asked her.

Vinyl turned her head and I saw a lettuce sandwich hanging from her jaw. She cracked a smile and enveloped it in her magic. "I meant to ask, but I didn’t know where you went. Can I have it?" she asked me, staring at me with pleading eyes.

I sighed in defeat. "Sure. So, how'd you find me?"

"Actually, that somepony that told you about me, told me your address. I couldn't help but find you. Trust me, I had to give up a gig at Ponyville," Vinyl told me, biting into the sandwich and then continuing, "but it was worth it. I heard your unreleased song before at the Drinking Days bar before and I wondered who it was. Your name rung a bell and I figured, hey why not go find her? She could be a great musical partner!"

I smiled at the compliment. "They played my song?"

The white unicorn simply nodded, swallowing the bite she had been chewing whilst talking to me. "It's really great. I was wondering though," she paused, seeming deep in thought.

"Wondered what?"

"If you'd like, we could make a collaboration and turn your song into a major hit at the next gig I get. Wouldn't that be so epic! I mean, you and I, traveling Las Pegasus, Ponyville, and all of Equestria! What do you say?" Vinyl sounded excited, placing her food on the table alongside the two empty bottles of cider. "C'mon, we can do this, I know we can. DJ Pon-3 and DJ Misty, traveling the world far and wide!" Vinyl encouraged me further and I realized, she used the nickname my father used to call me.

"I don't know Vinyl," I said with an unsure tone, "I have a job and I only wrote that one song. I mean, what could we do with it? Make a variety of remixes off a single song?"

Vinyl looked at me and handed me a small business type card. "Call me, and we'll discuss more about this. If you change your mind in the next few weeks, we'll be opening for The Wonderbolts here in Manehattan. If they like what they hear," the unicorn mare flashed me a smile, "we'll be heading to Ponyville."

"I'll ponder it over, alright?" I replied.

She nodded her approval and headed towards the door, opening it with her magic. She paused half way out and looked over her shoulder at me and said, "Nice meeting you, Silver Mist. I'd like to hear from you." With that, she walked out of my home with her glasses hiding her red eyes once more and trotted down the street and out the large gate, onto the quickly crowding streets of Manehattan.

"What am I going to do?" I asked myself, enveloping my satchel in my magic and placing the key card to my home, the stapler, tape, and the posters inside of it. "Maybe I'll do this," I concluded, walking out of my home and closing the door behind me. "Just maybe."

* * *

I was in the market, handing out posters to the ponies I believed were somewhat rich or completely rich. For some reason, I had this odd feeling in my gut it belonged to nopony here. I sighed heavily and gave up with just handing them out and resorted to asking many selling ponies permission to hang a sign on their stand. Most said yes, while the more grumpy ones were against the idea for customers just coming up to the stand to look at the necklace I had found. I found a few trees and stapled a few posters among them and trotted off. I had less than twenty signs left in my satchel and I decided to go into the Drinking Days bar to ask the unicorn bartender Lemon Twist to hand out the rest of the signs.

"Oh Silver! It's wonderful to see you again!" he exclaimed from behind the counter, his brown mane bouncing and his white coat and wine glass Cutie Mark visible. "How may I assist you?"

I smiled. Seeing Lemon was always wonderful due to our conversations being so entertaining and informative. "I found this necklace," I began, pulling out the remaining posters besides one and showing Lemon. "I can't find the owner and I have hung posters everywhere possible. May I ask you of a favor?"

Lemon nodded. "Of course, you want me to show my customers the posters?" he asked me happily, flashing his brilliant grin.

I replied, "If you don't mind."

"I would never mind. Your father was my best stallion at my wedding and not to mention, my colthood friend," he smiled and took the posters and taped them around the bar with his magic after he trotted out from behind the bar counter, even adding one on the door by the OPEN sign.

"Thank you Lemon, you really are a big help," I praised him with a goofy half smile on my face. "I better get going, I have to go to work tonight," I added, beginning to turn away.

"Why not stay for a while, catch up and inform me about how you're doing?" he asked, making me turn back around.

I shook my head. "I would if only I had off today. I'll drop by again tomorrow if I have the morning shift, I promise," I said, embracing him in a hug by wrapping my front hooves around him.

He returned my hug, nuzzling my neck and wrapping a foreleg around me. "Alright Silver. I'll have a light cider aside with a lime on the rim with your name on it tomorrow."

I nodded, pulling away and turned again, trotting towards the door. "I'm looking forward to it."

The stallion smiled and watched me go and I heard him mutter, "She's so caring and loving, just like old Dawn Light." He trotted back behind the bar counter and enveloped a glass in his light blue magic, returning to drying them off.

I smiled even more at this as I waved a hoof good-bye as I walked out the bar door, hearing the bells ring as I opened it. "I'm like both of my parents," I said to myself, my smile slightly fading momentarily but returning again. I kept a steady pace down the sidewalk and made my way back to my home, swiping my key card and walking through the large gate and to my home, unlocking the door.

I stepped inside, turning the television off since I forgot to when I left earlier. I flew up the stairs and into my bathroom, starting the water. "I will find the rightful owner of this necklace. If I don't, I will put it in a box and bring it to the Manehattan Lost and Found department," I mumbled to myself, stepping into the hot water. "Maybe they'll find the owner faster than I ever could."

At Last

Epic Ace's POV

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The air in this underground club was stuffy, making it rather hard for me to breathe. My wing was swelling and, from the looks of it, I might be acquiring an infection. I trotted through the club, some ponies looked hammered while others simply examined them with lust filled eyes. Were they on Buck? I thought questioningly to myself. The drug was to make you feel nothing but calmness, lust, and out of it. I never wanted to get into it, the drug was addicting and I've seen many ponies just lying on the street helpless. I looked around and spotted a buff gray stallion in the back of the club, smoking a cigar in a brown leather booth. I trot over to him, his black shades shielding his eyes but his mane was a dark blue or black color. "Who are you?" the stallion spoke in a husky voice.

"That is of no matter. I was wondering if you or any of your friends here, found a necklace by any chance," I spoke with calmness and certainty.

The stallion looked at me over the top of his glasses. I caught a glimpse at his eyes. They were a blue-ish green color and he slid out of the booth, towering over me. "Even if I did, I wouldn't give it to a punk like you. Now, run along," he said with a hint of laughter as he began to turn away.

I laugh slightly with him "Ha, okay listen,” my tone now more serious, and all the more threatening, ”all I came for was to find my necklace, so tell me if you know anything about it," I replied, the anger seeping into my voice ever so slowly.

"Or what? You gonna run to your mommy? Ooh, I am so frightened! I'm quivering with fear!" the pegasus laughed slightly harder, looking over at his buddies, who were also laughing with him in the booth. "Seriously, beat it, kid."

That last comment sent my blood boiling, I grit my teeth and try to hold back using my ‘special talent’. No one must know. "Now I will ask again," I growled. "Where's my necklace?" I asked again.

That made him tick. "I said beat it!" he yelled this time, causing a few nearby ponies to look at us. The gray stallion's nostrils flared as he huffed continuously.

"Or what?"

"Or I'll snap you like a twig!" he yelled furiously at me, stepping forward with one white hoof.

I stood my ground, trying to keep my cool. "I'm going to ask you one more time. Do you have my spade shaped necklace?"

He took another step forward, trying to look intimidating as he spoke, "Beat. It," he growled, just barely inches from my face. His breath stunk like a mixture of smoke and cider.

I had enough of him. I decided to act upon him. A drunken pony was never a fast one. I stood up on my hind hooves and snatched his shades from his face, put them over my eyes and stuck my tongue out and ran. I don’t need to waste energy fighting him, I think as I dart away quickly as he ordered his, now what appeared to be, employees after me. Most of them stumbled and bumped into each other, while the others kept attempting to fly but to no avail. Yes, they're all drunk! I may get away with this! I ran up the stairs that lead out of the underground club, the three stallions charging straight at me but, with a painful leap out a window and a single flap of my good wing, I was able to jump over a gate blocking my path. I looked at them and quickly ran away in different directions, to make sure I would not be followed. I then put the glasses that I took off my face and put them in my cloak, and came to a stop at a Mini Mart and walked in, grabbing a bag of Lettuce Chips and paying three bits to the sales pony. With a flash of my grin, I walked out and continued my search for my necklace.

"That was a waste of energy," I muttered, sitting behind yet another dumpster and tearing open the bag of Lettuce Chips. "Now I know not to mess with anypony associated with underground clubs or drug dealers." I began eating the chips and sat there for a while, examining my wings as I did so. I sighed heavily at the sight of how badly bruised, swollen, and infected my right wing looked. I debated on whether or not I should go to the hospital and use a fake name to pass by the security and not get arrested. I took the idea into consideration and finished my chips, slumping against the dumpster in deep thought.

* * *

I suddenly awake with a pain coming from my right wing. I jump up and yell in agonizing pain, leaning against the dumpster on my left side to regain my composure and prevent the threat of tears from trailing down my already dirt covered face. I must of nodded off into a slumber and fell over onto the wounded wing. I regretted thinking once again, deciding thinking just wasn't meant for me since all that came from it was pain. After the immense amount of suffering I went through when I had fallen on my wing had started to settle down, I took a look at it, opening my cloak and regretting that as well. It's still infected and the longer I look at it, the more I feel like I should of done something about it instead of just cutting the arrow down to size. I began groaning in pain as I looked it over from the arrow all the way to the tip and around it. “I don’t need to lose a wing, I have already lost so much,” I say as I cover the wing back up with my cloak, the cloth just barely brushing against it.

I made it my goal to go to the hospital tomorrow, no matter how much I risked in order to do so. I couldn't bear with losing something else I needed. As for now, I must continue the search for my most prized possession. I step out of the alley way and begin to walk into the streets again I begin to ponder on the places the necklace could be. There were so many possibilities, that it could be anywhere, in a jewelry store, a convenient stand, a brothel, in some wretched pony’s hooves, hell it could even be in a- in the middle of my random thinking, a paper slaps me in the face. I peel it off of my face and examine it. And I could not believe my eyes. With some stroke of luck the paper that hit me is a poster for my necklace. A read the address: 102 Golden Light, Ave. Silver Mist. I shove the paper in my cloak and begin to run towards the address. “I guess I will have to pay this Silver Mist a visit,” I say under my breath.

I walked out onto the streets once more, pulling the hood of the cloak over my head just in case anypony wanted to see if I was somepony they knew. Of course they hadn't nor would they ever know me, considering the fact I'm just a thief. I sigh softly, realizing I might as well run. I was in the market by now, some sales ponies casting suspicious glares and looks at me while every other pony carried on with their own business. I mean, the only time I'm ever caught stealing is when the sales ponies notice I stole something of theirs, alerts the Royal Guard of my thievery, and I'm running for my life. I mean, I'm just "borrowing" the food anyway, I could return it if I'd like. Well, I would never return food. I mean, food is food, whether it is stolen, free, or bought. I continued down the road, picking up pace since it was starting to get dark, meaning he or she could be getting ready to go to work by now. I kept my mind off the food now, hearing my stomach let out a low growl.

I start picking up speed, running by now to get to the gates of the ponies that actually have a home. If it wasn't for my wing, I probably would have been there by now since I can fly faster than most pegasi around. The gates to, what I called the rich ponies, homes were barely just a mile away by now. Some homes had their lights on while others were dark and seemed to have nopony living among them. I take out the paper again and look at the address, now trotting carefully down the sidewalk. I had slipped under the gate protecting the ponies, but for some reason, I could not help but have the feeling that the pony who had found my necklace was as foul as the underbelly of an unsanitary colt. I shook my head, still unsure about this situation. I find the home I was searching for, knocking gently. I slide my knife from under my cloak and look down at the sharp blade barely brushing against my coat. This was if they had asked for any bits. I needed them, for just in case purposes.

The door starts to unlock, the mechanisms inside of the door turning. I hide the blade once more, making sure it wasn't visible. A gray mare with a light green, purple, and black as her mane color appeared in the doorway of the home. She's rather cute, I thought quietly and continued my train of thought, but I only came for my necklace. With curious and wandering eyes, she looked me over and spoke, her voice as beautiful as the wind blowing through wind chimes, though I know she didn't actually sound like that. "And who are you?" she spoke softly.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. "My name is of no matter," I said, "but I believe you have something of mine." She seemed to be on edge now, probably because I had not given her my name as a more formal introduction. Maybe I seemed threatening to her? Well, now it didn't matter, I was in the presence of the mare whom had picked up my necklace and not somepony else. It's bad enough that I had been starving during most of the walk here and now, I'm still talking to her while I'm literally almost dying of hunger.

"You mean the necklace, no?" she asked me, raising a single brow in a quizzical form or way.

"Precisely," I replied hastily.

She moved to the side, making enough room for me to walk by her. "Well, come inside and I'll get it for you," a small smile spread upon her muzzle, making me want to smile back.

I honestly didn't want to go inside, but the invitation made it hard for me to back down. I'm not a rude stallion at all, so I take the offer and slowly step inside her home as she closed the door behind me with her back hoof and retreated up the steps to retrieve my necklace. While she was gone, I took advantage of this opportunity, looking around her home and I trotted into the living room, looking around the walls and admiring the many pictures upon them. Some held what seemed like some sort of family and, by the looks of it, a stallion and a mare who had her cradled in their forelegs. Perhaps those ponies are her parents, but where are they? I thought questioningly to myself. Images began to pass through my head, many of them being awful ones I had wished to get rid of. I shake my head quickly, putting the images to the back of my mind as I hear hoof steps coming down the stairs. I look up and ask, "Do you have it?"

With a nod, she handed it over, and I wrap it around its rightful place around my neck. "May I ask who is in the picture with you?"

I sighed, knowing this was coming. I pause and open up the pendent slowly, looking down at the picture and holding back the memories of my once so perfect life. "It's my family," I replied with a raspy voice, "my father, my mother, and my brother Phantom," as his name left my lips and a shiver made its way down my spine.

"Oh," she said with a hint of sadness in their voice, "you look happy."

"Yes, we were happy."

"Were?" she tilted her head to her left side, her mane falling over her dark blue eyes.

"Yes were," I replied in haste, "why do you ask so many questions?"

"I don't know you for one," she paused and then continued, "for two, I'm slightly curious. I mean, I've been holding onto your necklace for the past two or three days not knowing whom it belonged to. I have a reason to ask."

I don’t need her asking anymore questions. "I need to get going," I muttered, making my way for the door. "I got things to-" my stomach lets out a long, loud growl and my face flushes. I turn my head, my face beginning to turn red with embarrassment. I'm hungry, but I didn't expect my stomach to be so loud.

She let out a giggle and asks, "Are you hungry?"

I nod my head, turning back to face her as my sky blue eyes make contact with her deep ocean blue ones. "Well, just a bit," I reply, trying to stop a smile from forming.

"If you'd like, you can stay and I can make you something," she said, making her way towards her kitchen.

I want to say no, but my stomach insists I sit and dine. Who am I to reject a kind offer on free food? I decided to stay a while, considering the fact she was so very friendly to me already while everypony else looks at me like I'm some sort of convict stallion. Maybe it's the dark cloak? I stop the argument with my inner voice as I loiter into the kitchen and climb up onto the stool-like chair in front of her, watching her make the lettuce sandwich. I slide off my cloak, forgetting about my injury. I interjected, "Can you add more? I'm famished."

She nodded and placed the lettuce sandwich in front of me, it practically towered over me, but as she placed the plate down before me with her magic, she got a good look at my injury and let out a gasp. “What happened to your wing?” she said in a shocked tone, but before I could come up with a reason, she had a sudden realization. “Wait, you’re that stallion I saw on TV!”

I look up at her. “Well, I didn't know I was that famous,” I say jokingly with sarcasm.

“It’s not funny!” she said, slightly upset. “You are some sort of criminal.”

“Criminal!” I said as I stood up out of the chair. “Now I take offense to that, because I am no criminal. I’m only wanted because I steal food to live. You try to live on the street by yourself and not get caught up in some sort of thievery. And if I really was a criminal, I would have done something already, but I haven’t, now have I?” I slide the knife out and place it on the counter. “I have no intention of harming you, none what so ever. But I will give you a choice. You could either call the guards on me, or you could get to know me.” I hold out my hoof waiting for an answer.

New Bonds

Silver Mist's POV

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I stood there motionless, staring blankly at the blade the wanted stallion had been carrying with him that was now on the counter separating us. I stood on my back legs, resting my chest against the counter. I then extended my hoof out and accepted the white pegasi's offer to get to know him. "Very well then," I finally said, flipping my mane from my eyes. "I'd be happier knowing your name, you know."

He still seemed uneasy, pulling his hoof away. I enveloped his blade in my magic and put it on the ceiling, taping it there and smiling. He grunted since he couldn't fly due to his injury and sat there in defiance. "Fine, I'll begin," I said, taking a seat next to him. "I'm Silver Mist, as you may already know. Now, since it's only fair, what is your name?"

The white pegasus sat there in pure silence, nothing but his heavy breathing being heard as he ate the sandwich I had made for him. I sat there both patiently and quietly, waiting for him to finish. Once he did, he looked to me and opened his mouth to speak, wetting his lips. "I am Epic Ace, though I go by Ace," he spoke in a more civilized tone of voice.

"Do you think I'd charge you for something that is rightfully yours?" I asked, making him look at me in confusion.

"What are you talking about? Some ponies here aren't very friendly like you are to somepony like myself," he replied, cocking an eyebrow.

I shook my head. "Never mind, I don't have time to explain it to you," I said, gathering my things together and looking at the clock. "Damn it! Now I'm late for work! I'll just call in sick," I grumbled, picking up my phone and dialing my work place number. "Yes, this is Silver Mist. My er," I thought for a moment and looked at Ace, "distant relative came to drop by for a visit and they have no place to stay. Please do tell Quick Step I'll try and get them home as soon as possible," I lied, listening to the operator.

"Who are you talking-" I shushed Ace, clamping my hoof around his mouth. He started mumbling against my hoof, causing me to look at him oddly.

"Stop!" I said in a hushed tone, returning to my phone call once he had stopped his shenanigans. "Okay, uh-huh, alright, I'll take my vacation then. Okay, thank you, bye," I spoke, hanging up the phone and turning to the stallion. "Do you not know what a job is?"

He shook his head, his black and red mane falling over both his eyes now. "I told you already, I live in the streets and steal food to survive. Do you not know how to listen?"

I growled my next words, "Watch what you say to me, Ace. Whether you believe I'm a foul pony or not, you're stuck with me now. I think you'd want to watch it."

Ace rolled his sky blue eyes, blowing his mane from them. "You might want to watch it as well, for you can be in danger from anypony around. You know what they say," he paused, looking at me directly and continued, "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

I got in his face by now, glaring at him. "I'm the enemy, after I politely made you a sandwich, gave you back your necklace, and welcomed you into my own home? I don't have to be a kind pony, I could've sold your wretched necklace to get myself something nice for a change instead of using all my money to pay bills and rent!" I yelled, my breath short and hot on his face.

He pushed me back a bit, getting me away from him. "Look, for one, get out of my face, and two, if you ever even did that, I swear you would be dead," his words showed no remorse as they left his lips.

My hoof then connected with his face, leaving a red mark where it had landed. "Don't tell me what to do," I huffed, walking off. "Go shower, we're going out," I shouted to him from the music room in my home, my blood still boiling.

"By we're, I hope you mean just you," I heard him say.

I walked out of the music room with a microphone stand enveloped in my field of magic, my eyes constricted. "Go shower. Now!" I screamed, throwing the mic stand at the stallion as he galloped quickly up the steps. "Damn idiotic ponies now-a-days," I muttered, picking up the stand and carrying it back to the music room, leaning it against the wall and closing the soundproof door when I walked out.

"Not to be bothersome," Ace called down from upstairs, "but how do you work this machine?"

I facehoofed and thought, How much more clueless can a damned pony be? I trotted up the steps and into my bathroom, the most foul smell in all of Equestria filling my nostrils. I stepped back, covering my muzzle with my hooves as I lifted up off the ground. "What in the world is that smell?"

Ace looked at me and shrugged,still trying to figure out how to work my shower. "I have no idea how to work this," he said,his hooves slipping along the silver knob.

I moved him aside and turned the knob with my hooves much like a pegasus or earth pony would do, turning the water onto warm and enveloping the soap, shampoo, and conditioner in my field of magic and putting them where he could reach. "Wash up well and if I ever smell that reek again, I will bathe you myself," I warned, flying off steadily and into my room.

“Oh, you would?” he seemed to say teasingly.

I threw a bit at him, hitting him in the middle of his forehead. "Shut up and shower," I replied.

He laughed softly and I heard him start humming a song relative to mine. I burst through the door and he covered himself, his fully white coat now visible from the dirt and grime that had covered it once before. "May I help you?!" he yelped, his mane full of shampoo.

"That, what you're singing or humming or whatever!" I squealed, jumping up and down.

"What about it? I heard at the Drinking Days bar! Don't get your tail in a twist!" he said, closing the shower curtain and I stayed in there, the steam beginning to mess with my mane.

"That's my song!" I blurted out.

Ace stopped moving behind the curtain, poking his head out and his mane dripping onto mine, "What?" he managed with a surprised facial expression. "The bartender said it was by somepony he knew, but he wouldn't give me the name at all."

"Well, now you know who's it is," I smiled happily, squirming with joy.

"You know what, Silver?"

"Um hm?"

"You're a very bipolar pony."

I nodded my head as he ducked behind the curtain. "I know, thank you for noticing." I trotted out of the bathroom, going into my room and brushing my mane again before picking up the card Vinyl had left me with. I dialed the number and spoke, "Hello? Is this by any chance Vinyl Scratch?"

Vinyl's voice broke in to seem rather delighted, "Aww yeah! You decided to take up the offer, huh?"

I nodded and said, "Yes, but may I bring a guest?"

There was a pause and a short conversation before she spoke again, more serious now. "Sure! Only if you buy me a hard cider."

"Deal," I agreed.

"Alright then! It's settled! I'll see you later to discuss this over dinner around eight p.m. at say the Lettuce Garden?" Vinyl spoke in a form of invitation and deal-maker.

I nearly squeed at this point and I was almost jumping with joy. "Sounds like a plan. I'll see you then," I finished, hanging up the phone. I then called to Ace, "Hurry up! We have dinner with Vinyl tonight!"

I heard him reply with a, "Who?" but I didn't quite catch it for I was too excited for tonight. I squeed aloud, my smile spreading wildly as I picked out a proper outfit and waited for Ace to finish showering so I could.

* * *

Ace and I arrived at the Lettuce Garden. I had lent him my father's suit from when he went to his senior prom and, I must say, he looks pretty presentable. I had managed to pull the remains of the arrow out as he was on antibiotics and I gave him a pain medication to dull the pain for the time being. His wing was wrapped in gauze sheets and then stilts in it to make sure the bone structures would heal properly. I kept casting glances at him since I dyed his mane fully black along with his tail. It wasn't permanent, which is the only reason why he agreed. I only did so just in case anypony had any suspicions of the stallion being the one from the wanted posters all over Manehattan that I hadn't bothered to notice until now. I smiled softly, seeing how easily he was able to guide through all the more famous and well-known ponies as we went to the table with the white unicorn mare accompanied by a darker gray than I am with a black mane. Vinyl stood, her glasses were not in sight and she was actually dressed in something more formal.

"Silver! I'm glad you could make it!" she said, trotting over to me and embracing me in a hug. It took a few moments for the realization to kick in before I hugged the DJ back. She released me and looked to Ace with a small smile, "You gotta know me kiddo."

Ace simply shook his head and spoke, "I do not know who you are or how you know Silver. I'm sorry," he apologized.

Vinyl facehoofed and nearly shouted, "Does nopony know who I am anymore?"

Both Ace and I looked at each other and smiled before saying in unison, "Don't get your tail in a twist."

Vinyl looked to me and shook her head and then introduced the more formal looking pony. "This is Zanger Octavia, an old friend of mine. She plays cello and we both have two totally different music choices."

Octavia spoke in a calm, collective, and authoritative manner, "A pleasure to meet you," the earth pony musician spoke, her voice carrying the most highest of classes. "Please, come sit, we've been waiting for your arrival."

Vinyl playfully nudged Octavia and she rolled her eyes in response. "Calm down, Octy. They're absolutely wubtastic!" Vinyl exclaimed, throwing her hooves in the air before returning to the booth and sitting next to Octavia.

Ace and I climbed into the booth, sitting across from the two musicians. A waiter came by and asked, "What would the drinks be?"

Octavia replied, "One Sangiovese please. A hard cider for the unicorn here, and two Syrahs for the other two." The waiter nodded, walking away as he held a tray within his magic.

"Not to be rude or anything," I spoke quietly, "but what is a Syrah?"

Ace turned to me, "It's a red wine, don't worry, it's absolutely delicious."

I looked at him, "For somepony who isn't fancy sure knows his liquor," I said with the best French accent I could muster.

"Oui, I do. Now, hush, I believe Vinyl wishes to speak," Ace spoke, replying with his best French accent as well.

I huffed and nudged him, smiling softly as our drinks arrived. "For you, madam," the waiter spoke as he smiled at me, placing my Syrah down in front of me. Ace looked at the waiter and he furrowed his brow for an unknown reason. "Oh, Madame Octavia, you seem so lonesome," the waiter spoke again, "why not come with me for a-"

"Stop right there, monsieur. I am not interested, so do not bother," Octavia spoke, taking the glass from the red unicorn stallion.

He huffed and placed the remaining two drinks in front of Ace and Vinyl, Ace swishing it around a bit before taking a swig. "Devinne," he said.

I looked at him and let out a giggle, copying what he did but with my magic. "Yes, I agree good sir."

He smiled and let his glass down. "Why'd we come here exactly?"

Vinyl looked up over the rim over her glass, putting it down after taking a few sips as Octavia studied hers quietly for any signs of pill-form Buck. "Well, I want you to open up with me for the Wonderbolts and Octy here will be at the end of their show. You took the offer and I promise it'll be totally awesome if you did."

"Exquisite, yes," Octavia spoke more calmly, finally taking a sip of her Sangiovese.

* * *

Octavia had paid for the meal and we all chipped in a bit, considering the fact we all had an equal amount of food. We had left, leaving about a few bites of food on our plates. Except for Ace, he had devoured all of the food that as given to him on the large platter. On the plus side, Ace and I had decided to walk the two musicians home for the night since it was beginning to get rather dark.

"Hey everypony," Vinyl piped up, opening a door to a club with her magic called Glowing Night, "why not chill for a while? It's on me," she finished with a smile as Ace and I looked at each other with a suspicion.

Octavia said in an unsure tone, "Are you sure, Vinyl? What if-"

Vinyl interrupted, "Oh, c'mon Tavi! Lighten up and let them have some fun!"

I looked to Ace and then spoke, "You really don't have to do this."

Vinyl shook her head, "I insist! Now, let's go!" she said, trotting inside but still holding the door open.

Ace stepped forward and held the door for Octavia and I, both of us walking through with Ace following closely behind. "So, Silver Mist, how are you today? Besides with this odd bring-up of your name," Octavia said to me, looking over at the bar.

I shrugged, watching Ace walk in front of us. "It's okay, just a bit different from my normal routine."

"And what would that be?" She looked to me, a bit of confusion seeping into her voice.

"Get up, go to work, go home, be sad, etc.," I replied.

"If I may ask, why sad?"

"My parents passed away a while ago and I've been living on my own," I spoke softly.

Octavia's eyes saddened. "I'm terribly sorry, Silver."

I shook my head and forced a smile, "No, don't be. My sadness will not ruin this night, alright? I'm fine." She paused for a moment and then nodded her head, trotting away from me. "Hopefully," I finished.

I noticed Ace and Octavia dancing now as Vinyl sat at the bar, ordering a light cider this time. I trotted up to her, taking a seat on the stool by her. "Hey."

She acknowledged me with a smile, her mane now back to its original form. "Hey!"

"Got tired of the formal look?"

"Formal isn't my thing, y'know? A DJ's gotta stick to their style and, as far as I'm concerned, formality isn't even close to my style!"

I smiled and replied, "Yeah, trust me, I wasn't too happy about the dress thing either." I was wearing a simple red dress and my earrings I had been hiding were in again, the loops on top of my ear and I blushed, looking down at my mother's moon necklace. "I didn't want to over do it."

Vinyl smiled and nudged me gently, "You look great. As for me," she looked down at her simple blue dress and music note necklace, "I probably look like crap."

I shook my head, "Shut up, you look fine."

Vinyl pushed me off my chair, causing me to land on my plot. "You shut up first."

I grabbed her hoof and pulled her down next to me. "Never!" I replied, getting up.

Vinyl shrugged and proceeded to resit herself at the bar, "Fine. Want anything?" she asked me.

Once again, I replied with a simple shake of my head and she said, "Suit yourself, more for me."

I trotted off, sitting in a booth with Octavia and Ace as they conversed. "So," I interjected myself into the conversation.

"Oh, hello Silver," Ace smiled at me as he sipped on what appeared to be another Syrah while Octavia had a simple glass of light cider. "Dancing isn't cut out for me," he said, looking down at his plot as if to signify the fact he fell down too many times. He seemed slightly buzzed, but only to the point it was almost noticeable.

I laughed gently, "It's not for everypony, Ace," I said, glancing over at a couple who were failing at the salsa. "Just look on the bright side, at least you didn't fall on your face like somepony like me did," I finished with a goofy grin.

"Why yes, I have fallen quite a few times as well," Octavia spoke, giggling softly.

Ace smiled as well, joining in on our laughter. "We better get going," he said, looking at his watch. "It's already one in the morning."

I nodded my agreement. Tavi, Ace, and I slid out of the booth and trotted out of the club after dragging Vinyl away from the bar by her hooves. "Let's go you stubborn unicorn!" Octavia had yelled a few times before we were out the door.

A stallion that looked like the waiter from the Lettuce Garden was standing outside of the club with a cigarette hanging from his lips, a black jacket now over his body and slip-on hoof-gloves were concealing his hooves. "Hello again, Zanger."

I looked at Octavia, my head pounding from an oncoming headache. "Who is he?" I asked, leaning in.

She whispered in reply, "That would be my ex-boyfriend, Mystic Magic."

"What kind of name is that?"

"I have no idea."

Mystic approached Tavi, running his hoof under her jaw and making her look into his dark brown eyes. "Oh, you don't know the half of it, gray mare," he spoke, rolling his 'r'.

"What do you want, Mystic?" Octavia asked, seeming bored.

"All I ever have wanted," he whispered in her ear, pulling out a small cloth, "you to love me like you did before our break up."

Octavia backed away. "I never wanted anything to do with you, and you know that. Now, if you don't mind, please move so my lovely and, not to mention, well-mannered friends and I can pass," she spoke, no question in her tone.

"Why would I leave such a prize behind, Zanger? You're everything any stallion would like," he whispered into her neck, his eyes filling with lust. "I just want you."

Octavia looked at me as if to tell me to move away, before he did anything to me. I took note and scooted away from her as he began to walk in circles around her, seeming to try and be intimidating. "My name is Octavia, for starters. Two, keep your filthy hooves away from me. Does the probation mean nothing to you?"

"Oh, Tavi. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Have you not known me? I don't care about anything or anypony but you. Don't you understand?" he growled into her ear.

Her ear flicked, and she looked at him from the corner of her eye. Her purple eyes flashed with anger and hatred as he got in front of her, tying the cloth around her muzzle. "Now, keep quiet," he mumbled. He then lifted Octavia up with his magic and began to gallop away, the cloth now in her mouth

"Ace! Do something!" I yelled to Ace, who was still holding Vinyl back from going into the club again.

He looked to me and then to Octavia, Mystic running away with her enveloped in his magic as she squirmed around. Ace then gave chase to the stallion, attempting to fly as his wing repeatedly gave out.

The Rescue

Epic Ace's POV

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My breath is heavy as my heart is pounding deeply inside my chest. The failed attempts of me trying to fly made my wings hurt and my body ache but I pushed myself to chase after this stallion. No matter what kind of pain I have to endure to succeed. He turns into a dark alley way, pushing down trash cans and shoving many different objects to the ground to prevent me from catching up. I jump over them with ease as I begin to gallop as fast as I can. He turns sharply into another alley in an attempt to shake me from behind him, only to end up in a corner and I am so close I could possibly pounce on him. He was now stuck between a wall about fifteen feet high and myself, the gauze on my wing falling off from all the failed flight attempts. He turned around and looked at me with eyes set to kill, lowering the squirming Octavia to the ground with a protective shield of magic around her. Mystic slowly pulled out a knife, enveloped in his yellow colored magic and pointed it at me, pure hatred filling his dark brown eyes, masking over the pure lust he felt for Octavia. “No one will separate me from my Tavi,” he said with a tone full of seriousness, “and I will make sure a runt like you will not interfere with my one true love and I.”

I had no weapon at the time. Silver told me to not bring the knife because it would cause some sort of havoc. Curse you silver. I thought angrily, biting my tongue. With determination in my heart, I was bound to stop this fool. “Now I will only say this once,” my tone of voice turning out to come across as calm yet threatening, “walk away now and leave Octavia alone.”

He seemed to laugh at it like it was some kind of sick joke. “And what can you do, you pathetic excuse for a pegasus?” he then picked me up in a field of magic and threw me into a nearby dark lavender wall, knocking the wind out of me. I had realized that he also slammed me against my bad wing and onto the ground in a puddle of what smelled like cider. The dye in my mane was washing out, and my wing was in unbelievable pain. I felt as if it was pounding against the stilts and the remains of the gauze. I slowly lift myself up, head hanging down towards the cider puddle as I sit on my plot and hold my wing, gasping for the air I desperately needed. I hear Mystic's hoof steps as he gets closer to me and, as I look up to see him, I see the sliver blade aimed at my head, the silver glinting against the moonlight.

He had a smile on his smug face. The smile of victory. “You should of left me alone, now you will die for trying to stop me," he growled, his smile widening as the knife came closer to my neck.

I turned my head back to the ground and took a long breath. “You were warned.” I knew just what to do. It would involve my ‘special talent’ but I didn't care anymore if anyone knew about it. This was the time it was exceptionable. In a blink of an eye, I disappear from the sight of the stallion. Then, like as if I came out of thin air, I reappear, slamming my back forelegs into the his side. My front right hoof had connected in between his eyes as I sent him flying to a wall. He dropped the knife, and struggled to regain his vision. I walk towards the delusional stallion, while anger fills my every step. He looks upon me with fearful eyes as I grab his neck and slide him up the wall. “I will make you pay,” I whispered into his ear before I slam him to the ground, causing him to have a coughing fit.

