Silver roused first and nuzzled up along Celestia's throat. Somehow, she felt less intimidating. She was a human too, brought to the world through similar means, though she had been in a much more dire place than himself. His soft snuggling got little happy noises from her, and he gently licked over her lips. "I love you."

Celestia smiled gently. "If I didn't feel the sincerity of those words, I would scold you." She squeezed him close then rolled up to her belly. "Do I still scare you?" He shook his head, and she seemed to believe him. She rubbed noses gently. "We have something new, something precious, between us. You are my stallion. I am your mare."

Silver felt himself stirring at her words. "I am your stallion, you are my mare. Are we going to tell Luna about this?"

Celestia nodded. "If I don't, I know you will, by accident if no other way. This is not something we can hide." She suddenly smirked at Silver. "I wonder if her love form will attract you as well as my own."

Silver blushed intensely. "You are a radiant goddess of a woman, just as you are as a mare. Every inch of you is enchanting, and I am the luckiest stallion on this world to be yours." He kissed either cheek and nuzzled nose-to-nose with her. "I feel really sappy right now, but it's the truth. I know mares tend to be a little more in charge than stallions, and I think I've found all of those I truly consider my wife, I'm quite happy with the idea of them owning me that way. To be examined by Twilight, to bask in your radiance, to let Fast Change express her many appetites, or be astounded by Night Watch's amazingly keen wit and insight. All of my wives are goddesses, and I am proud to be their stallion."

Celestia rubbed noses with Silver slowly. "You are no small prize yourself, my stallion, my husband. You are still growing, physically, and mentally, but you can do so much, and are willing to do it, even when it's rightfully frightening to consider. We love you, Silver Stars, and that love is well-placed." She dismounted the bed and stretched out. "Let's wash ourselves and see to our guest, if she's awake. I have little left to fear from her, and she should know her feeble attempt to unsettle me has only brought us closer together."

She slipped into the tub and Silver joined her. They washed each other with magically-wielded brushes, and Silver found himself thinking of all the ways Celestia was lovely. A thought came to him. "When should you be in heat again?"

Celestia frowned a little. "It's not a heat. We're not animals." A soft snort escaped her. "Already eager to try again?"

Silver rubbed against her side. "Sorry. My thought's hit a rut, about ruts. Does it bother you? I mean, that you used to be human."

Celestia perked an ear. "I'm sure that many thousands of years ago, your essence was part of many animals, but you give it little thought, and why should you? So I was human, it means nothing now, except that we can be closer, easier. My family, if I had any, is long gone, but my true family remains. Luna is with me, just as I wanted, and I have several others that love me." She raised a hoof to either of Silver's cheeks. "The only thing that bothers me is this 'Text' that has haunted us both, but I can't think of how to even start addressing that, so I choose not to. I am a mare first, and a woman second, just for you."

Silver warmed at her words and leaned in for a kiss. They pressed passionately for a time before they rinsed off and emerged from the tub, refreshed. Silver pulled on his clothing. "You know, I don't think I mentioned, but that necklace you wear came from when you were a human. It came with you, and is a part of your deep past."

Celestia glanced down at it. "That far back? I see why you said what you did." She moved for the door at a leisurely walk.

Silver followed after her. "Why were you so eager to battle Nefertari? You know you didn't even have to."

Celestia swiveled an ear. "I had a dream. They come at times, visions in dark places, showing me what could be, what might occur..."

Silver shuddered and clenched his teeth a moment. "You... Celestia, you've been visited by the Text all this time!"

Celestia stopped and turned towards Silver. "Truly? I was given the impression I would face her, or that she may take you away, or hurt others on this ship, but that if I fought her, on her terms, we may yet find peace."

Silver bobbed his head. "He is an opener of paths, as he likes to say. He loves laying out options and possibilities and letting us wander down one or the other. He won't force us down one, but he isn't above not giving us all the information to make an educated decision."

Celestia gave a slow and thoughtful nod. "I have had such dreams before. When Tirek returned, for example, I was afflicted with nightmares most terrible, and I knew I had to have faith in Twilight. There were other ways that I saw, but they all came with terrible prices. I could have battled Tirek, Luna at my side. We would have likely won, in time, but so much of Equestria would have paid the price for it, and it wasn't assured."

