For once, my first thoughts upon waking up aren’t about where I am, what happened to me, or how much existing hurts. I think I’m truly happy for the first time, and I don’t want to leave this spot for anypony—not if it means leaving the warm embrace of my big spoon... my Ice Blossom. Cuddling against her still sleeping form, a blanket over us both, I heave a sigh of contentment.

Rolling over, I look at my marefriend and wonder how I even won her over. The way we met sure isn’t anything to write home about; convincing a pony that you’re some sort of whacked out cannibal determined to eat her definitely doesn’t make them love you. Granted, depending on who you ask, being able to eat somepony helps, but that probably only works going from friendship with benefits to a real romance. I can’t even imagine a relationship going from ‘No, don’t eat me!’ to ‘Yeah baby, eat my pussy!’

I chuckle to myself in spite of the lewd joke. I don’t think Blossom would ever behave that way. She’s pretty forward because of her inexperience with the language, but she’s definitely not anywhere close to being that forward. Just hearing somepony say something lewd like that has her blushing. That’s why I’m in no rush to push our love beyond platonics.

“Hearing giggling upon waking might be something to look forward to with foals,” Blossom murmurs with a sleepy, half-lidded smile, “but I’d much rather wake up to a kiss.”

“What?” I gasp, rolling backward off of the bed in surprise. Sure, it’s absolutely undignifying to fall out of bed, but the indignity is lessened by the pain of the landing on one of my flared-out wings. Stupid wing priapism! “Ooof. What’s gotten into you, Blossom? One kiss and now you’re begging for more?” I tease, watching her hang over the edge of the bed, staring apologetically back at me. “Should I throw aside alchemy and open a kissing booth?”

This time, it’s her turn to blush. “You wouldn’t!” she counters in a confident voice, never losing her smile. “I have a monopoly on your cute little face. If you were to start kissing other mares or stallions, I would no longer have a monopoly over you, and that would make me very sad.”

“Not to mention it would cheapen your love,” a voice calls out from the doorway. Laying the top of my head flat against the floor, I see an upside-down Lyra with little Honeydew sticking close by her side. “I wonder if Bon-Bon and I were this lovey-dovey when we first started.”

I stare at her for a moment before glancing back to Blossom. “We’re not... Wow, we kind of are, aren’t we?” Shrugging inwardly, I look back at Lyra and smile. “G’morning, Lyra! G’morning, Honeydew. What’s up?”

The aquamarine mare smiles before igniting her horn in that familiar amber glow, floating in a sheaf of letters bound by some string. “Some mail came for you this morning,” she answers, waving the sheaf in front of my face before setting it on the floor in front of me. “Looks pretty official to me.”

“It would appear that ponies have determined you have left the hospital and concluded you are now fit to be rewarded for your heroism,” Blossom agrees in a slightly teasing tone, stepping off of the bed. “I’m so proud of you.”

I honestly don’t think I should be laughing at this, given my previous hero complex, but it is rather humorous that she’d worded it in that manner. It’s basically like, ‘Drat, she escaped before we could crown her a hero! Oh well, she shan’t have gone far; she’s still wounded, after all!’ Still giggling, I roll onto my belly before pushing myself up off the floor. I snatch up the bundle of letters and return to the bed before reading the addressers.

The first, surprisingly, bears a royal seal. I sit there skimming through it once or twice just to be sure I get the gist of it. At the request of both princesses, I apparently seem to be scheduled to attend a small function at the Ponyville town hall, where a royal representative will bestow on me a commendation for my heroism. From the wording of it, Princess Celestia wants it clear that this isn’t optional, and whether I like it or not, there is societal precedent that mandates a reward for my actions. Something about a village razing itself because a hero wasn’t recognized. I honestly think it’s bullshit, but that’s not really the thing you call a demigod on if you value your internal organs remaining as such.

Following that is a letter from the Mayor of Ponyville. Basically, she wishes to mediate a meeting between me and Silver Spoon’s family. No surprise here—they wish to thank me personally for saving their daughter’s life. The letter may also have hinted at some sort of monetary reward, but I don’t really care about that. If I had found her mutilated corpse instead of saving her, I wouldn’t be getting any placards, certificates, medals or what-have-you, so I don’t see it reasonable that I should be paid. Granted, I’m also not a greedy pony.