My hoof is still holding on to his neck and I pull back my other hoof, ready to send a yet another punch to his face. Now, in this very moment, is the time to use it. A black electrical spark comes out of my hoof and just as I am about to drop my hoof, I get a sharp pain in my right shoulder. Silence fills the air and I look up at the stallion’s horn that glowed with his yellow magic.

He stabbed me. With that thought in my head and the warm texture of blood traveling down poor Silver's tuxedo, I could not help but feel angry, full of rage and a new form of hatred. The electrical current flowed out of my body willingly into his, sending millions of white deadly volts into him. As my body did that, I kept punching his face, blood seeping from his mouth and muzzle everytime my hooves connected. The blood was now coating my hooves and he was having multiple body spasms, and yet, I showed no mercy as a smile crept upon my face as I watched this pony die in my hooves.

As soon as I heard his heart stop beating, I let go and jumped up away from his lifeless, and beaten up body. I looked down upon my hooves, which were bloody, and I could not help but feel resentful. Resentful that I lost it and killed this poor stallion. Deep down now, I hear the voice of my father telling me that what I did was wrong. On the other hoof, something tells me it was the right choice. I’m a monster. I think as guilt begins to seep into my heart. Killing him was not the plan. I always show mercy, but for some reason, my anger took control of my body and willed me to kill that stallion. I turn to Octavia, who’s purple, dilated eyes were wide open staring directly at me. I know those eyes by heart. Fear was in her mind, as if she were to think I was going to harm her next. I walk towards her, anger leaving my body now as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. The protective field of magic had disappeared and the dark gray mare was now sitting on her plot with nothing but her front hooves tied together. I approach her cautiously and take the cloth out of her mouth, examining her mouth and hooves for any wounds.

I was expecting a question like, "Why did you kill him?" or "What was with the white electricity running out of my body?" or for her to just run away from me in fright but she remained silent as I untied her, and she dared not to move a muscle. I could not help but feel bad, “I’m sorry you had to watch that,” I apologized and there was still no response. She was in awe for one, because she witnessed my powers first hand. Also, I just basically almost died saving her life. I finished untying her now and as I begin to step away, she sends a hug my way.

She whispers softly, “Thank you, so much.” Now, I am the one silent. She’s not running away from me, or even calling me a monster, freak, or a psychopath. For once, I was thanked for who I was. I hugged her back, feeling a new sign of happiness now reside in my heart next to the guilt, as if this experience has opened up a new door for me. She releases me from the hug, dusts herself off like anypony else would do, and says, “I do believe we should head back to the others, don't you?”

I stood there speechless for a moment, unable to conjure up a sentence for me to say without sounding corny. Instead, I just nodded. “Yes, if they haven’t already gone around looking for us.” I suddenly feel the pain again of the stab wound and decide to leave it in there for Silver to take out. I didn't want to ruin the tuxedo anymore than I already have so it's best to keep blood from rushing out. I try to stand up but the knife sent pain to my legs and forced me to collapse, my muzzle hitting the ground as blood began to seep from my nose. I wipe it clean and a smear of blood is now present on the tuxedo. Silver is going to kill me. I thought.

Octavia lifted me up, allowing me to lean against her small frame. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you walk. Just think of it as a small repayment.”

I gave a faint smile of appreciation as she walked me out of the alleyway.

* * *

Soon we arrived back at the club entrance. Vinyl had ran up to Octavia, stumbling uncontrollably and almost tackle hugged the mare to the ground, causing me to stumble to the side. "Aww yeah! Tavi! You got me worried for a second there! Never talk to creepy ponies again!" she hugged tighter, the gray mare's face flushing.

Octavia replied quietly, "Well I'm glad somepony was worried. Um, excuse me Vinyl, but, you're squeezing the life out of me."

Silver walked up to me and noticed the knife buried in my shoulder. "Ace! you have a knife in your shoulder!" she yelled aloud, glaring at me at first but then a sign of sadness flashed in her dark blue eyes.

I looked at her, forcing a smile. "I'm aware. Now, if you don't mind, can you do me a huge favor and take it out for me? It's getting quiet bothersome."

"Oh, you mean right now?" she asked questioningly, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Yes. Just pull the contaminated object out of my shoulder and wrap it in something," I replied, looking at the handle sticking out.

She shrugged and little hesitance was there when she went to pull the knife out of my shoulder. Her magenta colored magic had enveloped the knife so quickly that, in fact, she didn't give me anytime to get myself ready for the searing pain now coursing through my back. I slowly turn my head towards her with a tear in my eye. She just smiles softly and holds the knife in front of me and says, "It's out."

I smile back but with pain began to seep into my face as I do so. I think she's upset at me for some reason. I try hard no to scream as she covers the wound with a damp cloth. We all then begin our journey to her home, trotting slowly to ensure I was okay.

* * *

Silver had flew ahead, opening the gate as Vinyl and Octavia held me up, considering the fact my hooves had given out on me quite a few times. Silver was now waiting for us at the gate with her key card inserted into the card swiping mechanism. We approached her and she looked to my mane, the red beginning to show once more. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was worried the two musician ponies would begin to question me and report me to the Royal Guard. I let out a sigh, walking through the gates on my own now as Silver trotted alongside me. "Silver?"

"Mhm?" she replied, looking at me as we neared her home.

"Why are you still putting up with me?" I asked curiously.

Silver was taken aback of this question, flapping her wings and hovering close to me, her face screwing up in disgust. "I'm not putting up with you. I'm your friend now, whether you like this idea or not. I'll be here for you, okay? Don't ever get the idea that I'm just 'putting up with you' or 'I feel bad', I'm stuck with you as you are stuck with me."

Where have I heard those words before? I thought quietly, forgetting about it and then spoke, "Okay."

Silver unlocked her door, holding it open as I trotted in, Octavia and Vinyl close behind me. Silver walked in behind them, closing the door and locking it with her magic. "Ace, come with me. Tavi, Vinyl, help yourself to anything in the fridge. We'll be down in a few moments," Silver said, trotting upstairs and waited for me at the top. "Are you coming?" she called down to me.

I nodded, trotting up the stairs carefully as I heard Vinyl put the TV on. "You needed me?"

"Yes, to wash your mane and tail out and to tend to your wounds," Silver spoke, rummaging through a few drawers in her room as I was escorted to the bathroom.

"Oh, how sweet you are. Such a wonderful hostess," I teased, sliding out of the tuxedo. I looked at the wound more closely in the mirror and the cloth was now on the counter, the wound looking swollen.

Silver walked into the bathroom and sat me down on the toilet, taking a gauze pad in her magic and opening the wrapper, setting it down on the counter. "Turn around so you're facing the bathroom counter," she ordered as she sat on the edge of the bathtub. I did as I was instructed to do and lay my head on my forelegs, biting down on a cloth nearby. "I'm going to clean it with some rubbing alcohol and then you'll have to let me dye your mane again, and then you can shower. Afterwards-"

"Dye my mane, again? Why?" I interrupted, spitting out the cloth at the wrong time as she dabbed my shoulder with another cloth, causing me to scream in pain.

"Oops," she said sarcastically and I grabbed the cloth again, biting down. "I need to redye it just in case the two ponies downstairs know who you are."

I whined softly in response, giving her my best puppy dog eyes.

"Do you want to go to jail?" she asked me, stopping what she was doing momentarily.

I shook my head immediately, my eyes widening as she continued cleaning the stab wound. "No," I muttered through the cloth.

"Then I have to dye it. I'm done cleaning it," Silver spoke, enveloping the gauze pad in her magic and placing it on my shoulder, smoothing it down and adding band aids around it.

"You're mothering me, Silver," I huffed, spitting out the cloth once more.

She looked at me, pulling out the black mane dye. "Do you want to do this yourself?" she asked me.

I shook my head. "I don't know how to dye a mane, I'm a stallion, not a mare," I replied, rolling my eyes.

She raised her hoof as if she were going to slap me but she dropped her hoof, looking at me. "Just shut up and let me do this. It’s either this or we cut it," as she said that, she pulled out a pair of scissors and sniped them in the air, smiling slightly at me.

I did not want either one, but I liked the style of my mane so I let Silver dye my mane and tail black again, but I sat there with my front hooves crossed over my chest in defiance. I hated not having my original mane and tail colors, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Just before she was finished, I spoke up, " Are you done now?"

She stepped back, sliding off the gloves and looking at me. "Yep, now shower. When you're done, just let me know and I'll clean the wound out again and place a proper band-aid over it, okay?" she said, starting the water with her magic and pulling the plug up. She then walked out, cracking the door and waltzing into her room.

I stepped into the shower and let the water wash out the excess dye, it traveling down my coat. I grabbed the soap rubbed it on me, washing off the dirt and grime from the fight. I then grabbed the shampoo and put it straight in my mane, scrubbing gently and did the same process with the conditioner. I heard quiet singing and looked through the crack of the door, listening more closely to hear Silver singing in her room. She had taken the tuxedo with her and she had apparently brought it to the laundry room at the end of the long hallway because I heard the sound of water running, aside from the shower. I listened, forgetting about the conditioner. In a rush, I washed it out as I saw Silver walking towards the door, rinsing myself off from the soap and shampoo, making sure I had gotten all the excess dye out along with the conditioner. I stopped the water on my own this time, stepping out and proceeding to grab a towel when magenta magic wrapped around it.

"Here," Silver's voice piped in, laying it over my head and drying my mane for me and my tail shortly after. She then dried my coat and dropped the towel in the hamper behind the door with another gauze pad in her mouth. "Come here," she said to me.

I trotted over to her, resting my head on her shoulder. "Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome, Ace," she replied, removing the old gauze pad and putting a larger band-aid on my wound and covering it with the new gauze pad. I stayed there, filling my nostrils with her sweet smell.

"Silver?"

"Mhm?" she spoke, making sure my mane was still black.

"I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me," I say tenderly

She stepped back, my head leaving her shoulder and steam rushing up my nose. "Nor can I," she replied, walking out of the door. "We better get downstairs. I have to set up the pull-out bed for Tavi and Vinyl."

I nodded and trotted downstairs behind her, approaching the already sleeping musicians. "Well, there goes that idea," I whispered as Tavi had her head in Vinyl's lap with Vinyl snoring loudly away. "C'mon Silver," I said, noticing her yawn, "let's go to bed."

I retreated up the steps with Silver by my side, walking her into her room. She climbed into her bed and rolled over until she was against the wall, pulling the covers over her with her magic. I smiled, turned around, and began to trot away, turning off the TV. "Where are you going?" she asked me.

"Back downstairs to rest, of course," I replied, turning to face her.

She looked at me and I could see her dark blue eyes falling. "You said we, as in you and I. Plus, there's no more room down stairs for you. Come here," she said, pulling the blanket off her as she patted the spot next to her. "It's big enough for the both of us."

I looked to her, my cheeks flushed and a small smile was tugging at my lips. I trotted back towards her bed and climbed in next to her. She dropped the blanket onto me and turned the other way, snuggling into the pillow. "Thanks again," I whispered into her ear, turning onto my side so we were back-to-back.

I heard her mumble, "Just don't try any funny business, Ace. You'll regret it."

I let out a small chuckle and lay there quietly, sliding my hoof under the pillow. How long has it been since I actually slept in a bed? I thought to myself, the warmth overwhelming my body as my eyelids began to fall. I lost track of time and how long it has been, I continued, allowing my eyes to close. Thank you so much Silver, I can’t remember the last time someone seemed to care for me. Now it seems you are leading me down a road that allows me to change and feel… happy again and also for everything you have done for me. You have opened up your doors for me and gave me the opportunity to feel important again. But can I trust you? I questioned myself, looking over at the gray mare next to me as she lay fast asleep, her chest rising and falling calmly. "Can I really trust somepony after all these years?" I whispered aloud, letting my mind wonder to everything she has done for me, "Only time will tell," I told myself, allowing sleep to take me.

The Perfomance

Silver Mist's POV

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I awoke the next morning to hot air being blown onto my face. I opened my dark blue eyes slowly, only to reveal Ace's face directly in front of me. I stared at him for a moment and when I finally realized what had happened, I scooted backwards, his right foreleg wrapped around my torso tightly and preventing me from moving anyplace else. I poked hard at his side repeatedly to wake him up and get him off of me, only to no avail. Out of frustration, I huffed. I looked at my horn, knowing it isn't fully functional this early in the day. With much effort and many tries, I finally enveloped his sleeping body in my weak morning magic and lifted him up, only to drop him onto the floor once he had left my bed. After I saw that he had stirred, I yelled at him with my cheeks flushing to a dark crimson, "I said no damn funny business, you idiot!"

Ace looked up at me from the floor, his sleepy eyes staring confused into my own, "W-what?" he replied sleepily, still laying on the floor.

I enveloped my pillow in my magic and started hitting him with it our of anger and embarrassment, my cheeks still red. "You know what you did!"

Ace put his front hooves over his face and curled into a ball to protect himself from my wrath. "I honestly don't- would you- hey! Cut it out!" he yelled.

I ceased what I was doing and glared angrily at him, sitting on my bed with my tail hanging over the edge and my mane covering my face. "Why'd you do it?" I yelled before hitting him with the pillow again.

I pulled the pillow back over to me before my magic had given out and held it in my hooves, still hitting Ace angrily with it. Rolling over onto his back, he grabbed the pillow in his hooves and tugged on it, causing me to fall off the bed and on top of him as he tossed the pillow back onto my bed. He then rolled over and pinned me down to my floor and looked at me, his sky blue eyes still adjusting to the lighting in my room. "Please," he said, catching his breath, "explain to me what I did to make you toss me out of your bed and begin hitting me with your pillow."

I squirmed, wiggling around underneath the pegasus as I tried to use my magic again, failing once more. "I told you no funny business!" I squealed.

He looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean?"

I growled. "Don't play stupid, colt. You had your foreleg wrapped around my torso when I awoke!"

His face flushed red and he still had me pinned, my face still red as well. "I really did that?" he asked me.

I nodded my head, glaring angrily at him. A voice then said, "Well, sorry I intruded."

Ace and I looked up, only to see the DJ and cello player at my door, probably to investigate all the commotion. "It's not what it looks like, I swear!" I screamed, shoving the distracted Ace off of me.

"Uh huh, and what was that then?" Vinyl asked with a sly grin on her face.

I enveloped my pillow in my magic again but before I could do anything, Ace grabbed the pillow and hit me a few times. "We were seeing who could win in a pillow fight. Silver beat me so I got mad, grabbed the pillow, and pulled it away from her and she fell," he lied for me. "I'm a competitive stallion, if I may say."

I looked at him from the corner of my eye and sat next to him, his height just barely more than mine. I looked to Octavia and she simply smiled, as if to signify she understands. My mane was still in my eyes and I got up, walking out of my room and grabbing my brush from the bathroom and combed my mane and tail, looking more presentable than my bed-mane. I retreated to my room and the two musicians were now in my room, admiring the pictures of my parents. "Silver," Tavi asked, looking to me, "are these your parents and filly you?"

I nodded, trotting over to her. "Yes. Dawn Light is my father and Dusk Night is my mother," I told her, looking at the picture of my parents and I. "They passed away a while ago, both before I got my cutie mark," I said, looking at my cutie mark of black headphones.

"That's horrible," Vinyl said, coming over to me, "I don't know what my parents are like at all actually."

"Yeah, that's just horrible," Ace spoke up, trotting next to me as we all looked at the single picture on my nightstand as my parents smiled at the camera as my mother held me in her arms.

I sighed and then smiled, knowing they're in a better place and keeping an eye on me. "Vinyl, when is our gig?" I turned to the unicorn and she looked at the calendar on my closet door.

"Tonight, actually."

I gasped, "What?"

"Sorry for such short notice, but we better figure out how we're going to get to the arena when you're the only one with the ability to fly," Vinyl inquired, looking at Ace.

I frowned and tapped my chin with my hoof, thinking of an idea to get there fast enough. "What time would we have to leave by to walk?"

Vinyl looked at the time, "Now."

I shook my head. "How about a hot air balloon?"

"An hour from now."

I nodded. "It's settled then, we'll take a hot air balloon there and get a lift from the Wonderbolts back."

"You think they'll help us?" Ace interjected.

I looked at him. "If anypony will help us, it's them."

He looked at me with skeptical eyes. "Fine, it's worth a try."

"Alright everypony, we need to all be showered, dressed, and ready to go within an hour. Let's get going," I said, looking at all of them. "Who showers fi-"

"I shower quickly, I'll be out momentarily," Octavia said, trotting into the bathroom and starting the water.

I watched and turned to Ace and Vinyl, "Go to the market and buy some lettuce and apples for the trip. I'll arrange for a hot air balloon, alright?"

Ace nodded and Vinyl replied, "Alright, but where do we meet up?"

"Train station is where the hot air balloon area is located. We'll all meet up there in about forty-five to fifty-minutes tops. Vinyl, make sure you come back and shower," I said to her, her mane looking greasy.

She waved her hoof at me and grunted, dismissing herself with Ace close behind her as I heard my front door close.

"Hopefully," I said, looking to my parents' picture, "this will all work out."

* * *

Before Octavia and I had left for the train station, about an hour or two away from my house, Ace had darted into the front door, causing me to fall back onto my plot and yelp, "What was that for?"

He had simply shrugged and mouthed his apology, sliding his cloak on and darting back out my door. I looked to Tavi, shaking my head as I slid my indigo and light blue hoodie on, offering her my black and red one. She turned it down, trotting out the door as I grabbed my satchel and filled it with just my key card and bits for once. "We better get going," I said, looking at the clock on my wall as I trotted out the door, closing it with my magic as I locked it. I trotted to Tavi, both of us now trotting side-by-side.

"When do you think they'll be there?" she asked as we trotted to a short cut I knew by heart.

"When they can, I guess," I replied, taking the lead and taking countless turns. That poor musician must hate me for making her turn so many times, I thought quietly, looking over my shoulder to see an exhausted looking Octavia. "Are you okay?" I asked, stopping in my tracks.

Octavia looked up to me, her purple eyes seeming tired. "Oh, yes dear, I'm fine. I didn't get enough sleep. Vinyl snores too loud for me to handle," she explained, catching up to me. "Aren't you tired of walking? I don't mind if you fly."

I shook my head in protest, "I don't roll like that. I prefer to treat everypony equally and if I fly, I'll carry you in my magic if I have to."

Octavia smiled, tapping her hoof to her chin at the idea. "You could carry me with your magic as you fly?"

I nodded, enveloping her in my own magenta magic as I flapped my wings, effortlessly lifting myself up off the ground. "You can sleep if you want. I'll put you on the grass when we arrive," I told her.

She spoke softly, allowing her eyelids to fall. "Thank you," I heard her murmur before her calm breathing made her chest rise and fall.

I shrugged, flying through the short cut with ease. "No problem," I replied.

By the time I had reached the train station and had flown over to the grassland area where the hot air balloons are located, about half of them had already been rented out before I saw one that completely caught my eye. It had what appeared to be equalizers around the entire balloon, accompanied with many different music notes as the balloon color was a dark gray, close to a black. I enveloped both Tavi and I in my magic, teleporting us over to the balloon before anypony else saw it. The salespony must have seen the pure excitement in my eyes as a smile spread across his muzzle. He looked to the hot air balloon and then to me and said, "The price for rental will be fifty bits an hour."

I looked to the brown earth pony, his black mane hanging over his emerald green eyes just barely. "I believe we'll be about three hours."

"That'll be one-hundred and fifty bits, please."

I sighed, pulling out half of the bits I had in my bag, placing them in the payment jar before setting Octavia down in the balloon, being sure it was secured. "Thank you," I said to the stallion.

I sat in the balloon, awaiting Ace's and Vinyl's arrival. Suddenly, as if on cue, the two ponies burst from the train station, two bags full of the things I requested. Ace was carrying the lettuce as Vinyl levitated the bag of apples in her magic, both jumping into the hot air balloon. "Cut the ropes!" Vinyl yelled, bursting into hysterical laughter, causing Octavia to groan as she woke up.

"Huh-" I managed before two sales ponies came running towards us. In a swift motion, I cut the ropes securing us to the ground and we floated upward into the sky, seeing the two ponies stomp their hooves in anger. I then turned to the two troublemakers, my expression serious as I stared them down. "What'd you do?"

Vinyl looked up at me, tears welling up in her eyes from her laughing fit. Once she stopped laughing, she said, "We played a prank on them and tied their aprons together. They got all pissy and chased after us. It was worth it though, right, Ace?" she said, punching Ace in his shoulder. He just nodded with a successful smirk on his face.

I looked to him with disappointed eyes and shook my head as Vinyl sat next to the drowsy Octavia, apologizing for waking her. I whispered to him, "I told you not to do anything stupid."

He sighed, hanging his head. "Well, I'm sorry, Silver. It was just too good to pass up," he replied, pulling me into a hug.

I stayed defiant, not returning the hug until he buried his face in my neck. I wrapped my forelegs around him as if to symbolize me accepting his apology.

"Just, don't do it again. I can get in as much trouble as you can since I'm now associated with you," I warned, pulling away and looking at the ground below us as my thoughts took over my mind, stealing my attention away from Ace.

* * *

We arrived at the area where the Wonderbolts would be performing, all of us trotting out of the balloon in an orderly fashion. Once we were all out, I had tied it down once again with the help of the others. With a smile, I walked backstage with Vinyl, making sure the pegasus and earth pony were seated in the front row to cheer us on. Vinyl was setting up her turn tables as I stood by her during sound check. "You're singing, right?" she asked me.

I looked to her, my mouth agape, "Wha-what? I-I'm not singing i-in front of everypony," I stuttered, my cheeks flushing red.

She nudged me, causing me to fall over. "You'll do fine. Trust me, we'll master this and it'll be a hit! C'mon, Mist, we can do this. I'll be right by you!" Vinyl promised, holding out her hoof to help me up.

I sighed, grabbing her hoof in mine and forcing myself to get up. "Fine, but if we screw up," I paused, a shiver coursing its way through my already nervous alicorn body, "I'm doomed as the forever-laughing stock."

Vinyl smiled and slid her purple glasses over her red eyes, enveloping her record in her magic that contained the instrumental version of my song. "Good luck, Silver," she told me as the curtains opened up to reveal and rather large crowd. I looked up and saw the Wonderbolts looking straight at us from a cloud, all of them seeming very calm.

I paused, standing there during the solo keyboard part of my song before enveloping the mic in my magic nervously. "I can almost see the light," I began, my voice low at first, "but every time I get closer, it's ripped from my hooves."

I looked approvingly at Ace and Octavia and they waved their hooves, motioning for me to continue. A smile spread across my face as I kept going, "It's like a never ending night, one that never moves. A day like this could be, something that could end so happily," I looked around, seeing more ponies get into it. Suddenly, Vinyl must have added dubstep to my song as the beat dropped and the rest of my song was cut off. I looked back at her and there was a smirk on her face. My head bobbed idly to the beat as I sung along between the lines of my song that were included into the dubstep. "Knowing I now have you by my side, I can travel the world far and wide! You are my heart, and nopony can tear us apart!"

By the end of my now remixed song, the ponies were jumping with excitement. I looked up at the Wonderbolts as they gave a smile of approval, flying off the cloud to what seemed like a large platform. Ace and Octavia got up on the small stage with Vinyl and I, throwing their hooves around me. "You were amazing!" Vinyl said with a large, accomplished smile plastered on her face.

"That was absolutely wonderful, Silver," Octavia had told me, embracing me in yet another hug.

Ace looked at me, a smile seemed to tug at the corner of his muzzle. "You did great. No wonder why you got all excited about me humming it in the shower," he finally let the smile overcome him as I threw my forelegs around him. I was bursting with joy as I happily flew into the air, doing a few loop-da-loops. I landed at the base of the stage, the three other ponies around me as the Wonderbolts took off for their show.

I turned to Vinyl then, the smile still plastered on both of our faces. The crowd was now cheering for the Wonderbolts, screams of, "Wow!", "Look at them go!", and "Do the Triple Threat!" were heard around me as I leaned against the unicorn and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for this amazing opportunity, DJ Pon-3."

Vinyl looked at me from the corner of her eye, wrapping a foreleg around me and using her other hoof to give me a knoogie. "You're welcome, sport. Hey, there's another one in Las Pegasus. Wanna join me there as well?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, I'll think about it."

"You tend to say that a lot, huh?" she asked me.

I nodded in response as I glanced at Ace, the stallion seeming bored of the flight show above. "I think we all make a pretty good team," I said, looking at the earth pony who sat there calmly. "Maybe we can all one day team up and make a song on our own," I suggested, seeing the flight show above starting to come to an end. "Also, you and I could make a collaboration on remixing my song. I'm thinking about writing a new one."

Vinyl's smile widened with my two ideas. "Sounds wubtastic. See if you can get those two fancy ponies to agree," she said, waving her hoof out to them.

I shook my head, "They will definitely agree," I paused, a smirk forming on my muzzle, "with a bit of cider," I winked at Vinyl and she simply laughed. The Wonderbolts landed on the stage I had just set hoof on and I nearly melted with delight.

"I, Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, will be holding a race. The volunteer will compete against me, and the party they arrived with will be taken back with us on our way to Ponyville. Anypony up for a challenge?" the orange and yellow maned pegasus captain said into the microphone.

Instantaneously, Ace's hoof shot up and I glared at him, whispering with anger, "Your wing isn't fully healed!"

He looked to me, "I'll be fine, just trust me."

I sighed. "If you get hurt, I'm so bringing you to a hospital."

He let out a delighted grin and sprang up, his hoof still raised as he spoke loudly for all to hear, "I accept your challenge."

The captain let out a snicker, a smile forming on her muzzle. "Come forth then," she spoke into the mic.

Octavia, Vinyl, and I all escorted Ace to the stage, all of us stopping at the steps. "Good luck," Vinyl said as I continued up the steps with Ace.

"And your names would be?" she asked us, stepping away from the microphone for a moment.

"I am Ace, and this is Silver," Ace introduced us as Spitfire once again turned to the mic.

With a loud, confident voice she said, "This white stallion going by the name of Ace will be challenging me! His three mare friends will accompany him to Ponyville if he wins!" She then turned to us, "Good luck."

The Wonderbolts captain then shot up and onto a platform above the crowd and I turned to Ace, "Please, don't get hurt."

"I said, just trust me," he spoke to me, flapping his wings as he hovered above me and to the platform, readying himself next to Spitfire.

"I do trust you. I just don't trust your wing," I whispered as I watched the two pegasi ready to begin their race. The unsure flag pegasus seemed unsure, letting a green flag drop as Ace and Spitfire took off. "Please, be careful." I murmured.

Taking Flight

Epic Ace's POV

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I was ready. I handed my cloak to the alicorn mare who has helped me come this far. Spitfire and I fly up to the cloud right above the stage I start to unwrap the bandages and, as I do, I look down to see Sliver, who was sitting there holding on to my cloak, her dark blue eyes full of concern as the wind gently blew her mane. I don’t want to worry her too much, but honestly I miss flying so I really want to do this. I thought as I finished unwrapping my wing, which looked a thousand times better than before. I then began to get ready to begin the race, flexing my wings to be sure they were able to be used in flight after not using them for nearly a week. One of the Wonderbolts with a dark blue mane and a light blue coat walked in between us and announced the rules. “Rule one, no physical contact while in the air. This is a fair race and there will be no tolerance to cheating. Rule two, be sure to follow the course. We have arrows set out for every turn so you will know where to go. As for rule three, do not try to drive the other through anything within the course. Other than that, good luck to the both of you.”

He now held up a green flag in his mouth and held it high for all to see. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Spitfire strapping her goggles on and getting in the ready position. I set my hooves down and leaned forward, anticipating the flag to drop. It wasn't long until he dropped the flag, allowing to to float down just barely before I bolted out of the cloud, sending it in a number of turns. As I did so, I had a quick sharp pain ping through the wounded wing, which made the bright yellow pegasus flash by me in the beginning. I grit my teeth and just a small black electrical spark came out of my fur as I pushed through the pain, slowly catching up to Spitfire, the yellow and orange maned pegasus flapping her feathered wings frantically. There was a hard right that lead right into the trees of the forest, and as I swerve left and right, dodging the green blurs, I managed to swoop under a low branch, dodging it from hitting me in my face. Soon after I lift out of the forest, I see that I am now dead even with the Wonderbolt captain. We are now rushing towards the sky and the pain of my wing getting ever so great and nearly unbearable for much longer but I will not let it give out. I close my eyes as we climb above the clouds. When we do pass the mass amounts of them, I feel this huge power surge through my body. I open my eyes and see that I was covered in electrical static that some of the clouds gave off.

I flipped my body over now, the drop to the finish line now approaching quickly. My stomach was towards the sky and soon enough, my face was looking down at the cloud which Spitfire had already flown through and was heading down to the finish line. I closed my eyes and let my wings close tightly against my sides and I allow myself to fall to the ground. There was a clash of lighting and then it was covering my body, trailing behind me on my descent to the crowd below at lightning speed. The power at which I fell blew clouds out of the sky and transformed them, turning them from white, fluffy ones to the dark gray, storm ones in moments. I hit the ground at what seemed to be one second and there was a loud boom that filled the air. I was standing with all four hooves planted over the finish line. I was looking down and breathing hard, studying my wing as the throbbing pain once again filled my body.

Slowly I raise my head to see the faces of the ones who look upon me like they just saw something unrealistic, perhaps a ghost of some sort. I had beat her, and she was amazed that I did so but that was not the only reason she had her mouth open in astonishment. I was too mixed up in my own thoughts that I really didn't care that I won. My body had black sparks jolting out around it and I only wanted to get away from all the judging eyes that peered at me. So, in a panic, I ran towards Silver. My head was towards the ground, for which I did not dare to look up at the gray mare, in case she too were judging me. I snatched my cloak from the ground by her and proceeded to run away, only hearing her call after me. Her voice faded into the distance as I ran from it all. I let it happen again, I thought, tears threatening their way from their pockets. I'm being judged again. I just want somepony who will stay by me, no matter what I do. Can't I just be myself? I continued, allowing a few tears to stream down my face as I slip into my cloak.

* * *

I looked for a hiding place, and soon came to hide behind one of the concession stands that were empty at the moment. I sat down, wiping the tears of my face with my foreleg, leaving a small trail of tears. I am a fool. I thought negatively to myself, anger and sadness now combining within me. I can’t bare the thought of them judging me because then, they fear me, and begin to push me away from them, I continue, my eyes still having a small tint of red from my previous crying. Call me a freak just because I got some fancy electrical powers, and just shun me for being different. That’s what happened in the last city. I remembered, more tears threatening to escape. I then thought about Silver. The gray mare whom I've come to thank for everything just pushing me away and dusting me off as if I were nothing but a mere speck of meaningless dust. Just the mere thought of Silver doing this to me…it just, I can't even. A tear escapes my eye, the once sky blue eyes of mine had dulled to the sadness within me. I bury my face in my hooves and I pull my hood over my head to cover myself from the world. Soon, my ear twitches as I hear hoof steps that come right to me. I look up to find Silver looking down upon me, her dark blue eyes staring into my own. “Don’t run from me,” she says with an authoritative tone but soothing at the same time.

“Just leave me alone,” I say desperately “I don’t want to be judged again.”

She looks at me confused, her eyes showing nothing but concern. “Why would I judge you?”

“Because I am different from everypony else. A freak, some may say.”

“Oh Ace,” she said as she sat next to me, her warmth seeping through my cloak as she continued, “you’re not a freak. In fact, what you did I thought was just awesome.”

I peered into her ocean blue eyes, and I could feel mine becoming lighter once more, “Really?”

“Yes, of course. You’re my friend, Ace. I can honestly say that I truly am glad that you are. You've helped me become, well, semi-happy once more with the adventures you've brought me on. I don't mind if you're a stallion who stole for a living. Heck, I could careless if I did. Just know that, no matter what happens, I will be here for you.” She embraces me in a hug, which made my heart sputter from the sentence she had spoken to me.

I mutter the word she spoke of softly to myself, “Friend.” I haven’t had friends since I came to the horrid country. I have just lived alone, and survived by myself, fleeing from the Royal Guard for a good ten years or so. Never have I trusted anypony nor anything since the event on which is the reason I came to Equestria. Oh Silver, there is so little that you know about me and the more you do, the more you could end up being harmed, and I don’t want to lose you then. A smile crept upon my face then and I leaned into the hug, her magic enveloping something I had dropped yet again.

"Hey, silly filly, you dropped your necklace again," she smiled, holding it out in front of me.

"Hey! Give that back!" I yelled, tackling her to the ground and pinning her down, my cloak falling off of my head.

She smiled and put it around my neck with her magic, being sure to fully fasten the lock so it didn't fall off again. "Try and be more careful next time," she had said as we both stared into each others eyes for a few moments before she lifted me up with her magic. "And be sure to not be overpowered by an alicorn like myself," she mocked me, moving me through the air like a paper airplane.

"Put me down!" I whined, being unable to spread my wings.

She shook her head and galloped away from my hiding spot with me in her magic, acting like a little filly again. "Pegasus can't fly!" she spoke with a smile on her face as she flapped her wings with ease and flew upwards, dragging me in her magic beside her.

"I can so fly!" I growled, crossing my hooves over my chest.

She smirked, "Show me." With that, the mare let her magic fade from under me and I fell, frantically flapping my wings to fly.

"Okay, I can't!" I admitted before I hit to ground.

I heard the gray alicorn laugh as she enveloped me in her magic, just mere inches from the cement below. "I win, Ace."

"Yeah, yeah, hush. Once my wing is fully healed-"

"Speaking of your wing," her voice drifted off after she interrupted me.

"What about it?"

She smiled and put me down, allowing me to trot next to her on my own. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

My eyes widened and I turned, booking it the other way as the mare chased after me. "Catch me if you can!" I yelled out behind me.

"Trust me," I heard her say and I glanced over my shoulder, not seeing her there anymore. "I will," she finished just as I crashed into her.

"Not fair, you can fly and I can't!" I complained as she pinned me down, a smile appearing on her face as her mane hung over her eyes.

"Boo-hoo. You'll be fine. Now, let's go make sure your wing will be fully functional," she said, enveloping me in her magic once more and trotting in the direction of the Manehattan hospital.

I pouted, my lower lip hanging out as my hooves were crossed over my chest. "Fine."

"Good boy," Silver said, still not allowing me to trot on my own.

"You know," I paused for a moment, "I can walk on my own."

She nods. "I'm aware."

"So, why won't you let me?"

She looks at me, bringing her magic bubble holding me in it closer to her, "Because you will run."

