"I have decided," said Silver, "that I want a nice car, for my friend. He's an earth pony. Uh, make that a truck, nice and solid."

Luna frowned softly, "While this is certainly within our means, it is not recompense for you." She pointed at Silver, "What do you want?"

Silver glanced between the two princesses, uncertain and wary. An idea came to him. Surely they would refuse and accept just giving the truck. He pointed at Luna, "I want you."

Luna blinked and Cadance recoiled. "What?" asked Cadance.

Silver bobbed his head, "I want her to be the first mare of my herd until my lifespan naturally ends." He flashed a bright smile, "Is that selfish enough?"

Cadance's wings spread wide, "Selfish enough? That's--"

"Agreed," said Luna.

Cadance spun on Luna, "You can't be serious! He's a colt! What will the ponies say when you drag him into court at your side? This isn't healthy, for either of you!"

Luna shook her head. Silver saw strange new patterns dance along Luna's horn. Were those new letters? His memorization was still far from perfect, but he watched them curiously until an inky black flash engulfed the room. Where once there was one Luna, now there were two, though one was considerably smaller and younger. They smiled together. "This will suffice," they spoke in tandem.

This... oh crap. Silver's ears went back against his head as his bluff was called. The smaller Luna trotted up to him and pressed her snout against his and everything stopped mattering. He fell to the ground under the press of the filly.

Luna looked to Cadance, "See? We should depart." She ushered the stunned Cadance from the house with a wing. When they were outside, Luna quickly whisked them away back to the castle, wearing a triumphant grin.

Cadance shook off her stupor, "What was that? What did you do? Who was that younger you?"

Luna gestured at herself with her wings, "It was me. A second me, created to be his first wife."

Cadance blinked owlishly, "You can do that? How? I never heard of that spell."

Luna wobbled a hoof, "Tia almost certainly outlawed it, but she never bothered to tell me."

Cadance frowned a little, "Are you... aware of the copy?"

Luna nodded, "She is showing Silver she is friendly right now. They will be equals. A magical simulacrum is not a princess, after all."

Cadance raised a brow, "Can... There are so many questions that come with this." She sank to the floor and let out a slow long sigh, "Fine. This is better than most of the scenarios I feared. I am going home. I miss Shining."

Luna moved up and wrapped a wing around Cadance, squeezing her, "Thank you. Without you, this would have turned out terribly. I am indebted."

Cadance smiled, "Princess of Love. It's in the job description, but this was way too much for me." She trotted towards the door, "Please don't break him." Then she was gone, her steps retreating down the stone hallway.

Back in Silver's home, he was pinned under the eager kisses of the miniature Luna. He squeezed her, delighting in this warm, soft, loving presence. Curiosity burned, however, and he drew back away from her kisses. "Luna?"

"Call me Celine," said the younger Luna, er, Celine. "We're married now."

Silver gently pushed her to her hooves and rose up himself, "We are?"

Celine bobbed her head, "Two princesses witnessed it." She leaned in and kissed him on the nose, "No backsies."

Silver warmed softly in his cheeks, "Am I still your squire?"

Celine shook her head, "You are Luna's squire. You're my stallion. Think of us as two different ponies."

Silver nodded slowly, "Alright..." He rose to his hooves, "This is so weird."

"Good or bad weird?" asked Celine, watching him.

Silver smiled, "I'm hoping the good kind." He sat on his haunches and looked her over. "Aren't ponies going to ask questions? You still have Luna's cutie mark."

Celine shrugged her shoulder, "That is royal business. They will keep their mouths sealed if they know what is good for them."

Silver shook his head a little, "Alright, so... taking stock. My marefriend is an immortal princess in the body of a filly that knows way too much?"

Celine grinned, "That's the start of it. I will grow up with you, get old, and when you are gone, I will go too. I don't want to think about that." She made a dismissive gesture of a hoof, "We can enjoy now?" She suddenly jumped at him, tackling him to the ground and kissing over his barrel. Silver wasn't sure how to react, but he was... pretty sure he liked this.

The door to the master bedroom opened. Trixie and Rough came out with smiles that faded slightly when they saw the little alicorn crawling all over Silver. Trixie tilted her head, "Trixie missed something..."

Silver wriggled free of Celine, kissing her cheek before sitting beside her instead of under her. "This is, kinda, Luna. Meet Celine."

Rough gave a mute nod, staring at Silver and his new marefriend.

Celine announced with a hoof at her chest, "I am staying here, with Silver."

Trixie shook her head a little, "This doesn't make any sense." She looked at Silver directly, "Are you being forced into this?"