Silver smirked a little. "Through you, he has been able to shape Twilight, helping to nudge her along to her own princessdom. I don't know why. I'm not even sure he has a 'why'. It could be as simple as wanting to see where that led. Heck, I specifically asked not to become an alicorn, and he casually noted a path was there, but would be long and painful, and that's what I ended up walking down. I became a mare, then a princess, and finally a prince, just as he predicted, and just as painfully."

Celestia's face changed to that of sincere regret. "I... I had a vision that turning you..." She rolled a hoof. "I felt certain that if I made you a mare, you would find happiness. I was never so certain in a vision before."

Silver snorted loudly. "He rigged the field..." He leaned in and nuzzled at her. "If it makes a difference, I don't regret having spent time as a mare. It let me learn to love Night Watch all over again, and it was... amazing in its own way, even if I never stopped being scared of being attracted to stallions."

Celestia tilted her head curiously. "You say that in the past tense. Are you not afraid of them now?"

Silver considered that with a frown. "I still don't want, uh, anything going in what should be an outwards exit, but stallions, themselves? I... don't think I'm afraid of them so much. They're ponies too, just as worthy of love."

Celestia suddenly grew a truly massive horse shaft and smirked at Silver wickedly as heavy balls descended from between her legs. She said nothing. Nothing needed to be said. Silver flushed terribly and began to tremble as he got the meaning of the unspoken challenge loud and clear. "M-maybe after we talk to Nefertari, if you'd like?"

Celestia nodded properly. "Good. It's about time you experienced the spell you brought into being." She became entirely a mare again and led the way through the ship. "I am proud of you, Silver Stars. I know this is no small part of your identity. Don't feel pressured. You won't hurt my feelings in the slightest if you decline such things, or make me think less of you."

Silver bumped against her side. "I said I would, and I meant it, unless you don't want it?" He leaned in and whispered in one of her ears, "I'll do my best to make you whinny."

It was Celestia's turn to blush even as she burst into laughter. "You horrible stallion. Have you been taking lessons from Bottom?"

A guard approached the two of them and saluted. "Princess, Prince, our supplies are running dangerously low. The Quartermaster says that there's no way we'll last until we get to Equestria at our current rate of consumption. We need to stop in Anugypt for supplies."

Celestia nodded at him. "Very well, instruct our guests that they must stay below decks as we approach and leave Anugypt, no exceptions. Do we have enough room to hold all the supplies we'll need?"

The guard nodded firmly. "Yes, your majesty! We'll have to use some unconventional storage space, but we'll make it work!" He dipped his head. "Your meals will have to be reduced, your majesty, please forgive us, but there's no way around it."

Celestia waved a hoof. "A price worth paying."

Silver nodded in quick agreement. "I can do without as much fancy food if it keeps sick Anubians from suffering."

The guard smiled with relief. "Thank you. I'll see to the preparations!" He rushed off with purpose, hooves clopping against the wood.

Shei walked past the guard with a soft and respectful nod before coming up to Silver and Celestia. She smiled gently. "You two look especially well. Did everything turn out alright? It's good to see you back to normal, mistress."

Celestia leaned in and nuzzled one of Shei's ears. "I'm fine, more than fine. Silver and I are going to talk to Nefertari if she's awake. Is everything alright?"

Shei nodded quickly. "Yes, especially now that I know you're both alright. I'll tell the others."

Silver gestured towards a wall, unsure of which way Anugypt was. "We're visiting Anugypt for a little while to restock supplies, then it's off to Equestria."

Shei twisted an ear back. "I don't think I want to visit, master. I'll stay on the boat if it's all the same."

Silver kissed her cheek. "We don't need to get off the ship at all, just be patient while they stock up, and deal with less of a spread during dinner. We have to make the supplies last the trip to Equestria."

Shei gave a slow nod. "Of course, master. We can do that. The Anubians are nervous, but hopeful. I'm doing my best to keep their spirits up."

Celestia smiled at that. "That's excellent. Please, continue to support and comfort them. They are in a sensitive place, and having some friends will help them."

"As you wish." Shei moved to leave, but Silver was certain she looked happy about her initiative being praised.

Silver nodded to Celestia. "Let's see how our guest is doing."

They walked side-by-side in the narrow hallways. It was a little cramped and kept them bumping into each other, but neither minded that a little bit, and the fact that they didn't made both a little happier.

Author's Notes:

More of the Text's meddling is made clear. Celestia and Silver are happier than ever by the end though, despite the typos in their life. I'm back from Bronycon now, yay!