I look at the alicorn mare with wide eyes. How did she know I was thinking that?

"Ace," she began, "we all have secrets we'd rather not tell in fear of being judged and pushed away," she responded to my unspoken question.

"How do you know what I'm thinking?"

Silver simply smiles, flapping her feathered wings and taking flight, staying off the ground now as we approach the hospital. "One day, you will know. Yet, that day isn't today," she says, diving down until she lands safely on the ground in front of the hospital door. She then put me down after walking inside and writing a name down. I caught a glimpse of it and it appeared to say Spade.

Well, at least it isn't Ace and it seems rather fitting, I thought, sitting quietly as I waited for the nurses to examine my wing with Silver right by my side, just as she said she would be.

EDIT:...............A/N: I just recently found a song that fits this chapter rather nicely. Do check it out! Taking Flight ~Silver

Journey to Ponyville

Silver Mist's POV

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"Spade?" a nurse had called from behind a door and I nudged Ace awake, nearly pushing him off the chair.

"Wha-huh?" he said, looking to me.

I looked over at the nurse. "C'mon, they're going to examine your wing," I inform him as I trot away from him towards the open door with the nurse leading the way.

He follows me, looking nervously at all the rooms down the corridor. "Silver," he whispers to me.

"Mhm?" I reply, stopping at a door behind the nurse.

He stops beside me and I can see he was slightly shaking, "What are they going to do to me?"

I turned my head and looked at the stallion. "Are you scared?" I asked.

He shook his head as a small blush began to appear. He then stood up straight as if trying to seem more brave. "Of course I'm not!"

I chuckled softly and looked at the white earth mare as she cleared her throat. "This will be the examination room. Doctor Barns will be with you shortly," she spoke, opening the green door with ease.

"If I may ask," I said, turning to speak to her, "what's your name?"

She smiled softly and said, "Nurse Vac. Short for vaccine," she let out a small laugh. "I heard the young stallion call you Silver?"

I nodded in response as I looked over my shoulder to see Ace fiddling with some of the equipment. "Yes, my name is Silver, and that would be Ac-Spade," I replied, stopping myself from saying Ace's name.

The mare looked at me with quizzical eyes. "Alright then, just call me if you need me," she told me, trotting off as I walked into the room and stared at Ace after closing the door.

"Why do they have these knives and pointy objects?" he asked me, holding up a scalpel.

I sighed, taking it from him in my magic. "Just stuff doctors use. That would be a scalpel, and," I paused, looking at it before putting it down on the metal tray where it belonged, "it can hurt you if not used correctly."

He looked at me with frightened but curious eyes as he looked the other surgical tools over. "Why can't I use them?" he asked me as Doctor Barns walked into the room, carrying a clipboard in his magic.

"Because I said so," I whispered to him.

"Hello Mister Spade. It says here that you have an injured wing?" he asked as Ace looked to him.

Ace simply nodded, and tried to make himself as comfortable as possible, yet I could tell he was on edge.

"Please, sit on this table for me," Doctor Barns asked and Ace did as he was told, moving which ever way the doctor made him move but with an agitated look on his face. "How long has your wing been this way?" he asked as he examined his right wing, moving what seemed an X-ray machine in many different places around his wing.

Ace looked to me, expecting me to speak. "About a week," I said for him as he sighed in relief.

"Why didn't you come sooner?" he asked, allowing the X-ray to return to it's former position above the table.

Again, he looked to me. I shrugged, not knowing what he wanted me to actually say in his place.

Ace rolled his eyes, "Because I was unconscious due to the pain and blood loss."

The doctor simply nodded and turned to me, "Come with me," he said after he had taken a few X-rays of Ace's wing.

We trotted out of the room and closed the door, trotting into another room across the hall. "What'd you need?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"I have awful news," he started, pulling up the X-ray pictures. "It appears that the bone has not fully healed correctly and for it to, we'd have to break it and stilt it properly. He can not, under any circumstances, flap or use that wing in any way, shape, nor form."

My mouth nearly hit the floor at this news and my wings pressed tightly against my body. I could never imagine having somepony, certified or not, breaking my wing bones for any reason, I thought while cringing. "Why must you break it?" I asked.

"There appears to also be a piece of wood stopping the healing process. We'll have to perform a surgical procedure to remove it," Doctor Barns informed me, allowing me to take a look at the X-rays.

I sighed, and nodded. "How will we tell him and when will the surgery be held?"

The dark blue unicorn looked at me, his short black mane in a mohawk type style but flipping out in the front. "Today."

"Today?" I repeated.

He nodded and trotted out, leaving me there with my mouth agape. I heard Ace protest from across the way and then I saw him fumbling about, attempting to fly away. I trotted into the room and enveloped him in my magic before I tackled him and pinned him down. "Do you want to fly naturally again without any pain?" I yelled.

He growled at me, nodding just slightly. "Well, obviously," I heard him mutter.

"Then shut up, calm yourself, and let them operate!" I continued, keeping him pinned as his wings once more folded against his body.

"Miss," Doctor Barns inquired, "you'll have to leave as we perform the procedure."

I nodded my okay as I trotted out of the room, leaving Ace behind to behave on his own. I saw the doctor sedate him and then, he was rolled off on a gurney into the operating room doors.

* * *

I was able to see Ace after the surgery, which was a major relief considering the fact nopony else but myself were here to see him afterwards. I trotted into the room, seeing actual surgical tape wrapped around his torso and under his good wing. He was laying on his left side, staring out the window as I approached. "Ace?"

He turned his head towards me and the mood within the hospital room seemed to brighten up a bit. "Silver!" he said excitedly, jumping from the bed and trotting over to me. "I didn't feel a thing during the entire surgery, and they say I'll be able to fly in a weeks time if I don't use it at all."

I smiled, hugging him gently. "That's wonderful news," I say, pulling away. "I have more news to share with you though," I said, pausing for dramatic effect.

"What is it? Don't leave a pony hanging!" he said, nearly jumping with joy.

I stood there silent for a moment before he literally spread his good wing as if he were going to attempt to fly. "Fine! Fold that back up!"

He smirked, folding his left wing back against him. "What is it?" he says with the same excitement.

I turned towards the door and the two musicians we were accompanied by trotted in, followed by the Wonderbolts. "This is what," I say, trotting to his side to face them.

Ace's eyes lit up with happiness as Octavia and Vinyl embraced him in a hug, each handing him a small gift. "Hey, kiddo, you alright? I heard about what happened. Silver used you as an airplane?" Vinyl spoke, chuckling softly.

A bit of redness rose to the surface of Ace's cheeks and he glanced at me as Octavia slid a necklace onto his neck. "It's a photo of Silver, Vinyl, you, and myself. I made sure to take it before Vinyl and Silver played," she said with a soft smile, hugging Ace tightly.

I looked at her, a slight pain of sadness crossing my heart. "So, Ace," Spitfire spoke up from behind them, Octavia releasing him. "These are your friends?"

He nodded, looking back at me as if to say thank you as he spoke, "Yes, very good friends, if I may add."

"Ha, seems like you hurt your wing," Spitfire acknowledged, pointing to it with her wing, "you fit enough to travel to Ponyville though?"

"Ponyville? That's wicked sweet!" Vinyl exclaimed, falling back onto the hospital bed.

I nodded, looking to the Wonderbolt captain. "When will we be arriving?"

Spitfire shook her head. "We have a few shows on the way there, so you guys can tag along," the yellow pegasus told me, looking to Ace. "How will they come though?"

I looked to the rest of my party. An earth pony, unicorn, and harmed pegasus is what I had to remind myself of to come up with an efficient way to get all of us there. "I don't know. Hot air balloon?" I suggested.

Spitfire looked to the other two Wonderbolts on her team as if discussing my suggestion through eye contact and head nodding. "We'll pull it."

I nodded my okay. "Awesome, when do we leave?"

The blue stallion pegasus looked at the wall clock. "In about four hours. 11 p.m. sharp."

I pondered this. "Alright. Where do we meet up?"

"At the stadium. We'll be waiting in the field in front of it. Got it?" Spitfire said before turning away, followed suit by her team.

"Got it," I replied as I watched them go. I then turned to my friends, looking at each of them. "Are we all okay with going to Ponyville?"

Ace responded by spreading his good wing out while the two musicians simply nodded their heads. "Are we stealing the hot air balloon from the sales pony?" Octavia asked.

I nodded my head after a few moments. "Sadly, we have to. I paid," I recalled and whispered quietly, "only for three hours."

“Well, I could steal somepony else's for us, if you'd like,” Ace smirks slightly and I look at him showing. my disapproval of his silly idea through a head shake. He lets out a sigh and says, "We better get me signed out," he said in defeat, looking at the clock.

I nodded my head once more but this time in agreement. "Let's go," I trotted out of the room, the three other ponies filing out close behind me.

* * *

The hot air balloon had been deflating since we had left it unattended for a good two hours. Octavia and I blew it back up while Ace and Vinyl kept watch. I knew a few ponies who had seen me rent the balloon and would immediately report me for it, but what else can I do? My companions and I need to get to Ponyville one way or another. Are Vinyl and Octavia really going to stay with Ace and I throughout our journey? I thought, stopping what I was doing until Tavi looked to me with curious eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked me.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts once more and looked the earth pony in her eyes. "I'm fine, just a bit overwhelmed with everything that has happened."

Octavia sat down inside the hot air balloon and patted next to her. "Sit and tell me?"

I sighed, making sure all the ropes were secure before I trotted into the basket and sat next to her. "You sure you want to know?"

Octavia nodded her head. "If it's a way to get some weight off your shoulders, of course, dear."

I turned to her, everything in my entire body disagreeing with me as the words began to leave my mouth, "My thoughts are out of control. I've met two very famous musicians, brought a strange pony into my home to live with me when I don't even know what his background has to involve, and I've performed my song live. I just think it's too good to be true."

The gray mare looked at me, her eyes full of sympathy and understanding, she parted her lips and spoke in a very matter-of-fact tone, "Some things in a mare's life may seem untrue while others are what she doesn't want to be true. This experience you're having right now is some pony else's dream out there that you are living," I turned my head away from her and she continued, "Silver, look at me, you have to hear what I got to say." She slid her hoof under my chin and turned my head back towards her, a look of worry plastered on her face.

"Why are you tagging along with Ace and I?" I asked, not bothering to sugar coat it.

Octavia seemed to be taken aback by this question, pulling her hoof away from my chin for a moment to tap it on her own. "I'm tagging along with just you, Silver," she whispered softly, a small blush appearing on her cheeks.

I looked to her, confusion seeping into my voice as I spoke, "What do you mean? I thought you were still here because of Ace?"

She paused for a moment, pursing her lips. "I'm not here because of him nor because of Vinyl," she spoke clearly as the two other ponies started trotting towards us. "I'm here because of you. The less you know though, my dear Silver, the less awkward it will be between us."

I stared at her in confusion as Ace spoke up, standing now a few feet from us. "What time is it?"

I looked to the watch I had taken from him that was now on my right hoof. "A quarter past eight. We still have three hours."

"Why don't we go eat?" Vinyl suggested as her stomach grumbled loudly. "I'm famished and it could pass time."

Ace nodded his head in agreement and Octavia had gotten up and trotted away from me. I sighed heavily, "Alright, let's go to the Celery Stalks Diner just up the road," I said aloud and got up, walking behind the DJ and white pegasus in front of me in the direction of the diner. What did Octavia mean by, 'The less you know though, my dear Silver, the less awkward it will be between us'? I'm not one to figure something out by hint-dropping, I thought to myself, watching the gray mare ahead of us. I want to know what she meant by that, and I will get it out of her, one way or another.

Ace galloped ahead of me, Vinyl on his tail as Octavia walked into a bar across from Celery Stalks Diner called the Drunken Pony. I looked behind me, making sure Ace and Vinyl didn't see and trotted inside, looking for the gray cello player. My eyes rested on her as she placed herself in a stool and ordered what appeared to be a Chardonnay. "Zanger Octavia," I spoke softly, approaching her and seating myself next to her.

"Yes, Silver Mist?" she asked me, sipping on her drink.

"Tell me what you meant," I demanded.

Octavia turned to me, "Why would you care? I know you-" I cut the proper pony off, placing a gentle kiss upon her cheek, lingering there for about four seconds before pulling away. A deep crimson seeped into her cheeks, causing her to reply with wide eyes.

"Don't assume," I whispered in her ear as I got up, trotting out the door and to Celery Stalks Diner, feeling her eyes follow me all the way to the other door. Moments after I had walked into the diner, the black maned mare burst through it, her purple eyes making contact with my dark blue ones.

Her face was still red as she seated herself by me in a booth with Vinyl and Ace. "Sorry, I had to use the mares room," she lied, looking to me.

I smirked as a unicorn mare approached our table, "What can I get you fine ponies?" she asked, pulling out a pen and paper within her light green magic.

Vinyl spoke first, "I would like two celery sandwiches with a black olive on a tooth pick."

Ace followed after her, "I would like three of what she's getting please.

I looked at them with quizzical eyes, scanning them further. "What would you two mares like?" the waitress addressed Octavia and I, causing me to lose my train of thought.

Octavia leaned in, whispering into my ear with a stutter, "I-I want whatever you're g-getting with a sparkling w-water."

I smiled and spoke to the waitress, "The mare and I would like a lettuce and celery sandwich with sparkling water please." The purple mare nodded, trotting away and through the double doors leading into the kitchen and back out, seeing her trot to another table.

Ace then directed his attention towards me and said, "What time do you want to leave?"

I shrugged. "Somewhere between nine and ten."

"That's a good idea. It'll help us talk more to the Wonderbolts about our routes and stops until we get to Ponyville." Vinyl pointed out.

Octavia looked at me and then to Vinyl. "I thought you were staying in Las Pegasus after your show?" she asked out of confusion and curiosity.

Vinyl stared at the cello player in disbelief and astonishment, her mouth nearly hitting the table. "Oh ho ho, you think you can get rid of this DJ that easy? Nope! I'm cruising all the way with our newly found friends, Tavi!" she blurted out.

Octavia's expression changed to that of a death glare, "Great," she murmured, "more ponies to get in the way."

I looked at her and parted my lips to ask what she meant, only to be interrupted by the waitress, "Here's your order, enjoy!" she chimed in, placing each of our plates in front of us, the two glasses of sparkling water in front of Tavi and I.

"Thank you," Ace, Octavia, and I said in unison while Vinyl dug in, staring at us with a mouthful of sandwich.

"My bad," she said, swallowing the rather large bite she had taken.

I simply nodded my head and let out a small chuckle as I enveloped my sandwich in my magic and bit into it, allowing my mind to wander once more.

* * *

"I definitely beat you!" Vinyl yelled as we trotted out of the diner.

"Did not! You only did because you started before me!" Ace retorted.

"I was hungry!"

"I don't care what you were! You cheated!"

"Girls, girls, can we all calm down?" I said, interjecting myself in their argument over who won the eating contest.

The two of them shot a look at me that screamed, "Shut up!" before they continued arguing. I sighed, pulling Octavia with me and trotting towards the balloon as the other two proceeded to keep watch, just as they did before we ate. "What did you mean earlier?" I asked her, sitting in the basket once more.

She took a seat next to me, resting her head on the rim. "About?"

"About more ponies getting in the way. What did you mean?"

"Like I told you before, the less you know, the less awkward between us it will be," she repeated, looking at me out of the corner of her eye. "Besides," she continued, "it doesn't matter."

I sighed, "Will you ever tell me?"

She shook her head in response as I checked the time. "And what would the time be?"

"It's nine forty-five," I replied, calling for Ace and Vinyl, "Ace! Vinyl! Let's go!"

I heard Octavia sigh and the two ponies came running towards us at full speed, stopping just before they crashed into me. "I win!" Ace said with a victorious grin.

"Did not! You yelled out, 'Let's race there. Ready, set, go!' and took off while you were trotting in front of me!" Vinyl yelled as she trotted into the basket behind Ace.

"Oh well," Ace replied, "I still won."

Vinyl huffed in reply, sitting herself next Octavia on her left side as the mare still hung her head outside of the basket. I sighed, cutting the ropes with my magic and the balloon took flight, following the course of the wind to carry us in the direction of the stadium. In about a half hour, we were hovering over the stadium as the Wonderbolts appeared to be on the ground below us. I started bringing the balloon down, deflating it slowly until we reached the ground. I made sure not to turn the heat up again until we left.

"Glad you could make it," Spitfire said with a smile. None of the Wonderbolts were wearing their uniforms and they seemed to be pretty laid back. "Why'd you come so early?"

I shrugged. "We wanted to know the routes and when we'll arrive in Ponyville," I told her.

"Oh yes. We'll be stopping in Las Pegasus, Canterlot, and then to Ponyville, where we'll drop you ponies off and then us Wonderbolts will be heading to Fillydelphia," Spitfire explained.

I nodded, "Alright. How many days will that take?"

"About four to five days."

"Nearly a week?" Octavia said.

Spitfire nodded. "This is Soarin'," she said, raising her hoof to the light blue pegasus, "and this is Fleetfoot. The others are inside, but we'll be going ahead of them, to bring Vinyl to her show on time," she said.

I replied, "You know about that?"

She nodded, "Yep, I know all her shows because she opens for us every time."

Vinyl blushed softly. "Oh, stop it."

Spitfire let out a soft laugh before tying a rope around her torso and her teammates. "You'll meet the rest of the team after the show," she said, nodding her head towards the basket. "Let's get going. Our show starts at nine. It'll take a good hour to fly there and then a nights rest for the rest of the team to catch up and meet us at the hotel I marked down for them," the mare explained to us.

I trotted back into the basket, Vinyl, Ace, and Octavia behind me. "Are you sure you can pull us all the way to Las Pegasus?"

"We've pulled all our gear there before," Soarin' said as a shiver seemed to travel down his spine. The yellow maned pegasus to the left of Spitfire let out a laugh.

"That's because you're a wimp," she said.

"I am not!" Soarin' yelled in defense.

"Calm down you two. We don't need to clean up scattered ponies like we did our gear," Spitfire warned, rolling her eyes.

I turned the heat back up, taking us into the sky as the Wonderbolts flapped their wings along with it. "Ready?" the three said in unison.

I nodded and they took off, flying in the direction of Las Pegasus. I looked at Octavia, sitting with her head hung over the side once more. Ace and Vinyl were busy listening to her Pony Pod because I could hear the mass amount of dubstep booming from the small headset. "Tavi," I said, sitting adjacent to her right side and I unfolded my left wing, draping it over her back and leaving my wingtip hanging down over her opposite side.

"What are you doing with your wing?" she asked, not bothering to look at me as I felt her body tense beneath my wing for a moment.

I blushed softly, resting my head on the rim of the basket. "It's a pegasus thing."

"You're an alicorn, Silver," she murmured.

I nodded, "My father was a pegasus, and he told me many things that a pegasus does."

She looked at me, her purple eyes were now a much duller color and her face was expressionless. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" I asked, my tone serious as I briefly tightened my embrace on the gray mare as our eyes made contact.

"This," she motioned towards my wing with her muzzle. "I know you have nothing towards me, so why?"

"I just...I want to...I really..." my voice drifted off as she took a step away from me and my wingtip was now resting behind the earth pony’s mane, right at the base of her neck. "I'm not good with words," I muttered. "Do you have something towards me?" I asked in a curious but hushed tone.

The earth pony was quiet, a small blush rose to her cheeks. "I can see that," she whispered softly, ignoring my last question. She then directed her eyes away from mine, her mane blowing softly in the wind.

With a sly but nervous grin, I proceeded to lightly run the tips of my feathers down most of the length of her back, before gently grazing my wingtip across the mare's treble clef cutie mark.

From underneath my wing, the mare shivered as I trailed the tips of my feathers back up once more before retracting my wing fully. "What was that for?" she asked as I saw her cheeks darken further.

"A pegasus thing," I whispered again before curling up beside her, allowing myself to get comfortable.

"Is that always going to be your answer to your wings? What's next, a unicorn thing?" she muttered in a flat, un-amused tone as I felt her coat brush against mine as she laid down beside me.

I suppressed a small laugh. "Perhaps," I whispered as the sound of dubstep from Vinyl's headphones filled the quiet air. I looked over to the mare. She was curled up in a tight ball with one piece of her headset in her ear and the other on the bottom of the basket. Ace was close by, sprawled out in a comfortable position.

"Oh no," Tavi muttered as I began to hear her start breathing steadily.

"And they're all asleep," I said, closing my eyes. Maybe what I did to her made her feel like I was leading her on, I thought to myself as I began to nod off. If you feel like that Tavi, please, tell me so. Sleep wrapped its long arms of warmth around me, pulling me down into a dark abyss as the wind blew quietly during our flight to Las Pegasus.

What a Night

Epic Ace's POV

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I wake up to a sudden thud and dubstep blaring in my ear. I look around the small space of the basket at all the ponies around me, pulling out the earphone. Vinyl had fallen asleep on my shoulder, but she also awoke and got off me blearily. I then look over to Silver, the gray mare had her wing around Octavia, and the black maned earth pony looked rather comfortable as she was nestled against the mare. I found it rather cute that they had fallen asleep like that. A smile tugged at my lips, some warmth seeping into my being. Vinyl pokes me in the ribs to gain my attention and I look over at her with blurry vision, blinking a few times to clear it up. The unicorn has a devious smile on her face. “Hey Ace,” she said, “I got an idea to wake those to mares up.”

“Oh? And what kind of idea are you thinking of?” I asked, a smirk forming upon my lips.

“Well, come with me,” she jumps up, grabbing my hoof to pull me up, and started to run enthusiastically towards the watermelon stand. She then proceeded to smash a hole in one and covered my face in watermelon, using her magic to spread it over my body. She giggles softly at me due to the fact I was covered in the red, seed filled substance and I probably looked ridiculous. “Alright Ace, I want you to run over there, and scare them. Make it look like you got beat up so make something up, okay?”

“Aww yeah, aright, I got something in mind. This will be good,” I replied with a mischievous grin.

I run to the basket and put my front hooves on the rim and begin shaking it, causing it to rock uncontrollably with the amount of power I was putting into it. Successfully waking the two sleeping ponies, I saw their eyes open up, and with my looking like I was scared out of my mind, I got in the basket by tumbling in next to the two mares. Putting my hooves on the alicorn's shoulders, I got up and in her face, my own full of worry as I made my body shake with horror.

“Silver! Silver, don’t go out there, they already got Vinyl and almost killed me, just hide in here, don’t go out there,” my voice trembled in sync with my body as I attempted to prevent myself from busting out in hysterical fit of laughter. I’m good, I thought as a small smile danced upon my watermelon flavored lips.

She then replies to me groggily, “Wait wha-what?” Octavia's face is screwed up in horror, her purple eyes burned into my sky blue ones with fear.

“Vinyl is dead, they killed her!”

“Who?” Octavia inquired, sounding frightened.

“It was-“ I then start to crack up in a bout of giggles, “oh I can’t do this anymore. Vinyl come out, I am so done,” I yelled out, falling over and bursting out into a fit of laughter.

The white mare comes out from behind the basket, laughing with tears coating her cheeks. The two groggy mares look at us with constricted eyes, their faces full of anger. Silver pins me to the end of the basket and I just smile at her warmly. “Mornin’ sunshine.”

“You!" the gray mare growled, "I swear to Celestia, if you ever do that again I’ll-I’ll,” she stomped away in anger, calling over her shoulder, “never scare me like that again.”

I get up laughing slightly as I wipe tears of mirth from my eyes, “Oh I am sorry Silver, we were just having a little fun,” I explained with a small chuckle as walked up beside her and draped my left wing over her. I retracted it as she returned what most pegasi would call a hug.

"Oh, I know Ace,” she replied, “just please don’t do it again," she said as she retracted her own wing.

“No promises,” I said quickly and ran towards Vinyl, who was talking with Octavia. ”Sorry Tavi. I was just having a little fun,” I apologized just as I heard Vinyl end her own apology.

“It’s fine Ace, I forgive you,” she said, a tad bit of annoyance recognizable in her tone.

“Alrighty then, now that that is settled. Silver, shall we begin helping Vinyl with her gig?” I asked as I trotted calmly towards the tri-colored maned mare who now sat by Octavia, who was still in the basket with Vinyl.

She looked at me with drowsy eyes. "Yeah, considering the fact it's almost show time," she remarked, looking at the line at the gates in front of the stadium of Las Pegasus.

"How will they," I motioned to Tavi and Vinyl, "get onto the cloud to sit in the stands?"

Silver smiled. "The Wonderbolts set a separate cloud aside for us so I can cast my magic on it so our non-pegasi friends can join us," she explained, looking up at the large cloud a half a mile above our heads. She then turned to me and smiled wider, "we better get you cleaned up though."

“Ah, so Tavi, you, and myself will be up there watching Vinyl preform from up in the cloud,” I then turn my head towards Silver, “unless you are going to perform with Vinyl again.”

She looked at me questioningly, and then Vinyl came in, interjecting herself into our conversation, “Yeah, so you want to sing again?"

“Well,” she replied, her voice nearly unheard, “I don’t know. I mean, the experience was great but," she paused, looking at each of us and continued, "I'm not cut out for performing live. I'll always be nervous."

Vinyl seemed to smile softly at this. "Mist, I'm always nervous before a show! Think of it this way, the thrill of everypony being there just to see you perform. The thought of it sends a shiver of excitement to my very core!"

I smiled, looking over to the gray mare and said, "See, even big time musicians like her are nervous sometimes. Are you going to perform now?"

Shaking her head, she again draped her wing over the cello player by her as we trotted towards the stadium. "I really don't want to. I just want to head to Ponyville and get the hay out of here. Las Pegasus isn't meant for unicorns or earth ponies."

I nodded my agreement as the Wonderbolt captain out to greet us. "Hello Silver, Ace, Vinyl, and Octavia," Spitfire spoke. "The rest of my team are wondering if Silver will be performing with Vinyl today?"

Again, Silver shook her head. "I'd rather enjoy the show."

Spitfire nodded her head, her suit once more on her yellow coat. "Alright, well Vinyl, you better get ready," she said, trotting away.

I looked to the white unicorn who was trotting away and backstage already. "I guess it's close to nine. We should head up there, Silver," I said to the alicorn mare.

She nodded, enveloping both Octavia and myself in her magic, flapping her own wings and landing on a cloud after a small shimmer of magenta magic flowing over the top of it. She placed the two of us down on the cloud and I shifted around, getting comfortable. The earth pony next to Silver didn't seem to comfortable above the ground, causing her to shift uneasily. "I don't like it up here. The ground is for earth ponies, clouds aren't made for this," she muttered as she scooted closer to the tri-colored mane mare beside her.

As a sign of a comforting gesture, Silver let the mare lean against her. I sighed softly and they looked to me in confusion, the speakers cracking loudly as the DJ came on stage. I waved my good wing in a dismissive gesture and watched the unicorn mare atop a stage in the clouds with a pair of turn-tables in front of her, the crowd growing as the nine 'clock show neared.

"Who's ready to drop this beat?" the mare said through the microphone as the crowd cheered with delight.

I smiled as the bass filled the sky and I allowed myself to relax as I saw the Wonderbolts fly up from the ground and into the sky, signaling the start of the show.

* * *

After Vinyl had finished, and the Wonderbolts were about to do their finale, they suddenly landed on the cloud we were on, and stood in front of me. “Hey Ace,” said the Wonderbolt captain, “do you think you could do that lightning thing again?” she asked with a smile. “I know you kind of ran away from us whenever you did it and I forgot to ask you if you could do something like that again.”

I was surprised by this comment and responded, “Wait, you want me to use my powers again? Won’t it freak everypony out?” I said with the slightest shiver.

“Freak? Ha, no way what you did was pretty cool. Hay, I wish I had some kind of talent like that!” she said as her team briefly nodded their heads in agreement.

“Well,” I said softly, “I can try to do something, but I can’t do the thunder boom.” I motion towards my wounded wing.

She nodded and I began to stand up, looked up to the sky looking at a small cluster of clouds in the air. I point my hoof in the air, letting the current charge inside my body, and shot a black bolt to one of them. In which, caused a chain reaction, spreading the electrical energy cloud to cloud. They appalled it and a smile began to dance upon my lips. My white cheeks were slightly red from the approval. They like my talent, and they think it’s cool, I thought, happiness surging through my body, making the electrical power flow stronger through my body.

“Thanks Ace.” And they flew off to finish the rest of their show.

I smiled slightly as I watch them fly up into the sky finishing up their show. I then remembered something, the thought cause me to blurt it out loud, “Um, mares. Where did Vinyl scurry off to?”

Octavia shot up slightly and wobbled from being in the air. “Oh my, she might be getting herself in trouble again. Knowing her, she's probably getting drunk,” the gray mare said with a bored tone. She seems to know this pony well, I thought as she continued, “we need to go find her.”

“No, I will go find her, you two stay here and watch the show.”

Octavia nodded slightly, a slight pang of sympathy crossed my heart. She really cares for her friends, I continued my thoughts as Mist, her horn glowing a magenta color, helped me to the ground. She looks at me with some concern as my hooves make contact with the ground below. “Ace, be careful,” she calls down to me.

I looked up at the cloud, her tail going through it as she hung her head over the edge, staring at me. “Why do you care so much if I get hurt?”

“It’s only because I don’t want to have to heal another one of your stupid wounds,” she retorted, taking back her worry. "I mean, fine, I don't have to care. Go get hit by some cart for all I care! I don't care! Nope, not one bit!" she yelled angrily down to me.

"Why such a sourpuss?" I called up to her as I start heading towards the crowd of ponies. I was wishing I had not left my cloak in the blasted balloon. Right now, it didn't matter, my mane is still dyed black so no pony will recognize me. I start heading towards a couple of concession stands, and looked around for the white unicorn. this may take a while, soon as I thought about the unimaginable trek through this market full of pegasi, I heard a familiar voice behind me yell out my name. “Yo, Ace!”

I turned around looking at the mare who called my name, which was the mischievousness white unicorn. She walked up to me swaying slightly side-to-side which each step she took. It wasn't necessarily noticeable to the other ponies around but I could slightly tell she went out drinking a few ciders. She came up close to me and breathed, “Ace, I need your help with something back stage. You see, I need your help taking some discs from backstage to the main one,” she smiled widely.

Something doesn't seem right. “Alright, just show me the way and I will be glad to help,” I smiled slightly as the mare began to walk in the direction of the stage.

“Aww yeah. Come on,” She said, wobbling her way along with me right behind her. I feel there is something she is not telling me. We begin to step up on the stage, behind the curtain, and we walk to a couple of small boxes which held maybe twenty discs each.

“Now, which one are we-“ I was cut off by Vinyl who had pounced on me, pinning me to the ground.

She was looking down at me, smiling seductively. I could smell her cider breath as she softly spoke, “Ace I didn't bring you back here for you to take some discs out for me.”

“Oh? And so do you mind telling me what you were planning on doing?” I ask as her hot breath was blowing on my neck.

She giggles slightly, purring her words, “You don’t get it. You are such a silly stallion. There’s something I like about you,” she began to lean in, getting closer to my face but before she could even try to do what I believe was a kiss, I lift her up and pin her so she doesn't try anything else. My face was red, I could feel it as my cheeks burned hot. She just slightly laughed at me “Ow, you're being a rough already? I haven't even got started.”

My cheeks grew hotter, stuttering just slightly, “No, no, no. Vinyl, I do not want this.”

“That’s not what your wing says,” she said, pointing at my left wing that was high in the air. Slid licked my ear and a shiver went down my spine. I tried to prevent myself from giving in.

I blushed even more, “No, I don’t. Listen, I find this flattering and all, but I can’t, no, I won’t do this with you,” I unpinned her and stood up, forcing my wing down.

She looked at me from the grounded and asked with sadness in her voice, her lower lip quivering, “Why?”

"I-" I paused, looking over my shoulder to the drunken mare laying on the stage floor, the next words to leave my mouth were an utter lie, "I can't take advantage of somepony like you. I'm sorry," I mutter, trotting out with my head sagging.

I walk down from the backstage entry. I sighed in regret, but I knew it was the right choice. She was drunk, and I am not even attracted to her that much. I mean, yeah, she’s nice and all and there is a slight possibility that I’m attracted to her in some sort of way, whether it be a relationship way or just friendship. I don’t what her to get involved with me in any way besides this closed friendship we have now only because I want to protect her, all of them, from my past. I start to trot to the cloud Silver and Octavia were on when I left, keeping my head low as the afternoon wind started picking up. Maybe protecting her was not the only reason. Maybe there is something else I am hiding that even I don’t know, I thought to myself, stopping for a brief moment before continuing my trot towards the two other mare friends of mine. Once I was near the cloud, I looked up. What I saw will be forever engraved into my memory and stuck on repeat.

Silver had leaned over and planted a kiss upon Octavia's now dark red cheek, lingering there what seemed like an eternity before she moved away, her face also flushing to that of a red color. My jaw dropped and so did my heart, landing in the pit of my knot-tied stomach. She’s...but I thought... I shook my head in disbelief and wonder even why I even cared about this. About her even. Yet I could feel my heart residing in my stomach and throat, switching back and forth. I brushed it off and blamed it on me being in total shock. What was she doing? I thought as I walked up to the cloud and she waved to me with her wing, enveloping me in her magic to lift me up to the cloud. I broke her spell, for my coat created static and forced it to break the barrier to let me free. I landed evenly on the ground below and I trot slowly back to the balloon.

My head was reeling and a deep sadness was beginning to overcome my very being. I brush it off yet again, thinking it's just something that had left me in shock that really didn't matter. I don’t care, I thought but even those words hurt me even to just admit it. I knew I was lying to myself, I just don’t know why I was even upset or hurt in the first place. I arrive at the hot air balloon and I grabbed my cloak that had been blowing softly in the wind. I wrapped it around me, letting the warmth of its silky fabric run across my coat. I turn around, nopony had followed me, not even Silver. I trot unhappily into the basket and lay down, the wind blowing against the balloon just soft enough to create a rhythmic tune. Why do I care about that mare when I don't even like her? Why did my heart drop? Why do I feel hurt? I thought, my mind unraveling more questions as I lay there trying to clear my head of what I just saw. I sigh heavily, my heart still feeling like it was floating around somewhere in the pit of my stomach. I looked up to the partly cloudy sky and whispered softly aloud, "What a way to start a day. Maybe I should say what a night."

