Silver awoke. He was alone in the bedroom. Had they carried him home? He supposed that they must have. Slipping from bed, he stretched out languidly. A mirror allowed him to look himself over. The band around his neck was solid looking and covered in tiny runes of delicately complex nature. He turned one way and the other. "It goes well with my crown," he decided out loud before he turned his attention to a brush laying nearby.

He wrapped his magic around it and felt the power flow differently within him. There were two centers, one at either circlet on his body. Without focus, the power came from both, and arousal came with it, if less rapidly than before. With a little practice, he could draw from the frontmost center of energy, and using magic became freed of its libido-enhancing effects. Instead it left him breathing a bit more deeply, and his heart quickened. He felt like he could run, jump, dance... just move, any movement.

It was better than wanting to mount a mare, any mare. He trotted briskly to the door, working the brush through his fur along the way. He burst out into the hallway and trotted towards the deck, looking for Celestia or anyone else he knew, but the moment there was air above him, his wings began to itch. Flying would be best to work off the excess energy, he decided. He put down the brush and took off, doing circles around the ship.

Elsewhere, in the dining hall, a guard slipped in and announced to Celestia, "Prince Silver Stars has awoken and took flight. He's currently flying around the ship."

Shei tilted her head. "It's good that he's awake, and well?"

Oman frowned as he rose to his hooves. "My work isn't quite finished. You're off-duty, Shei, Bottom, enjoy your meal." He trotted from the room with a clear purpose. Celestia rose and followed after him. Both arrived on the deck to see Silver making a wide circle around the ship, leaving a silvery trail of force behind him as he went around and around.

Celestia pointed at Silver. "I gather you know what's going on here?"

Stroke laughed from where he landed a moment later. "He's flying faster than most of my friends. What has possessed our friend?"

Oman put a hoof over his face. "The young idiot is still trying to use one bangle over the other. They are meant to work together, or they will continue to cause imbalances in him. Can you call him down?"

Celestia nodded as she turned her head to keep Silver in sight. She drew a deep breath before she employed the Royal Canterlot Voice as she had not had occasion to do often. "Silver, come down and say hello."

Silver pulled to an abrupt halt and looked down at her a moment before he streaked towards her with pumping wings. He crashed into her in a fierce hug, "It's good to see you!" He sounded jubilantly happy and vibrated with energy.

Celestia hugged him back gently, but was surprised when tears began to fall on her shoulder despite his broad smile and energetic hug. "Silver, are you alright?"

"W-why wouldn't I be alright?" Silver drew back, jittering as he stood there. "S-so Night Watch is going to leave me." He swallowed heavily. "I don't deserve her anyway, and I have sooo many other mares, right? Aila hates me and what I've done to her, but she's dead, so her opinion doesn't matter."

Oman suddenly raised a hoof and punched Silver right on the forehead. Silver recoiled back, a bump rising quickly. "Ow! The hell? What'd I do to piss you off now?"

Celestia took a slow breath. "Let's retire inside, Silver, and no more magic for now." She extended a wing and guided Silver with it. She walked alongside him as his rush started to fade and he fell into abject misery entirely. By the time she had escorted Oman and Silver back to her room, Silver was a miserable collection of tears. "Oman, perhaps you'd like to explain things to us now?" She said it as a question, but her tone implied there was little choice in answering it.

Oman nodded lightly before pointing at the necklace around Silver's neck. "This controls power around the heart and lungs. It controls vitality and movement, just as this--" He pointed to the one between Silver's legs. "--controls the loins, which includes virility and fertility. Wearing just one of either will lead to an unbalanced life of extremes, be it as a sex-crazed stud or an athlete who can't stop moving and excelling."

Celestia raised a brow. "So how is this better than where he was before?"

Oman sat on his haunches. "That's easy."

"Do tell," said Stroke from where he sat, perched in the window.

Celestia glanced off at the bird with a frown before looking back at Oman expectantly.

Oman held up his forehooves. "It is a balance. Used together, neither effect is so extreme as to destroy one's life. He is improved, if he accepts the milder effect of either."

Silver grit his teeth. "Fantastic. So I'm still cursed, just with superior flavor choice in what kind of fucked I am."

"Basically," agreed Oman. "The wizard who originally forged these intended for them all to be used together."

Stroke leaned in from the window. "'All'? How many are there?"

