enemies come in all shapes and sizes. [Concluded]

[Toast]

Silver was out for a walk on a fine Ponyville day. The sun was shining, the sky was clear and many ponies were out either playing or conversing with each other. With the holiday season over it was time again for the weather Pegasai to decrease the amount of snow around the town in order to make winter wrap manageable. Silver was excited to see that, having only ever lived in Canterlot he was excited to learn just how the earth ponies take care of such a daunting task.

But for the time being there was still snow on the ground and the ponies of Ponyville were enjoying the last bit of time left they had with it. In fact a short distance away he could see a group of young fillies and colts enjoying a snowball fight. Other ponies dressed in earmuffs or the odd winter jacket were standing around chatting. He gently smiles as he continues along the park path. Silver himself was dressed in nothing more than just a striped black and white scarf around his neck. In front of him we has levitating a small cup of cocoa that he had gotten from somepony who had set up a stand at the front of the park. There seemed to be a lot of little niceties like that around Ponyville. He knew that the farmer ponies had less chores to do in the winter months, but it was still astonishing in the amount of ways they found things to do for each other.

"Hey there mister." says squeaky voice.

Silver looks behind his back to see where the voice had come from, only to find a small colt, so young that he was without a cutie mark, looking up at him. "Oh, hello there little one, can I help you?" Silver did his best to sound friendly but to be honest he always felt a little awkward around children, he just never quite knew how to talk to them.

"How come your coat does that?" Says the colt, referring to Silvers glinting coat.

"Oh, well I'm afraid it just does, ever since I was born. It's kind of a mystery." Silver says with an awkward smile.

The young colt stares up at Silver with a blank expression and blinks a few times before turning around and shouting. "WHOEVER HITS THE SHINY PONY FIRST WINS!"

"I'm sorry, what?" Silver starts. But before he could receive a response the answer became apparent as what could only be described as a armada of school colts and fillies appeared from out the bushes armed with snowballs. Silvers face looked as though he had just been sentenced to execution.

"FIRE!"

The first barrage came, so many snowballs it looked as though they covered the entire sky. Still petrified, Silvers motor skills didn't kick in till it was almost too late. His attempt to run was meagre at best as he stumbled his way across the park, doing his best to avoid the snowballs landing all around him. Luckily he was able to take cover behind a large tree, even more luckily is that somehow not a single snowball had made direct contact with him. With his back against the tree the was hiding behind Silver took quick frantic breaths as he could hear the rest of the snowballs pat against the other side of the tree.

"HEY, COME OUT FROM HIDING!" Says the same squeaky voice in the distance.

"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" Silver shouts back.

"GOOD, WE DON'T WANT TO!" The colt responds.

"Cheeky little devil child." Silver mutters in frustration through his teeth. But the kid had a point, there was no more cover anywhere near him. He could try running again but the odds to getting out a second time without being buried in snow was unlikely. Silver needed a miracle to save him now.

[Dark Star]

The cold air whipped through Slipstream's mane as she soared across Ponyville. Winter was coming to a close soon and she was getting her money's worth while she still could. She looked down at the snow-covered town below and saw a lot of other ponies with the same idea. Many were either walking around or playing in the snow, some of them throwing snowballs. She descended slowly to try and get in on the fun when she saw a pony taking cover behind a tree. This individual looked as if he/she was in trouble, and Slipstream was ready and willing to help out. She zipped through the clouds, building up momentum and then shot through the park below, blasting the wind around her hard enough to move much of the snow from the trees directly onto all those targeting the one pony, many of them being swept away by a snow tsunami. 

She watched from above the tree as the young ponies fled from the area, tails between their legs. She laughed loudly and roosted upon the treetop. Her laughter being intense enough to the point she actually fell from the top and landed directly on a small snow bank below. She grunted slightly when she made impact, but was still laughing afterwards. She picked herself up, eyes closed, and gave a small greeting to the pony she just saved. "No need to thank me, I just felt it was nee-" she started saying until her eyes opened and she saw just who it was she was talking to, Silver Glow. She stared at him, cocking her head slightly. She squinted her eyes and placed a hoof against her chin in thought. She gasped and smiled when she realized his name. "Silver Glow, that's what it was!" she announced bluntly. 

"How ya been? Haven't seen ya since you brought home Bright Eyes the other evening" she said happily. She had been surprised to see a colleague of her roommate, but welcomed the thought of getting to spend some time alone with him. She waited for his response with a cheery expression on her face.