New Friends, New Town, and a New Start To Things

Epic Ace's POV

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I let out a deep sigh as I trot towards the balloon, a short distance away from where the alicorn and I had our conversation. “Oh Ace, you truly are a fool,” I muttered under my breath. I mean I don't even know what the feeling of ‘love’ felt like. I don’t even know if I was even feeling love or if it was just a great friendship, something I haven't had in years. For a fact though, I do know I feel something towards that mare. She has helped me through a lot and I have done nothing to help her. There's also this fear that she will get too close to me and I will be bringing her into the mess I call my life. What to do, what to do, I thought as I arrive at the basket, the Wonderbolts tying the ropes around themselves once more to take us to our destination named Ponyville. I hop into the basket where the two musicians were sleeping in their own areas a foot or so away from each other. I pick a corner and make myself comfortable, feeling my eyes grow heavy as I lay still looking up at the starry sky from the balloon. Soon, Silver jumps in, careful not to wake the sleeping mares. She looked over to me and placed my cloak over me like a blanket with her magic. I turned my head and gave her a warm smile, resuming my stargazing when she returned it with a lopsided grin.

I remember when...No Ace, no more thinking about the past, at least not now, I told myself as I glance over at Silver, who had already nodded off. She looks so peaceful in her sleep, I thought as a goofy grin appeared on my muzzle. I know in that curious mind of her's, she has been thinking a lot lately, I remarked as my grin faded. I tried to picture it from her perspective as I continued looking at her, my thoughts clouding just slightly. In a course of just a few days, she has been put through many challenges. I didn't expect an answer from her in the near future of course, but I would really like to know. She has so much going on and it takes a real strong pony to just put up with half of what she has. My eyes began to close, the warmth of my cloak prevents the cold from seeping in. My breathing began to deepen as my eyes closed, darkness was all that was present in my vision before I let sleep fully take me in its grasp.

* * *

I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and almost screaming. I shot upwards, breathing heavily. The sudden movement of my body appeared to have shaken the basket slightly, resulting in waking the DJ close to me. She looked at me with her sleepy eyes, batting them a few times before rubbing them. “Hey Ace, why are you up this late moving around?”

“Well,” I said with my groggy, raspy voice, “I was asleep until I awoke from some sort of nightmare.”

“Nightmare?” she gets up and sleepily trots towards me and lays next to me, trying not to shake the basket much like I had before she asked, “what kind of nightmare?”

“It was one of those you can’t remember, you just wake up sweating and scared.”

“Oh, I hate those,” she agrees and then looks at me with tender red eyes, “um Ace, I need to apologize for what I did in Las Pegasus.”

“Oh that, don’t let it bother you,” I swung my foreleg over her and gave her a hug from the side, “you had slightly too many ciders that day.” I gave her a reassuring smile, and she returned it as I still have my foreleg over her.

“Thanks, Ace. You are such a good friend, bro.” She wrapped both her hooves around my waist on the side and squeezed tightly, as if to hug me.

I flushed, and just smiled warmly back. I’m a good friend, I thought as my smile widened. She then began to nod off, her head resting on my right side. I let her stay and thus begin to fall asleep with the mare by me, her snoring nearly unheard by the sound of the wind.

* * *

The chirping of the birds comes piercing into my ears as it starts to awake me to a brand new day. I look around the basket with my blurry vision to see nopony in the basket with me. They must of got some food, I thought to myself as I get up to stretch, yawned loud enough that two mares that were passing by the balloon, started to giggle at me. I give them a smirk as they trot by and I sleepily trot out of the basket, feeling the blades of the grass below collapse under my hooves. Instead of looking for my friends, I start walking towards a lake close by. My steady trot soon turned into a fast paced gallop. In mid-gallop, I jump into the lake, feeling its cool refreshing touch on my coat, running though my mane as I surface. The dye on my mane was fading when I looked up at it, also seeing a lily-pad on my head. Finally I get to see my glorious colors the way they are supposed to be and not this solid black, I thought victoriously as I let out a relaxed sigh and began to step out of the lake, its water running down my coat and mane, eventually dripping onto the ground below me. As I begin to shake my mane to get the water out, I hear an unfamiliar voice from somewhere around me. “Hey there stranger, I never met a pony like you before, are you new?”

The voice seemed very fast paced and full of energy. I turned around quickly, to see this curly haired pink pony wearing a snorkel and some flotation devices on her. She began to waddle out of the water towards me, “Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie.” she introduced herself with a very wide smile.

“Um, hello Pinkie Pie,” I said in a very unsure voice, “my name is Epic Ace.”

“Oh boy, that’s a really cool name, reminds me of some like super hero name,” she lets out a very loud gasp before seeming to float in the air, “are you an super hero?”

I cannot help but laugh at this mare's randomness, “No Pinkie, I am no super hero.”

“Then you must be a villain!” she jumps into a tree nearby and, in what seems to be a matter of seconds, she appears in front of me in some sort of super hero costume. “Alright villains, prepare to face justice,” she said with a defiant stance as her cape waved wildly in the wind.

I didn't question her changing in a matter of seconds for I was too busy laughing and almost falling over doing so. “Oh Pinkie, trust me, you don’t know me,” I tell the mare as she shifts constantly.

She then let’s out another gasp, but even louder than the previous one, “You are right, I don’t!” she then ran off into a random direction leaving me there with a dumbfounded look on my face. How odd, I thought to myself. The small group I had been accompanied by on this journey came into my line of vision and seemed to be trotting towards me. I smiled and trotted towards them, all of us meeting about half-way.

Silver spoke first, "Hey sleepy head. We went out to get something to eat," she explained before continuing, "you didn't wake up even when I sat on you so we just left you to rest. Is that alright?"

I nodded, my mane still wet. "Quite. What'd you lovely mares have?"

"Just a simple sandwich dear," Octavia spoke softly as she trotted up next to Silver.

My stomach rumbled softly. "I wish I would've have woken up. I'm famished," I groaned.

Vinyl giggled softly before levitating a sandwich in front of me. "We always come prepared bro."

I smiled, taking the sandwich in my hooves as I sat down on my haunches. "Thanks," I said while chewing.

Vinyl nodded and waved her hoof. "Don't mention it."

I sit there for a moment, eating my sandwich. After I finish, I stand back up, stretch a little and spoke into the silence, “Well what are we going to do now? I mean we are here in a new town, so let’s have some sort of fun.”

Silver turned towards me, “What kind of fun do you plan on having, Ace?”

“I have no plans for what today has in store,” I then direct my attention towards the musicians, “I believe we should walk around and take in the scenery around us. I mean, we may be here for a while due to the fact we have no way back.”

I smiled at the fact I was not being chased anymore or having guards up my plot. Silver though, she looked slightly guilty and she spoke in a slightly agitated tone, “Oh, just shut up, Ace.”

I let out a chuckle and approach the grumpy mare. I then stand on my hind legs, my front hooves resting upon her shoulders and my chin on her mane. “Now come on Silver, lighten up. For now, let’s just go around and meet some ponies.”

I ruffled her mane a little before I dropped my hooves back onto the ground. She let out an exasperated sigh, and Octavia spoke up, “He makes a point. I think it would be rather nice to see some new faces,” she flashed a smile of approval to further her statement.

Silver looked towards her and shook her head, “I guess we could have a look around. I just thought we should get a balloon and try to get out of here.”

Vinyl let out a yell in response, “Aww yeah, come on let’s go see if they got a club here!” She began speeding off in a direction towards the middle of down town. Octavia lets out a grunt, knowing that the DJ will most likely cause some sort of trouble and she began to follow her slowly to where she began running to.

I laugh slightly. "she so adventurous!” I exclaim

Silver looks at me grinning slightly, “You seem much more cheerful than usual. What’s got you in a good mood?”

“Silver, I am not wanted anymore, I can finally have my mane its original color and I have no worries at the moment," I explained as I let the smile on my face show how happy I was.

She just smiled back. “Alright then, then let’s go look around.” she began to trot away from me at a brisk pace, but then she started to gallop at full speed as she turns her head with a sly grin plastered on her muzzle and yells, “Race ya’ to that apple field!”

I was caught off guard as she already had a good lead. “No fair!” I exclaimed, and started to chase after her towards the apple field.

* * *

My breath was heavy as we galloped up the hill toward the red barn not too far away now. I see the gray mare in my line of vision and began to charge at her, not daring to stop and I tackled her to the ground. She let out a squeal as she hit the ground inside of the barn, hay falling on top of us. She was laughing as she lay sprawled out with hay covering her body, a smile of victory now where her trademark grin used to be. “I won!" she exclaimed with the voice of triumph.

My breath was heavy as I huffed out the words, “That was unfair, you had a head start.” I then got up and held out my hoof to help her up, she grabbed it, and I pulled her up as hay fell from both of our manes and bodies.

“Well too bad, I still won.” She stuck out her tongue at me with a smile.

As she did, an orange farm pony came out from around the corner and spoke in a strong, Southern accent, “Now what in tar-nation are you two doing?”

I looked at her with surprised eyes, “Oh. I am sorry if we seemed to be intruding on your farm, this seems to be an odd time to introduce myself, but I am Epic Ace, and this is Silver Mist," I motioned to the alicorn beside me with my hoof and continued, "I'm sorry. We were having a little race to your farm.”

“Ah saw y'all runnin' towards the barn and it kinda’ looked like ya were chasing her, and when Ah heard a scream, Ah came over here to see what the ruckus was all about," the earth pony said, tipping her hat with a smile.

Silver and I both let out a small laughter before Silver spoke, “Yeah, we were just having a race. We are relatively new to town so my apologies,” she gave her a sheepish smile, "nice to meet you."

“Well it’s nice to meet y’all, Silver and Ace. Welcome to Ponyville, if ya haven't already been welcome'd. Ah wish Ah could talk to y’all some more but Ah got things Ah need to do around the farm, so have a nice day,” the blonde maned mare tipped her hat once more and turned, trotting away from the barn. She called back to us without turning her head, "Ah'm Applejack, by the way." She trotted out into the orchard and left us there, still covered in little strands of hay.

Silver spoke, “Phew, I thought something bad was about to happen.”

I had a sudden realization, “Speaking of bad things happening, we should go find the other two."

“Oh yeah,” she laughed slightly, “we should go find them before Vinyl finds a way to start trouble.”

“Actually, trouble always seems to find Vinyl,” I stated. We both had a little laugh out of that as we trotted back towards down town, looking around at the scenery this time around and letting the silence be our way of bonding further.

* * *

We made our way throughout the area known as Ponyville, everything but the wind and sounds of birds were heard among the silence that clung to our bodies. Silver then turned to me, still trotting adjacent to my left side. "Ace," she began, curiosity seeping into her tone, "what did you mean by 'I think I might love you' last night?"

The question seemed caught me off guard, nearly loosing rhythm in my trot as I said shakily, "Oh," I let out a deep sigh, gathering my thoughts before I spoke again, "Silver, you must understand that I don't really know what it feels like to love others. I don't even know if I am feeling love, but maybe I am beginning to love you and maybe I am not, I'm just not sure. I always seem to think of you as a friend, but I just needed to tell you that maybe I was, due to the fact I am not good with hiding things. Just to add to the details, you seem really trustworthy from what I have been through with you in the last couple of days and you've helped me." The words I spoke were true, yes, but was it really a good time to tell her the secret that nopony has known about? The past is what holds the secrets to who I am, I thought as I watched the mare ponder what I had said, but do I want to drag her into this? Into my life and have her accompany me on the path awaiting me? Am I ready to trust another pony?

"What you're saying is that you've never truly felt what love is like?" she asked after several long, awkward moments.

I nodded, my cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. "Sadly, that is exactly what I am saying."

The mare beside me stopped and enveloped me in her magic, causing me to panic. She turned me around and put me down in front of her. "I know what that's like. I know what it's like to be nervous or feel like there's a swarm of butterflies residing in your stomach. Just embrace it," she told me as she then began trotting in front of me, swishing her tail just enough to hit me in the face.

I grunted. "What the hay is that supposed to mean?" I blew a strand of her tail from my muzzle before I decided to catch up with her.

"It means what it means," she simply said.

"Again, what?"

"Embrace it, love it, don't let it get to you, okay?" she explained, looking down small alley ways for Vinyl and Octavia.

"I'm still confused," I muttered before her tail hit me across the face again. "What was that for?"

She smiled as she looked back at me, "To shut you up."

I huffed as I heard the familiar voice of Octavia. "Vinyl Scratch, you get your flank back here! Drop that poor frog, Vinyl! Hey, no, don't throw it on-" There was a loud squeal as both Silver and I approached the two mares that seemed to be in a struggle with each other. Octavia had a frog in her mane and Vinyl was holding back laughter as she stared at the proper pony's disgusted expression.

“What's wrong Tavi? Can't stand having something dirty stuck in that pampered mane of yours?” Vinyl asked before she broke out into a fit of laughter, rolling around on the ground.

I let out a sigh as Octavia screamed in pure terror. “Get it out now, Vinyl!” Vinyl was too busy laughing to pay attention to her panicked friend. Silver came to the rescue of course, using her magic to get the slimy creature out of the frantic pony's mane. "Thank you, love," Octavia said to Silver, a visible shiver coursed down her spine.

I shook my head, staring at the unicorn and spoke, “Vinyl, you just like to cause trouble don’t you?”

“Oh you know it, life isn't fun without a little mayhem!” she countered, standing herself up as her stomach let out a growl, all of us turning our heads towards the DJ. "Damn, I'm hungry. You ponies know where we should go eat?"

Silver looked skeptical, "Is it an all-you-can-eat buffet?"

Vinyl shook her head. "No, there's this bakery called Sugarcube Corner. They had some wicked looking sweets in the display window,” she beamed, looking directly at me.

“That does seem rather nice, but it's not so late in the day. Maybe we should walk around some more?” I suggested.

Octavia inquired, “What’s with you and walking around everywhere?”

I pondered her question slightly before I calmly said, “It was something my father and I would do, even though I always walked around the same city every day. We would go on different routes and he would tell me about all these places he has visited. So," I paused, looking at each of them, "I guess you could say walking reminds me of him.”

Silver looked at me for a moment, seeming curious to hear more but instead, she turned to Octavia. “Plus, looking at new place and venturing around is nice. At least the weather is on our side today."

Octavia simply sighed, briefly shaking her head. I could tell she was already tired just trying to keep up with that obnoxious and rambunctious DJ as she filed in behind Silver as we made our way out of the alley way. I began trotting away from them as I called back, “I am going to go to the balloon really quick to get my cloak. I'll be back as soon as possible!” Once the three mares nodded, I galloped in the direction of the balloon, being sure not to get lost before we adventure more within this unknown town.

* * *

After I made my way back to the group, we traveled around Ponyville for a good hour or so before we decided to rest. Vinyl, being the mischievous mare she is, thought it would be a good idea to pull a prank on a punk stallion, causing the rest of us to flee. I pulled out my watch from my cloak pocket and looked at the time. “Six thirty-one,” I said with heavy breathing, “jeez Vinyl. Next time, don't mess around with somepony bigger than you. And don’t tell him off after he looks like he's about ready to blow his casket.” Silence fell over us for a moment before we burst into a bout of giggles.

After all of us had eventually regained our composure, Silver hoisted herself up onto a nearby tree branch, much like an earth pony would do and spoke, giggling some still. “How about we head to that bakery Vinyl was talking about?" the alicorn suggested before climbing down from the branch, leaves sticking to her mane and coat. "I do feel like having something sweet and to relax for a bit before we start looking around again."

The white unicorn looked up, a smile spreading across her muzzle. “Aww yeah! C'mon slow pokes, let's get a move on!” she exclaimed, getting up and already trotting in the direction of this Sugarcube Corner. Silver, Octavia, and I trotted after Vinyl, keeping close to her just in case she decided to wonder off and get into trouble once more. Being able to relax after what seemed like ages was more than a great idea, I thought as we neared the building.

Vinyl pushed the door open, trotting inside with us close behind her. I was baffled at what I saw. I can't see anything! I claimed before Octavia spoke up, "Not trying to be a bother but, what happened to the lights?"

I saw the Silver shrug slightly as Vinyl looked around for a switch before I saw Silver shrug slightly. Vinyl looked around for a switch before the light suddenly turned on and there was a massive amount of ponies around us who had yelled out our greeting when we walked in. I jumped slightly since this came as a total surprise to me. Silver and Tavi on the other hoof were almost out the door and Vinyl was just laughing “Good Surprise party, Pinkie pie.”

The pink party pony laughed softly with Vinyl and said, "I didn't know you were here too Vinyl! I was just setting this surprise party up so I could introduce Ace here to the whole town, or well at least the ponies willing to come. The others were busy, but that's okay! Those silly ponies don’t know what they are missing!” Pinkie grinned widely before trotting over to Silver. "Hi there! You're with Ace? Coolio! I'm Pinkie Pie!"

Silver smiled. "I'm Silver Mist and this is Octavi-"

"Oh, hi Tavi! It's nice to see you again!" Pinkie exclaimed before bouncing away, not giving Tavi any time to respond.

“C'mon, get some food, and meet some ponies,” Vinyl yelled out as she walked up to go get her slice of cake. Tavi and Silver were already surrounded by ponies who were willing to chat with them. I overheard questions as to why Silver was an alicorn and honestly, I sometimes wondered that as well. I trotted over on to the coat rack and placed my cloak on it. I looked down in the pocket only to see the necklaces that were stuffed in there. One from Octavia and the spade shaped one I always tend to lose. I decided to put the spade one around my neck and wear it for a while now, carefully pulling it out of the pocket with my hoof, sliding it on effortlessly. As I do so, I see from the corner of my eye somepony approaching me. I turn my head around to see a purple alicorn who was holding her hoof out to me, a gentle smile upon her face.

“Hello there. I’m Twilight Sparkle, faithful student of Princess Celestia. I just noticed you in the corner putting your cloak up so I thought I'd come meet you,” her smile widened as I shook her hoof gently.

“Ahh. I am Epic Ace. Pleasure to meet you, Twilight,” I say formally.

“Pinkie Pie told me there were some new ponies in town and she thought she'd throw a party for you all," the purple mare explained, replacing her hoof on the floor.

“She'd throw a party for complete strangers?” I asked.

“Oh yes. She does this almost every time she meets somepony new. I guess you could say she just likes having a variety of friends.”

“So I see,” I responded.

There was a short pause before Twilight spoke again, curious as she tilted her head to the side. “So where are you from?” she inquired.

“Oh well I was from Equ-" I stopped myself before I corrected my word choice, “Manehatten, sorry, word stutter.”

She laughed slightly. “That is a really nice place to visit.”

"Yes it is,” I lied. "Well if you don’t mind Twilight, I am getting really hungry. I would love to chat more, but you know, a stallions gotta eat," I told her as I began trotting away, "I am going to get some food, talk to you later.” The mare nodded and trotted away and I made my way towards the food and tried to enjoy the party as much as I could, biting into a piece of chocolate cake.

* * *

The party was starting to wind down a bit even thought there was still the commotion of ponies conversing and having fun with the party games Pinkie had arranged. I took a step outside, breathing in the refreshing air as the cool, nighttime breeze battered my side. I looked back at the party as a yawn escaped and I started to trot away in the direction of a field of open grass. I approached it slowly, the blades of grass collapsing underneath my hooves with each step I took. I laid down upon the dirt and grass and looked up at the stars again, being sure to look at each individual star. The night was so peaceful, yet it was not the same since I left my home. There was a sudden rustle in the grass behind me and, as I stood up to see what it was, I was pounced on and pinned down by a gray blur. I hit my head on the dirt covered ground once I made contact with it again, causing my eyes to close. Once they fluttered open once more, I was greeted by Silver's ocean blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight.

She looks down at me with a smile and speaks softly, “What are you doing out here?" she laughed softly and I joined in. "Looking at the stars again?” She then got off me and laid on her side next to me, looking up at the stars as well. There was a moment of silence before she spoke again, “Why do you look at the stars so much?”

There was a long moment of silence before I dared answering her, chuckling from her curiosity. “I used to always ask my mother that whenever I saw her outside looking at the starry sky. She would just tell me that the stars tell her secrets and that if you look at them long enough, they will tell you the future. Other times, she would just wave her wing dismissively and continue her stargazing.”

She turned her head towards me, a small smile on her muzzle. “That's different,” she whispered and returned her eyes back to the sky for a while. Her voice soon broke the beautiful silence with yet another question I was dreading she would ask from day one, looking at me with curious eyes. "Ace," she paused, looking away briefly, "where are you really from? Why were you hiding?" she asked me. The silence we endured was unbearable and I was squirming around, trying to decide if I should tell her before another question flowed like water over the side of a cliff from her muzzle, "What does your past have to involve?”

This caught me off guard, and my body froze like ice. My eyes are still glued to stars as I speak softly in reply, “I’m not Equestrian, Silver.”

“Where are you from then?” she said, as she lifted herself up to sit side ways on her haunches and looked down at me.

“I am from a forgotten civilization. Equinox is its name. In fact, I was a prince.”

“Wait, prince Epic Ace? Equinox? What the hay?" she spoke with a shocked tone, staring at me in disbelief.

I simply nodded, “Yes, I was the prince of Equinox.”

“I never heard of the place,” she said softly, still staring at me, “and what do you mean by was?”

I let out a deep sigh, knowing this was coming. “My parents were the rulers of Equinox. My mother Queen Serenity, and my father Blaze. My father was a commander in the Royal Army and mother was full blood royal so she had the throne before hoof. She was the most loved ruler at the time when Equinox was a thriving nation once she took on the role of queen. We flourished and grew in the land, spreading out far and wide, but we always tended to stay a rather small country. Anyways, there was a rumor that one day Equinox would build a weapon superior enough to take over the surrounding nations and possibly even Equestria, causing a great war that pushed Equinox out to the seas, killing many Equinoxians. They thought we would die at sea, but my mother was told by her parents that if the country ever was attacked and its subjects were pushed out of its land to take them to the old island, where there was a castle already built, so basically you could call it a backup country.”

I looked over at Silver to see if she was still awake and, to my amazement, she was. She waved her hoof as if to tell me to continue, so I did. “Now, my older brother Phantom and I were born and raised on this island, which was a decent size due to the fact we feed a decent sized amount of ponies. As the years passed and we grew older, things started to drastically change.” I paused, trying to find the right words to say in order for it to make more sense. I let out a deep breath and kept going, the mare next to me seeming absorbed in my life story. “On my fourteenth birthday, I woke up thinking it would be the best day of my life. I didn't have to do father's occasional training that day, which was horrid I should tell you. Anyways, I got to go hang out with what friends I did have, which were not many considering the fact I preferred to keep to myself often. I believe it was three at the most. After the long day and the sun started to set, I retreated back to the castle to receive my gifts from my parents. Mother gave me this necklace with the family photo in it,” pausing once more, I looked down at my necklace and opened up the locket to see the picture in it, staring at it for a moment. “She told me the reason she gave me this was so I would never forget about them. I never have as a result. I then went to my father who had been awaiting my arrival in the throne room. He gave me that watch I have, but what he told me would was the real gift.”

“What did he say or give to you?” she asked, scooting closer to me with more interest than most ponies tend to have.

“He told me, 'Son, one day your mother and I won’t be here anymore to rule over this nation. We have done our best, but I believe that you will do much more than we will. I believe that you will bring this nation to its former glory, and surpass your mother and I. You have shown that you have power and strength of a true leader, and I am proud of you for that.' That day he told me how much he loved me and how proud he was that I have grown so much.” I sighed heavily, tears threatening to fall. I blinked them away and continued again. “Later on that night while I was in my room messing around with some of my gifts, ear piercing scream that came from the throne room. I ran towards the sound to find my mother, lying in a pool of her own blood, and as I ran to her crying out for her to get up, nearly screaming in desperation to have a miracle happen and see her get up again,” a tear fell and I paused briefly, shaking now from the memory as I sat up, hanging my head.

Silver wiped the tear away, pressing up against me as if in a gesture to comfort me. It was silent for a moment as I tried to regain my composure "Do you mind telling me the rest?" Silver asked after my breathing had calmed.

I nodded and began again, letting the mare lean against me. “As I stood next to her, there stood my father on the other side of the room. He looked at me with his eyes full of fear and tears flowing down his face. There was a sharp metallic blade held to his neck by a shadowed figure. I wasn't sure on what I was supposed to do but all I remember is standing there as if I were paralyzed and watching the blade slide across his throat, seeing his blood spill down to the ground as he collapsed, the blood forming a puddle around him. I looked to see whose bloody hoof was it that killed both my mother and father. I could tell you that devastation or shock wouldn't even begin to describe what I saw. It was Phantom, my own beloved brother, wearing a sly grin on his face with the blood of our own parents' on his hooves. He approached me slowly, his eyes constricted as he let the blade drop to the floor and placed his bloody hoof upon my cheek, allowing my parents' blood to get on my coat. The next words he spoke was what made my life a living hell."

"What were they?" Silver asked, the warmth of her coat seeping into my own.

I replied, staring blankly ahead of me as I repeated those awful words. "Happy birthday, brother.”

Silver and I sat there in pure silence. No more words were left to be spoken and after I spilled my guts to this mare about what happened to my parents' that had haunted me for the longest time. What do I do now? I thought, shaking my head slowly. I brought her into the mess I refer unpleasantly to as my life and now she just might be in danger because of it. The images, the thoughts, the actions, the tears all replayed themselves like a movie within my head, over and over again. I wanted it to have been a bad dream. A very horrible, unimaginable dream. It's not though and it never will be because it was all to real. Everything was just too real. I don't even think I can love her, whatever this love thing is, I thought as we sat there, staring at the sky. I care too much for her to just let harm knock on the door and take her away. What have I done? I continued, remembering what my brother has done to the ones I cared for most in my past. I sighed softly, making sure the mare beside me didn't hear.

"Ace," Silver finally said after what seemed like an eternity of silence.

"Mhm?" I replied without as much as a nod.

"I'm truly sorry. I know what it's like to lose your parents. At least you had yours for a good fourteen years," she murmured, the atmosphere changing some to that of sadness.

I wrapped my wing around her, resting my chin atop her head. "At least we both have experienced something most ponies would find unimaginable."

I felt her nod underneath my chin before pulling away slowly, the cold air filling the gap that now separated us. She stood slowly, blowing her mane from her face as I retracted my wing. "We better head back," she said, looking behind her.

"Why the rush?" I asked, still sitting on the grass and looking up at her.

She looked at me. "Remembering what happened to my parents and combining your story with mine makes me realize that not everypony has to deal with something alone," she explained. "Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me that. Trust doesn't come easy and it takes a lot to be able to tell somepony something as deep as that," Silver then nuzzled my neck softly before standing at her own height.

I couldn't help but smile. I was being thanked for being myself, I thought as she began trotting away. "Thank you for helping me trust somepony again," I breathed as I got up and followed close behind her.

As usual, she playfully hit me in the face with her tail, looking over her shoulder with her trademark grin. "Oops?" she said innocently.

I chuckled softly and trotted faster, making sure to stay by her side. "Oops my flank," I said as I brushed past her, hitting her gently in the face with my tail.

She gasped and tackled me, pinning me down. "Only I can do that, sir."

I smiled wider, thinking back to when I actually trusted somepony. I have somepony to rely on now, I thought as I stared into her eyes, letting her dominate me. And I'm happy we met.

I Promise

Silver Mist's POV

_________________________________________________________________________________________

I had Ace pinned as he stared at me with a goofy grin on his face. I shrugged it off as if it were nothing, leaving him to stare before I backed up, allowing the stallion to get up and shake his coat clean from any grass or dirt. "C'mon silly, we have to get Vinyl and Octavia."

He nodded, trotting next to me. "Silver," he said as we neared Sugarcube Corner, "I know you told me how your father and mother died, but how did you carry on by yourself without their help in raising you?"

"I knew you were going to ask sooner or later, though I was hoping a little later than this," I replied as Octavia came into view. I turned my head towards him, giving him a reassuring smile as I said, "Remind me tomorrow night and I'll tell you, okay?"

Ace nodded as Octavia trotted up to us, glancing at him momentarily before returning her attention back to me. "Where'd you two scurry off to? Vinyl and I have been looking high and low for you. Well, mostly low since we can't fly, but you know what I mean, right dear?"

"Yeah, sorry. This dummy decided to look at the stars again so I thought I'd join him," I shivered slightly as we started trotting back towards Vinyl, who was surprisingly accompanied by the purple alicorn mare I saw Ace conversing with during the beginning of the party.

"Hello, Silver," she greeted me, holding her hoof out.

"Hi there," I replied, shaking her hoof.

"Your friend Ace here doesn't seem like much of a conversationalist," the mare pointed out before changing subject rather quickly. "I'm Twilight Sparkle. According to DJ Pon-3, you four don't have a place to stay considering the fact you just moved here, right?"

I nodded, the sudden subject change making me wonder about her. "Right. Do you know of any place we could stay? I'm sure somepony here has to have a house here considering she lived here for a while," I stated, looking at Vinyl.

"Actually, I was hoping you four could stay with me, if that's not too much to ask," Twilight said, tilting her head to the side in a questioning manner.

Well, that's nice to know this mare is welcoming, I thought as the other three nodded. "Okay, I guess. Where do you live exactly?" I asked.

"The library, but I've made it into my home as well that I share with Spike," she explained.

"Not to seem annoying and full of questions like a foal, but who is Spike?"

"My dragon assistant."

I nodded my head and she began to trot away, Vinyl following behind her. Why are we even here still? I thought as I trotted after them, Octavia slowing some so she can stand by me. "Why are you all the way back here, love?" she asked, staring at me.

"Just thinking," I told her, being sure to avoid making eye contact.

"I see," she said, squinting her eyes as if to scan me, "and what exactly are you thinking of?"

Sighing, I stopped dead in my tracks, the mare eventually stopping not too many steps in front of me. "Do you really want to know?"

She sat down, expecting a whole life story from me now, motioning with her hoof to spill. "Go on then."

I sat in front of her, nonresistant. "I just-I don't know what to do," I started as she sat there quietly listening to me. "I don't know who I am falling for. I don't know the difference between a simple friendship or something more. I don't know what I am to do about any of it. Ace tells me he thinks he may love me. Tell me, how do you think you have something that deep with someone so simple yet so complicated at the same damn time?"

"I wish I could tell you," Octavia murmured before resuming her silence.

"I mean, if you could, that'd be a lot simpler than to just let me sit here in a confused heap, right?" I muttered softly, slight anger beginning to take over.

"Silver," Octavia paused, making me look over to her, "never let anger be a way to get away from something. Ever. It'll just worsen the situation and make everything that more confusing."

I sighed, stepping forward and nuzzling her before I wrapped my forelegs around her neck, hugging her tightly before the tears I've been wanting to hold back finally burst. She sat there for a moment before holding me close, stroking my mane gently. "I dunno what I did wro-on-ong!" I sobbed, burying my face in her neck, still sobbing.

"I know. Don't stress about it, okay? Everything will work itself out, I promise," she soothed, stroking my mane. The whistling wind shook the trees close by, battering Tavi's and my coat lightly, ruffling our fur and manes slightly.

I pulled back, staring at her for a moment. "You really th-think so?" I said in between sobs, wiping my wet cheeks with the back of my foreleg.

Tavi nodded, pulling me into a hug. "Absolutely. If you can come this far without your parents, then yes. You can get anything if you just try," she whispered in my ear, causing me to remain silent this time.

"Try?" I repeated.

Yet again, the gray mare nodded. "Yes, just try. You can say you did something if you simply try. You don't have to succeed but it's best to try, right?"

I gave a small smile. "Right. Thank you," I said, my smile widening as I stood, pulling away from her slowly.

"Why are you thanking me?" Octavia asked, standing up as well.

"For just being there for me and helping me," I told her, stretching my wings and wiping the remaining tears away.

"Oh," she said softly.

I nodded, turning slowly. "Yeah, so, thanks," I said again. Before I could react, the mare turned my head with her hoof and leaned in, her cheeks flushing to that of a dark crimson. I stood there, staring at the mare in front of me. My eyes widened as she kissed me. What do I do? I thought, nearly panicking. My face flushed now, turning into the color of a red apple. Oh my gosh, what do I do? I continued staring at her, my heart racing as the wind blew hard enough at our manes to spike mine up a tad while moving Octavia's out of her natural style. My eyes fluttered closed on their own and I leaned in, accidentally deepening the kiss as our tongues met halfway.

Octavia pulled away, her face the darkest crimson I've seen, along with the tips of her ears. My cheeks grew hot almost immediately as I stood there, both motionless and speechless, though I knew my cheeks were a mixture of a dark blush and embarrassment. Her bow tie had come undone, now laying on the ground as the cloth around her neck seemed to have stayed put. "I-uh-it's-uh," she stuttered, staring at me with wide, purple eyes.

"It's fine," I whispered, scratching my the back of my neck with a shaky hoof. I enveloped the musicians tie in my magic and retied it for her, just centimeters from her face as I did so. "I didn't expect you to do that," I muttered as I finished tying it.

She adjusted it with her hooves and began trotting ahead of me, her face and ears still a dark red. "I didn't either, dear, but I did."

I stared at her baffled as I caught up with her by flying, landing on the ground beside her and keeping a steady trot. "Why'd you do that?" I asked. For a mare, that was pretty damn amazing! I exclaimed in my mind, nearly falling over after raising my hooves just barely off the ground, smirking as I stared at the mare but relinquishing it.

"I-I don't know," she breathed, looking down.

"Hey, I didn't say I didn't like it," I replied, looking away as my cheeks darkened again.

She looked at me as we approached the group again. "Please don't speak of this to anypony," she told me, both of our faces denying what had happened.

I nodded in agreement as Ace looked to me and then to Tavi, Vinyl obviously taking the words right out of his muzzle, "So, where'd you two fillyfooler's go?"

Octavia was clearly taken aback, staring at the DJ in disbelief. "I'll have you know that I am not a fillyfooler. I have had many coltfriends and I plan to keep it that way."

I sighed. "I'm half fillyfooler," I hung my head as the mare beside me glanced at me.

"What?" Vinyl said, confused.

"I like stallions and mares, so I'm half and half," I explained, biting my lip as I looked at Octavia from the corner of my eye. I always have been, I thought to myself.

"Well, now that that's done and over with," Twilight interrupted, changing the subject as my cheeks grew hot again, "let's get a move on. We have a long night ahead of us!" the mare then began trotting forward once more in the direction of what seemed like a large tree house.

