With permission secured, Silver worked with Night and Fast to construct what would become the new academy. Tumble was often close by, watching over them, and sometimes lending a hoof. Silver threw a leg over his withers one day. "Looking forward to getting some real training?"

Tumble went rigid. "What? I mean... Me?"

Night tilted her head from up on an unfinished wall. "Of course you. You're a guard, and you're the closest. Why wouldn't I train you?"

Silver squeezed Tumble before letting him go. "Maybe next time, you'll be at my side. This time, you'll prepare yourself."

Tumble nodded quickly, and his work become quite focused.

Rainbow returned from her trip to the griffon lands, none the wiser for her doppelganger's appearance. She told Silver about Griffonstone, boasting of her adventure and how she defeated a wild horde of terrible monsters, only to be foiled at the last moment from getting the treasure. She seemed awfully chipper for failure, but Silver enjoyed listening to her spin her tale eagerly. When she was done, she moved to depart, but Silver put a hoof in the way. "What about what we left unsettled?"

Rainbow shrugged. "I'll let you know if I feel like it. For now, I think Applejack just needs to adopt and stop screwing with the both of us, since she went and got rid of the way we could do it right." She leaned in suddenly, pressing nose-to-nose. "You'll just have to wish you had me." And she was off, leaving him behind. Silver wondered for a moment if he didn't like the changeling's attitude better, but shook his head. The real Rainbow Dash was fine just the way she was.

Silver visited the warlocks in Canterlot, and they were quite excited to see what he'd grown into, but that only drove them to work him harder. He didn't escape for a week, being forced to reach higher and channel harder. They were enthusiastic about his findings concerning internal channeling, but it wasn't anything new to them, just not something the average pony had any need to bother with.

The last week before he was to go, he spent it back in Ponyville, gathering his wives close and lavishing them with praise and affection. He cooked every day that week, and did his best to leave them as happy as he could, but that didn't stop anypony from looking sad when the final day arrived. He kissed each on the cheek. Tumble was close by and looking like he was trying not to look. Silver gave him a quick peck too, then turned and trotted out the door, taking flight to Canterlot.

Celestia met him in the garden. She was dressed to impress, in fine glowing silks that seemed to flow in the same non-breeze that carried her mane and tail. "Are you ready?"

Silver gave a short stiff nod. "Let's go there, get this done, and get back, in your words."

Celestia gave a shadow of a smile that hinted she didn't think it would be that easy. With a golden flash, they were transported to the rail station. "We'll be catching a boat out of Manehattan. Rest up."

Their adventure had scarcely begun.

Author's Notes:

DIVERSION. Proceed to Silver's trip here: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/268420/beneath-a-silver-sky Come on back when you're done.