My final piece of correspondence is a bit more worrying. The envelope states that whatever’s inside is from the Head of the Alchemy Department, one Ginger Flask. Unable to help myself, I read the letter aloud to the others. “Dear Silver Script,” I begin, already frowning. “We at Canterlot University extend our congratulations on your heroic deeds in Ponyville. It makes the department heads and chairponies always proud to hear our students are using their educations to do some good in the world.”

“I smell a but coming,” Lyra jokes, before looking down at Honeydew. “Or one that’s already come.”

“That being said,” I continue, my brow creasing as I read further into the letter. “We cannot condone the misuse of alchemy. A blood-tailored cleansing potion is a tool of healing, not a weapon. Normally, a violation of the tenets of the Restorative School of alchemy—such as using the ability to heal to do harm—would result in two demerits in addition to the mandatory three demerits for alchemical misconduct. Given the circumstances, however, the council agrees that all demerits should be waived. Please keep this in mind for future reference.”

Dropping the letter, I cover my face with a hoof. “In other words, fillies and gentlecolts, ‘Dear Silver, you’re a hero; go blank yourself.’”

Blossom frowns at me before picking up the letter and reading it over. “It doesn’t imply that anywhere in the letter, Silver,” she admonishes, missing the sarcasm of my summary. “It is simply a written warning.”

In spite of myself, I crack a smile before looking at the window. “Never mind, Blossom,” I reply, giggling. “Bad joke.” Giving her a sidelong glance, I ask, “I have to go do a meet and greet because ponies think I am a hero; wanna come with?”

Ice Blossom looks pensive for a few moments before shaking her head. “I still need to go about town for what I came for,” she answered cheerfully. “I might be able to acquire some samples of this Poison Joke plant, both for my studies, and maybe your own alchemical experiments.” This draws a look from Lyra, one of unspoken curiosity. “Besides, this is something for you. I should not intrude on it, even if you would like your special somepony there to watch your ego inflate.”

Given that I never wanted any of this, it’s no great surprise that I would prefer my trip to the town hall to be uneventful, but unfortunately, it seems I’m cursed to live an interesting life. Being too beaten up to steadily fly yet, I opt to walk, but somewhere in town, I manage to get turned around once or twice, leaving me woefully lost and cursing Gale for not returning my compass. There are plenty of ponies out and about—many of whom occasionally glance at me before whispering to another nearby pony—so it only seems right to ask one of them for help.

Big mistake, it would seem. Upon trotting up to a rather nice looking stallion on the boulevard with three-horseshoe cutie mark on his hip, he smiles down at me and says, “Well howdy there, little miss. I’ve never seen you around here before, and you look a bit lost.”

“Embarrassing as it is, yeah, I’m pretty lost,” I reply, rubbing one fetlock against the opposite knee.

“What’cha need help finding?” asks the amber stallion as he tilts his head to get his light brown mane out of his cerulean eyes. “I’ve lived here in Ponyville all my life, so I pretty much know where everything is.”

“I won’t lie to you then, sir,” I look down in shame. “I’m incredibly directionally challenged, and I got lost on my way to a meeting at town hall.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Lost on the way to town hall?” he whispers, a small smiled crosses his face. “You’re not perchance that Silver Script mare everypony’s been whispering about for the last few days, are you?”

Shit. Ponies are really talking about this lamia thing? “Y-yeah,” I mumble. “That’s me.”

The stallion nickers excitedly, “Well don’t that just beat all?” He grabs one of my hooves and begins shaking it vigorously. “I’m honored to have had the chance to meet the mare who saved three of our own.”

“Three?” I ask, confused. “I only saved a filly.”

“Shucks, no need to be modest, little miss,” he chuckles. “Just between you and me, Miss Applejack—the boss mare at the apple orchard I work at—won’t stop talking about how proud she is to have known you. Says you saved the little filly twice, and her and Rainbow Dash from the lamia.”

“All I did was get eaten!”

“... and lived!” he insists, his voice raising into an excited shout. “It didn’t, so that sounds mighty heroic in my book. Helping you reach town hall is the least I can do for the Hero of Ponyville!”