Nodding, I followed after them, hanging back again and watching both Ace and Octavia. I know they have something towards me, I thought, staring at each of the individuals for a moment. I just have to get Tavi to admit to them and not through a kiss, I continued. Vinyl likes Ace, I know this. Ace believes he loves me. Then there's Octavia, beautiful Octavia. What does she feel towards me? Is it strong or weak? Why won't she just come out and say it? I mentally complained as my eyes idly drifted to the purple mare. She might be my gateway to getting answers, I thought, smirking deviously. Or at least helping me. With those thoughts, I caught up, trotting close to both Tavi and Ace and pondering ideas on how to get Twilight to help me. "I'm sorry," I whispered low enough so neither of them heard. We continued onward, growing closer to the tree house with every step we took. I let my mind wonder, thinking of possibilities as to why she won't admit her feelings.

* * *

"So, what do you guys want to do? I mean, it isn't that late," Vinyl said, spinning a bottle idly with her hoof.

"I have no idea," I said, hearing the slight snoring of Spike nearby.

Ace wasn't responding, staring out the window and looking at the stars again. I looked over to him, hanging my head briefly before turning my head to look at the mare beside me. She too wasn't paying much attention as she watched the bottle spin around until it came to a stop. "Why don't we play spin the bottle?" Vinyl suggested.

My eyes widened and so did Octavia's, both of us resting our shock-filled eyes on the DJ as our faces flushed slightly. "Wha-what? No! I-I don't wanna! I-I'm going for a walk!" I called out, quickly getting up and trotting out the door of Twilight's home. I didn't bother to close it behind me, knowing somepony would follow me sooner or later. What am I going to do? I thought, keeping my head low as I trotted down a path, not watching where I was going as my tail dragged behind me. I'm up to my plot in shit, I continued as I sat down in the middle of a field a few yards away from the path.

"Silver? Where are you?" I heard a stallions voice call. Oh yay, somepony came to find me. How sweet, I thought apathetically, looking over my shoulder to see Ace. "Oh, there you are," he said as he trotted over to me, sitting beside me.

"Yeah, I'm here. Why aren't you still with Tavi and Vinyl? I was only going for a walk," I told him, keeping my head low.

He sat there silent for a moment then parted his lips to speak, "I wasn't really up for a game of spin the bottle without a mare I like though."

A slight blush rose to my cheeks and I looked at him. "I have a question."

"If it's about you and Tavi, I already know you two kissed," he murmured, not even casting a glance at me.

How in the hay did he know? We were too far away from the group for one, and two, I didn't even know she was going to do it! It just happened! I thought, panicking inside but remaining calm on the outside. "How?" I whispered.

"I don't mind if you like her, Silver. It's entirely up to you who you like and such, and I'm not going to judge you for it at all," he smiled softly, turning to look at me with both a mixture of confusion and love in his eyes. "I only believed I liked you because you have been the only pony I have trusted in a very long time. The one thing I will not stand for is losing you as a friend. Therefore, I won't remain in your way of who you wish to be with. You can forget me liking you as a lover, I have given up on the fact that it could be love. Perhaps it's just a strong friendship making me believe I do love you?" Ace paused, the ending of his sentence coming out as more than a question than a statement. He took a deep breath before continuing on, slightly changing subject. "Anyways, I'd very much rather you be happy and I still have a friend over you having to worry about me and my feelings. If you'd like, you can go for Octavia. I won't be mad or dislike your decision. I'll support it even, and I promise you I won't let our friendship be lost because of it," he said in a flat yet assuring tone before standing and trotting away, leaving me there with questions being unraveled quicker than I thought was possibly within my head.

Within my gut, I had a strange feeling to call out to him, tell him to come back and let me explain, something I was really quite terrible at. I opened my mouth to speak but all that came out was a dry, raspy noise that hadn't even sounded like, "Ace, wait!" I sighed and waited hopelessly until he was out of earshot and wet my lips before muttering, "I think I just ruined my friendship with him." I watched him trot along the path, staring at the stars. "Oh Silver, you're such an idiot," I told myself before facehoofing and spreading my wings, covering my face from the sides. I looked over my shoulder at the stallion once more, sighing in defeat and then returning my vision to the front, only to be greeted by Octavia once more. More company? Oh what joy, I thought sarcastically as she stood in front of me. "Hey," I managed with a sigh.

She sat herself in front of me. "I saw you blush when Vinyl suggested spin the bottle," she said, not bothering to keep her voice low.

"Look who's talking," I mumbled, folding my wings again.

She shook her head. "Oh well. So," she paused, looking me over, "what's wrong, dear?"

I looked up. "Nothing right now," I lied, knowing I just lost a stallion who literally poured his heart out to me less than an hour ago.

"Don't give me that," she said in a dull tone.

"I'm being serious."

"Serious my flank."

I looked around in an attempt to look at her flank, only to be met by an awaiting hoof. "Ow! What the hay?"

"Don't look at my flank, Silver," she blushed softly, looking at me with a small, nearly unnoticeable smile but then managing to keep her stern look.

"I just did. Whatcha gonna do? Hm?" I teased, sticking my tongue out.

The mare leaned in, totally missing my muzzle but instead placing her lips upon my neck, dragging her tongue upwards and causing my wings to extend outwards. I felt my cheeks and the tips of my ears redden before she pulled away and started staring at me, giggling to herself. "T-that was uncalled for!" I whined, covering my face with my hooves.

"Your reaction is hilarious! Oh my goodness, your wings pomfed as soon as I even brushed my lips against it!" Octavia burst into a fit of giggles, falling over in her fit of hysterical laughter.

"Not funny." I glared at her, preening my wings as I closed my eyes. "Why are you even out here?" I asked.

"Vinyl wanted to play spin the bottle still and kept casting seductive glances at me. I began getting uncomfortable and I booked it out of there in a heartbeat once she started using her trademark grin against me," she told me, sitting up as she fixed her mane.

I nodded in response, switching to my right wing as I retracted the other. "I see. So, Vinyl is like me?"

Octavia sat there for a moment and I opened one eye, only to see her shrug. "I'm not actually sure, but it seems like she is, huh?"

"Mhm," I replied, sitting up and resting my wing against my side again. Many long, awkward minutes passed before another question popped into the curious mind of mine. I turned my head to the quiet mare who was now rubbing her forelegs together nervously. "Octavia," I started before remaining silent again.

She looked up at me with her light purple eyes, staring at me momentarily before looking up towards the sky. "Yes?" she whispered.

"Are you," I stopped myself, trying to find the right words for my next question. "Are you sure you're not a fillyfooler? Or even half of one?"

This made the mare quiet once more, directing her eyes back down to the patch of grass between us as if to hide something. "I'm not sure. I mean, I've never been with anypony-"

"You said you've been with plenty of stallions?"

"I lied."

"Oh. Why?"

"Because I've never had the time. I've either been practicing with my cello or not wanting anything to do with relationships. I just never wanted to get close with somepony because they usually all leave me for somepony else or somepony better. They forget all about that cello player who never got far in her life because she kept to herself, because she was Octavia," she paused before throwing herself at me, causing me to fall backwards. She sat up, sitting on my stomach now and stared down at me, tears threatening to fall as she spoke, "you won't leave me or forget me, right?"

I pulled her down to me, allowing her to cry into my coat. I stroked her mane much like she did mine as I wrapped my wings around her to keep the coldness of the night away. "Of course not Tavi. I could never do that," I told her, her body shivering and racking underneath my wings. I let a few moments pass so she could calm herself before I spoke again, the racking becoming less and less noticeable. "I'll always be here, I promise."

I could feel Octavia smile against my chest, my own smile following shortly after. She pulled back some and looked up at me, trust residing in those light purple eyes of hers as a few more tears slid down her cheeks. "Do you really mean that?"

I nodded, pulling her close against me once more with my wings after wiping her tears away. I hadn't bothered to check my chest to see how wet it was from her tears because honestly, I didn't care. "Absolutely. Why wouldn't I?" I asked her, stroking her mane gently.

She sighed, her breathing calming as she lay on me. "Everypony who has said something like that has left me before. I can't lose you," she paused, snuggling into me for warmth, "and I won't allow myself to."

"You'll never lose me," I assured her, wrapping my wings around the mare even more along with my forelegs. "Promise me something?" I asked, awaiting for her response before I continued on with what I was going to say.

"Mhm?" She mumbled against me, the vibrations of her throat running through my chest and shoulders, making my heart speed up and hammer against my chest nervously.

"Don't leave me."

This caused her to move back some and look at me with a concerned expression before parting her lips to speak, sincerity wrapped within them."If I left you, I'd be losing you. Something I could never cope with or bring myself to accept. Therefore, I do promise to never leave you, not even for the world." Once the words left her mouth, she snuggled against me again, humming a classical tune of which I've never bothered to learn. I should really look into it though, for her sake, I thought as she breathed against my chest, causing my fur to move some.

I smiled, kissing the top of her head gently. "Thank you," I murmured, closing my eyes as a soft breeze battered my feathers and coat. I can't lose you either Octavia, I thought, feeling the mares breathing calm and deepen as she drifted off. I just hope I'm not dragging you into anything that will harm you in any way possible. What did I do to get you to love me? What did I do to make you fall for me? I'm just another mare like you, there's not much of a difference, I continued, a small shiver coursing its way down my spine to both the coldness of the night and the thought of losing everypony close to me.

"Mmph," the mare said as she rolled over, nearly falling off of me before I enveloped her in my magic and placed her down beside me, rolling onto my side as she scooted back and pressed herself against me. I wrapped my foreleg around her torso and my wing around her body, sheltering her from the battering wind.

I smiled now, knowing I could possibly keep her out of harms way. I would do everything and anything possible just to keep you safe Tavi, along with everypony else, I thought further, tears threatening to break through my closed lids, but I forced them back down by swallowing hard, even if that means making them forget me. I sighed heavily, knowing I could never do that again to anypony close to me. I shivered, the wind blowing against my back and feathers. Perhaps it was out of fear as well for losing them. "I can't make anypony suffer for my mistakes and my emotions," I whispered aloud, making sure not to disturb the sleeping mare beside me.

Octavia shifted slightly and I held my tongue, making sure I didn't say a word until I was certain she was sleeping. She tossed again, facing me now as yet another shiver coursed its way through my body. "I most certainly won't though. I promise to never leave anypony behind to fend for themselves. I will always be here for any of you," I finished, my voice getting quieter as I began to nod off. I promise, I thought as sleep began to take over, my dreams holding nothing but the three ponies I've adventured with this long. If I lost any of them, I'd be nothing. They're all I got now as far as it comes with friends and ponies I could possibly call family, something I haven't had for a good ten years. I opened my eyes and looked up to the starry sky, Luna's moon showering over Tavi and I with brilliant light accompanied by the stars. I fully let sleep take me now, knowing I can just try. I smiled at Octavia's advice of me just trying and I nodded off, the goofy grin still plastered on my muzzle was all I remembered before the darkness of sleep overwhelmed me.

Thank You

Epic Ace's POV

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I woke up early today without bothering to look outside. I smiled groggily at the sight of both Vinyl and Twilight, who were both still sound asleep. My mind idly wandered to where Silver and Octy wandered off to but I quickly brushed it off. I lay in the warm bed for a moment longer before I got up, stretching my good wing as I dragged myself out of bed and down the stairs, opening the door slowly and trotting out, closing it quietly behind me to make sure I didn't wake anypony. There was morning dew on a plant nearby as the sun began to rise ever so slowly, casting its hues of orange, yellow, and red through the sky. The moon was beginning to fall behind the horizon a far ways in front of me, its light being replaced from the suns. I trot along a path behind the library of which Twilight called her home and brushed against a few small bushes, the dew sticking to my coat in little water droplets. I inhaled the crisp morning air deeply as I reach my destination, looking around until I found a rather large tree, descent in size in turn which was perfect for my training. I began to wrap my hooves in some cloth I found in Twilight's home with my teeth, making sure to sit on the ground to prevent myself from falling over. Sometimes, I wish I was a unicorn, I thought, spitting out small pieces of cloth fabric. I finished wrapping my hooves with the cloth, making sure each one was tight against my hooves before I started hitting the tree in a fury of attacks, standing on my back hooves in a fighting stance and using my wing to stay upright.

“Stay calm, strike fast and stand up for the ones you care for," I said aloud, remembering my father's words while I was in training. “Now, you can’t give up. If you give into the pain, you give up all the lives of your loved ones,” I continued as I strike the tree harder, grunting from the amount of force I'm putting into each of my attacks before dropping down onto all fours, crouching for a moment as I look at my slightly bloody hooves. "Get up! You must fight through the pain, you fool!” I growled aloud his words, getting up quickly and jumping into the air, kicking the tree with one of my back hooves and landing on the ground once more. I calmed my breathing, making sure not to let anger fuel my energy. I sighed, breathing in and out steadily as I continued striking the tree's trunk with accurate hooves. Phantom's words echoed within my head and I yelled loudly, punching straight through the tree and getting my hoof stuck.

I growled in anger, yelping slightly as I yanked my hoof free of the tree. I stared at it for a moment, the crimson staining the cotton concealing my hoof. I unwrapped it slowly, dropping the blood splotched cotton on the ground and looked over the wound for a moment. Why are you upset Ace? There is nothing to get upset about, I thought, gritting my teeth. Sure, you have been alone all your life and you wish you had a lover, but you can’t lose a friend, I continued further, my head spinning now as I sat down in the grass for a moment, letting my mind argue with itself.

I looked around and hung my head for a moment, extending my good wing outwards to pick up a nearby stick and I threw it into the river not too far away, the splash echoing through the trees, an eerie silence taking over. No matter what their decisions may be because it’s okay. Even after you trusted her and poured your soul out to her about your entire life story almost, but you know, it's cool, right? Plus, you have the upmost respect for her, so you can't change that, now can you? I let out a sigh. There are more mares out there, Ace. I grunted, agreeing but disagreeing with my conscious as I walk over to a river and look down at it, seeing the stallion I brutally murdered that night when Tavi was abducted. I flicked my hoof into the water quickly and looked away. "I never wanted to kill him, I just had the weirdest impulse to." I told myself, even though I did but didn't knkw the truth. With another sigh, my mind wandered again. I’m a monster, I thought as I walked over back to the tree and rest my head against the bark for a moment, clearing my head. I just need to let things go, mistakes happen, I told myself as I begin my training once more, using the pain to make sure not I don't think about it again

* * *

A few hours pass after I had finished with my physical training as the sun starts to come up further, almost overhead now as the rays of sunlight start to shine through the branches of the tress and onto the ground below. I began to finish up with some balancing exercises. With concentration, I stood on a tree limb with one hoof, making sure not to lose balance. Unfortunately though, somepony's voice floated up from the bottom of the tree, causing me to lose concentration and pummel a few feet downwards. "Gaah!" I screamed before being enveloped in a field of magic.

"Hey," Vinyl voice chimed in before letting me drop onto the grass below with an oof sound. "Why're you out here all alone?"

"Just thinking," I told her, rubbing my plot.

"I see that," she said, sitting by me. "Whatcha thinkin' about?"

"Oh, just things that I rather not talk about now. You wouldn't understand," I murmured, sitting up on my haunches.

She seemed to have taken offense to this as she made a face of disgust, staring at me with a tad bit of anger residing in those crimson eyes of hers. She turned her head and muttered, "It's 'cause I'm not Silver, isn't it?"

"No, of course not!" I instantly replied, sliding my hoof under her chin in an attempt to turn her head my way.

She turned away, getting up and slapping me with her tail. "Don't waste your breath on somepony who means nothing to you," she told me without as much as a glance over her shoulder in my general direction.

"Vinyl, I-" I stopped myself, watching her go. "I didn't mean it like that," I whispered, hanging my head as she disappeared from the area I was in. "Damnit Ace, what is your problem?" I said aloud, getting up and walking over to the river once more, dipping my hooves in it while idly swirling them around as my blood flowed down stream. I look over at the swaying bushes of where Vinyl had passed through, deciding not to do anything to stop her and instead let her cool down. She is a nice mare and all and I can't say i am not attracted to her, but I don't know if I could trust her like the mare who took me in and has given me new friendships, a new life, a new world. Perhaps she is right. It is possibly because she isn't Silver, I thought with a deep sigh as I stayed in the river bed, allowing my underbelly to get wet. As of right now, I didn't want to talk to anypony. I just wanted to be alone.

* * *

I trot away from the forest area and into yet another open field not too far away from it. Okay, honestly, what is with me and all these open fields lately? Perhaps the clear area makes my mind want to clear itself? Maybe, I'm just not so sure anymore, I began to talk to myself as I sat down on the semi-tall blades of grass. You're a fool, you know that, Ace? So odd and distrusting your friends, you won't even tell that wonderful gray mare of yours everything. Yet, she has opened up to you, spilling her guts about how her family no longer exists besides herself. Do you think that's fair? Better yet, is it for the best that you keep these secrets from her? All of them, even? Those secrets are more powerful than you can ever imagine, Ace. You stupid, incompetent buffoon. My mind screamed to me, telling me everything is wrong, everything I've never done is wrong. I'm wrong, my mind is wrong, my life is wrong.

I close my eyes and try to get the voices out of my head, to stop the arguing within my own being. They tear me apart more and more with each nagging word. I collapsed eventually, burying my hooves in my now flattened ears, now pleading for them to silence themselves and just stop all the anger and sadness and everything that I have done wrong. You're a failure, the voices tell me, making me shake my head in response to signify my disagreement with their every word, only for them to continue, there is no hope for you or this world so just give up. Let them go down the drain. Who cares? You surely don't, now do you? You've always been a loner, huh? So, why start caring now? After all these years of nothing in return from all the ponies that saw you in pain or trying to steal food? Let them suffer alone. You can end it all now. There's plenty of sharp objects bound to be around here somewhere...My thoughts trailed off, causing me to think about them for a long while.

Those words never sounded sweeter to me than in this very moment. My lids were acting as a dam, holding back every tear that threatened to just break through and start to flow down my white coat. I thought about it. About giving up on life and just letting the horrible consequences of this decision happen freely as I stand by and watch hopelessly, knowing it was my doing in the first place. I then thought about all the ponies I would bring harm to. Octavia, Vinyl, and Silver. That mare who saved me, gave me food and shelter, returned my most prized possession, took me to the hospital, fixed my wing, and done every possible thing to just nourish me back to health. I shook my head vigorously, rising up confidently on my haunches from my vulnerable, slumped position. I know what I must do in this world and I simply can't watch it burn. I yell out in rage, pricking my ears up again, opening my eyes that were now a tad dull from the previous depressing thoughts. "No! I can't give up. There are so many things I must do in order to make things right!" The voices countered back, just as I expected. You idiot! Don't you want an easy, carefree life? A life in which you have no worries, no more killing, no more fights, no more troubles, and no more ponies to harm? Don't you want that special mare of yours safe? I'm rubbing my temples now, tears starting to stream down my face at the thought of Silver getting hurt. I pressed my hooves hard against my skull, trying not to listen, trying to force the voices to go away, to leave me alone to sulk in peace. just before I began to let the voices take over my thoughts again and force me to lie down in submission, the grass rustles gently by me from a small gust of wind caused by wings.

I turned my head only to have two cold hooves wrap around my neck, accompanied by a mass of quick words in a worried tone.. "I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me to help you? I heard you from on the path and I flew overhead to find you and Vinyl came back with a pained expression. I asked what was wrong but to no avail and now, I'm out here holding you close. What's wr-"

"Slow down," I told the mare.

She pulled back some, her eyes just slightly puffy. "Are you okay?" she said slowly, almost caustiously as she stared at me with searching ocean blue eyes.

"Of course I am, Silver." I said with slight ignorance in my voice

Silver sat in front of me and raised her hoof as if to hit me but quickly dropped it, shaking her head after she had hung it, staring at the ground. "Don't lie to me you big idiot," she murmured, looking at me with a serious yet worried expression masking her features.

I smiled softly, my mane cascading over my eyes momentarily before she moved it with her hoof. "Why are you here?" I asked her.

"Because I'm worried about you. I want to help you..." her voice trailed off as her gaze shifted down in the direction of the grass.

I sighed, sliding my hoof under her chin and lifting it up gently. "Thank you" I told her, pulling her close and hugging her. I smiled, resting my head on her shoulder as she hugged me back.

For a while, we sat there in silence, embracing each other and enjoying each other's company. The thoughts started coming back to me now, telling me to leave her. I sighed heavily, accidentally breathing down the mares back. She shivered slightly and whispered, "Are you okay?"

Again, I sighed, pulling back and looking her dead in the eye. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure."

"What do you mean?"

"I-I don't know. I hear these voices and they're always telling me to leave. Leave it all behind, leave my life as it is now, and forget any of this ever happened. I can't though. I just can't," I told her, sitting in front of her with my head in my hooves.

"Why can't you?" she simply asked.

She really does care, I thought, still keeping my face hidden from her. "Because Silver, you've given me everything nopony else has ever tried to do. I have friends and you also gave me somepony I can trust." I peeked out through my hooves. The mare had turned her head a light tinge of red was now present on her cheeks.

"I was just being who I am," she told me, looking at me again as sincerity laced between every one of her words individually. "Ace, I am trying to help and do everything I can to. I will always be here for you, whether you want me to be or not," she paused, allowing her words to sink in some before she contined, her tone sounding confident and brave now. "Please, don't run away from your problems. You face those damn demons head-on and put up a good fight, no matter how hard the situation is."

I uncovered my face to look at the mare who had said those words to me. I have never heard such honesty in somepony this entire time I have lived in Equestria. I thought, tackling the mare and embracing her tightly. "I just feel so alone sometimes and I don't understand half of the things presented to me in my life..." my voice trailed off as I buried my face in the crook of her neck, allowing the tears to be caught in her coat.

Once more, we sat in silence. This time, she cooed in my ear, telling me everything will be okay as she stroked my mane and patted my back. The tears I shed were now a visible wet spot on her neck and shoulder as I pulled away and wiped my eyes with my foreleg, looking up at the mare. "Do you feel better now?" she asked as she sat up, not bothering to even touch her neck and shoulder.

I nodded in response, sitting up as well. "Promise me something?"

"What am I promising?" she countered.

"To be there for me, even if I don't need or want you to be. Just...always be there. That's all I need you to promise me."

"I promise, no matter what happens, I will always be here for you and help you through anything you need to be helped with or need to get through something you can't do on your own. Even if you want to push me away," she promised aloud, her left hoof and wing raised and her right hoof and wing over her heart.

I hugged her again, trying not to thank her aloud as I held her close. This mare right here has done so much for me in such little time. How can I ever repay her? "Silver?" I asked after what seemed like hours.

"Yes, Ace?" she responded.

I briefly paused, licking my lips since my mouth was surprisingly dry now. "Th-thank you, Silver, for everything you have done for me. Absolutely everything." I shed another tear. She wiped it away strategically and smiled.

That smile. That beautiful, wonderful smile of hers always made me smile somehow. Why? I honestly don't know and I truly don't care. I know I love it though. "C'mon," she said, getting up and stretching, "let's go back to Twilight's. She has some questions to ask you and I."

I nodded my okay and got up, following behind her. To my surprise, I was in Ponyville Park in the small forest within it, a few minutes away from Twilight's home.

"Did I really trot all the way out here?" I blurted out.

Silver looked at me and giggled. "Obviously."

I facehoofed, trotting behind her towards the purple alicorn's massive library home with a smile of happiness now plastered on my muzzle for a reason I still do not know of. As we made our way towards the mare's home, Silver had begun to stare off into space, occasionally looking back at me with a warm smile on her face. I don't know what made me want to smile every time she did, but I had to. It's confusing really, how a mare like her literally rescued me from the hooves of my poverty and being a criminal, and took me in and has been there ever since. Perhaps you could call her my mare in shining armor? I chuckled softly, causing the mare to glance back at me again. "What?" I finally said, noticing her watching me.

"What are you laughing about?" she asked, curiosity seeping into her tone.

I shook my head, waving my good wing dismissively. "It's nothing, just something I thought of."

"And that would be?"

I chuckled again as we neared the rather curious mare's home. "I was thinking about you being a mare in shining armor to me." I laughed gently before continuing, gaining the mares attention as she stared at me with her eyebrows raised. "Seems rather different I know, but that's what makes it sort of funny."

She blushed softly then paused, looking away from me for a moment. "How is that so?" she asked after a few more steps.

"I'll explain that to you, just like you have to explain to me tonight on how you made it through most of your life on your own," I told her with a genuine smile, a teasing tone was recognized within my voice.

She huffed and rolled her eyes, a small smirk appearing on her muzzle as we were only a few more feet away from the door. "Fine, you got a deal."

I smiled as the door swung open to a worried Octavia and two curious mares. "Crap, I forgot to tell them where I was going." I heard Silver say under her breath.

"What does that usually result in for most ponies who don't tell somepony in advance to what they're doing and where they're going?" I asked with a small bit of fear.

"You get bitched at," she simply stated as we walked into the library and were instantly surrounded by the mares.

Great. That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Silver. I'm going to look forward to all the future bitching coming up. I thought flatly as I sat back-to-back with Silver in the middle of the room.

Experiments and Hidden Potentials

Silver Mist's POV

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"Where in the hay did you two go?" Octavia nagged.

"Why'd you leave?" Vinyl questioned, cocking an eyebrow.

"I never got to ask any questions!" Twilight whined, stomping her hooves on the ground.

I sighed, rolling my eyes before stuffing my ears with my hooves, trying to mute them out. Why do I forget such simple tasks and ideas? I thought as the nagging and complaining continued.

"Answer us!" the three mares said in unison.

I flattened my ears against my skull, trying even harder now to get their nagging voices away from my very sensitive ears. I heard Ace mutter, "She just went looking for me. So just calm down."

I sighed. That was a rhetorical question, dummy! Octavia's flattened ears shot straight up, her eyes constricting. "Calm down? Why the hay should I be calm?" She paused for a moment in deep thought as Ace held the face of carelessness. "What did you two do?" she merely growled.

Ace simply sighed, "I already told you," I looked back at him, barely catching his glance back at me. You're so stupid. I thought, resisting the urge to facehoof right there.

"Did you touch m-Silver?" she said, getting in his face. He stood there confidently, not to mention care free. He was getting a little irked by the feeling of tenseness within his body. She will kill you Ace, so I advise you to shut your trap! my voice screamed within my own head. Even at her angriest though, Octavia still sounded like she was utilizing polite conversation at tea.

He backed away a little trying not to start anything, his wings and flank touching mine now. At least Vinyl's not- "Did you do anything to Ace?" she asked, sitting in front of me, her trademark glasses were no where in sight. Celestia, give me strength.

"No," I muttered, pulling my hooves from my ears but keeping them flattened to drain out some of Octavia's raging from behind me.

"Are you lying?" Vinyl pushed on.

"Why would I touch Silver?" he countered with a huff. "Do you not trust me?"

I sighed, getting up and brushing passed the white unicorn mare. She bit down hard on my tail and tugged with strength I guess she must have come up with while in the DJ business. In a flash, I turned around, growling angrily. "Let me go," I told her, pausing after each word.

The mare stood her ground, staring at me with those crimson eyes of hers. My eye twitched and I had to bite my tongue to prevent something I would later on regret from coming out of my mouth. "Why?" she said out of the side of her mouth.

"Unless you want a huge magic battle to happen and you end up hurt, I think you'll let me go," I tried to calmly say, my throat becoming quite dry with every tug she made. I'm going to snap, I thought bitterly.

"I'm not done talking-"

Ace's voice picked up in the background, but my full attention was directed at the unicorn currently biting my tail. "Can we just stop this pointless arguing?" he bellowed, the statement clearly not a question.

"I didn't want to talk in the first place. I went to find him and I found him, leave m-" I was cut off as a purple colored bubble formed around me, causing Vinyl's mouth to release my now ruffled tail. "Now what the hay did I do?" I nearly yelled, whipping my head around the stare at the other alicorn in the room who's horn was emitting a soft glow.

She grunted. "Now, can we talk in a civilized manner, please?" she said aloud. I looked around, seeing the other the other three ponies has also been enveloped in a magic bubble.

I sparked my magic and it mixed with hers, forcing her bubble around me to break. I landed sprawled out on the ground, picking myself up off the hardwood floor. "If that's even possible," I dryly commented. "All I did was go look for him and I found him. You, Twilight, of all ponies should be thankful for that because he could have left," I muttered with a tad bit of anger as I sat down, crossing my hooves over my chest.

"I do thank you," she started, lowering the other three close to the ground but now allowing their barriers to break. "I would've liked to know where you two disappeared to anyways. It would have been a lot easier than have Octavia up Ace's rear end and Vinyl's about ready to bite your muzzle off."

Just then, a barrier not too far away from me shattered and moments afterwards, a thud on the floor echoed throughout the quiet home. "Ow," the only stallions voice murmured.

I contained my need to laugh at his mistake as he laid on his side on the pale brown floor. "Well, are we gonna talk or what?" I said aloud.

* * *

After the chat we had, it was close to sunset. I sighed, staring at Octavia and Vinyl who were conversing with the alicorn mare. I bit down on Ace's ear and dragged him up the stairs. "Ow ow ow ow! What the hay are you doing? Stop it!" he constantly demanded before I let go, sitting on the bed.

"You wanted to know how I got through life, right?" I asked.

He nodded, climbing on the bed and laying next to me as he rubbed his ear. "Oh...Yes, please."

I sighed and then took a few deep breaths. "Once my father died, I was alone. I couldn't get a job considering the fact I was still a young filly and I had no known relatives. I had to live in the house alone for most of my days. I didn't want to tell anypony though, mostly out of fear. I couldn't leave my home behind. It had everything I needed to know of my family. I didn't want to tell Lemon though, considering the fact he had barely just wed when it happened. I just didn't want to leave my home behind, my memories, my family."

"Are you su-"

"Do you want to know what happened or not?" I asked, cutting Ace off abruptly.

"Yes, but-"

"No buts, you either do or you don't."

With a sigh, he nodded. "Continue then."

I turned around and laid on my side, staring out the window as Luna's moon came into view. "Lemon, being the amazing stallion he is, came to check in on me. He didn't know Dawn passed away, so he just waltzed right into my home. It was a mess, of course, considering the fact I didn't know how to do magic that well besides a few simple spells my father remembered my mother saying. I was a mess as well, clueless on how to do so many simple tasks. I was depressed, very, very depressed. All I did was sulk and grief, not caring what happened to me. I wanted to end it all, really. I could join my parents again, heck, I could see my mother I never really got to know." I stared the at twinkling stars residing high in the sky. "Anyways, Lemon walked in on me to see me bawling over a broken picture frame of my mother. She was wearing her old teenage clothes, standing and smiling at the camera. I couldn't take it anymore. The sadness, the pain in my heart, the loneliness. So, with as much strength I could muster from barely eating, I had a knife to my neck with my own hooves since I could barely spark my magic. Lemon gasped and I looked up, his eyes swelling with tears. I shook my head, only because I couldn't speak."

Ace sat there in silence. I could feel his stare boring into my flesh as I sat there for a few moments, choking back tears. "Silver?"

I waved my hoof and shook my head. I can do this. I'm the daughter of a former Wonderbolt and an amazing mother. "He stared at me for a moment, standing in the doorway as if this was all a dream. I wished it was and I wished I could wake up in my mother's arms with her cooing in my ear, telling me everything would be okay. The white unicorn trotted up to me, enveloping the knife in his own magic and putting it on my desk before he sat down next to me and pulled me into a much needed hug. He sat there, holding me, caressing me, and acting like my father and mother all mixed into one fabulous stallion who I've known since the day I was born. I couldn't hold back more tears I shed into the glorious white coat of his. I tarnished it with my tears, covering it in my horrible filly emotions." I paused, shaking my head and trying to clear my throat of the threatening cracking that would come with further words.

"After what seemed like an eternity, we left my home, taking the keys and locking the door and we left it to stand on its own boards for a few years. To be honest, I couldn't even stand trotting in its radius without sitting down and bursting into tears. Within a few months, Lemon Twist taught me a few spells I could use in my future, like how to lift objects and ponies and such. My father taught me how to fly with the time he had. I knew the basics like the Barrel Roll, Loop-Da-Loop, learning how to recover from a really bad spiral and just flying straight down and back up. I could never, in a thousand years, call Lemon my father though. Sure, he took care of me for most of my life and treated me like his own, but I couldn't."

"Silver." the white pegasus whispered.

"After I had gotten my cutie mark, I was able to play any instrument you could give to me. Piano, drums, guitar, anything really. I could even be a DJ if I wanted. I just didn't want to move afterwards. I was able to get a cutie mark but I wanted to be just like him. Soar through the sky, feel the wind in my mane, pull off tricks and shows for millions of fans, but no. I got this stupid thing in music." I motioned to my cutie mark with nothing but a shrug and an eye roll.

"Silver." Ace said a little louder than before.

"Not now, I'm almost done," I muttered, thinking where I left off. "Anyway, as my life progressed further, I got a job at this factory up in Manehattan and I worked with all the lower class unicorns. We made some toys for the newborns and even the older fillies and colts around Manehattan, sometimes we even shipped some out to Saddle Arabia, Canterlot, and sometimes here. It was rare if we had a large ship, considering the fact some of the foals were put up for adoption because the parents couldn't afford to take care of them. Besides that, I stayed there for a while before Lemon told me to quit because he noticed my health was deteriorating quickly. I had a horrible cough from breathing in all the fumes for several hours from Monday through Friday and I was starting to lose the color of my coat and attaining black splotches along it."

"Silver!" Ace nearly yelled.

"I said hold on!" I yelled back.

"Can't it wait?" he asked, his tone rather impatient.

I groaned. "What is it?"

"Why did you choose to live with him?"

"I didn't have a choice, Ace. I was about to kill myself out of grief. He made me," I told him. "Isn't that obvious?"

He shook his head and waved his hoof. "Sorry I interrupted. You may continue."

I growled. "Thanks for your permission, monsieur."

He smiled and replied with French in his sarcastic tone, "You're welcome, madame."

I nudged him and continued. "As I was saying, he made me quit and start working as a bartender. I was a master at it besides when I first started out. I spilled various drinks on the poor stallion in the process of my training, tainting his coat and making it many various colors that it took more than two showers to get the coloring out. After that though, I returned to the factory once I moved back into my own home, finally able to bare the thought of my parents death and learn how to live on my own. I tidied the house and myself up nearly every day and made sure it looked presentable. In the next few months, since I was still coping with just being on my own, Lemon checked in on me daily, making sure to stick around. His wife, Gin Fizz, was also a bartender, so I guess it worked out. Her and I barely spent time together considering the fact that she worked in Las Pegasus, making it hard for her and Lemon to be seen together. They made it work though and I'm incredibly happy for them."

