Silver sat in front of his computer and loaded up Civilization. For extra irony points, he giggled to himself as he loaded some pony mods he had for it.

"What are you doing?" came Celine's voice over his shoulder. Silver turned quickly to see her hovering there on her small wings.

"I was going to play a game," replied Silver, recovering from his surprise.

"Can I play?" asked Celine.

Silver glanced at the screen, then dismissed the game. Celine looked surprised at his actions as he slid to the ground. "It's a single-player game, but if the choice is that or you, I'll take you."

Celine smiled brightly, landing on Silver's back and hugging him even as he wobbled around under her weight. "That was too sweet!"

Silver sank to the floor with a soft grunt, then gave a laugh, "So what do you want to do?"

"You," said Celine with horrific bluntness.

Silver pinned his ears back and squirmed, "Uh, well, I guess we could do that, but I thought you'd want to do something, like a game, or something?"

Celine slid off of him and her magic wrapped around him, pulling him up into a seated position easily, "We could go watch the commoners in the marketplace?"

Silver blinked at her, "I am a commoner."

Celine stuck out her tongue, "You're an alien, that's pretty uncommon! And you're a squire too." She leaned in, snuffling at him, "And you're my stallion."

Silver flashed a grin, "I don't think that last one makes me not a commoner."

Celine shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe not." She rose to her hooves, "You're still scared of me."

Silver paused, then nodded, "I guess I am a little."

Celine tilted her head, "Why? Did I do something wrong?"

Silver shook his head quickly, "No, nothing like that. I'm just a doof. I'm still getting used to the idea that a female of any species really wants me, and to be around me, for that. The idea that you're thinking those kinds of thoughts about me, it's... exciting, and terrifying."

Celine nipped an ear in her blunt teeth, "Do you want me to stop?"

Silver shivered softly, allowing his eyes to close a little, "No... Please go on, just don't be mad when I get awkward. That's just me being stupid and getting used to it." Celine suddenly jumped into him, knocking him onto his side.

She bit at his throat and held him still as she squeezed him with her hooves a moment before she let him go. "You wanted to be chased. The apex predator bares his throat and submits to the prey, smiling all the while."

Silver smiled nervously, his tail twitching back and forth, "This is... yes, I did... and I still want it. The, ugh, I feel stupid."

Celine tilted her head down at Silver, "Tell me why."

Silver considered just being quiet, and started to do just that, but she resumed her affections, biting at his shoulder, then his sides. Her little tongue found its way into his belly button and he squealed, wriggling about. "Tell me."

"OK OK!" he called out, "I give! I feel, I don't know, selfish? It feels really good to know you're after me, but what am I giving back?"

Celine rubbed noses gently, "What if I like hunting you?" She reared back, "How is this different from when Lyra was hunting you?"

Silver flickered an ear, "Well, for one, I was human at the time. For two..." He leaned up to rub noses back at Celine, "I did want her back. I adored the way she wanted me and kept at it."

Celine pouted a little, "Then you were sad when Luna sent her away?"

"A little..." confessed Silver, "But now I have a Celine."

Celine's pout turned to a smile as she snuggled her coltfriend eagerly.

The front door opened with a glow of Trixie's magic before she entered. She raised a brow at the two on the living room floor as she trotted past into the kitchen, "Don't do anything Trixie wouldn't do."

Celine nipped at Silver gently, "So what about that Soft Blush girl? She's polite and she's about to start earning her own way."

Silver tilted his head a little, "What about her?"

Celine shook her head, "She could be a second wife."

Silver blinked, "What? No. We're just friends, not more than that."

Celine put a hoof on his snout, quieting him, "If I wait for you to decide when to make the next move, we will be waiting forever. It's not your job to decide when, just agree with who."

Silver flushed softly, "I don't get a vote on that at all?"

Celine nuzzled into his chest as she slid down against him, rubbing her knee in a very interesting place, "I did say I would wait a little while..."

Silver felt his breath picking up and heart thump with excitement. Celine seemed to know how to play him, and he was starting to enjoy being played. "We should let her get her life started. This isn't the time for her to bond with us, then run off, probably to Manehattan."

Celine flicked her tongue over his chest, "You have a point, but I don't plan to leave you without a second wife for too long."

"Why?" asked Silver, "I mean... not... that I'm upset you're watching out for me, but really, why?"

Celine drove in her knee a little more firmly, making Silver yelp before he shuddered, putty in her hooves. "I can't give you everything you want alone."

Silver twitched an ear as he snuffled at her. It was working, though her scent still made him feel happier, it was less pronounced than before. At this rate it'd fade down to just being a little happier to have her around, which is how he felt already. "So, wait, give me what?"

"Everything," replied Celine. She hopped free of him and trotted towards the front door.

Silver was soon up on his own hooves and following after her, "You seem pretty good at that, so far?"

Celine looked over her shoulder, "I can't do everything, but I'll make sure you get it."