[Toast]

Silver inevitable doom felt all but imminent. He could already feel the hail of snow pummelling his body, the wet snow melting and running down his coat. Silver knew any more chances of escape would be useless as he could hear how close the fillies and colts were, and there would be no chance they would miss twice.

But suddenly the shouts changed, from that of attack to that of fear. With a careful look out from behind his cover Silvers sees what could only be described as a miracle, a wind blast of snow that sent his attacks off in retreat. But what was the cause of his salvation? A team of well coordinated pegasai? perhaps Celestia herself?

"No need to thank me, I just felt it was nee-"

Silver glow looks over in the direction of his saviour.

"Slipstream."

The somewhat irritating younger roommate of Dark Star, a pony he had only just recently met and established an immediate connection with. This pony however-

"Silver Glow, that's what it was!"

-was different.

"How ya been? Haven't seen ya since you brought home Bright Eyes the other evening"

"Fine, I suppose." He speaks clearly enough but with wide eyes, still in some disbelief. He wasn't sure whether to thanks her, hug her, or both. 
In the end he opted for the first one.

"I Mean, thank you Slipstream, that was more than helpful." A awkward smile of appreciation finally appears on Silvers face. His statement was genuine too. With the sun the way it was the consistency of the snow was at the stage of being easy to compact but fast melting. Meaning getting pelted by the stuff would have left Silver not only freezing but soaking wet as well. Which was a combination he held great disdain for. Quickly Silver looks back at all the displaced snow Slipstream caused from her attack. "But, how is it exactly you did that?"

[Dark Star]

Slipstream felt quite proud of herself for having saved Silver from an unpleasant experience in the snow. He gratefully thanked her for her assistance and managed to inflate her ego slightly more. She crossed her hooves against her chest and hovered with her back to the floor. She thought pretty high of herself for what she had done, but didn't have much time to bask in the glory as Silver suddenly asked her how she had even done that in the first place. It wasn't much of a surprise that he'd need to ask such a thing. Any-pony would want to know at some point or another. Slipstream shot Silver a toothy grin, confident as she dove into her explanation.

"Pretty simple actually, I just flew past the tree and blew the snow off it" she said. She could see a look of confusion forming on Silver's face as he simply stared at her. She sighed and looked at him with a slightly annoyed stare. Slipstream always hated having to explain things about herself, really it was just the need to explain things in general that she didn't like. She descended down onto the snow-covered ground and began to elaborate. "I might not look it, but I've got the strongest wing-power in all o' Ponyville, easily somewhere over 20. I can't really explain much about it, 'cause I never really thought much of it. I've just got really strong wings, what more is there to sat?" she asked rhetorically.  

It wasn't really the simplest of explanations, but it was the best that Slipstream could do during the situation. "Every-pony's got somethin' that makes 'em special; for me, it's all about the wind. Every time I hear it calling for me, I answer the call with gusto, and it was practically beging for me ta save your flank from those foals. I tell ya though, that's gotta be embarrassing; having to get saved by a girl from some foals, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone" she said with a wink. Slipstream didn't have anything wrong about her honesty, even to the point of being blunt about it. That was just the pony she was. She just wondered what Silver thought in response to all this, if he even could respond. 

[Toast]

Silver stares in silence while Slipstream explains her wings capabilities. Although he wasn't too versed in many things flight related she made it easy enough for him to understand.

"I see." He says before she continues on, saying that she wouldn't let other ponies know of what had happened. Silvers smiles slightly, really that wasn't a problem, he didn't really see any big deal in others knowing he was saved by a girl.

There was however, a new problem brewing in secret. As Silver looks over his shoulder he gets the feeling that somewhere over the snow bank a new plan was being conspired. An army was
now regrouping and building its ranks. Organized, armed, and now driven by a new motivation, revenge.

He had survived the battle, but the war had only started.

Silver eyes dart around before landing back onto Slipstream. There is a look of worry mixed with inquiry on his face as he contemplates over his next move. Diplomacy was most assuredly no longer a valid option. Instead it was now possible that Slipstreams actions, though well intended, may indeed lead him to a more dismal fate. However at this time she was his greatest asset. A flying weapon of mass destruction, a prefect deterrent of future battles.

But for how long? given the given the right location and timing, an assassination attempt could be an occurrence. Or, with enough forces, they might even try to take on Slipstream in all out blitz.