"When I was about to turn twenty-three, Vinyl stepped hoof on my doorstep and made my song go viral. I gave you your necklace back, and I attained a rather mischievous cello player who's a wonderful friend nonetheless. I know I had some hardships in my life and I'm not saying you haven't, but I would never have made it here if it wasn't for you and your adventurous self. I don't care if you're wanted, I have enjoyed the adventure you've taken me on." I turned to Ace now, who was laying on his side beside me and staring out the window. I leaned against him, nuzzling his neck only to get a small blush out of him. "There will be many more adventures and such to come, right?"

He nodded, nuzzling me back. "Of course, Misty," he smirked as I moved away from him, turning my head in protest as I let my lips curl into a frown. He turned my head back to face him as he slid a hoof under my chin and placed a gentle, lingering kiss on my cheek. "So many more," he whispered in my ear while he pulled away, jumping off the bed and trotting downstairs.

I sat there for a moment, staring at the stars in wonder. I sighed, burying my face in my hooves. I touched my cheek as I picked my head up again, shifting my gaze to Luna's full moon. I can't believe I just told my whole life story to a stallion who probably had it worse than me. Living on the streets... I thought, allowing them to trail off as I rested my chin on my hooves. "Some day, I'll be with them again. Just not today. It can definitely wait until I am ready to go," I whispered aloud. A few quiet minutes passed and I lay there silently, staring up at the stars. I closed my eyes, imagining my life if I still had my parents. A tear escaped my eye and I wiped it away, smiling ever so slightly.

"Silver, are you still up there, dear?" Octavia's voice floated up the stairs.

"Yeah," I said back, being sure there were no signs of sadness within my voice. Before I knew it, the mare's hoof-steps were echoing throughout the library and ending at the top step. "Hello," I smiled weakly as I turned my head.

She climbed on the bed next to me, laying her head across my back. "I have a question," she immediately said.

"And that would be?" I asked.

"I'm not just going to tell you what it is. You have to guess."

"I don't like guessing games," I told her.

"Silvy, do I look like I care even slightly?" Octavia asked as she copied my position with my chin on my hooves.

Looking at her with my eyebrow raised and a smirk, I nodded. "There's a possibility."

She shook her head. "I don't."

"Damnit," I muttered, still looking at her before softening my expression. "Uh, are you gonna ask me who I like?"

She jerked her head back some in surprise. I love being able to do that! I exclaimed happily in my mind. "Maybe," she replied, turning her head away as I saw a tinge of crimson rise up to her cheeks.

"I see."

She returned her attention back to me, any signs of blushing being relinquished. "So, who do you like?"

I poked her nose. "I'm not just going to tell you."

She groaned, burying her face in the bed. Through the sheets, she muttered, "You can't steal my words!"

I smiled, draping my wing over her. "I just did," I whispered. She scooted closer to me, kissing my nose. I wriggled it like one of those bunnies I've seen hopping around and I heard her giggle as I retracted my wing.

"You can't though, that's not fair!" she whined.

I smiled. "Aren't you cute."

Tavi buried her face in my neck, concealing it from me as her mane tickled my nose ever so slightly. She slid her hoof down my side and over my cutie mark, causing a shiver to course down my spine. "The hay are you doing?" I asked, staring at her now.

She lifted her head and poked my nose now. I shook my head and scrunched my nose up. "It feels weird, huh?" she asked.

I nodded. "Very."

"That's how it feels when you do all the wing-mojo to me. It doesn't exactly tickle my fancy," she murmured, raising her eyebrows and a small smile on her lips.

"You're gonna call it wing-mojo?" I asked, forming a really awkward smile.

She nodded, prodding my side with her hoof. "Do you have a problem with that?"

I shook my head. "Also, why are you poking me?"

"I have no idea actually. I just thought you'd be asking more questions if I did."

"Uh-huh, I see." I unfolded my wing and started poking her back with my wingtips, trying to get her away from my ribs.

"Hey!" she called out, rolling away from me. For somepony who was the most famous cellist in all of Equestria, she's really not that uptight once she's comfortable around you. I quietly remarked, smiling as I heard a thud on the floor.

"Oops. Are you okay?" I asked, looking over the side of the bed and holding a hoof out to help the proper pony up. Instead, I wound up on top of the mare. I blushed hard, as it looked like I had her pinned down. I folded my wings hard against my sides in order to blocking them from jutting out. "I-I'm sorry!" I apologized, staring down at the mare.

She smiled. "It's fine, dear."

"A-are you sure?" I asked. Her hind hooves were up, resting on my flank and I was in between them. This is the second most embarrassing thing I have done since I fell off a cloud in front of the Wonderbolts that one summer! I thought, causing my blush to darken further.

Tavi nodded. "Oh darling, I'm positive."

I could have sworn my head was playing games on me or, she actually leaned up and started licking up my neck. I shook my head and looked down again, only to see the mare staring up at me with curiosity. Yep, my mind has gone crazy! I thought. "I'm gonna get off of you now," I told her, backing up. She sat up, a sly smile on her muzzle, turning my head, I pushed my eyebrows together and stared at her out of the corner of my eye. "Octavia, what are you-" I was cut off as my words caught in my throat, the earth pony placing small, gentle kisses along my neck. I backed up further, trying to find the words to speak.

She smirked, getting up and jumping into bed. "Are you going to sleep on the floor?"

I squeaked when I opened my mouth. I slapped a hoof over it as I crawled into the bed, laying beside the mare. "Y-you're very sneaky," I told her, acquiring a small stutter.

"I'm well aware of this," she whispered, seeming closer than she used to be. I felt her hot breath on my neck and I shivered. Turning my head, she shot up my body, going straight for my sensitive alicorn horn. I swear, I must be drunk or something! Hey, no, don't touch- my mind went blank as the mare slid her small tongue up my horn. Damnit! Stupid ass horn, even if that felt amazing... I silenced my thoughts and turned the rest of my body towards her.

"Are you trying to get me to do something?" I asked. The mare squirmed underneath the blanket and I sighed as she pressed against me.

"I just wanted to see your reaction," she whispered into my chest once she slid back down.

"You got it. Please, don't touch my horn," I told her.

She snickered. "Your reaction was funny though."

I don't care what it was, no pony touches my horn without me knowing! I mean, yeah, they've bumped into it, but they've never sexually done anything do it! My mind screamed. Can you shut up? I told it. "It was?"

The mare nodded slowly and looked up at me, placing a small kiss on my cheek. "I'm sorry."

I shrugged, her warmth spreading throughout my body. "It's whatever, don't let it bother you," I replied, smiling reassuringly. She smiled back, placing her head back on my chest as she fell asleep. "Goodnight, Octavia," I whispered, silencing my own thoughts and putting them to rest as I closed my eyes and joined Octavia in the harmony of a well earned rest.

* * *

Morning arrived and the DJ was still out but there was no sign of the other alicorn and pegasus. Wonderful. I get to go on yet another search for that idiot, I thought as Octavia and I left the library to go search for him. We were trotting through the small forest behind Twilight's house once more and I still had no idea where Ace would have trotted off to. I sighed, turning my head frequently from side-to-side and watching the bushes, expecting him to jump out and scare us. "Where in the name of Luna is that idiot?" my tone sounded irritated as I continued glancing at the fixed bushes. It isn't as awkward as I thought it would be, I thought, glancing briefly over at the mare. Thankfully, she hadn't noticed once I cast my gaze to the bushes/

Octavia trotted close to me, our body heat exchanging from our close proximity. "I'm not sure, dear," Octavia began, shaking her head. "Wherever he is, I hope his wing is okay."

I stopped dead in my tracks at the sound of his wing. I shook my head vigorously, nearly losing my footing. "Today's the day he can take the bandages off!" I exclaimed in a panicked tone.

I looked up, seeing a small streak of black lightening flowing through the clear blue sky. Soon after, it was followed by, in a very jubilant tone, "Yeah! I can finally feel the wind in my feathers again!"

I heard a small giggle beside me and I looked curiously over to Octavia. "I found him," she whispered while giggling

I brought my hoof to my face, shaking my head slowly. "I knew he would do that," I started trotting again, slower this time with Octavia close by my side. After a few moments, I looked around again, shaking my head once more. "We lost him again. Stupid," I murmured.

Tavi smiled and nuzzled my neck. "Look at it this way," she began as she continued trotting along the small path, "how would you feel about not being able to fly for more than a week?"

I looked at her and sighed. She's lucky that she's cute. I thought as we continued on our way. "You're right. I'll let him have his fun. For now. But, I swear if he complains his wing hurts, I will sit on his back."

She trotted passed me, sliding her tail underneath my chin, sending short shivers down my spine. "You're adorable," she spoke in a seductive but innocent whisper before moving her tail from under my chin.

I blushed, using my mane to cover my eyes and some of my cheeks. "Hush you," I told her. I heard the trees rustle not too far ahead just as the wind picked up, causing a few leaves to fall down on the path. I caught up with Tavi, bumping my flank into hers purposely. "Where do you think he went?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. I can't fly, remember?"

I facehoofed, leaving my hoof there for a moment before I dropped it back down. "I mean, where do you think a pegasus who can fly again go?"

Octavia smiled before saying in a sarcastic tone, "The sky."

There was an eerie chuckle that seemed to have echoed around us, causing me to look around uncomfortably. I paused for a moment, biting my lower lip. "What was that?" I inquired.

Tavi obviously wasn't up to this as I saw her begin to back away, standing a foot behind me now. "I don't like the sound of that. Silver, we should go," she said in a worried tone.

I stood my ground, keeping my hooves planted in a ready position. "I want to investigate though."

"Silver," she paused, taking my tail in her mouth and giving it a soft tug, "I don't feel so sure about this." The chuckling began to get louder after she said that, causing her to drop my tail after her obvious shaking shot up my body.

Glancing up at the trees, I turned my head to look at her, a reassuring smile on my face. "Just hold on, okay?

The proper pony clearly looked terrified. Her teeth were chattering and I didn't know what else to do. Her tone shook slightly as she spoke, "But I-"

I cut her off, holding my wing up to pause her. "Hold on," I said yet again, approaching the tree of which I heard the chuckling coming from.

I jumped back some as a white stallion hung upside down from the branch, laughing softly. "Surprise!" he yelled out,

I stood there, staring up at him. "What the hay, Ace!" I yelled. The black-maned pony behind me let out a squeal before I heard a soft thud on the grass. I looked behind me, the mare a heap on the grass. "You scared her!" I called, glaring at him with a mixture of seriousness and playfulness.

Ace chuckled softly. "Heh, my bad." He then began panicking, waving his front hooves wildly. "Oh no. No, no, no, no!" he screamed, falling out of the tree and face first onto the ground below.

I laughed softly, looking behind me to be sure Octavia was up and I began walking away. "You're not a bat, Ace," I told the stallion who still had his hind hooves over his head.

"I can dream, can't I?" he said with a smile.

I nodded and pondered the idea. "Perhaps, but you are an odd one indeed."

Octavia, being in her now Canterlot state-of-mind, puffed out her chest and held her muzzle high, walking passed Ace. I heard her say, "I did not faint."

I heard Ace chuckle gently before he replied, "Yeah, you just hugged the grass."

I looked back at the two. I swear if looks could kill, daggers would be shooting from her eyes and into every part of Ace's body. "Shut your muzzle," she told him.

I continued laughing, softly now as I spoke. "Calm down, mares. Let's go."

In an instant, I was rolling around in the short grass with a white blur atop of me before two firm hooves pinned me to the ground. "Now who're you calling a mare?" Ace said with a smirk.

I looked up at him with a smirk of my own. I cocked an eyebrow, my smirk still present. "You," I said simply as I saw the gray earth pony trot ahead of us.

"Oh?" Ace smiled softly. "Getting a little smart now, are we?"

"I'm quite intelligent, indeed I am, but-" I stopped myself before slipping out from under the stallion as his grip loosened. I tackled him down, pinning him on his back with my hooves planted firmly on his shoulders before continuing, "I'm also strategic and quick."

Not far in the distance, I heard the door in the back of Twilight's home open and close, the soft hoofsteps of Octavia silencing as the door closed. Ace's smile widened as he stared up at me, his gaze softening. He gently laughed as he said, "Ain't that funny?"

I nodded with a half-smile. "Indeed it is."

To add to my unfortunate fails, Ace moved his shoulder enough for me to lose balance, causing me to fall against him for a moment before he pushed us both upwards and me back on the ground. I huffed as he placed his hooves much firmer on my shoulders than he did before. "As do I but this time, my dear, I will not leave room for error." At the end of his sentence, he flashed a grin, something most stallions in Equestria do.

My horn emitted a soft glow before sparking slightly as I lifted Ace off of me in a moment, a grin of my own appearing on my muzzle. "Have you forgotten I'm an alicorn?"

He smirked and let out a small spark of static, breaking my barrier and falling onto me with an 'oof' sound. He lifted his head, shaking it gently before looking at me. "You forget I can break your weak magic field," he sighed, noticing his words were a tad harsh before adding, "you should practice more."

"It's half-flanked!" I told him, my lower lip extending outward as I pouted. I straightened myself up, puffing my cheeks out before speaking, releasing the air. "If I used my full magic, I'd hurt us both or teleport us somewhere."

"Oh?" he said in a confused tone, lifting himself off of me effortlessly.

"Just watch," I murmured softly. I shook my head momentarily, knowing I would quickly regret this decision as I sat up. Closing my eyes, I enveloped a bunny in my magic, using my full power and accidentally teleporting him somewhere. I looked up and saw the poor animal dangling from a tree limb by his front paws, an expression of pure horror plastered on his face. "Oops," I whispered.

Ace looked at me with a face of shock before asking, "Why would you hurt a little bunny?" He didn't even bother to wait for my response before he flew to the tree and brought the fluffy white critter back down to safety as he placed it onto the ground as he watched the creature scurry back to the bushes.

I huffed, disappointed in my own magic. "I could have hurt him. That's why my magic tends to be weak enough for you to break the barrier. I could make it stronger with the risk of teleportation," I paused, shaking my head with a short, inaudible sigh. "I didn't have my mother around long enough to teach me how to use it correctly. Anyways," I finished, trying to turn away from the subject of my dead mother.

In an instant, he used his power to flash back to me, a reassuring smile brightening his features as his sky-blue eyes looked deep into mine, searching my soul. "Don't worry," he began as he sat next to me, draping his wing over me and hugging me before continuing, "I never had my father to teach me exactly how to use my powers. What I am doing is just a small fraction of something I have yet to master." He retracted his wing, placing his chin on top of my head for a minute.

I hugged him back with my wing, retracting it after a few moments. He moved in front of me now, watching me with curious eyes. Hanging my head and tearing my gaze away from his and I merely whispered, "At least you can do something with it. All I got is a measly music-streak I barely learned a year ago, teleportation, and a simple barrier to carry objects and ponies in. It can't protect them because of my lack of unicorn knowledge. I wish I could learn more on how to enhance it," I told him, shaking my head but looking up again with a weak smile.

Nodding his head in agreement but still keeping his reassuring smile on his muzzle, he shrugged. "True..." he began, his voice trailing off as he thought for a moment, "but you can do a lot of stuff with your power, which I can't." He lifted himself up with his haunches and started walking back to Twilight's library.

"Maybe we can help each other with our own powers?" I suggested as I caught up with him, watching him as I turned my head. "Or I could ask Twilight to help me. I wonder what she knows."

He suppressed a light chuckle, looking at me from the corner of his eye. "Have you forgotten that she lives in the library? She probably reads books all the time to enhance her own magic, so she's bound to have something to help you." Ace took an unnecessary pause that seemed to drag on forever before he spoke again, this time his tone sounded slightly saddened. "Besides, my powers are different from yours."

"That doesn't mean I can't help," I told him, purposely bumping my flank into his with a small smile. "I want to at least try and understand yours."

Ace chuckled once more, turning to look at me. "You can try. I'm not going to stop you from doing so."

"You try and understand an alicorns powers," I paused, sighing and taking a deep breath before continuing. "I barely can and I am one. I just wish my mom could have taught me before her fate." I opened the door a few more steps ahead of us with my magic, looking down.

Unexpectedly, Ace hugged me once more with his wing, quickly retracting it as we approached the door. "You'll learn more about your powers and self soon enough." He smiled warmly as if trying to convince me I would. "Trust me, I still don't understand myself a lot at times."

I smiled and wing-hugged him back. I mean, how could you not? He's been reassuring me half the time and I swear if it weren't for him, I'd still have that pain-in-the-flank job. Speaking of that job...Did I even quit? I shook my head, completely forgetting if I did or not. "Thank you," I finally told him as we walked through the door.

He nodded his head and leaned against the door frame in front of the white unicorn as I passed her, smiling warmly at the earth pony. She returned my smile and I idly eavesdropped on my friends' conversation.

Ace spoke up after a moment, his nervousness was obvious by his stance."Hey there." I could tell by Ace's tone he wasn't very comfortable, considering the fact every time I looked at him, he avoided eye contact all together.

Vinyl, the same as Ace, obviously wasn't up for the conversation, her replies just a mere whisper or mutter half the time. "Hey."

I shook my head. Their conversation is even more boring than two turtles racing! After a moment, Ace replied, scratching the back of his neck with his hoof. "So, uh, what's up?"

"Nothing much."

"Tavi!" I exclaimed, happier and louder than expected. I slapped a hoof over my mouth, blushing softly. "What'd you mares do?"

She giggled softly before replying. "Oh, nothing, ate."

I heard Vinyl sigh. "I'm sorry about yesterday."

Ace patted her shoulder, barely smiling. "It's fine."

Vinyl nodded. "Alright."

I muted the conversation between Ace and Vinyl out, rolling my eyes. Booorinnng! I turned back to Octavia and dramatically gasped, pretending to take offense. "Without me? How rude!"

Octavia smiled, nuzzling my neck. "I'm sorry."

I shrugged getting up and beginning to rummage through the large collection of books. "What do you want to do?" I asked her, my ears somehow picking up the conversation between the pegasus and unicorn once more.

With a sigh, Ace spoke in an almost inaudible whisper. "I don't tell everything to everypony for a reason."

Again, the unicorn nodded, her two-toned mane not budging as she did so. "I understand. I'm sorry I pestered you and caught an attitude like a Manticore."

I shook my head, trying to figure out what he meant before a spare bed beside me made a rather loud noise, alerting me Tavi had just placed herself upon it. "What are you looking for?" she curiously asked.

"Just a spell book. Twilight has to have one."

Ace laughed softly after Vinyl had gently hoofed his shoulder. "It's all good," he said, looking at me. I quickly turned my head, being sure he didn't notice.

Tavi smirked. "You are in a library," she said in a smart tone.

I huffed, looking at her with little amusement in my eyes. "Don't be a smart flank, Zanger," I told her before flapping my wings gently to fly up to the top shelf.

Being the proper pony she is, she sat up straight and had a look of disgust on her face when I looked down at her again. "Don't use my first name! I hate it! It was supposed to be Octavia Von Clef!"

"I see," I said, half paying attention. "What happened to it then?"

Octavia let out an agitated sigh. "My mother happened to it."

I heard Ace chuckled gently and I looked at him with a small smile as I contained my own laughter. He looked down, shaking his head. Vinyl lifted it up and his eyes were wide with guilt. Did he really do what I think he did? I thought, shaking my head vigorously to extinguish the thought. Octavia looked up at me, a smirk of mischievousness on her muzzle. "Never call me Zanger again, Silvy."

I glared down at her as I felt my body heat up. I let out a deep breath, cooling myself down before I lashed out. "Don't call me that. I hated that nickname. Always have, always will."

Realizing she hit a nerve, she smiled, giggling softly. "It's cute though."

"I don't care what it is, I hate it. End of discussion." I told her, looking back at the books enveloped in my magic. I saw one that caught my eye and quickly put the others back in their designated area. "Found it!" I called out in success as I lowered myself down to the ground and laying beside the earth pony

I continued listening to the others conversation, learning valuable information as I flipped carefully through the book. "The stallion who abducted Octavia called her Zanger," the white pegasus began.

"Yeah, so? I usually call her that to get her in my room faster. What about it?" Vinyl muttered.

Octavia looked at me and then the book. "What is that?"

"It has spells for unicorns."

"Do you know what happened to him? I mean, how I got Octavia out of there?"

Vinyl sighed, looking back at me. "I saw blood on your hooves, that's it. I didn't want to ask but I saw the look Silver gave you. I think she knows but she probably doesn't want to bring it up."

"Well, I was thinking that after you said spells, dear."

"Stop being such a smart flank," I told her before laying down beside her, still reading the book.

I glanced up for a moment and saw Ace look to Octavia, sympathy in his eyes. "She did nothing in my favor but I don't care. Vinyl," he paused, lowering his tone to that of a whisper, "I killed the poor stallion, even if he deserved it."

Vinyl looked over her shoulder at Tavi, a small smile of happiness on her muzzle. "I would've too if he took my Octy," she stopped herself, looking at Ace again. "She's my best friend. Sure, we have our ups and downs, but without her, I'm just another useless musician. Thank you for saving her." she hugged him, throwing her forelegs around his neck tightly, burying her face in his neck.

I directed my attention back to my book, causing Octavia to speak up, some of her accent heavy in her words. "What are you looking for anyways?"

I turned the page. "Anything and everything," I muttered, continuously switching between the book and the two ponies by the open door.

With an eye roll, the mare responded, "Because that totally makes sense."

He stood there for a moment before hugging her back. I swear, that stallion is an odd one. I thought as he spoke up. "You're welcome. There was just something different when I confronted Mystic," he paused, letting out a heavy sigh before putting a fake smile on. "Don't let it be a bother to you though. I'm just glad I was able to attain friends like you." He finished with a sheepish smile, trying to get off the topic. So he did kill him, I thought, glancing up from my book again to look at them.

I couldn't see Vinyl's facial expression, but I could tell her words were forced out, some of them cracking as she dropped back down to the ground, her hooves hit the wood softly. "I'm going to be totally honest with you, Ace. Mostly because I trust you." She paused, her tone still saddened. "I was bullied as a filly. Didn't get my cutie mark for a while, always got made fun of for it. Once I found out who I was, I met Octy. I was happier than a clam." She looked back at her, and as if one cue, a smile that spread from ear-to-ear was now present, a single tear sliding down her cheek. "She's a really great mare once you get used to her type of music and such. I just hope nopony hurts her," she looked directly at me and my heart lurched, causing me to stop breathing for a moment. Why would she look at me? I thought, breathing out after realizing I was holding my breath.

Looking at Octavia, I half-smiled. "Well, what do you want me to say? It teaches a unicorn how to fly?"

"Now you're being a smart flank," she countered.

Even though I had my eyes set on Octavia, I still kept myself tuned into Ace's and Vinyl's pretty interesting conversation. "Ah yes, I know that story. I was a social outcast at my so-called school. I had no friends and nopony wanted to talk to me and that's the reason why I love my family. For a very long time, I never got my cutie mark. As a result, I was the main target for bullies. At times, I tried my very hardest to play along with it, only to be jumped and called various names."

"It sucks, huh?" Vinyl said a little too loud, causing the earth pony and I to look over to them with curious eyes.

"Yes," Ace smiled, "but look at me now. I've dealt with so many problems an encountered many more all on my own and now, I'm here and happy." He looked to Octavia and then myself, his gaze softening.

Vinyl looked at us as well and we all shared a moment of silence as we sat there and silently enjoyed it. The white unicorn smiled widely as she spoke. "I'm happy, too," Vinyl said after a few moments. Ace smiled back as they directed their attention back to each other, the proper pony and I returning to the book and scanning the pages for anything good.

"That was odd," I murmured as I read a few more spells.

"Indeed it was, dear," Octavia agreed as she pointed to a spell with her hoof. "Didn't you say you had to strengthen your barrier?"

"Yeah, but it takes a lot—oh, this might work."

Vinyl piped up. "Should we join them?"

Ace nodded. "Sure."

Vinyl trotted up to us, laying beside Octavia and nuzzling her neck before speaking. "So, fillyfoolers, whatcha lookin' at?"

With a glare and a forced smile, Octavia responded in an agitated tone, "Spells."

"I'ma try and strengthen my barrier," I added.

"Oh boy, spells!" Ace said in an over-enthusiastic tone as he trotted over to us, sitting by me and placing his chin atop of my head. "See, I told you there was something."

I looked up at him from the corner of my eye before returning my attention back to the book. I bit my lip in contemplation. "Well, I'm not using any of you to help it. Where's that dragon?"

Vinyl chuckled. "Sleeping."

I grunted, pushing my eyebrows together. "Of course."

Ace pulled back some and poked my side. "Can't you just use me?"

I shook my head vigorously, my mane falling over my eyes. I moved them away and shook my head once more, staring at the book. "I can't, the risk is too high."

Vinyl looked at me, tilting her head to the side. "I can always go get Spike, y'know. It's not like he hasn't been woken up before and forced to do something."

"I don't see why you want to do it, Ace," Octavia muttered.

Ignoring Octavia's input, he smiled warmly and prodded my side repeatedly with his hoof. "The worse that could happen is I get hurt. Just leave the young dragon to his rest," he paused and stopped poking my side. I was about to hit him over the head if he continued, honestly. "Silver, would you please just trust me on this?"

I shook my head, letting out a large gust of air as I read the spell over a few times. "If you get hurt, I'm taping your wings to your flank for all eternity," I told him with as much seriousness I could muster to put in my tone.

He gave a small laugh and trotted a safe distance away from us. "Have some faith," he said as he faced us once more.

I rolled my eyes, my horn emitting a soft glow as I enveloped the white pegasus and recite the spell. I looked at him with my eyes full of concern. "See if you can break it," I finally said.

"I'll give it a small shock, don't you worry," he said, placing his hoof to the barrier and releasing a small amount of energy.

I snapped my eyes shut as he did but kept my magic going. "Are you free?" I asked as I bit my lip hard, nearly making it bleed.

He was quiet for a moment and whispered, "Surprisingly, no."

I opened one eye slowly, the other soon following as I stared at the magenta bubble still around him. "It worked! Now, how do I do this naturally without the spell..." my voice trailed off and I lost concentration, hearing a thud on the floor nearly seconds afterwards.

"Ow!" A familiar stallion's voice yelped.

I looked up to see Ace face-first on the floor, his flank in the air. "Sorry!" I yelled out as I lifted him in my magic and placed him on his hooves again before I kept reading. "It says I just have to give the spell just a little thought and I can strengthen my barrier as much as I want."

"Hm? Try it," Ace encouraged me as he rubbed his muzzle with his hoof, "but don't drop me."

I nodded, enveloping him in my magic barrier and strengthening it as much as I could for that moment. "Use as much of your power as you can. I wanna see how much damage this thing can endure."

He sat down in the bubble, crossing his hooves over his chest.

I sighed. Why is he so stubborn? "I'll give you a donut?" I said as I sheepishly smiled, hoping he'd take the offer.

He sat there in silence for a moment. He uncrossed his hooves and stood up, wobbling around slightly. "Considered. I'll try and break it this time."

I smiled wide and took out a hidden box of donuts, sliding them towards the bubble. "You can have those afterwards. There's about four or so. Alright, whenever you're ready."

He stretched, placing all his hooves firmly in the bubble and looked at me as the lightening shot from him and into my barrier. I flinched for a moment from the intensity of the shock, staring at my barrier with wide eyes. "I think you just combined your power with my magic. It didn't break..." my voice trailed off as I looked up at my horn which had a small tint of black within it.

Ace was taken aback. "Nonsense!" he yelled out, shutting his eyes tightly before sending more energy through himself and the bubble, causing it to send out small sparks of black electricity.

I thought harder, keeping my mind on my magic as I kept casting glances at my horn. "I don't think it's gonna break!" I yelled out. I looked over to Vinyl and Octavia who had gotten up and moved away, staring at us both in disbelief. I directed my eyes back to my horn and then my bubble, seeing both were glowing a black tinted magenta. My gaze drifted to my coat which had gone to a pale gray, close to a white color. I shook my head, sending more magic to the barrier.

Before my eyes, the stallion was glowing a soft blue and his cutie mark had attained a lightening bolt through it. He opened his eyes that were now burning with fury, darkening and lightening frequently. "Graaaahhhh!" He yelled out as an enormous amount of energy shot from his body, the glow turning that of a blood red color, shattering my barrier. He stared at me, his breathing heavy and uneven.

I stood my ground. I could feel my eyes had changed color and my coat was almost white. "What the hay did you just do?" I asked him, sparking my magic slightly. "Great, black-magenta magic, how pretty," I muttered sarcastically.

The stallion was quiet as he began to approach me, his coat and eyes were still glowing a crimson color.

Looking at him expectantly, I raised an eyebrow but kept my magic going, forming a ball of lightening-sparked magenta magic. "Well?"

He closed his eyes and yelled, the ringing in my ear almost intolerable as I enveloped the unicorn and earth pony in one of my barriers, sending them flying out the door as a ton of static electricity surged from Ace's body, hitting all corners of the room. I sent a ball of magic in his direction, pausing as we stared at each other for a long moment before we kept attacking each other with lightening and static-magic. "Would you calm your flank?" I screamed as I just barely dodged a single bolt of lightening, leaping over it as it nearly skimmed past my underbelly

Ace looked at me before his eyes faded to that of a sky blue once more and the outer glow around his body disappeared, collapsing under his own hooves and laying in a heap on the floor. I looked at him for a moment from my place, staring at him. After a moment, I trotted over to him and began prodding him with my hoof after I had calmed myself down, my coat and eyes fading to their original color. "Ace?" I asked in a worried tone. As I expected, he was silent and stationary. I prodded him harder with my hoof, trying to wake him up. "Dummy, wake up," I said, hoping he'd hear me. I laid down next to him now, resting my chin on my hooves as I draped my wing over the unconscious pegasus. "Ace, please wake up," I pleaded. There was soft breathing beside me and I closed my eyes, casting a small spell sure to help him wake up. I nuzzled his neck, picking his head up for a moment before putting it back down on the floor. "Ace?"

"Mmmpph?" he replied, opening his eyes slowly. I nuzzled him again, gently this time as a small smile of happiness tugged at my lips. I pulled back and he had a soft blush accompanying his pure white coat. "Silver?"

"Yes?" I responded, my smile widening some.

He blinked hard, shaking his head just slightly and rolling over to lay down. "T-tell me wh-what just happened?" he asked with a stutter.

I paused and retracted my wing, trying to figure out how to tell him. "I-I don't know how to explain it. One moment I'm asking you to break my magic barrier, which you couldn't for a bit, then you got all mad and broke it and now my magic is a mixture of your lightening powers. How? I'm not sure. I started throwing some type of magic with lightening in it and then, you passed out."

He looked deep into my eyes, searching them for anything else. "Oh?" he sighed heavily. "Some how my inner magic mixed with yours. I gave it my all then suddenly it just went black. I don't remember what happened, but if you have my power within you, that means its in your blood stream and that's not good." He took an unnecessary pause, causing me to be on the edge of my seat as he continued once more. "I need to drain it out. Not your blood but the electrical current."

I smiled reassuringly. "It's just in my magic," I told him, forming a small ball in front of him to symbolize what I meant. "It doesn't hurt and the only way for me to fully understand your power is for me to have it. Not for long, just long enough so analyze and try it out."

He nodded. "I see."

"So," I began as I stood up, stretching as I continued speaking, "how exactly do you use it?"

"That's hard to say considering the fact it isn't within your blood stream," he told me.

"My magic is resided within me, kind of like my blood stream but more of a magic stream. It depends on how strong the electrical current is."

He shook his head, waving his hoof dismissively. "Just be careful on how you use it. Sometimes it can drain you of your energy and put you in a really bad situation. Promise you'll be careful with it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Well, of course I'm gonna be careful, I don't know what it does."

"That's good to hear," he murmured, laying there on the floor as he stared at me. "So, I just up and turned into some power freak trying to kill you?"

I nodded. "Red eyes, red cutie mark, etc. I had to literally roll Octavia and Vinyl out to protect them." I opened the door with my magic and my mouth literally hit the floor, the sight in front of me held no one other than the two mares rolling around uncontrollably in my protective barrier. "I forgot to pop that..." I whispered, giggling for a moment as I watched them.

I heard Ace chuckle before his tone turned serious. "Silver."

I turned my head, directing my full attention towards him as I head the squeals and 'Ow!'s of the two mares outside. "Yes?"

"Remember when I was hearing voices?"

"Yes. What about them?" I responded while tilting my head to the side as I laid back down beside him, returning my chin on its place on my hooves.

"I believe that moment with the red eyes was like my dark side."

I shrugged, patting his shoulder. "There's a slight possibility. I have a super, normal, and psychotic side. I don't show the other two very often though."

"I don't know, Silver. What do I do about it?" he asked as he attempted sitting up. I helped him and he sat beside me, slouching just slightly but he was still taller than me.

"It depends on how you use your powers. You can mute out the negative voices with positive ones or," I paused, tapping my chin with my hoof once I sat up on my haunches. "You can override the positive ones with negatives and destroy your friendships. It's up to you. You could have hurt somepony."

He frantically shook his head, flattening his ears. "I blacked out, Silver. Please, don't say that."

"I'm not blaming you for anything. I'm just saying if it weren't for me trying to snap you out of it, we could have destroyed Twilight's home." I smiled and nuzzled him again, patting his shoulder and popping the protective barrier. "I know you'll fuel your powers with positive energy or do the right thing."

To my most immense surprise, he smiled and nuzzled me back. "Yes, I know," he said as he began watching me.

I smiled more and lifted myself up, stretching again. "I know too because I believe in you," I told him as I trotted away from him and to the two mares, feeling his eyes bore into me. I really do hope he does what's right with those powers of his, I thought to myself, facehoofing for a moment as I sparked my magic again, seeing the black-magenta sparks float to the ground. And I really hope I can figure out how in the hay his powers work in the first place, I thought further as the two mares in front of me lay there on the grass, staring at me. I also need to work on stopping protective barriers to prevent my friends from rolling around like maniacs. I chuckled softly to myself as I sat down by them and glanced back at the pegasus who was twiddling his hooves as if he were thinking. Please do what's right, I thought, softening my gaze once we made eye contact. I smiled warmly and he smiled back. Please.

Lightning Music Streak

Epic Ace's POV

________________________________________________________________________________

I sighed heavily, staring at the ground in front of me with a heavy heart. "I know that I have to do good things with this power of mine which I have," I began, twiddling my hooves. "What am I talking about? I'm a bloody thief and I still am. What was Silver trying to tell me?" Again, I sighed, shaking my head slowly. "I hate to lose her and even the other two mares that tagged along and just simply go back to that miserable life I had lived..." my voice trailed off, leaving my thoughts to openly yell at me, calling me various names.

I looked up, seeing Silver's shoulders slump some as she was staring at the two mares. She started a slow conversation, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Sorry about making you roll around," she apologized with another sigh.