Silver frowned softly, "What can't you do?"

Celine circled on him, "Well I can't be a stallion, for one."

Silver shuddered softly, "Who said I wanted one of those?"

Celine bonked him on the head, "Everything."

Silver flushed as the point was driven home, "Well... Geeze. Idle musings are not... sincere desires. I want a mare, and I got one."

Celine nodded softly, "You're making me happier than I thought I'd be, claiming I'm enough forever." She turned to Silver and moved up on him. She ran her head under his chin, avoiding poking him with her small horn in the stroke, "You know how to talk to a filly."

Silver giggled a little, "I didn't know that was all it took." He nuzzled her shoulder gently, "But, really. I'm happy right now."

Celine seemed to grow serious, "But you won't be, later."

Silver shook his head, "I don't get it."

Celine waved to the door, "Go take a walk. I have things I need to plan anyway."

Silver blinked softly, "It's been awhile since I was banished from my house." He opened the door and stepped through it. He turned to say something else, but the door slapped shut in his face. Was it something he said? He trotted off into the city, "Maybe I should get her a gift..."

He felt it! A song began to issue forth from his mouth and he struggled. He wouldn't be a victim a second time! He tried to focus his magic, but it was already at work. His unicorn body was the cause of this song magic, of course it wouldn't be on his side. He thrashed and kicked in his own mind, managing to force his muzzle shut, muffling the words, but the song continued as if nothing was wrong.

By the time the song number was complete, he had no idea where he was anymore. His traitorous legs had carried him off into Canterlot and left him there. He looked around, not even seeing any stores that he could get Celine a gift at. "Stupid song!" he shouted in frustration before a flash of green caught his eye. He jerked his head to the left to see a quickly retreating figure. His curiosity piqued, he trotted after it, trying to catch up without actually galloping.

Suddenly he was lifted up and pressed against one of the walls. A knife handle wreathed in neon green magic hanging in front of his left eye.

"Move or answer one of my questions with a lie and you'll get more than a new mane-cut," A colt's voice said in his ear. "This knife can cut iron cleanly, it'd be a shame to see what it could do to this horn of yours..."

Silver tried to look around from where he was, held against the wall of an alleyway, but unable to see who was doing so, other than their green magic. "Hi." Smile, say hello. It never fails, sometimes. "Can you... not cut me? Please. I like that horn, and all my other parts."

"Then you'll answer my questions. Who sent you? Who do you work for?"

Silver gave an eloquent uh before he replied, "I'm a school student? My name's Silver Lining. What's your name? Can you lower that dagger away from my face? I'm not running anywhere."

"This knife moves when you stop dancing around my question or when I get tired of you."

Silver gave a slow nod, "Well, OK, but I can't tell you much more? Uh... so are you a... don't take this the wrong way, a changeling?"

The knife shifted, going up to the top of his vision. "Who. Do. You. Work. For? The Plates? The Chalices?"

Silver quickly denied, "What? No. They don't even like me, uh, the first ones that is. Man, really, come on. Three of my best friends are changelings."

"Oh yes, and one of them's a queen, right? Now, Who do you work for?" The colt took a sniff of Silver's mane, "I get it, you're one of their new recruits."

Well actually... Silver swallowed his thoughts as the interrogation seemed to turn in a darker direction, "I'm not here to spy on you or anything." He twitched faintly, hooves held in the air, "Please... I don't want to hurt you, or be hurt by you. I'm just a pony, right?"

The voice was silent for a few moments before saying, "You aren't with the Voluntas?"

Silver tried to spot the aggressor futilely as he swallowed, "I don't know what that is but fuck this is getting stupid. I know what it's like to be distrusted for how you look. I know how much it sucks. I'm not one of those pe-- er, ponies. Can you, please... put the knife down?"

Silver felt the weight holding him shift. "You had somepony shadowing you... Wait. What's she doing coming this way?"

"Huh?" said Silver eloquently, "Oh god, I didn't mean to be followed. Don't take that as an excuse to stab me." He let the magic flow within his young body, hoping he could turn aside the blade. Maybe if he made a thin film of magic? He slowly spread the invisible force across his front, praying it would help.

Amusement entered the colt's voice, "You're just wasting magic doing that. Besides, if I'd known you were her friend I wouldn't have done this." The colt sighed as the knife was sheathed -- as far as Silver knew.

Silver perked an ear, "Whose friend?" He swallowed a little, "So, uh, we're cool? I can stop being threatened maybe?"

Silver felt his hooves touch ground again, the weight keeping him pinned falling away quickly as the other colt spoke, "That's right, I asked her to keep me a secret. I'll bet she acts kinda like an airhead?"

Taking the opportunity to have a look around as he wobbled on his clumsy coltish legs, Silver bobbed his head a little, "Yeah? She's nice? Uh... I never got your name? I'm Silver Lining if you missed it." His magic faded without his concentration, body cooling subtly.