Oman looked at Stroke impassively, but Celestia rolled a hoof and he sighed. "I know of at least five, but I do not know where they are. This is enough to get your prince moving and in control of himself."

Celestia sighed softly and turned to Silver. "Now, what was that about Night Watch?"

Silver sat on his haunches and wobbled a hoof. "Do you remember The Text?" Celestia nodded uncertainly. "Well he came back and showed me a few things, including Night Watch being tired of my bullshit and leaving. I mean... I guess it hasn't happened yet... but she... she noticed when Luna was trying to influence her dreams."

Celestia tilted her head. "She shouldn't be influencing dreams in such a way that would make a pony angry. I will have to share words with her when we return. Are you certain as to the validity of these claims?"

Silver sank a little. "The parts involving the future are just could-be's, but I don't think he's ever lied about the past before. She knows. She knows and probably thinks I wanted to cover it all up and brainwash her. I'd leave me too. I miss her so much right now." He sank to the floor, sniffling softly.

Celestia pointed to the door. "That will be enough, Oman, goodbye." Oman soon left, but Master Stroke remained, watching from the window. She raised a brow at him.

"Hmm? Oh! I'll see you later." He flapped off and left Celestia alone with Silver.

Celestia settled in front of Silver and rubbed noses with him gently. "Whichever way it turns, you have earned my loyalty on this trip. I will do my best for you."

It was a bitter victory for Silver. He wanted Celestia's approval, but the cost... He took a slow breath and smiled. He moved in beside her and rested with her quietly a moment before asking, "Have we scheduled the meeting with the King and Queen yet? We should get that out of the way."

Celestia smiled in kind. "That's the Silver I've come to adore. I've sent a runner who should be back soon. They'll likely see us tomorrow." She rose to her hooves and offered one to Silver. "Let's get you cleaned up and ready."

Silver rose with her help, and they bathed together in the hot water. His pains and aches were washed away with the stains. Learning to draw with both avenues open left him feeling mostly normal, with the heightened energy and enhanced libido coming in at a low 0.2 compared to the 1.0 they were before.

"I thought of a positive in this." Silver perked an ear at Celestia. "When it comes time to try again, I'll be able to focus a lot of energy to the task. I will give you that foal you've wanted."

Celestia rubbed snouts with Silver gently. "I would care for you even if you were gelded tomorrow. You don't have to prove anything to me."

Silver nipped at one of her ears. "And if I want to do it? I want to fulfill that dream of yours, no matter how everything else turns out. I've grown very fond of you, Celestia, and I was already pretty fond of you from an idealistic point of view. When I first met you, I wanted to be on your good side so badly."

Celestia smiled gently. "You were little more than a little awkward colt, and now, here you are, my awkward little stallion." She hooked a leg around him and pulled him into a hug, and they snuggled together. All troubles in the world were put aside as they drew comfort and even happiness from one another. They would face it all, together.

A soft knocking brought them out of their content snuggles. Celestia opened the door to reveal Fiddah with the other two servants behind her. Fiddah dipped her head towards the royal couple. "The messenger returned. They have agreed to see you, tomorrow, at ten AM. I have instructed the kitchen staff to have breakfast prepared early. Do you require anything from us?"

Celestia considered a moment before pointing to Silver. "I think we could both stand a good grooming." They emerged from the tub. Silver was dried by the affectionate touches of Bottom and Shei while Fiddah diligently worked on Celestia. Once they were dry, brushes were applied to soft fur.

Shei asked as she worked, "Are you feeling better now, master?"

Silver nodded. "I am. We're not done yet, but it was still good we came here." He raised a leg as Bottom worked around it. "Thank you, both of you."

Bottom smiled as she worked up along a thigh dangerously. "Always a pleasure, sir."

Silver enjoyed feeling like he had control over himself and remained stoic as Bottom worked. Soon he was groomed and glossy. He turned to look at Celestia and saw that Fiddah was having some trouble with Celestia's waving tail. "I think you may want an assistant for that. Shei, Bottom?"

The three servants together were able to tame Celestia's unruly locks and get her looking her best, even if it was only for bed.

They bowed as one and excused themselves, leaving Silver with Celestia. Silver trotted to the window that had held a bird and closed it securely before locking it. That night he'd spend with Celestia, and he wanted privacy for their activities. He had a lot of feelings he planned to express to her very physically, and guests were not welcomed.

Author's Notes:

Silver awakens! Now the typos will be scared away.