Octavia smiled warmly. "It's fine, love. You didn't mean to, you were just trying to keep us safe."

Vinyl nodded in agreement and Silver looked over her shoulder to have her eyes rest on me. "Yeah, you're welcome," she muttered, turning her head back to face the two musicians.

I returned my gaze back down to the floor, still thinking hard. "What do I do?" I asked myself, placing my hooves on the floor.

"I'll be right back," she told them as she stood, walking back into the house as the two stared at each other in utter confusion and concern. "I never gave you those donuts, did I, Ace?" She asked, sitting in front of me with the box of donuts enveloped in her magic and floating in front of me.

"Huh," I said, staring up at her with a confused expression. "No, you didn't."

Silver nods, putting the box in my lap and kissing my cheek. My cheeks were heating up as I felt a blush start appearing. With as much as I could, I kept it down. "No matter what you do, I'll always be here for you, Ace. Please, never feel like I'll leave you," she whispered in my ear before pulling back.

I finally let my checks erupt into a fiery pit of a dark blush as I stared at her speechless. I swallowed hard, trying to get the dry feeling out of my throat.

She smiled, lifting a doughnut from the box in her magic and breaking it in half. "May I?" She asked, levitating one by me and the other near her.

I nodded slowly, completely confused on how I should respond. "Y-yeah," I stuttered as I took the half in my own hooves.

She bit into hers moments afterwards and then pulling it away, to reveal that she had a mustache made with sprinkles and chocolate on her muzzle, making her look like she has a mustache. "Ello, dear," she said, raising her head high like a Canterlot snob.

I shifted my gaze back down, smiling to myself before picking my head back up. She's adorable. I thought, my smile widening.

Silver licked her upper lip, ridding of the chocolate mustache she had attained. "Yay, I made you smile," she happily stated as she finished her half of the doughnut. She looked behind her at the sound of hoof-steps, only to have the two mares join us and our positions forming a diamond-like shape.

My muzzle stretched into an enormous yawn and my eyes closed. When I reopened them, the three mares were staring at me with small smiles. "I think I want to take a nap after all that power I had used."

Interrupting the few quiet moments that passed by, Twilight burst through the front door with various items enveloped in her magic. "Oh my Celestia, we have such little time!" She called out, racing up the stairs and disappearing.

"What was that?" Vinyl said, staring at the stairs with an awkward facial expression.

Silver shrugged and Octavia was just as confused as she was. "Uh, we might want to check that out," Silver whispered while standing slowly.

I stood up, repeating Vinyl's sentence. "What was that?"

Silver shrugged again, shaking her head slowly from side-to-side. "I have absolutely no idea." She walked passed me and up the staircase, peeking into Twilight's room. "Whatcha doin'?" She asked as I heard her hooves trot slowly into her room. She was immediately on her flank as the mare high tailed it out of there and down the stairs.

Within mere seconds, my voice echoed throughout the library, "Ahh!" I yelled out as my flank made contact with the floor. I shook my head slowly, looking down at the ground as I face-hoofed. "Why me?" I silently asked.

Twilight turned her head and looked over her shoulder before quickly apologizing. "My bad! Ugh, so much work before the Gala!"

Silver got up and flew down the stairs, staring at the mare with the rest of us in the room. "The what?" She asked curiously.

Twilight over dramatically gasped. "The Gala! It's held in and around Celestia and Luna's castle in Canterlot!"

"Oh," she said aloud.

"Why're you pushin' everypony down, Twilly?" Vinyl inquired.

"It's less than two nights away!" Twilight replied while gathering some necklaces.

"And those are?" Vinyl continued.

Twilight whipped around. "The Elements of Harmony."

I got up, shaking myself before I stared at the necklaces. "I've heard of those. They are very powerful if in the right hooves. Now I remember the Gala," I stated, chuckling softly. "I've been there before."

Silver looked at me with a sly grin. "And what'd you do, hm?" She asked jokingly before playfully hitting him on the shoulder. "Just kidding. Anyway, I have too, but I got kicked out for yelling at this stupid, uptight stallion who thought he was all that."

Octavia piped up. "That was you yelling at Prince Blueblood?"

Silver nodded with a smile. "Yeah, he was getting on my nerves!"

Vinyl smirked. "I thought I knew you from somewhere. You were that alicorn who kept thrashing about when Luna's guards kept trying to get you out!"

She blushed softly. "Oh...I-I didn't like him. I was about to pounce on him," she admitted.

Twilight shook her head. "For a musical mare, you're quite mischievous."

The tri-colored mane mare beamed. "Thank you!"

"Mhm," Twilight replied. "Ace, when did you last go to the Gala here in Ponyville?"

"The last time was my only time," I began, putting my laughter aside. "I found a ticket one day on the streets, thought I'd drop by and check out what all the fuss was about." I smiled, continuing on. "The day of the Gala, I put on my cloak and just went to get some food. I'll have you know I pigged out and my wonderful buffet came to an end when I got pestered by that no-good, spoiled-rotten prince. He told me," I coughed, clearing my throat and attempting to imitate what he had called me. "He said, 'You are a filthy, disgusting, putrid peasant who has no manner for high society. I mean, look at you! You look like you happened to come across that tattered old thing from a nearby trashcan!'" I laughed, letting the accent go. "You wanna know what I replied with?" ?

The three nodded eagerly. "What'd you say?" The mares said in unison.

I laughed. "Well, I said, 'At least I'm not an uptight stallion who thinks he can say anything he wishes and does nothing. Not to mention the mooching you do off your mommy and daddy. Who, if I may say, give you everything on a silver platter!' Then, after he seemed more offended, I got in his face and said, 'Now, if you don't want that pretty face of yours ruined, you better shut your mouth, or I'll do it for you!' He simply replied," I paused, breathing in deeply as I resisted the urge to bust out in hysterical laughter. I began imitating him again as I spoke. "'Why I never! You should have never crossed me!'"

"I simply slapped him and said, 'Just did.' and walked away. As expected, he called the guards, but knowing me, I lost them." I suppressed a small laugh as the three mares looked intently at me, waving their hooves in a gesture for me to continue. "I then went to the treasury, snuck in, and I failed. I was caught and I booked it out of there within minutes. I believe I left the Gala looking like a tornado came through it."

Vinyl shrugged. "I missed that snob getting smacked? Damn!"

Octavia giggled. "I would've smacked him if he did that to a lady."

Silver looked to him. "I think I saw you as I was being forced out the other direction!"

"You did? Well I did make quite a ruckus," I told her with a grin. "I went and pushed that snob called Blueblood into a puddle of mud while he was talking to a mare before I left. I must tell you that it was worth it."

"That was right before I was carried out after yelling at him!" Silver called. "I was dying of laughter as the guards stared at me, trying to figure out if I should be taken to the mental hospital!"

Octavia looked to Silver concerned. "Well, at least you didn't. It was quite a show though. He then went to Celestia and tattled, if you didn't know."

The DJ smirked. "That was so worth it. I was summoned after the fact and I only saw Silver being carried out!"

"How coincidental," Twilight interjected. "I was there too with my very best friends. I guess we've all met before but not formally," she added.

"Maybe. I never talked to anypony there though. I believe you all do recall the place going into havoc and the whole scene blowing up."

"I think we all saw Silver and Ace being thrown out though," Vinyl stated.

Silver nodded in agreement. "I am sure they even heard my hysterical laughter as well."

Twilight got off the subject. "Are you going to the Gala this year?"

The four of us looked at her with questionable facial expressions. "With what tickets?" Vinyl, Silver, and Octavia said in unison. I remained silent, trying to piece all of her kindness together.

"I'm a princess, I can get you some tickets."

Gasping and shaking her head frantically, Silver rejected the offer. "You barely know us. You don't have to spend bits on us."

"I'm Celestia's student, so it's free," Twilight assured her.

I brushed off what the others had said, almost ignoring them completely. Free. I thought. "Well, I say we take them. She's just being a wonderful host." I noticed my sentence had brought a smile to her face and I smiled back. "Thank you, Twilight."

Silver glared at me, shaking her head briefly. Free stuff is better than anything, everypony should know this. I thought with a shrug. Silver, being herself, she eventually nodded. "Thanks."

Twilight nodded. "Spike!" She called up the stairs.

The small dragon descended the stairs slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Yes, Twilight?"

"Take a note to Princess Celestia," she said. He took out a quill and paper and waited. "Dear Princess Celestia, I may need about ten tickets this year for the Gala. My new friends have agreed to join me this year and I would be overjoyed to introduce them to you. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

Spike nodded and rolled the paper up, holding it between his small talons before igniting it with green fire. "Alright Twilight, it was sent!"

"Now, we wait," she told us.

"Wait for what exactly?" Silver asked, staring at the dragon.

He burped up another letter and read it aloud, ten tickets held within the parchment. "My faithful student, please enjoy your tickets. I cannot wait to meet your new friends! Signed, Princess Celestia."

I could feel my pupils constricting at the mention of us meeting the princess. "W-we aren't really going to meet the princess are we?" I asked fearfully.

Silver looked at me and her eyes widened as she remembered. "Uh, Twilight, I don't think that's a good idea..." She said aloud, her voice trailing off.

Twilight looked at her. "Why so?" She asked.

"Uhh, I just don't," she responded although I could see she was looking rather nervous now. Oh, do I hope we don't have to meet the princess. I thought, my gaze shifting.

Vinyl and Octavia remembered the posters and looked at me, then whipped their heads towards Twilight. "Maybe it can wait for another time?" Vinyl suggested.

She cocked an eyebrow. "I guess it could. How about next week?"

Silver's body shook slightly. "How does that sound, Ace?" She asked, turning to me with sorry eyes.

"Silver, think logically. We're going to the Gala, where practically everypony knows me and I'll have to high-tail it out of there!" I stated in a panicked tone.

Twilight looked at me, her eyebrows pushed together. "What do you mean?"

"Celestia, give me strength," I heard Silver mutter on her breath. She was obviously trying to keep herself appear calm on the outside. "Nothing!" She blurted out hurriedly.

"It's nothing. Please, don't let it bother you," I assured Twilight with a sheepish smile.

The purple mare stared at them with a studying gaze. She shrugged and trotted passed us and to the door, Spike climbing on her back. "Let's go see Rarity to get you some proper clothing," she said to us while trotting out the door.

Vinyl shrugged and followed behind them, Octavia soon after them and Silver went out behind them. "C'mon Ace," she said, looking back at me as I stood there motionless. I am so going to regret this! I thought, looking down.

Sighing, I followed out the door, closing it behind me. "I was going to nap," I told Silver.

"Don't be such a sourstallion," she teased. "Cheer up."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered as I turned my head towards the sky, looking up at the clouds.

Silver walked in front of me, sliding her tail under my chin, gaining my attention once more as I looked at her. "Smile!" She said with a smile, looking over her shoulder at me. I gave in, smiling some as I trotted up to her side and nudging her some. She fell over slightly, catching herself before bumping into me. "Well then!" she tried saying in a disgusted tone, but failing.

I laughed softly as my smile faded a little. "Oops?" I smiled innocently, trying to appear like I was an angel-pony.

Silver giggled slightly, trotting ahead of me and sliding her tail under my chin again. "Trot faster!" She told me eagerly before breaking into a full on gallop down the street and passed the other mares.

"Hey!" I called out, galloping passed the others. Silver looked behind her, smiling widely at me before she unfolded her wings and took off into the sky, flying straight up as fast she could. I smirked, staying on the ground before taking off with a leap into the sky, passing her almost instantaneously.

"Damnit," she muttered under her breath, followed by a few inaudible curses. She sped up, now neck and neck with the me.

I didn't speed up or slow down as I could tell she wasn't as fast as I was, considering the fact she's from Equestria and not Equinox. I flew up above her and I got a questioning and confused gaze in response before I turned back around as she was beginning to fly downward. We were facing each other as I wrapped my hooves around her tightly, the both of us plummeting towards the ground at a quick speed.

Silver flailed slightly as if trying to get away, staring at me with a baffled expression that also contained horror. "What the hay are you doing?!" She yelled out to me over the sound of the wind.

I sheepishly smiled before laughing gently. "Have I ever told you how awesome you are?" I asked.

In response, the worried mare looked up, a cone forming around us. "Ace, we're gonna hit the ground!" She warned. Just then, the cone broke, flinging us through the air. Her wings spread out further, causing our fall to redirect and go at a ninety-degree angle. "Holy Luna!" She squealed, looking behind us to see a Lightning Music Streak.

We finally hit the ground with a thud, both of us rolling around before we came to a stop, Silver being on top of me and giving me a clear view of the thing we just made. "Well, that's pretty awesome!" I exclaimed in awe.

Silver looked at me with an expression of pure delight before looking behind her and staring at the streak. "That was," she paused, looking back at me with an astonished expression. "Awesome! Oh my gosh! That was amazing!" She told me with a happy but amused tone.

I continued staring at it, a smile beginning to form on my lips. "Yes, that was amazing."

She finally rolled off of me, laying on her back and staring at it. "That was worth risking our lives for!"

Laughing gently, I shook my head. "Oh, don't worry yourself. I wasn't going to let us die anyways."

She glared at me playfully. "Don't ruin it," she muttered and laughed slightly. "Still would've been worth it!"

I nodded my head in agreement as I let out a low laugh. "Agreed," I murmured. I slid my hoof closer to hers, taking it in mine for a moment. My cheeks roared with a fiery blush as I pulled my hoof back, looking away. Why am I so damn shy? I asked myself rhetorically.

Looking out of the corner of my eye, I saw Silver blush softly. She turned her head to face me before placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. I could feel them heating up more as my blush darkened, staring at the sky above with my red colored face contrasting to my pale white coat. Mist had got up and my ears twitched, hearing the familiar voices of our friends. "C'mon, they're probably worried," she whispered.

I got up, brushing my coat off. I attempted to speak, but all that came out was a raspy noise. Instead, I nodded my head in agreement as we began trotting towards Vinyl, Octavia, and Twilight. Silver smiled softly as she called out to them. "Hey! Over here!" she told them, waving her hoof in the air.

Octavia was the first to notice, galloping at a fast speed towards the other gray mare and tackling her down. I looked briefly at them only to have to hooves wrap around my neck and tackle me down. I felt a sharp pain impact the back of my head and I let out a yelp in pain. "Ow!"

Silver was close by me, Octavia pinning her down and Vinyl on top of me. "That Lightening Streak thing you two did was amazing!" Vinyl yelled.

"Quite," Octavia followed after.

The alicorn enveloped us all, helping us to our hooves. "Anyway, we're close to Carousel Boutique," she told us.

Silver looked at me and then to my neck, shaking her head. "Dummy, you hit your head."

I moved my hoof to the back of my head as a strange warm feeling left a damp spot on my hoof. I pulled it back and looked at it, a thick, red liquid staining my white hoof. "Oh, I'm bleeding," I stated.

Silver shook her head. "Hold on," she told him as her horn emitted a soft glow before the wound healed itself and she smiled, gently pressing her hoof to it. "You're good now."

I smiled sheepishly. "Thank you," I told her, pointing to the rock with my hoof. "I hit my head on that rock."

With a nod and a small smile, she said, "I know. You should be good though."

Twilight spoke up. "Come on, we have to hurry. It takes Rarity a few days to makes a dress and a vest." Vinyl quickly trotted after her, followed shortly by Octavia, Silver and myself.

"So," Octavia started, "how'd you two do that streak?" She asked, pointing to the now-fading Lightening Music Streak.

I looked over to the other gray mare in our party, raising an eyebrow as she was staring at the sky. "We flew down at the same time," I told the earth pony bluntly.

"I see," Octavia looked to Silver, a concerned expression on her face. "Did you get hurt?"

The mare had gained Silver's attention, shaking her head from side-to-side as if to clear her mind before looking at the black-maned mare. "Nope. It was actually really quite amazing!" she exclaimed.

Vinyl, who was trotting close to Twilight, slowed down and stayed near us. "So, whatcha gonna call it?"

"Call what?" Silver replied a tad confused

I looked up then back to the unicorn. "The streak thing?" I asked.

Vinyl nodded her head and Silver said, "Oh," she paused and turned to look at me. "How about Lightning Music Streak, or something?"

"I like it!" Vinyl declared.

"As do I," Octavia agreed after a moment.

"I don't mind," I smiled happily. Well, the two of us made something together. Not to mention it was awesome!

Silver smiled. "It's settled then! It will be called the Lightning Music Streak!" I nodded to signify I agree with the name. It was silent for a while as we closed in on the large boutique.

"Well, we're here," Twilight said, knocking on the door.

A cheerful voice called from inside, "I'll be there in just a moment darling, do come in!" I tilted my head in curiosity, staring intently at the door in front of us.

Twilight opened the door and stepped inside. The rest of us followed her in, standing in a line. "Rarity, do you mind making any extra dresses and one vest?" She asked.

"A vest? Oh, does somepony have a coltfriend?" She bellowed from upstairs before trotting into view. She had a few fabrics hovered in front her face. "Well, let's take a look," she said, pulling the fabrics away. Her eyes immediately drifted to Silver and then myself, resting there and looking me over. This is awkward. I thought, giving a small half-smile.

"Hey," Silver whispered.

"Hello, Ms. Rarity," Octavia greeted her.

Oh, it's my turn. I shook my head and cleared my throat. "A pleasure to meet you," I gave yet another half-smile, straightening myself up. In comparison, I was taller than the other mares and only about two inches taller than Silver but a good four or so to the others.

Rarity smiled. "O-oh, hello. I've never seen you before," the white fashionista said in a shy tone. Clearing her throat in a lady-like matter, she spoke with a more professional tone. "Who are you, darling?"

With a grin, Silver introduced us herself. "I'm Silver Mist, and he's Epic Ace," she motioned to me with a warm smile.

"I see." She shook her head and turned to Twilight. "What did you need again, dear?"

"Nine dresses and a vest."

A vest... I smiled and looked to her. "Hey, maybe you can do something for me!"

Rarity smiled warmly. "What would that would be?"

Silver looked at me, raising her eyebrows with curiosity. "Yeah, what would that be?"

I flew out of the boutique and teleported back to Twilight's home, quickly grabbing my cloak and teleporting back, my coat standing on end and sparking with black electricity. I trotted back inside, the cloak across my back. "Well, I've had this thing for the longest time and it's starting to become tattered," I said aloud, taking the cloak off my back with my teeth and holding up to Rarity to see.

The fancy white unicorn trotted up to me, examining the damage as she enveloped it in her magic. "I will fix this darling, if you model some pre-made vests." The three other mares in the room and turned, staring at me with wide eyes that shifted to approving glances and devious smirks.

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head, a smile of nervousness making its way onto my muzzle. "Okay, if you can fix it, I will model."

The mare smiled and trotted over to her a some shelves and enveloping some fabric and yarn in her magic and immediately went to work fixing the tattered and torn cloak. She was silent for Equinox knows how long and I don't think I've ever seen anypony more focused than she was in this very instant.

Twilight turned to me, breaking my train of thought. "She's the one who makes almost everypony's outfits here in Ponyville," she told me as her gaze shifted back to the unicorn.

"I see," I murmured, watching her as she worked on my cloak. "So, she's good."

The purple mare nodded her head very slowly before turning her attention back to me. "She even had Celestia request her. So, I'd say she's amazing."

Silver nodded. "That suit I let you borrow, my father had her make it."

Vinyl looked at her. "How old was your father before he passed away?"

"About thirty-two," I heard Silver say with an ounce of recognizable sadness.

"I'm sorry," Twilight apologized.

I looked back over to the unicorn working with my cloak before her muzzle lifted and she looked straight at me. Rarity had finished, holding it up for me to see, the colors matching perfectly. "Here you are, darling. Good as new."

The gray alicorn smirked, nudging me. "Now you gotta model, pretty colt."

I smiled sincerely, a small blush coming on. "Thank you, Rarity," I said and I took the cloak from her and put it on a coat rack nearby.

Silver nudged me again as Rarity spoke up. "As you said, you may now model my line of vests. Whichever you like, you may have, unless you'd like a custom one." Vinyl smiled and nudged me too, forcing me on the stage

I groaned loudly and looked at both Silver and Vinyl with eyes that I swore could have shot out lasers if I wanted as I trotted onto the stage, instantly regretting this agreement. Silver Mist, I swear I will get you back for this!

Silver sat down, watching with curiosity as Rarity pulled the line out from behind the curtain. "Choose what you want to wear first, dear."

I moved towards a gray colored vest, slipping it over my head and sliding my forelegs through the holes before turning around, looking at the four mares in the room with a confused expression. They all looked at me, small smiles of amusement on each of their muzzles. "So, like this? Just grab and put on?"

Vinyl giggled softly before responding. "Yes, silly."

"Well then, this will be easy!" I exclaimed before trotting behind the curtain and taking off the vest with far more effort than I expected, getting caught in it for a moment. "Celestia damnit, why can't I be a damn unicorn sometimes?" I half-yelled at myself. I trotted out in a different color, one I believe that was a royal blue color. Silver was on the floor, rolling in a fit of hysterical laughter and I saw Rarity start giggling, her eyes travelling down the line of vests and resting on a pink one. I quickly shimmied out of the blue and trotted over to the pink, staring at it. "Well, isn't this a nice color!" I said as a mischievous smirk danced on my lips.

"Are you seriously gonna wear that?" Vinyl asked as calmly as she could although I could hear her small giggles.

I took that as a challenge and pulled it on, turning around and beaming a broad smile. "How do I look?"

Rarity smiled, withholding her own laughter. "Dashing, dear."

The earth pony smirked, looking away and covering her muzzle with a hoof before speaking. "Quite nice."

With huge smiles, Silver and Vinyl commented me. "You look fabulous!" They said in unison before bursting into a fit of hysterical laughter, rolling on the floor and holding their stomachs.

I joined in their laughter as I slipped the vest off, hanging it back up as best as I could. "Maybe I should wear that to the Gala, eh?" I looked back to see the DJ and Silver now regaining their composure as they wiped tears of mirth from their eyes as they released a few more giggles. "Did you two have your fun?"

Silver nodded. "That was worth a good laugh," and got up, trotting up the stage and hugging me tightly.

I confusedly looked at her, staring at her for a moment before speaking, licking my chapped lips. "What are you hugging me for?" I asked cautiously.

She looked at me with a smile of pure amusement. "Because you look smashing, darling."

I hugged her back slowly before pulling away. "Stop talking like that, it isn't like you."

She simply shrugged. "You can pick it up from high class ponies," she said as she motioned towards Octavia, who was conversing with Rarity near her sewing machine.

I nodded in agreement as we both released each other. "Ah yes, I happen to do that quite often as well," I told her with a grin.

She gently nudged me and said, "I've seen."

"I must now go on an adventure for a vest that is of my liking," I began before glancing at the fashionista. "Why am I modeling anyways? Is it just for your mares' pleasure?" I asked with curiosity seeping into my tone.

Rarity nodded as she glanced over at me, stopping her conversation with Octavia. "Yes, and I have never actually seen stallions try on my vests and such."

I chuckled wholeheartedly. "And why is that?"

"Well, not many wish to try on pink vests," the mare admitted with a soft blush.

I nodded my head in understanding. "There's not many stallions out there that are like me."

The white unicorn smiled as she responded with a slight hint of happiness in her voice. "Apparently so."

Vinyl got up and trotted over to Rarity, poking her. "When can we look for dresses?" She asked.

"Ms. Scratch is asking for a dress?" I was astonished as my mouth felt like it had just hit the floor, my eyes never leaving the mares small body.

She rolled her eyes once she had seen my reaction. "I have to look presentable."

Octavia nudged her and smiled. "So, we get to wear dresses?" Silver interjected from not too far away.

I trotted over to Vinyl and spoke up, "Is Octavia making you, Scratchie?"

Octavia over dramatically gasped. "How dare you assume this!" She exclaimed in horror. "But yes, I am," she giggled and directed her eyes to Silver.

"Shit," I heard Silver mutter under her breath as the mare trotted over to her.

"Now, let's see how I can get you to agree," she had whispered before I saw her head tilt back some as if she was directing her eyes towards the mare's horn.

Silver immediately teleported away from her as she spoke. "No, no, no! I'll wear a dress!"

I looked over at them as Silver appeared next to me, causing me to jump some. The gray alicorn stood next to Rarity, breathing out heavily. "So," She said over-enthusiastically, "let's get some dresses on!"

Mares these days. I thought as I trotted over to the line of vests and picked out a black one accompanied by a red tie. I smiled to myself and trotted over to the counter and put both on as I was waiting for the mares to come out in their dresses. Once I had finished putting on the attire, I looked my myself in the mirror for a while, making sure I wanted what I was wearing. I nodded to myself as I sat down in front of the stage with the low conversation of Rarity and Twilight nearby.

Vinyl stepped out first, a red dress around her body. "This is stupid," she had muttered under her breath before the earth pony hit her over the head, joining her in a light purple dress.

With a heavy sigh, the last mare zipped up her dress and peeked out. "How classy," Silver smirked as she stared at me, walking out from behind the curtain with a dark blue dress that almost looked identical to her eye color, along with some stud earrings. "I look ridiculous," she muttered, covering her face.

"I believe I have to disagree with you there," I said with a reassuring smile as my eyes drifted from Vinyl to Octavia and resting on Silver. "You look stunning. To look ridiculous is too look like that." I pointed out the window inside the boutique as the mares turned their heads in that direction only to see the party pony with various instruments on her.

Silver laughed softly as she turned her attention back to me. "Okay, I look awful," Silver said.

Vinyl nodded before quickly teleporting herself back behind the curtain, shortly followed after by Silver.

Octavia looked to Twilight. "Are you not going to try on a dress?" She asked.

Twilight shook her head in response. "Rarity makes new ones for our friends each year and they're all a very big deal and I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Rarity softly blushed. "Oh, don't say that darling!"

Octavia disappeared behind the curtain and the zippers of all three dresses came down. I looked to Rarity and Twilight and then idly to the curtain that held the three mares I've grown close to in the past few weeks of my life. "Friends," I said to myself in a hushed tone as a warm smile crept upon my lips and the thudding in my heart stopped for a moment.

Silver teleported in front of me and nuzzled my neck. "I heard you, and yes, you have friends," she whispered in me ear then looked at Rarity. "May we have these?"

"Of course dear!" She told her.

"How much?" Silver inquired as she and the other two mares trotted towards the door of the boutique.

"It's free. Any friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine. I'll ship them to Twilight's home but do remember to come again, dears!" Rarity told us as she lay each of their dresses across the counter. I slid out of my vest and took the tie off to have her put it in a bag and draped it across the counter near the mares' dresses. Vinyl smiled in return and trotted outside, holding the door open for me. How gentlecolt-ish. I thought with a snicker before grabbing my cloak from the coat rack and slipping it on and trotting out the door only to be tackled by a gray blur.

"Hah!" Silver's familiar voice chimed in.

"Huh?" I managed to say before I impacted the ground, knocking the wind out of me. "W-what's was that for!" I snarled as I inhaled deeply. "You caught me off guard! Unfair!" I whined softly.

Silver smirked in response. "It was worth it." She got off me, flapping her wings and hovering over me before helping me up with a surprisingly strong grip

I nodded my head slowly as I was lifted and dropped onto all four hooves again. "Right," I muttered in an unsure tone.

"Let's go, you two," Twilight said. "We're off to meet Rainbow Dash."

"Hmm?" I muttered as I followed after Twilight.

"Isn't she the one who did the Sonic Rainboom?" Silver asked curiously.

Twilight nodded. "Yes, she broke the myth."

"I wonder what a Sonic Music Streak would look like..." Silver thought aloud, her voice trailing off as the wind from her wings gave off soft gusts and rustling my mane some.

I looked over to her to see she had her hoof on her chin and appearing in deep thought. "Silver," I interrupted. She looked down at me, her eyes full of curiosity. "It was only possible between you and I because I possess powers nopony else does." I held my hoof up and a spark flew from it, landing on the ground. "I'm Impressed that this mare could do it. Therefore, she must be awfully good."

Silver nodded, tapping her chin with her hoof. "Perhaps you're right, but it wouldn't hurt to try, huh?" I chuckled gently as a kept walking. I then felt a strange presence seat itself on my back. "Woo! Pony back ride!" Silver bellowed out. I swear to Celestia, she is the most adorable mare I have ever met! I thought as my lips curled into a small smile. Silver had wrapped her forelegs around my neck as we approached a large cloud home. "Holy Luna," she muttered, her chin resting on my head.

I looked up, my eyes widening at the sight. "Oh my, that is one big cloud

The four of the five ponies looked up. "Well damn," Vinyl muttered. "How do you suggest Tavi and I stay up there?"

The other alicorn and Silver tapped their horns softly. "Magic," they had said in unison.

"I'm a pegasus so I don't necessarily have to have the magic to keep me up there," I noted.

Silver nipped my ear and I looked up at her even if I couldn't see her. "We all know this, Ace," she simply said. I shook my head slowly and looked to Twilight. She smiled then Silver and herself had teleported the group up to the cloud, the non-winged sitting firmly on one.

I blinked hard, clearing my blurry vision from the sudden teleportation and change in scenery as we were now standing in front of a closed door. Twilight knocked while I was adjusting. "Dash, are you in there?" she asked.

A groan came from the other side of the door. "Go away, I'm sleeping," the voice muttered.

I chuckled gently. "She seems like a friendly pony."

"If you call an egotistical pony friendly, sure," Twilight sarcastically said before she knocked again. "Dash, come out!"

I could feel Silver laughing from her place on my back before she spoke. "I've seen her trying to impress the Wonderbolts before."

"Oh, them," I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

Silver nodded as the door opened to a rather tired pegasus pony. "Hey, egghead," she said, looking at Twilight. "How in the hay is a unicorn and earth pony up here and who are those two?" She asked in a slow tone, pointing her hoof at Silver and I with her muzzle stretching wide in a yawn.

Twilight shook her head. "These two are Silver Mist and Epic Ace. The other question aside, I just wanted you to meet them."

"Yeah, yeah, I met them. You ruined my rest of pure awesomeness for this?" The mare asked.

"Awesomeness?" I laughed to myself as I looked at the sleepy pegasus in the doorway. "You call sleeping your awesomeness?"

The mare flapped her wings and flew unsteadily. "Well, an amazing mare like me can't just be staying up all night! I need to keep up to date with the Wonderbolts and keep my tricks new and practice!"

I felt Silver's breath in my ear as she spoke, the mare in front of us still rambling on about the Wonderbolts. "Well, she sure is full of herself."

I shook my head and whispered back to her, "I can see that." I cleared my throat and took a step forward with an intimidating smirk on my muzzle. "Well, your so-called awesomeness, is nothing compared to the my epicness. I mean I'm so Epic, it's my first name!"

I felt Silver's teeth graze my ear and it flicked back in response as I stared at the mare who had landed back inside her home. "Oh, really? Well, if I weren't so tired, I'd–" she cut off mid-sentence, her muzzle stretching into a huge yawn. "Ah, never mind. I'll see you later, egghead. I'm going back to bed," she muttered, closing her door.

I shook my head and chuckled to myself. "She's so full of it."

"Duh," Twilight responded, Silver and her horn emitting a soft glow as the two alicorns teleported the group back down the ground.

"Haha, egghead," Vinyl smiled, giggling to herself as her hooves came in contact with the ground again.

"Uncouth," Octavia murmured, turning her head away.

I looked around aimlessly, clearing my mind before Silver's voice floated into my ear again. "Ace, you're an egghead," Silver told me in a low whisper..

"Says the one who read a spell book all night," I countered with a grin.

She growled in my ear and kicked my thigh with her hind hoof. "You're mean," she muttered.

I'm not sure if she even kicked me, considering the fact I can barely feel when she bites or hits me, so I ignored it, rolling my eyes. "I'm not mean," I simply told her.

Silver had pouted and huffed, blowing my mane out of its natural place. "Whatever."

Vinyl laughed and trotted ahead. "Twilight's the egghead here. All she does is go by the books," she said aloud.

"Oh, really?" The egghead asked her, trotting up to stand in front of her..

"Yep, I bet you couldn't even kiss right without reading a book," Vinyl declared, sitting down on the ground, the rest of the mares watching. I couldn't help it and I looked at them in awe. A DJ and an egghead are arguing, and one can fly and use magic! This gon' be good! I thought as I stood there, the weight of the mare on my back barely recognizable.

Twilight grunted and stared at the other mare for a moment before leaning in and planting her lips firmly on the DJ's, pulling away after a moment. "I did something without a book, you happy?" She growled, turning around and trotting away.

The white unicorn looked hazed. She looked at me and touched her lips, looking back down at the ground. "What the hay just happened?" She asked.

I could feel Silver laughing until a thud on the ground told me she had fallen off my back. I was right as I looked around to see the mare hysterically laughing and holding her stomach with her hooves as she rolled back and forth. I too started laughing and I sat down, chuckling still as I spoke. "She sure showed you!" I told her before erupting into another fit.

Vinyl's still sitting there, speechless. "No, seriously, what the hay just happened? I thought she wasn't into mares!"

Octavia shook her head. "Well, she proved she could do something without the book, so you have to give her some props."

Silver nodded in agreement as she raised herself from the ground, wiping her eyes. "Ooh, my sides hurt," she said with a giggle.

"Vinyl, she probably just wanted to prove you wrong," I told her as I got up and trotted over to her. "Besides you did antagonize her quite a bit," I noted.

The mare sighed, laying down in defeat. "It wasn't awful like I expected! Oh my gosh, my lips have been cursed!" She yelled aloud before standing and teleporting in front of us to where the purple mare was trotting off to, stopping Twilight and kissing her forcefully.

Silver's jaw had slacked when I looked back at her, her eyes going wide. "What the horsefeathers!" She yelled in surprise. Octavia's jaw too slacked, staring at the unicorn in disbelief.

I cringed slightly, tearing my eyes away as I trotted back to where Silver was. "Honestly, can I not get away from this for two seconds?" I muttered softly.

Silver looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. "Well, well," she whispered as the two mares trotted very slowly back to us, "does Ace-ey like Vinyl?"

I glared at her. I swear to Luna that if I could kill with just a simple glare, everypony would be dead by now. "I'm not meaning it like that."

She smiled and licked my cheek. "I'm kidding." She smiled wider and changed the subject. "Anyway, the look on your face was priceless!"

I felt my cheeks grow hot as I attained a small blush. "Why do you keep doing this?" I asked her.

"Doing what?" She asked, looking innocent with her wide eyes and her lower lip extending outward to form a rather cute pout.

