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The Silver Stars

by David Silver

Chapter 96: 96 - At the Gala

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It had been decided that Silver's big announcement to the world would take place at the Grand Galloping Gala. It was due in just a few days, so it was well-timed. Rarity had Silver's outfit prepared. "The cool blues and purples fit the traditional lunar pony motif, don't you think?"

Silver turned before a mirror, looking himself over. "I look fantastic! This is definitely you at your top form, Rarity. How much do I owe?"

Bits were exchanged and Silver trotted out of the boutique, naked once again. He had his clothes packed up in his saddlebag for use at the gala. He returned to the castle to find a frantic-looking Twilight. "What's wrong?"

Twilight held up another letter. This was becoming a habit. "Celestia wants me to help plan this year's gala. I have to go, now!"

Silver rested a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Calm breaths. Let's go together, and be sure you have your dress."

Twilight smiled, relaxing a little. "Great idea... actually, why don't we see if we can't get those 'guests' of yours to come while we're in Canterlot." She hurried off, returning with her own bundle. "Ready?"

Silver nodded at Twilight. "Sure am. Night said she doesn't care for these kinds of parties, and Fast is pretty resolute on helping her finish the road, so we're free to go."

Twilight tilted her head. "I wondered a little about them, good to hear they'll be OK, but we really do have to go." She hook a wing over Silver, and they both vanished.

The next few days were a bit of a blur as Twilight manically rushed around getting everything just perfect for the gala and Silver struggled to find where he could be most helpful. The palace servants kept eyeing him. Not with mistrust, no. They approved of what they saw, and he wobbled between pride and embarrassment at the attention.

"You did it." Discord appeared in front of Silver suddenly. "Bravo! You won the game!"

Silver tilted his head at Discord with confusion. "What?"

"It's not obvious?" He leaned in towards Silver. "You're living the dream." Silver was still looking at him in befuddlement. "I don't have time to spell it out today, Silver. I have to visit a dear friend of mine. Ta ta!" He vanished in a flash.

Silver shook his head and proceeded about business. The reply to the letter came. The 'Lightning Wheel' would arrive the day after the gala. Perfect. Silver tucked the note away and trotted down the hallway of the castle only to be blocked by Celestia. "Oh, good day, Silver Stars. I trust you've been made to feel welcome in my castle?"

Silver perked his ears at Celestia. "Yes, very much. Not an unkind word heard anywhere."

Celestia nodded. "Good good. I'm going to try to make this gala a little... more interesting than the last, without Twilight's direct sabotage... Are you in?"

Silver shook his head quickly, his crown threatening to fall over into his vision. "I have no objection to that, but I really don't think my position is secure enough to be involved."

Celestia nodded lightly. "I thought you might say that. Don't worry, I have it well in hoof." She smiled a troublemaking smile. Silver decided he kind of liked that smile. She looked mischievous and playful, not overbearing and controlling. He could like Trollestia.

Silver smiled gently in return. "I hope it goes well. If I can help, er, indirectly, you'll let me know?"

Celestia nodded as she moved past. "Oh, I will." She seemed so... energetic. Silver wondered what had cheered her up, then decided not to look this gift horse in the mouth, as it were.

Preparations were complete, and the evening of the gala arrived. Silver was asked to stand beside Twilight and Celestia at the top of the stairs as ponies came into the hall. There was no hiding the presence of an alicorn prince beside the princesses, and many looked at the three of them with wonder before they moved on. There was no line for an audience that year, Silver noticed.

Twilight was speaking softly with Celestia, and Silver didn't try to butt in on it, instead watching the doors and the ponies that came in. Fluttershy arrived with a strange pony beside her that looked like a hippy at first glance, and second glance, and the third. It was like someone distilled the very idea of hippy down into a pony shape. It amused him greatly. That hippy looked up at him and the princesses. "Far out... His aura is totally bright." And then she moved on with Fluttershy. Flutter seemed to avoid looking at Silver, not meeting his gaze or even much looking towards the stairs.

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash arrived together, with the CMC beside them. Oh they were so adorable! Silver raised a hoof to wave and got little waves back, and a few from the adults. Rainbow took flight, zipping up to him. "We need to talk after the party." Her whisper delivered, she rejoined the others and they dispersed into the crowd.

Then came Discord, and his oozy companion. What the heck was that? Silver had no idea, but Discord was clearly irritated about something, and he watched as the chaos god pestered Fluttershy and his oozy friend pestered everyone else. Twilight tried to handle things directly with Discord, but it had as much effect as Silver expected, which was very little. When the ooze began snatching shiny things off the guests, Silver reached with a silvery hand, trying to ward it away, but it resisted the magic effortlessly as if it were barely there.

Fortunately, Discord locked it outside, and Silver relaxed, at least until Discord disregarded all causality and ripped a hole in time and space, threatening to throw the hippy pony into another dimension entirely. This caught Silver's attention on multiple levels. Could Discord go to Earth? Did he already? That would explain so much! By the time Silver finished mulling on that idea, the situation escalated as the ooze burst through the front doors and began to submerge everything in goopiness. Silver spread his wings, aiming to get away before it was... too late. His hooves sank into the quagmire and there was no escape from the warm snotty creature. "Twilight?"

Twilight growled and zapped into the ooze, but whatever little holes she made quickly mended themselves. "It isn't working!"