That’s when the cheering begins. At first, I assume I’m experiencing a small earthquake, or perhaps a stampede, but when I look, everypony on the boulevard is watching me and the stallion, stomping their hooves in applause. Yeah... This is exactly what I didn’t want. Any other pony might be thrilled to get a hero’s welcome as a stallion parades them through town to receive her reward, but for me, it just hurts—digging at the scar that is Pound Cake.

For the sake of the ponies in town, I decide to throw on a brave face let them have their hero for the time being. I mean, it’s just going to be a passing thing, like the Elements of Harmony; good for a few days of celebration before passing into obscurity, until nopony even recognizes the name Silver Script. ‘Silver Script? Who’s that?’ a mare might ask, and to which her friend would reply, ‘I dunno. Wasn’t she that pony that saved a filly or something?’

More than a few ponies stop me and the stallion—Caramel, he tells me upon my asking—on our tour of the town. Most of them either thank me for safely returning one of their own, or curiously ask how a little thing like me managed to down an overgrown lamia, but a few from the mob on the first day also stop to talk. Most of them are apologetic for their behavior and the partial stoning before saying something really cliched like ‘I always knew you were a good pony!’

Needless to say, what should have be a mere fifteen minute walk lasts almost forty-five minutes and multiple explanations of the potion longer than necessary before I grow frustrated and settling on ‘because magic’ just to expedite the process. I think around that time, Caramel starts to get the picture that I really, really don’t want to be treated like a hero, and just want to get to town hall, and increases the pace, cutting through a few alleyways and streets.

Arriving on the doorstep of the town hall, I turn to Caramel and smile tiredly. “Thank you for leading me here Caramel,” I say softly. “You really helped me out there.”

“You’re welcome, miss,” he replies bashfully, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I got you tied up in all the hero worship. Ponies around here really like their heroes, and like to be able to celebrate them.”

I raise an eyebrow at his comment before smiling wryly. “Well, you all could always just count your blessings every time you stop by the Golden Oaks library and see Twilight, stop in at work to see Applejack, or when you thank Rainbow Dash for keeping the weather team functioning. Each time you grab a snack at Sugarcube Corner, leave an extra tip for Pinkie Pie as thanks, or if you need to get a dress for your special somepony, go see Rarity at Carousel Boutique. Remember Fluttershy every time she comes by to help you with a critter-related conundrum. Those six are national heroes, and have saved equestria no less than three times!”

He stares blankly at me for a moment before a light seems to come on inside his head. “Thank you miss, I’ll remember that and make sure to pass the word around. Seems like we’ve all forgotten something mighty important to us,” he says, turning to leave. “Good day, Silver Script.”

“You too, Caramel.”

Turning to open the door, I brace myself. If Ponyville really loves their heroes, you can guarantee that any ‘function’ involving said hero is going to involve a patented Pinkie Pie Party. Surely, I’ll open the door, and be blasted with confetti and streamers, or worse, the party cannon. I’ll be dragged in to play games and eat snacks, all while meeting and greeting Silver Spoon’s family and the royal representative.

For a moment, I have to wonder who this agent of the crown might be. At last I’d heard, Prince Shining Armor is back in the Crystal Empire with Princess Cadance, making her as comfortable as possible and lightening her load with their foal on the way. It’d be too much for Princesses Celestia and Luna to ask for him to come all the way out to Ponyville just to give out an award. I can even imagine what he’d say to me: ‘This isn’t what I meant by stay out of trouble.’

Certainly it wouldn’t be Twilight! The mare is probably exhausted after whatever silliness occurred yesterday. Is she even officially an agent of the crown? I mean, yeah, she’s Princess Celestia’s student, and she’s acted in an official capacity in the past as the bearer of the Element of Magic, but she’s still a civvie! No, it can’t be her.

Who then?

Shaking the questions from my head, I grab one of the hanging-ring handles on the double doors, dragging it open. Steeling myself for what’s to come once more, I step quickly through the door before it swings shut behind me. My heart pounds in anxious anticipation, but the burst of confetti and streamers from a party popper never comes.

Instead, the only things greeting me are the happy—no, proud—smiles of a great number of familiar ponies, and a few tables of food on either side of the main chamber. The tan and gray form of Mayor Mare stands first and foremost among the crowd. To her right, I see most of the Elements of Harmony—Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, who looks a bit miffed she isn’t throwing a celebration, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. Twilight is conspicuous in her absence, but the pride in their smiles is more than enough to make up for it.