Vinyl looked at Twilight, the tension within the atmosphere now reaching the rest of us. I paused for a moment, looking away to stop myself from giving in. No matter how adorable she is, I have to say it. I thought as my tongue darted out to wet my chapped lips. "You keep on nipping me, licking my cheek, and all that and being so unlike you. You have Tavi, Silver, and I don't even know what's going on anymore," I told her as I turned and began to trot away.

I heard the mare sigh and I looked over my shoulder to see her sitting there with all the sincerity in the world wrapped up in those deep ocean blue eyes of hers. "I'm sorry, Ace," she apologized.

I stopped myself from trotting any further, my hooves gluing themselves to the spot. "There's no need for apologies, Silver," I told her as I turned my head back around, my gaze forward now as I forced myself to walk again. "At least not towards me," I muttered to myself as I hung my head, trotting in the direction of the house.

The distance from Dash's home and Twilight's wasn't much, but it gave me time to think Was everything I said too harsh? Did I hurt her? What if I did hurt her? Oh, Silver, I'm so sorry. I thought and I looked up, seeing my wings had lifted me off the ground as I moped to myself, grief taking over as I realized I may have hurt the one who's done so much for me. I landed on the ground in front of the door, pushing it open to see Silver inside and sitting there, just waiting for me. I stopped dead in my tracks, my train of thought going right out of my ear. I sighed heavily, looking down. "I kind of want to be alone, Silv-" I was cut off as a set of tender lips were pressed against mine.

My eyes shot up and I noticed the mare had leaned in, cutting me off with a simple kiss. She pulled away, her cheeks red as a rose. I felt my cheeks flush and the tips of my ears grow hot as I sat there in bewilderment. "Shut up," she murmured as she looked away. "I never said I was with her and I never told her anything that happened to me. She forced herself upon me, and I don't want you to hate me for something I practically didn't do. I'm sorry," she apologized again, sitting down and turning her head away.

I blushed hard, staring directly at her. "I'm sorry," I managed with an almost inaudible squeak.

This made the mare look up and make eye contact with me. As I expected, she waved her hoof dismissively like she usually does. "You're not the one who should be sorry," she told me.

"No," I said in a firm tone, gaining her full attention. "I should be sorry. I probably just misunderstood. I just don't quite understand what love is and I don't know what I'm supposed to do." The mare was staring at me intently, her eyebrows raised. "Hey, I am not jealous of you and Octavia. What you do with her is none of my business."

"Mhm hm, whatever helps you sleep at night," she muttered, staring at me. "I never expected anything to turn out this way. I mean, I have a mare falling head over hooves for me, a stallion I've told everything to, and a DJ unicorn who just embarked on our adventure that practically adores you," she paused, facehoofing. "I never dreamed my life would ever be full of good things again."

"Neither did I," I began, inhaling deeply. "I mean, I was living on the streets and stealing to survive, and now I'm here," I looked deep into her eyes, searching them slowly. "with you and everypony else. You've helped me," I told her with a small smile.

I had made her blush with my comment and she gently hoofed my shoulder, nudging me gently. Heh, thanks to me," she said proudly. "If I didn't find your necklace, who knows where either of us would be."

Laughing gently, I looked away as I felt my blush fade. "You would have been doing shows with Vinyl while I would most likely be in a jail cell or possibly even sentenced to death for all the crimes I've committed."

Silver hit me hard over the head with her hoof and I winced just barely, ducking under it. "Don't say that," she said sternly with a hint of sorrow in her voice. "I would've helped you if I saw you dying in the streets, even if I knew you were wanted before hoof."

I looked up at her. "You're just saying that, aren't you?" I questioned with confusion.

"I really would've, Ace. Trust me, I know what it's like to feel alone," she smiled warmly and sat there for a moment before stepping forward and hugging me tightly. "I know what most of what you've gone through feels like. I would've helped you whether you liked it or not."

That got a smile out of me and I hugged her back. This mare has done so much for me to just make me smile and be happy again all because of a necklace. My necklace, and thanks to her, I can smile. I can have hope that maybe one day, we can rebuild my home and she can help me and so can our friends. Friends, I thought with a wide smile. I have friends now, some that I wouldn't trade for the world. I pulled away for a moment, getting a baffled look from Silver. "Thank you," I told her before embracing her again. "Thank you for everything you've done for me. Thank you for being my friend."

I felt her grip tighten around me. "You can't thank somepony for being who they are. Yet, you can thank them for many other things," she stopped herself, the room going quiet as we stood there in each other's embrace. "I'll tell you what those other things are another time," she whispered as we stood there in pure, beautiful silence hugging. You can thank somepony for being who they are because *you're** that somepony, Silver. You're that somepony who bothered to help me and make me realize there's so much more to life than just theft and running.* I thought as I tightened my hold. And I never want to lose you.

Prologue

The gray mare was roaming casually, a white stallion by her side. They each had a story no one but each other knew. The colt spoke first, "When are we going to get going? We have less time than we both may think."

The mare shook her head, her mane bouncing gently and her horn protruded ever so slightly. "I don't know Ace, it all depends on when we find out when we can begin rebuilding Equinox."

Ace looked ahead, looking at the barren wasteland of their used-to-be home. "How do we rebuild something that was destroyed with the help of the Void, Silver?"

She shrugged in response. Ace simply huffed, completely confused as they trotted through the area, the bones of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies scattered everywhere. Silver looked at a sign that said: Now Leaving Canterlot. Come again! With a sigh, she stepped through the now melted iron gates. "Well, if we don't stop it soon, it could wipe Equestria clean of all life forms, Ace. We need to find a way to stop it before it's too late."

He shook his head, his black and red mane hiding his expression from Silver. "We can't just wake up one day and stop it Silver, it takes time. Something that isn't necessarily on our side at the moment," he said with little to no remorse once the words left his mouth.

She flew in front of him, two small but long scratches on her left wing and her chest were visible. "I didn't agree to help you just to get negativity from you, Ace. I agreed because I wanted to help you be happy again or feel as if that empty hole residing in your heart would be filled by just an ounce. I'm helping, and if you don't want my help anymore, then so be it. I can leave you now, or we can both try and be positive," she nearly yelled, landing in front of him to prevent him from walking forward. "I just want to help you because I know what it's like to lose family," she hugged him tightly, refusing to let go.

He froze, and the only thing that made a sound was the gust of the wind moving the ash and dust off the ground. He then hugged her back and said in defeat, “Okay, I'll try."

With a flap of her wings, she pulled away with what seemed like her first smile since Canterlot was destroyed. "Yippee!" she excitedly yelled. She began to trot away, her shoulders looking a bit more broad and straight.

"Silver?" Ace said quietly.

She looked over her shoulder, stopping in her tracks. "Yes, Ace?"

"Thank you, for everything."

Silver smiled, nodding her head. "No need to thank me. That's what friends are for."

Ace smiled back, a new feeling blooming within his heart. "Friends," he repeated before they began to walk again.

Epic Ace's POV

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I awoke in an alley way with a jolt, my dream making me curious and making me believe it was true. "Who is this Silver in my dream and how did she know about Equinox and the Void? No one knows but my brother and I," I muttered aloud, a shiver being sent down my spine. I hated thinking of him, but I had no choice but to when he left me nothing but a painful memory. I shuddered, leaning against the wall for support as I groaned in hunger. "I might as well find some food, I guess. Since I have nothing else to do."

I got up, finding a water valve and twisted it to the left to turn it on. I stuck my head under it, savoring it every time I swallowed. With a grunt, I slide under it, allowing my mane to get wet but not my coat, considering the fact it would just get dirty again. I slid my cloak on effortlessly and walked out of the alley way I slept in for the night to avoid more trouble than I was already in. I arrived at the market, the sun just now coming up with nopony out yet there to sell for the day. There goes the food option, I thought calmly and walked into another alley way to curl up in a ball and rest again, no matter for how long. Who was that gray mare in my dream anyway? She didn't belong there. The Void destroying Canterlot doesn't seem to realistic either. I thought to myself as I settled down in a rather sweet smelling alley way for a change. Who ever she was and whatever she has to do with me rebuilding Equinox is of no concern. I better get my mind off of her. I finished, curling up into a ball and closing my eyes after removing my cloak. "It was only a dream, that's all." I push the mare to the back of my mind and drift off, allowing my head to clear since I don't want to finish that bloody odd dream.

Silver Mist's POV

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My mane is ruffled and my heart is racing when I awaken from the vivid dream. I must have fallen out of my bed for it to end because I was on my floor, my head in my hooves. "Ow," I spoke as I looked at the wing I had fallen on. "Damn it!" I yelled, sitting up slowly and preening it to smooth the feathers down. "Who in the name of Celestia's sun is Ace? I've never met a colt by that name in my entire life span!" I blurted out, climbing back into bed and pulling the covers over me before getting up again to get something to drink. And I don't ever plan on meeting one, I think negatively as I open my fridge with my magenta colored magic and pull out a water bottle. I take a few sips after removing the cap and place it back on the door of the fridge. I close the door with my back hoof as I walk away, trotting lazily up the steps of my home and into my room.

I climbed into my bed, one hoof at a time. I placed my forelegs on my bed and hoisted my back left leg onto it, rolling sleepily onto it so I'm fully on my bed and against the wall. I pull the covers onto me with my magic, burying my face into my pillow and groaning softly. "That dream woke me up for no reason," I mumbled as I tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable enough to fall asleep again. I grumbled and cleared my head, making sure nothing else completely and utterly meaningless to me came up and decided to wake me again before I had to go to work. I decided to lay on my stomach, flipping over again and sliding my right foreleg under my pillow to get comfortable. I stuck my left back leg out and finally fell asleep after what seemed like an eternity to my sleepy and thought provoked mind.

Discovery

Silver Mist's POV

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I trotted quietly down the streets of Manehatten, looking for this DJ who went by the name of DJ Pon-3. I really would adore living here, but the prices are too high and I'm too poor. I mean, I have a pretty good home, but it was under Dawn Light's and Dusk Night's name before they died. I sighed, continuing my adventure down the alley ways. I saw a group of guards chasing a mysterious cloaked pegasus pony down one of them when I heard a clank of something metal hitting the ground as the noise of the guards died down. I walked over to where I heard the mysterious sound, looking around carefully, scanning the premises for anything that looked rather unnatural to be in an alley way. I saw something shine, like metal when the sun hits it. I enveloped the object in my field of magenta unicorn magic and brought it over to me. I examined the object, for it to be a spade shaped necklace whom belonged to what seemed like a rather rich pony. Within the capsule lay a picture of a mother and father, accompanied by two sons. I cocked an eyebrow before tucking the necklace into my hoof-satchel, glancing at the direction the guards went. There was a thin trail of blood leading in that direction. When I looked up, I saw a harmed, white stallion pegasus atop of what seemed like a lavender colored roof, seeming panicked before he slid down it effortlessly. I heard galloping in the far distance and it eventually faded into nothing, the sound of other ponies chattering around me filled my ears about the cloaked pony as I looked up at the darkening sky. Luna's moon will be rising soon, I thought, trotting along the alleyways once more. And I don't want to be stuck out here with drug addicted ponies.

"Well, whoever that was, he must have dropped this. I hope he doesn't try and harm me when I decide to put up posters," I quietly said aloud as I returned to my search for the DJ Pon-3 my friend recommended for me. I looked from the many bars between the alleys, hearing loud music boom from underground raves. I've honestly never been to one. I've kept to myself since he died. I miss him. I thought sadly, looking at the flashy, neon signs reading OPEN. He used to take me to the highest mountain peek and teach me to fly. I was now looking up at the now dark sky, my gray coat barely shining in the light. My dark blue eyes traveled across the sky, looking at each star. I ended at the rising moon, tears forming in my eyes. I blinked them away and swallowed hard, keeping them back as I turned tail down the alley way and started back towards the entrance.

"I'm so lost. I don't belong in Manehatten. I'm just a nopony here," I sighed heavily before flapping my wings with sadness and a heavy heart before I lazily flew back to what I called home. Leaving behind a pair of my hoofprints alongside the mysterious colts. He looked a tad taller than me, according to his hoofprints. I shrugged it off, my mind unraveling many questions. Who was he? What was he doing here? Why were so many guards after him? Why did so many ponies chatter about him? Why was he injured? Was he in trouble? What'd he do? Is the necklace really his? I had no answer to these questions, for I did not know the stallion to answer them accurately or at all really. I kept flying home, barely hovering above the pale, moonlit ground below me. A short breeze caught my light green, purple, and black mane and blew it from my eyes, revealing them fully. I kept flying though, becoming less and less aware of my surroundings as I neared my light red home with the white roof. I pulled out my key card that you had to swipe to get into the well protected home area and walked in, closing the large gates behind me. I stopped flying, now just trotting unhappily to my home, my tail dragging behind me and head drooping. I stopped at my door and unlocked it, stepping inside with a sigh.

* * *

I trotted inside my familiar but also unfamiliar home, the many pictures of my parents and my filly self lining the walls. Very few of what I looked like now rest upon them, just a wall in the living room where my father put my pictures of my flying lessons above the television and the ones of my mother holding me in her forelegs after my birth. I added some more after I got my cutie mark but stopped as my depression worsened from them not being with me anymore. I slumped down on the couch, turning on the television to the news. The unicorn mare spoke in a reporters voice, "This just in, a young stallion was caught stealing from an apple stand in the market. He was injured by having an arrow shot through his right wing, but he still somehow escaped. He is wanted and if you have any idea on whom he is or where he could be found, please notify us immediately. Now, to Brisk Pace with the weather."

I sat up immediately. The stallion. Maybe that was him? I asked myself, my stomach growling. I put the news to the back of my head and turned to the music channel before trotting to the kitchen and making a celery and lettuce sandwich with a cup of sparkling water. I chewed my food slowly once I finished making it. I took a sip of my water and put my dish in the sink. I turned off the TV after hearing too much music and retreated up the stairs of my home. I sipped my water and stepped into my room, placing the water on my desk and sat down, sketching up the necklace and putting it in my scanning machine. I opened up my editing software and went to work, making posters to post around Manehatten for the lost necklace. I put in bold, capital letters at the top FOUND NECKLACE with the description of it below a picture I took and uploaded onto the page. I yawned, taking another sip of my water before adding my address printing out the finished design about fifty times. I put them in an organized pile and got up off my chair, trotting over to my bed and sitting down, kissing my hoof and pressing it against the picture of my mother and father. "Goodnight," I said with a small smile, finishing my water and laying down on my bed, pulling the blanket with my father's rain cloud with a lightning bolt in front of the sun cutie mark upon it, along with my mother's being a crescent moon with a fluffy cloud.

Snuggling up warmly, I looked out my window up at the stars. "I love you guys. Thank you for helping me," I spoke, yawning widely this time as my eyes closed idly and I started counting how many times I could make new songs, eventually ending up with the found necklace floating around in my mind, accompanied by the stallion and his family. The news report also followed, all of the thoughts coming together to form a theory to my thinking. I pushed it all to the back of my head, thinking of my family. I buried my face in my pillow, beginning to cry. "Why can't I have them back?" I sobbed, my tears soon coating the light blue pillow. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I fell asleep with dry tears coating my face, my dreams holding nothing but darkness for me tonight.

Explanations and Arguments

Silver Mist's POV

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"I'm still not telling you dear," Octavia said, looking out for Vinyl and Ace.

"Why not?" I whined, leaning closer to her.

"I am sticking to what I said earlier. Now, please, just drop it," she replied with some annoyance.

I sighed, hanging my head for a moment before I looked back up to her. "Pretty please?" I asked, quivering my lower lip and giving her my best puppy-dog eyes.

The earth pony looked at me, no amusement held in her purple eyes. "I said no."

I huffed, crossing my front hooves. "Somepony woke up on the wrong side of the bed," I muttered.

She blew a lock of her mane from her face, turning away from me once more. "No, just slightly annoyed. You're pestering me over something that I won't tell you for the sake of our friendship."

Grumpy earth ponies, I thought as I draped my wing over her once more, pulling her closer. "Don't be so stubborn," I said.

She shook her head in response as she began to relax a tad under my wing. "Why?" she asked.

"Why what?" I whispered back, resting my chin on her head.

"Why are you doing this?"

I closed my eyes, wondering the same thing. "Why do you ask me the same questions over and over?"

"Look who's talking," she grumbled as she leaned onto my shoulder.

"Hey," I said and she sat back, "why won't you tell me? I want a better reason."

She hung her head a tad before looking at me and whispered ever so softly, "I don't know how to put it any other way and I do not want this friendship to go to waste. You're everything somepony would want in a mare. I can't risk telling you, Silver. I'm sorry."

I sighed heavily, staring at the cello player with curious eyes. "What do you mean?" I asked once more.

She facehoofed, leaving her hoof there for a moment. "I won't tell you directly."

I groaned in protest and leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek once again, lingering there for a few moments. I pulled away and looked down from the cloud, spotting the white pegasus below. I sure hope he didn't see that, I thought as my horn emitted a soft glow and I enveloped him in my magic. Static escaped his coat and my magic barrier broke from around him, making him land on the ground once more. He stood there and stared at us before he turned and trotted away, his head sagging and his tail drooping.

"What happened?" Octavia asked, looking to me with a deep blush upon her cheeks.

I shrugged, enveloping us both in my magic and teleporting us to the ground. The earth pony seemed more comfortable with her hooves where they should be. "I'm not sure, but where's Vinyl?"

The mare shrugged as well, looking out for the unicorn as I watched Ace with concern. "We should go find Vinyl," Octavia suggested.

I nodded in agreement. "You go find Vinyl and I'll go follow Ace," I told her as I flapped my wings and levitated above the ground. "Octavia?" I called after her as she trotted away. Her flank is rather nice, I thought quietly.

She turned her head and said, "Yes?"

I waved my hoof in a dismissive gesture. "Never mind, it's nothing," I insisted.

She turned again, trotting away. "Okay," I heard her say.

If only it really were nothing, I finished the rest of my sentence unspoken.

* * *

"Ace?" I called out repeatedly, landing on the ground and trotting around to find the white pegasus. "Where are you, you stupid idiot," I muttered as I heard soft snoring nearby. I trotted to the balloon, the stallion was covered up by his cloak as he lay there fast asleep. I prodded him in his ribs softly with my hoof but he only rolled over with not so much as a groan in reply.

I heard hoof steps behind me and I turned to see only Octavia unaccompanied by the white unicorn. She approached and I turned my attention back to the stallion, prodding him harder with my hoof. He responded with, "Mmph," before he waved his wing at me.

"Get up, dummy," I said, prodding his ribs hard now.

He turned over and stared at me and then glanced at the cello player beside me before stretching ever so slightly. He stared at me once more, sadness and pain residing in his eyes before they were replaced with anger and hatred. "You’re the idiot," he muttered at first before standing at his full height, looming over Octavia and I.

I looked up at him. "What's your problem?" I replied.

"My problem?” he got quiet and spoke in a hushed tone, “There is no problem, there is nothing wrong. Why would something be wrong? Do you think there's something wrong?“ he growled, getting in my face now.

"Well, there definitely seems to be a problem," I mumbled.

"Well, if you didn't have something for her," he motioned to Octavia with his good wing, glaring at her with hatred in his eyes, "maybe you wouldn't be so blind."

"Would you calm down please? I don't need to put up with more of your horseradish, Ace," I rolled my eyes as he stared down at me in anger. "I did nothing to hurt you in any way, shape, nor form."

"Calm down? Why should I? I've been calm the whole time, you just don't care."

He saw me kiss her cheek, I thought, a gasp coming from my throat before anger seeped into my being. "Oh, so you're going to believe I don't care? Well, news flash sweetie, I saved your flank! Keep that in mind!" I yelled back, flapping my wings so we remained at leveled eye contact.

He was quiet now. Tears were forming in my eyes and I forced them back down as he spoke, "Just forget it."

I replied, choked up to the most, "Right, just forget it." Tears streamed down my face now as I allowed myself to fall to the ground, getting up and galloping away.

* * *

I hadn't bothered to look back as I flew upwards and onto a cloud, sobbing softly before I heard a familiar pony call from down below, "Misty? That you? Hey, what's wrong?"

I looked over the cloud's edge and down at the white unicorn below, hiding my bloodshot, puffy eyes and clearing my throat. "What?"

"What's wrong? Come down here and tell me," she called up to me, her tone full of worry.

I shook my head, hiding my face in my hooves again with my tri-colored tail hanging over the edge of the cloud. "No."

Vinyl enveloped my tail in her magic and gave it a tug. "C'mon grumpy pants."

I groaned as she pulled me through the cloud, flapping my wings and lowered myself in front of her, using my mane to hide my face. Moments later, I heard more hoof steps and Octavia appeared behind me. I kept my head low, making sure neither of them saw my puffy face. "You see me, happy now?" I said, flapping my wings to go back into the cloud.

Octavia had bit down on my tail, making sure I couldn't fly back up into the sky. "You're not going anywhere," she said out of the side of her mouth.

I groaned once more, allowing her to pull me back down to the ground as I continued to hang my head, covering my face with my wings and hooves. "Just leave me be," I muttered as I sat there, more hot tears running down my cheeks.

"We're not just gonna' leave you like this, Misty," Vinyl said, taking a seat beside me and pulling me in a one-armed hug. "What happened?"

"Ace happened," I sobbed as Octavia sat in front of me, pulling me against her as she stroked my mane softly. My body racked with each sob as I leaned into her coat, my tears running along it.

"We better find him," Vinyl spoke after a very long awkward silence. "We have to go to Canterlot next."

Octavia nodded, pulling me out of her shoulder. "Look at me," she said, her eyes full of worry once mine made contact with hers. "I will never yell at you like that, I promise."

A faint smile appeared on my muzzle as I pulled Vinyl close with my left wing and hugged the mare in front of me. "Thank you," I whispered softly in her ear. She nodded and we got up, now trotting back towards the balloon where Ace and I were arguing. I looked at the ground where his hoof prints were and proceeded to follow them once I arrived at the balloon, leaving the two mares who accompanied me in it. I sighed, turning around and retreating back towards the balloon.

The wind whispered in my ear and out of nowhere, a black strike of lightening appeared in front of me before a pair of strong forelegs wrapped around my neck, an apology followed shortly after. "Silver, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to blow up like that. Please forgive me."

I knew that voice anywhere. It was so sincere and apologetic that I knew he really was sorry. The injured pegasus released me, a tear streaming down his face, with the slightest smile on his face as he looked softly into my eyes. I wiped it away with the tip of my wing feather and a small smile tugged at my lips. "I forgive you," I murmured, this time I wrapped my forelegs around his neck.

He looked up to the now darkening sky as the Wonderbolts approached us. I pulled away as Fleetfoot, Spitfire, and Soarin' came into view. "We better get going," the captain said, "we have to get there before the rest of the team again and the show is going to start earlier and end earlier so we can have you ponies in Ponyville in another day."

Good. One more day in a stolen balloon. How bad can that be? I thought before I said, "We left the balloon not too far behind with Vinyl and Octavia in it already."

"Great! Let's get a move on, shall we?" Spitfire said, moving Ace and I towards the balloon, arriving in no time. Once again, she wrapped a rope around her teammates and herself and we went through the same procedure we did the previous time. We were out of Las Pegasus within an hour and on our way to Canterlot.

* * *

Canterlot. Oh the city of wonders. Not to mention snobby rich ponies who held their muzzle higher in the air than their glasses. I chuckled softly to myself as I lay my chin on the rim of the basket, allowing the wind to blow through my mane. Octavia shifted and scooted closer to me, sitting up as her ruffled mane blew softly in the wind. I smiled and I saw her shiver ever so gently. I wrapped my wing around her and pulled her against me, my coat's warmth seeping into hers. She turned towards me, her cheeks turning a light ting of red as I remained with my face forward.

"Silver?" she said, looking up to me.

"Mhm?" I replied, the wind changing course and moving my mane to the other side of my neck.

She leaned up, planting a gentle, quick kiss upon my cheek. Almost as if on cue, my face flushed to a dark crimson, forcing my wings to jut out. Tavi giggled softly, seeing my wing-boner. "That's why it's a good thing to be an earth pony," she muttered, leaning against me once more.

"Oh, shush," I replied with an eye roll.

"You know you liked it," she whispered as we started descending.

"Your point being?"

She giggled again. "I don't need to have one. May I ask you something?"

I then turned my head, looking the earth pony in her purple eyes as she sat there, rubbing her forelegs together in embarrassment, a light blush rose to her cheeks. "Go right ahead."

"Say one of your pony friends like you, whether they are a stallion or a mare," she started, the blush darkening as she looked up at me, "and you don't know how to tell them and you just brush it off as if it doesn't matter because you believe they don't have any feelings for you just so you can get the crazy thought of you having ideas of courting them off of your mind," her voice became lower and lower as she rambled on, the ending of her sentence nothing more than an inaudible whisper.

"Who are we talking about?" I asked, completely clueless.

"No one!" Octavia insisted, looking away from me for a moment. "What would you do if they did like you though?"

I thought about it. "Well, if I knew who we were talking about, I'd tell them if I liked them or not. Hey!," I yelled, changing the topic, "the lights of Canterlot are in view!" I exclaimed as the Wonderbolts pulling the hot air balloon landed softly in the grass outside of Club Canterlot.

Octavia sighed as the four of us trotted out of the basket once more and onto the ground below after we had woken Ace and Vinyl up once again. "You don't understand," I heard her mutter as the Wonderbolts trotted towards the stage to prepare for their show. The four of us seated ourself near the back, considering the fact we had to get to the balloon almost immediately after the show. "There's a slight possibility that you never will," Octavia continued.

I don't understand! Who are we even talking about? I thought with confusion before the sound of Vinyl's speakers blasted with the Wonderbolts song. I sighed and watched, the earth pony to my right seeming upset.

* * *

The show was a tad longer than the others as we all sat back and had a cider or so. Well, three of us did while the other thought it was a good idea to order about six ciders for herself and drink them all in one go, but y'know, who am I to judge? It's just for the hay of it, isn't it?

I looked up, watching them pull off their signature move before landing on a cloud to signal the ending of their show. I looked to my left and Ace was trotting away. I glanced at Octavia, who was trying to take Vinyl's last cider away but failing. I tapped her on the shoulder with my hoof, "Hey, I'll be right back, okay?"

She nodded, "Okay, don't get into trouble like this one," she tilts her head towards the white unicorn and yells, "Vinyl Scratch! Give me the cider! No, don't-" she was cut off as the drunken mare let her magic fade off the cup, the contents spilling all over the cello player.

"Oops?" Vinyl smiled, getting up and trotting backwards. "I uh, have some equipment to get before we head to Ponyville," she slurred her words and continued, "I'll see you later!" she yelled, turning tail and galloping away, stumbling quite often and bumping into ponies who turned their heads with scowls on their faces.

Octavia growled, getting up and chasing the unicorn. "Get back here!" she called after her before the sound of their hooves hitting the pavement became a distant sound.

I smiled, watching them before they disappeared from my line of vision and got up, flapping my wings and flew in the direction where Ace trotted off to. I saw him sitting by an old tree, looking up at the stars on a small hill. I let another smile spread onto my face as I approached him, landing behind him as I stood there for a moment. "Boo," I whispered.

He jumped slightly and looked back at me, a smile followed before he patted the ground next to him. "Hello Silver," he said, returning his gaze to the stars above.

"Hey dummy," I replied, sitting adjacent to his left side, "why'd you leave?"

"I just think that the stars needed more attention. Plus, it is a lovely night," he replied, his cloak covering his wings.

"The stars? Oh, yes, because there aren't millions of other ponies looking up at them like you are," I sarcastically said as he glanced at me, suppressing a chuckle.

"No, silly, I just think the stars are beautiful," he paused and then continued, "much like somepony I know."

Who is he talking about? Vinyl, maybe? I thought to myself, my interest level boosting. "Who?"

I saw a half smile on his lips as he turned to me with his tender, yet glowing sky blue eyes, "Don’t let it bother you much Silver. Anyway, that's not what I left for."

"Then why?"

"I needed to explain why I have nopony here," he whispered, his shoulders slumping some.

I looked to him now, my eyes glued to the stallion beside me. "You never spoke of your family anyways. What happened to them?"

"I rather not talk about it, let’s just say they aren't here anymore," he muttered with a saddened tone before changing the subject, "how about yours?"

"My mother died a few months after my birth due to some weird disease. I don't remember the name, but I was devastated. I wish I could have gotten a longer time with her," I said, sadness seeping into my next sentence, "my father on the other hoof though. He was torn away from me a month before I got my cutie mark. Wing rot, I should tell you."

"What is that?" Ace asked, confused by the term.

"What? Wing rot?"

"Yes," he nodded, "that. What is Wing Rot?"

I sighed before going into further explanation of the disease. "Wing Rot is a four stage process. The first stage is just the beginning, seeming harmless at first, simple coughing. The second stage it starts to spread where ever it would like; hooves, chest, plot, back, you name it, and it could be there. The third stage is where the coughing worsens and wheezing begins and it seems to sound horrible, accompanied by spots of sticky black decay that want to abolish all symmetry around it. The infected wing is removed I believe in the beginning of the third stage with a bandage covering the stub. The decay looks gruesome and absolutely disgusting," tears made their way to the surface, threatening to slide down my face as my eye color dulled and changed to a dim light blue. "Then came the blindness in the final stage. My father, Dawn Light, had brilliant fire colored eyes. The red flowing down to an orange and then a yellow was all cursed by blindness," I paused, a few hot tears rolling down my cheeks as I buried my face within my hooves.

Ace pulled me against him with his good wing, allowing a few more tears to be shed in his coat. "What were his last words to you?" he asked after my sobbing had ended.

I thought for a moment, and then I spoke, my breath irregular and cracking, "His final words to me were, 'I love you, Misty.' before his hoof hung over the side of the hospital bed."

He sighed heavily before I pulled away from him, wiping my eyes with my foreleg. "I’m sorry about that," he murmured.

"Yeah it’s fine. So, did you like the show?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Aren't they always the same?" he replied, looking at me with boredom in his eyes.

I shook my head. "They change each year. Aside from their signature ending move the Triple Threat. Other than that, everything changes," I told him.

He smiled, "Well, I'd be surprised if it didn't that everypony would still enjoy seeing the same thing over and over again."

I laughed softly. "I agree. I mean, who would want to see the same thing over and over and over again? Talk about boring! Could totally be used as sleeping material for the foals!"

Ace laughed as well. "Exactly! I was even starting to nod off!"

We both broke into a fit of laughter, spewing ideas about the same routine out between giggles, "I mean, same material? Really? Why don't we go call the background musicians!" I called out.

"Or rename the Wonderbolts something like the Samebolts!" he replied, both of us falling over next to the tree beside us as we both wiped tears of mirth from our eyes, regaining our composure slowly while we lay on the moonlit grass.

I looked over to him, the white pegasus looking up at the stars again. "Ace," I whispered with seriousness as I sat up.

"Mhm?" he said, sitting up as well, rolling over onto his side before lifting himself up and onto his haunches.

"Can I ask you something?" I breathed, hanging my head as my mane cascaded over my eyes, hiding them from the stallion.

"Well, I guess so," Ace replied. I could feel his eyes burning into my being as I hid my eyes from the curious look of his.

"I was wondering about the argument we had," I whispered, my voice getting lower.

"Oh that," he paused as I heard a hint of guilt seep into his tone, "what about it?"

I turned my head towards him, my bangs hanging over my right eye as I stared him down. I moved them with my hoof, hanging my head once again but keeping eye contact with him. "Why'd you walk away? What compelled you to do that?

Ace is silent, the wind blowing softly as it brought my mane over my shoulders and ruffled his a tad. He broke the silence after what seemed like minutes after my question. "Well Silver," he paused, lifting my chin up with his wing and looked deep into my eyes, "I guess you could say I have developed some sort of feelings towards you."

"What kind of feelings?" I say questioningly, staring up at him as he folded his wing against himself once more.

"I believe that," he pauses and leans in, whispering softly into my ear, "a beautiful and lovely mare, such as yourself, can understand what I am saying."

I sat there in silence, gazing into his eyes. "I don't understand though," I said under my breath.

Ace leans back and stands, the silhouette of his frame dark against the moon. He looked down upon me, our shadows becoming one behind us. "Silver, I-” he stopped to regain his breath as he appeared to be trying to find his words, “I believe I am starting to love you. Still, out of honesty, I will always be your friend. It's up to you on what to do next," he says with certainty in his tone as he slips his cloak off and drapes it over me, my body releases a shiver and I cross my forelegs over my chest in an attempt to keep warm. He then begins to trot away, leaving me there underneath the old tree in the moonlit grass.

When he said those words my heart stopped. It was a surprise and I don't think I would've ever, in a century, would have heard this very stallion in front of me say them. My thoughts clouded and my throat was becoming enormously dry. I swallowed hard, the shock still settling within my mind as I spoke. "Ace," I whisper, the stallion looking over his shoulder at me, "where are you going?"

"To the balloon," he calls, continuing his trot in the direction, "we have to leave soon. Are you coming?"

I shake my head, "I'll be there soon."

He nods, "Okay, see you then," he trots away, heading down the slope and in the direction I had come.

Wind buffets my coat where his cloak isn't covering me, causing the ends of it for spike up. I sigh softly, looking up at the stars. "Why would anypony like me?" I said aloud before I hung my head, letting my mind wonder. Luna, I thought before raising my head once more, what am I to do? He thinks he loves me. I don't know what to do! I complained, a small whine escaping my throat. I wish this wasn't such a deep moment. I mean, I barely know him! I just wish this wasn't so challenging. I wish I knew what Octavia meant. I wish I had all the answers, I thought before I continued, Silver, shut up. You're so wanting. Don't be so foalish, I told myself, before I looked down the hill at the stallion who was now making his way towards the balloon. I'll find out sooner or later what Octavia meant and how I should respond to the white fool. I stood, the fabric of the cloak keeping me warm as I turned tail and made my way down the slope. "I just want answers," I spoke aloud as I stared at the stars, "but I won't get them unless that certain pony wants me to know." I continued downward, approaching the balloon and hopping in, looking at the other two musicians who were fast asleep.

I looked to Ace, enveloping his cloak in my magic and putting it over his body as if it were a blanket as he gave me a warm smile, followed by a lopsided grin from myself before I curled up in my own space, allowing my breathing to become long and calm as I thought on about my situation with the cello player and the pegasus. I don't know what either of them mean, I thought as my eyes started closing slowly, feeling like something heavy was tugging at them, forcing them downwards, but they'll tell me soon. Right? I continued, sleep taking hold of me as my dreams held nothing but emptiness for me tonight.