When Two Worlds Collide

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.