Their smiles say that regardless of everything that’s happened, things are alright now. It’s more than that, though. Rainbow Dash’s smile—and Applejack’s too, for that matter—bears more than just pride. It’s respect. From Rainbow Dash, I can understand it; after the session on the cloud, we’ve come to an understanding, but Applejack? No matter. I give the pair the slightest of nods, which is quickly returned, a suddenly somber expression on both of their faces.

To the Mayor’s left, I see Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara standing closely like fledgeling lovers, the imposing Sterling Silver and the bespectacled mare that I can only assume is Silver Spoon’s mom, and somepony that I am somehow unsurprised to see most of all—Clear Conscience. I think I’ve known I’d be seeing him since the time in the cave with Silver Spoon. ‘Uncle Clear’ is just too much of a coincidence when I know he’s been here in Ponyville helping deal with a family crisis—Silver Spoon’s behavior and running away.

The expression on all of their faces is more of immense thanks than it is of pride, except with Clear. The pride shining through in his expression, however, is tainted with something else: pity. In that split second, when our eyes meet, I know why there’s no party or parade. Clear Conscience, my confidant, therapist—friend, even—spoke out on my behalf, and I cannot thank him enough.

I cast him an appreciative nod before approaching. “Thank you for coming, Silver Script,” the graying mayor announces in an official-sounding tone. Jeeze, is everything an event with this lady? Wait... never mind. “On behalf of everypony in Ponyville, I would like to thank you for saving three of our own. You’re truly an insp—”

“I’m terribly sorry, ma’am, but I really must stop you there,” I say with a pained expression, and an apologetic look to everypony in the room. “I know with everything that has happened in the town over the last little while, Ponyville wants to have some sort of definite hero. I’m okay with that, really!”

Shaking my head, I glance in Silver Spoon’s direction. “I’m fully prepared to be thanked for saving Silver Spoon here. Luna preserve me, she’s been through far too much in that accursed forest,” I say softly, giving the filly a big smile. “She deserves to live, and I couldn’t just let her be eaten.”

I look back to Mayor Mare, frowning once more. “I’ll admit that I’m a hero in that aspect, but please... don’t exaggerate my deeds by claiming I saved Applejack and Rainbow Dash,” I continue in an apologetic tone. “Those two are the most physically capable mares I’ve ever met. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that as soon as the lamia got me, they were never in any real danger.” Bowing my head forward, I finish by saying, “Again, I apologize for interrupting you.”

The mare stares at me in shock, soundlessly working her mouth as she tries to formulate a response. Taking advantage of her stunned silence to gauge reactions, I once more look around at the group. Applejack, Clear Conscience, and Rainbow Dash all nod approvingly, affirming that yes, I made the right choice. I have no idea how Silver Spoon’s parents or the rest of the present Elements of Harmony feel about my little denial of the greater tale of heroism.

Probably the most shocking and confusing reactions to my speech come from Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Silver Spoon looks enraptured by my speech, silently mouthing ‘Luna preserve me’ to herself. I have no doubt I’d find stars in her eyes if I looked close enough. Is this how Scootaloo looks at Rainbow Dash? In saving her, have I become a role-model to her? Diamond Tiara, on the other hoof looks tearful but grudgingly respectful, as though it’s still sinking in that a blank flank saved her best friend’s life.

“Yes, well then,” Mayor Mare mumbles. “Still, on behalf of everypony, I thank you for saving one of our own.” She gives Clear Conscience and Sterling Silver a sour look, and I could swear I could hear her mutter something about fifty bits. “Now then, there are a number of ponies here who desire to speak with you while Princess Celestia’s representative arrives.”

With that said, everypony breaks off into their own small discussions around the food tables, while the mayor ascends a small set of stairs opposite of the town hall’s entrance, no doubt eager to get back to whatever work she would normally be doing. I can’t help but ponder the mare’s muttering. Did she really make a bet with those two after being warned that I would I would not take to being credited with more than I deserve?

Well, at any rate, half of the reason I’m here is to meet with the Silver family, so I begin to make my way towards the silver stallion and mare situated near the fillies. Up close, it’s not hard to tell that Silver Spoon got her looks from her mother. If not for the mare’s red irises, I could easily mistake her for an older version of her daughter. Sterling Silver, on the other hoof is a grizzled looking stallion. Rather than the suave, pampered look of a nobleman, he has the air of hard work and compassion, with the physique of a whitesmith.