A new sound drew their attention. The hippy pony was making horse noises in between meditative droning. It was the oddest combination Silver had heard, and he giggled a little. Pinkie appeared beside him as she is prone to doing. "Isn't it amazing?" What was more amazing was that the ooze seemed to be responding, and soon they were free of its bulk. Discord wrenched a small mountain of jewels free of it and sent them to... wherever Discord liked sending things, and the party was free to resume.

Twilight apologized for her apparent failure to keep things under control, but Celestia wouldn't have any of it. "The night's still young and this party's just getting started!"

What changeling took over Celestia, and what changeling queen should he be thanking, or so thought Silver until Celestia snagged him and hauled him bodily towards the dance floor. Silver squeaked in alarm, trying to dig in his hooves, but Celestia was more wily and stronger and easily got him over there. She leaned in, whispering in a tufted ear as she got him into a better stance for dancing. "Don't look so alarmed. You're dancing with their princess. Try to look natural."

Silver realized quickly she had a point. He was being watched. He composed himself and tried to follow Celestia's lead, moving around with her and at least being a sincere partner, even if dancing was new to him, on two or four legs. As the song changed, Rainbow came up. "May I have the stallion for the next dance?" Celestia waved a hoof at Silver and backed away, and Rainbow came in to pick up the next song.

She whispered harshly as she moved. "Applejack told me what happened. Not cool, man. I thought we were buds. What's the big idea trying to make moves on AJ?"

She sent him for a cruel spin, leaving him dizzy a moment before he could get back to her and reply, "It was Luna. She was trying to pressure Applejack into it and I told her not to force my friends into things, so she just came out and asked if I could stud for you two. It wasn't my idea, honest." Rainbow bit his ear in reply, which made other ponies titter, thinking it was a fond exchange, but Silver knew better from the sharp pain coming from the abused extremity. "I swear! You two are friends. I wouldn't do that to a friend. I swear..."

Rainbow released him and leaned in, resting her head on his shoulders and actually dancing for a time. "Why'd you tell Applejack it was illegal? We almost had a good thing going..."

Silver couldn't avoid responsibility for that one and lowered his ears. "It was the truth?" It felt lame saying it. "I'm... I've been on the wrong side of things too many times. I didn't tell Applejack to get rid of it. I didn't want to do that to you, Rainbow. You're a lovely pony."

Rainbow drew back with a frown. "If I'm so 'lovely', why are you ruining all my plans? I wanted us to have a kid, us. Is that so much to ask? Applejack doesn't think it's a big deal. She's ready to adopt or get a stud." Her frown turned into a scowl. "She was even thinking of you."

Silver pressed in close, trying to hide Rainbow's sour face from the room and keep the dancing going. "That's very flattering of her, but it's not about her right now. It's about you. What can I do for you, Dash?"

Rainbow's expression softened a little. "What I really want is Applejack's foal, but she doesn't give a hoot, and even if I did get the crystal back on her, she wouldn't use it. She's a stickler for rules and she thinks it's 'perfectly natural' for us to just adopt or stud, not your spell. It was your spell right?"

Silver nodded. "Well... She's not entirely wrong. This is not natural, but neither is shoving clouds around or half the things ponies do."

"Exactly!" Rainbow snorted. "You get it... So how can you help?"

Silver was glad Rainbow appeared to have forgiven him, but wasn't sure how to get her wish fulfilled. "I can't force Applejack, and even if I could, it'd be wrong to do. You two have to work this out between yourselves. If there's something I can do, I will."

Rainbow snorted and looked annoyed a moment before nodding. "Fine." She reached and poked at one of his leathery wings. "Besides, if you studded, would we end up with a lunar foal?"

Silver looked over his shoulder at the wing. "Oh, distinctly possible. Is that bad?"

Rainbow tapped a chin thoughtfully. "If it were an earth pony or a unicorn, I'd get over it, but if I have a little pegasus foal, I want to do all the pegasus things with her."

"And you can't with a lunar pegasus?"

Rainbow stomped a hoof. "Not the same! I'll... think about it." She fled at the end of the song, and Silver retreated from the dance floor, or tried. His escape was caught off by a noblemare he didn't recognize, but she would not be denied. His evening would not see much time off that dance floor.


The next day, the party's evidence was cleared away by industrious castle workers. Twilight was relaxed, her duty complete, but she remained at the castle, with Silver, planning their meeting with the Lightning Wheel. On getting word of it, Celestia insisted she be involved, and got the guard prepared for the meeting. By the time the sun was rising towards noon, Silver was seated on a cushion in the garden just as the royal sisters once had been to greet him. Two robed ponies came in, allowed past by the guards. They sat down across from him, only their snouts easily visible. Both were a brown shade.

"We have erred," said one.

"Miscalculated," the other offered.

They bowed together. "Forgive us our mistakes. May we start anew?"

Silver perked an ear at the two, looking them over curiously. Their voices sounded male. Why were the bad guys males so often in a world with a female majority? It irked him a little. "Tell me what you want to do, and promise me no more ponies will be hurt by it. We've caused too much damage already." He sat up. "Diamond dogs, zebras, or any other sentient creature for that matter. Enough death."

Author's Notes:

Silver survives the gala, and the attention of his fellow ponies, and then the plot continues!

He also survived a miffed Rainbow Dash and all he got out of it was a few typos! Practically unscathed!

Next Chapter: 97 - The Lightning Wheel Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 3 Minutes
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