Silver shook his head, "Took me by surprise, but I can't say I'm upset to have Celine." Celine smiled brightly and leaned against Silver. The attention was new and strange, but far from undesirable. "I should get ready for bed." He rose up to his hooves and started for his room, with Celine trailing behind. As he passed Rough he bumped the larger male, "Looks like we both get a mare to cuddle."

Rough blushed gently, "Mine is prettier."

Trixie smiled at the praise while Celine rolled her eyes. Soon everypony had settled into their new beds, preparing for the next day.

Silver trotted towards school with Celine beside him. He glanced towards her, "You already know everything the school could teach, why are you even coming?"

Celine shook her head, "Many things have changed since we were gone. We may learn something new."

"And you get to be with me?" asked Silver.

"And I get to be with you," agreed Celine.

They arrived at the school and Silver's friends approached cautiously. Soft Blush was the most eager, smiling broadly. "Miss Foalman sent a letter! She's arriving this weekend! I'm so excited, I can scarcely contain myself." She clapped her forehooves with her eagerness.

Silver smiled back at her, "That's fantastic, just show her what you can do. She knows everypony there is to know."

Soft Blush tilted her head, "If she finds me a job, I may leave the school. If that happens, thank you, for everything, all of you." She went around the circle, giving a light peck on the cheek to everyone but Celine, who she tilted her head at, "I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure?"

Celine grinned, "Celine! I'm Silver's marefriend."

Meadow coughed, then punched Silver in the withers, "You stud! You don't even bat an eye at a single mare, then, bam, alicorn." He tilted his head at Celine, "Speaking of, who are you the foal of? I didn't know any of the princesses had foals recently."

Celine nodded her head, "Luna made me." It was... true to a degree. Silver chuckled at the half-truth of it as his other friends crowded around Celine.

Tumble looked the least excited, "So.... uh, Silver. You like mares huh?"

Silver winced, "Um... yes..." Tumble's head lowered and Silver advanced on him, throwing a leg over his neck with some effort, "We're still friends, right? Just not that kinda friends."

Tumble suddenly stole a kiss. With Silver so close, it was easy to press his lips into Silver's, then he ran off into the school, leaving a stunned Silver.

Lily Jump tilted her head, "He's a colt cuddler? I never would have guessed!"

The others peered at Lily a moment, then back at each other. Celine cleared her throat, "Perhaps his gift will cheer him up."

Silver blinked softly, "I thought you said no to that."

Celine lifted a hoof, "To that alone." She gestured at the street where a large truck sat. When had that gotten there? "We will show it to him after school."

The bell rang, summoning them inside. Butter Scotch noticed the new filly quickly and moved to her desk, "Well hello there! I wasn't expecting a new student." She noticed the new student had little wings and a little horn and grew confused and curious, "Are you sure you're in the right place deary?"

Celine bobbed her head, "I am in the right place, beside Silver Lining." The entire class began to make noise. Some gave soft awwws while others giggled or laughed.

Butter Scotch nodded, "As long as you pay attention during class. What's your name?"

"Celine," reported the lunar filly. "It is a pleasure to be here."

"Everypony say hello to Celine," beckoned Butter Scotch, getting a classwide hello from all the foals. "Now then, today we're going to go over the minotaur nation." She pulled down a string, showing a map of greater Equus. It extended far beyond Equestria's borders, showing the other nations of minotaurs, dragons, griffons, and others beside. "Does anypony remember the name of the minotaur who first made contact with Equestria?"

Class went fairly normally until a new examiner arrived. This one had an especially androgynous appearance. Silver could not tell if it was male or female at all, even trying to steal glances, as its robes concealed everything. It smiled, "My academy specializes in overcoming the frailties of the flesh. Those who attend our school can be as strong as the minotaurs you are studying, or fly like a dragon. Your body will be the easel on which you imprint your will."

Silver perked up. That sounded incredibly interesting and he leaned forward towards the examiner. Celine seemed to notice his interest, watching him intently out of the corner of her eyes.

"Those who would join, please follow me," bade the instructor as it stepped outside of the school. The same four unicorns were there, including Silver and Soft Blush. Celine had stayed inside. The examiner strode up to Silver and pointed at the dangling heart crystal around his neck, "What is this? Have you already felt the touch of our magic?"

Silver bobbed his head quickly, "Yeah. I... it's a long story."

The examiner shook its head, "I have time. Tell me, without omission."

Silver glanced about, "Well, alright. I've been changed by powerful magic before. I've had hands and feet instead of hooves. I've felt what it's like when you do this kind of magic wrong. Princess Twilight Sparkle stretched my net like taffy."

The examiner brushed Silver's dangling charm with a hoof, "What did you learn from this?"