“Hello, sir, ma’am,” I say politely, bowing slightly before them. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“The pleasure is all ours, I assure you,” the large white stallion rumbles in a deep, but oddly pleasant voice. “You probably already know my name from the posters, but I am Sterling Silver, and my lovely wife here is Silver Lining.”

The mare honestly looks like she’s trying her best not to start hugging me, crying happily about bringing her baby home to her. Instead the mare surprises me by brushing a lock of my mane—such as it is, given all it has been through—away from my face before gently kissing me on the forehead. “I owe you more than you can ever know for bringing my baby home to me,” she whispers. “Thank you.”

Letting out a rumbling chuckle, Sterling Silver pats me gingerly on the shoulder—no doubt a display of expert control from his trade, if the anvil and silver bar cutie mark are any indicators. “I must say, when I found out who you were from my brother-in-law, I didn’t know what to expect,” he says, smiling. “I could hardly believe you were the same mare as the one swapped with Lyra Heartstrings.”

“Yeah,” I look down. “Not one of my prouder days.” Looking thoughtfully to Silver Lining, I smile. “Your brother helped me come a long way, even with how little time we had.”

Taken aback, she swallows gently before nodding. “He always did like to help ponies,” she agrees. “After mother...”

“The irony isn’t lost on us that a pony with a name that wouldn’t be out of place in our own family—one helped by my brother-in-law, no less—is the one who saved our little girl,” Sterling Silver says, chuckling again to lighten the mood. “To top it all off, you managed to strengthen our daughter’s friendship with her best friend while removing her friend’s negative behavior. I don’t know how you did it, but I know she couldn’t be happier, and that’s good enough for me.”

“Who, Diamond Tiara?” I shake my head. “I just showed her some compassion and hinted that your daughter wasn’t just friends with her because of her attitude. I dunno for certain, but she probably realized what their friendship was based around, and decided she didn’t have to bully others for Silver Spoon’s respect.”

Nodding, Silver Lining sighs. “I hope that’s the case as well,” she says wistfully. “It’d be nice to see them both get along with the other children.”

“At any rate, there must be some way we can repay you for saving our daughter,” the great white beast of a stallion insists. “We’d put away a fair bit as a reward for information while she was missing, so if it’s money you want...”

I shake my head, smiling. “There’s no need for a reward, honest,” I reply humbly. “The fact that your daughter is alive to grow up safe and healthy is reward enough for me. I’m being taken care of financially by the crown until my education is complete, by which point I should be more than well-off. Rather, if it isn’t too much trouble, would you perhaps be willing to make a donation to the Ponyville schoolhouse on my behalf? I’m sure Miss Cheerilee wouldn’t mind having some funds for new teaching materials or a school trip that didn’t in part come out of her pay.”

The two parents exchange a look before nodding. “Humble and generous,” the bespectacled mare comments with an approving grin. “Is it any wonder our daughter has a new role model?”

“Quite,” he rumbles in agreement. “At the very least, allow us to treat you to dinner. I know Silver Spoon would love that.”

A free meal for a life is definitely a good trade. I’m kind of glad to know that not all snooty rich girls are a result of parents with similar outlooks, and for that reason I’m thankful that even bullies can change. “I humbly accept your offer,” I reply with a smile, “but for the moment, I’m sure there are plenty of ponies who would like to talk right now.”

Author's Notes:

Sorry about the wait, guys. Been doing a lot of reading in the last little while, and I've been working on some important scenes further down the line. I've actually entirely finished one of the most pivotal chapters in the entire story. It's not been put in for pre-reading yet, because I want this to be incredibly special, and thus I'm waiting until it's actually posting time.

I wanna thank E3gner and DarkxRedemption this week for editing. Sorry about the issues you're having with GDocs, NightmareKnight. Maybe next-time.

I wanna take a moment to say that my posting might be a bit sporadic for a while, but I'm trying my best to get as much writing done as I can. My family's house has a conditional offer on it, and barring the offer falling through, I'm leaving my family behind and heading back to Ontario. If that's the case, my net-access might be iffy for a while.