Standing before Silver was a grey unicorn colt. "Moonfire, and no, I didn't."

Silver smiled lightly, looking over the other unicorn colt curiously, "Hi Moonfire, so..." He scuffed a hoof, "Are you? I mean, no offense or anything. I don't hold it against you if you are."

Moonfire turned his head toward the alley's opening just as Lily Jump turned the corner. "You could've told me that your friend was nosy."

Silver's smile grew more genuine as a familiar face entered his view, but befuddlement overtook it quickly, "Lily Jump is your friend?" He plopped down on his haunches, "This is unexpected, but, hey."

Lily's cheeks lit with a bright red as she stammered out, "Um... W-we were actually more than friends when he left. But yes, I know him..."

Silver nodded at Lily, "You'll excuse me for not expecting a changeling." He glanced at Moonfire quickly, "No offense! I thought I was the only one that met one before."

Moonfire smirked, "None taken, I've had to be extra careful about who follows me."

Silver raised an ear at the two, swiveling between the ponies as his breath slowed. With the immediate danger passed, he relaxed a little, "So, nice to meet you. What brings you to Canterlot?"

The colt's smirk faded and they were silent for a few seconds before Lily said, "He's trying to woo a filly from the town he is trying to hide in."

Silver tilted his head a little, "Do, uh.." He brought his fore hooves together, rubbing one on the other, "Do changelings do that? You know, get coltfriends or marefriends, get married, have little kids?"

Moonfire and Lily looked at each other for a second before bursting out in laughter.

"I-I think it's a good thing he's just a friend!" Moonfire exclaimed before succumbing to laughter once again.

Silver looked at Lily, then Moonfire, "Is that a yes? The ones I met weren't all that, well, we didn't have the time to go delving into changeling society or anything like that.." He tapped a hoof on the ground, "I do hope things go well with your filly friend."

Letting out a few more chuckles Lily said, "He's not exactly what you would call a 'full' changeling. So I guess it's possible."

"And she's not my marefriend... yet," Moonfire added after his own chuckles were tamed.

Silver nodded quickly, "That's what I meant. Uh, I'm new here too, just about a month back." He made a soft gesture behind himself with a hoof, though his gaze kept slipping towards Lily. Was her simple act just that, an act?

Moonfire stiffened suddenly and looked at Silver with interest, "Your first taste of deception here in Canterlot?"

Lily's hoof went to her face. "You told him, didn't you? You always say to not mess with somepony else when they're in a disguise, yet you completely blow mine."

Silver's body tensed as the words parsed, "Uh, no, wait." He held up his hooves, "I'm not a changeling, I'm just cool with them." He flashed a soft smile, hopefully a convincing one, "I have no beef with them, and they never hurt me." Well there was that one time, but she apologized.

Moonfire's eyebrow raised at the griffon-like saying, "Yeah, I know you aren't, and neither is she."

The filly sighed and lowered her hoof, "I just didn't want anypony worrying about me more than they are already. I knew I'd have to play dumb about Moonfire anyways, so I just... extended it to the rest of what I knew. I could do a very convincing act of amnesia before he gave me a few pointers."

Silver reached out to put a hoof on Lily's shoulder, "Secret's safe with me. So," he glanced back at Moonfire, "Just passing through? Need some help?" On a sudden whim he asked, "Know any good gifts to get a mare?"

Lily's ears pricked up, "I could help there. Moonfire wanted me to get him a reservation at The Princely Apple. I could ask for two tables for two instead."

Silver tilted his head before nodding, "You're the best. You remember Celine, right? She'll be excited, I hope." He looked uncertain a moment, then moved for the exit of the alleyway, "I'll see you both around. Be safe."

"Before you go, though," Moonfire said.

Silver peeked over his shoulder, "Huh?"

Moonfire pulled a knife sheath out from his mane and floated it over to Silver, wearing a big grin. "You might want to wait until you're home to look at that."

Silver eyed the sheath as it floated towards him. He reached out with a silvery hand and gently curled its magic fingers around the gift, looking quite uncertain. "It's not going to explode or something I hope?"

Moonfire shook his head his smile growing a bit. "No, it's the knife I threatened you with."

Silver bobbed his head, uncertain look lingering as he trotted quickly away. He thought of Celine waiting for him and his pace hastened as he navigated his way through the city. The thought that he had a warm body to return to, genuinely curious about his time out, made his trot turn into a canter, eager to be home.

When Silver did make it home, he drew the sheath from his saddlebag and pulled the blade free. It was wood, not even sharp looking wood. He was held up by a little wooden stick with a dagger's hilt. He slipped it back into the sheath, chuckling as he opened the door and went inside, eager to share the tale, minus a few specifics and alarming bits, with Celine.

Author's Notes:

Welcome to the great collab chapter! The second portion was done live with Moonfire himself as a bit of an experiment. Did it turn out alright? You tell me.

Two sets of eyes equals twice the chance for typos!