Silver smiled gently, "Not to practice that magic without proper training and a heart crystal, and what it feels like when you do."

The examiner softly snorted, "You would not believe the number of unicorns that become burnt out, or worse, learning that very lesson." A bright cherry red heart crystal was produced from its robes. "Even when you have the training, it is wise to be prepared. I am surprised to see a colt wearing one day-by-day. Do you have an enchantment in it?"

Silver shook his head quickly, "It just... feels right to wear."

The examiner raised a fine brow, "I see." It looked across the line and stopped at Soft Blush, "You have passed this test many times. I will not waste both of our time satisfying your parents. Tell them you passed again." Soft Blush nodded and trotted back into the school without a word.

The representative nodded at the remaining unicorns. "The test is simple, but do not think that makes it easy. To master change, you must first master your sense of self. I will change you in subtle ways, and you must be able to identify where and what has become different." It leveled a hoof at one of the other unicorns. Silver could see the examiner's horn flash with letters, then it lowered the hoof. "What has changed?"

The colt looked over his hooves and pulled out a mirror, but nothing was obviously changed. "I... don't see anything..."

"Failed," announced the examiner. Its horn flashed as whatever change was undone. A filly was chosen next. Instead of watching them, Silver cast his senses inwards. He let his magic flow at a gentle pace and felt through his insides, trying to memorize, at least for an instant, the subtle workings of his internals. "Failed," stated the examiner, looking next to Silver and raising a hoof.

The magic flashed, and the flow altered, just a little. Magic seemed to be avoiding a sudden blockage in his upper right shoulder. He pointed at the shoulder with his other forehoof, "You changed something there."

The examiner gave a thin smile, "What has changed?"

Silver tried to feel around the obstruction. It was about the size of a baseball, a sizable lump in his network. But what could he do to identify it? "It's about this big..." He said, holding his hooves together, "It's perfectly round. I don't feel any patterns on it."

"You are describing it accurately, but you have not said what it is," explained the examiner.

Silver grunted softly, but an image suddenly came to him, like a daydream. "You... put your heart crystal in me."

The examiner's brows rose in unison, "That is correct." With a flash, the obstruction was removed. "What is the extent of your magical knowledge?"

Silver flushed lightly, "I'm memorizing the magic patterns."

The examiner nodded, "Finish that learning, and the academy's doors are open to you. You pass." It turned and trotted off quietly. Silver returned to his seat with a silly grin on his face. The rest of the school day went past in a half-daze until Celine nudged him and gestured for him to follow after the last bell.

He followed her out. She pointed at the retreating Rough Tumble. Silver picked up the pace and rushed up to Tumble, "Hey!"

Tumble turned in place, "Huh? Oh, hey Silver... What's up?"

Silver smiled brightly as he gestured at the truck parked near the school, "What do you think of that?"

Tumble looked past Silver at the truck, "It's nice. Shame I'll never have one like that. Why?" With a pop, some keys appeared and fell on Silver's snout. He jerked back in surprise and they fell to the ground.

Tumble looked down at the fallen keys, then back at Silver, raising a brow. "Surprise!" said Silver, lifting the keys with his magic and holding it up to Tumble, "It's for you!"

Tumble flopped down on his haunches. He looked... uncertain. "I... thank you... I'd rather..." He clammed up, going quiet and misty-eyed.

Silver moved up to him slowly, "What's wrong? It's what you wanted, right?"

Tumble grabbed him when he was beside him and squeezed Silver, "I'd trade a thousand cars for you."

Silver flushed and squeaked. Just when he thought his romantic problems were settling... "We're still friends, right?"

Tumble released him and took the key, "Yeah. Thanks, you crazy colt. Want a ride home?"

Silver nodded softly, "How did you even learn how to drive anyway?"

Tumble grinned widely, "There was a fair. They were showing off all kinds of cars. I took to it like a natural, got my cutie mark. Hop in." He trotted over and clambered up into the driver's seat. Silver hopped up in the passenger seat. With his magic he pulled the seat belt into place, then pulled Tumble's in place.

Celine was not in the truck, but Silver could see her. She was smiling and waving at them. Suddenly he couldn't see her. The truck pulled forward rapidly and smoothly went down the hill. They arrived at Silver's house in just a few minutes. Tumble nodded at Silver, "See you tomorrow?"

Silver unbuckled himself and slipped from the truck, "Of course." He smiled at Tumble, "We're pals." He closed the door with his magic, then trotted inside.

Author's Notes:

That escalated quickly, but we managed to fit in some school! I did promise some slice of life up in this place, though I don't think I deliver much on the comedy tag, hmm.

You know also doesn't enjoy being friendzoned? Typos. They deserve it.