Despite every possibility Silver could think of he still only had one move, he would have to stay close to Slipstream. Trying to sneak home now would be too risky. The fillies and colts were still aware of his current position, he would have to stick with Slipstream until he was certain he would have a clean break back to the safety of his home.
"Well that's great news." He says rather quickly in response to the last thing she said. "So hey, just out of curiosity, you have any free time right now? I thought it would be nice to....Catch up a bit." Silver speaks with a toothy nervous smile, in a tone and expression that read, "I clearly have ulterior motives for wanting to be seen with you right now."

[Dark Star]

Slipstream overheard the sound oh hoof-steps in the distance, apparently the foals had gotten back together and had possibly gotten reinforcements by the sound of it. Slipstream really ticked off a lot of them from her actions, that much she knew. What she didn't know was how she was going to explain things to Dark Star if she roughed them up too much. She took a moment to look back Silver, noting the way his eyes darted from one spot to another as he clearly ignored her philosophy on the wind. Naturally, she assumed he was worried about the war zone they stood on, or hovered above in Slipstreams case. Although it would seem the danger would present itself soon enough, her instincts alone could detect it a mile away.

Silver then asked if she had any free time, apparently wanting to "catch up" being his excuse for asking, even though she was certain the look on his face read "help me". She grinned at this and looked at him with bedroom eyes, then wrapped a fore-leg around his shoulder, flying low to the ground before resting on her hooves. "Sure thing, just follow my lead, Honey" she told him in a soft tone. She starting walking forward, her leg still wrapped around his frame, her facial expression still that of an endearing one. She led him forward slowly, keeping her arm firm as they walked. She fluttered her eyelashes cutely and then asked "So, what's been going on for you lately?".

[Toast]

Silver frowns at the word 'Honey' as Slipstream wrapped on hoof around him. It seemed she had no problem acting chummy with him, although Silver couldn't quite tell if she wasn't doing it as an attempt to annoy him, protect him, or both. As she starts to walk Silver follows suite, keeping pace with her.

"So, what's been going on for you lately?"

Silver looks at Slipstream as she asks her question, their faces a little too close to each other for his own comfort. He notices her tone of voice and the way she flutters her eye lashes. Silvers frown widens.

"Oh, you know just living every day to the fullest. The life of a writer is exhilarating sometimes." Silvers says mild sarcasm and a phony smile, failing to mention that he yet to write anything since he had arrived in Ponyville. Much less anything significant or ground breaking. The sarcasm in his words reflected that though, in fact in was pretty easy to tell he wasn't quiet happy about the current situation. Being hunted by schoolfilles while being coddled by a pony whose exuberance he didn't feel like matching, if it was even possible. But his words were a critique of himself, and wasn't meant to come off mean towards slipstream.

"How has my life come to this." He thinks.

Silvers eyes continue to glance around the park for signs of movement. Luckily there wasn't any to be found, and Silver could feel his tensions beginning to relieve. Perhaps Slipstreams presence was effective after all. And if that meant his day would now be spent with with her, then so be it.

"What about you? Been saving any other colts from certain doom lately?"

[Dark Star]

Slipstream took notice of Silver becoming much more calm, especially when she could sense the hostility leaving the air around the two ponies. A smirk crept its way across her muzzle while she listened to Silvers banter. He seemed to be in high spirits, though her intuition told her that he was kidding, to which the sarcasm in his tone only confirmed it, meaning that he wasn't really committing to the act. She took a foreleg off and merely embraced him with one of her wings. She winked and gave a coy smile. While the gesture was done genuinely, Silver seemed to ignore it, instead choosing to focus on looking around, keeping an eye out for the foals targeting him. Her smile faded slightly; He was more concerned with some mischievous foals than spending the day with her. 'Talk about rude' Slipstream thought.

silver then chose that moment to turn back to her and ask what she'd been doing recently, adding onto to it by asking if she'd been saving any other colts lately. Slipstream narrowed her eyes and smirked again, forming a mischievous thought of her own. "Oh, come now, Honey, you know you're the only one for me" she told him in a sweet tone as she brought the side of her muzzle against his, taking note of how warm his face seemed to feel. 'This oughta get him to loosen up a bit' she thought as she continued the action. One thing Slipstream had always been known for, dating all the way back in flight camp, was nuzzling up close to any-pony she had acquired a liking towards. "You seem awfully tense, is everything else alright?" she asked in a concerned tone.

[Toast]

Slipstreams answer to his question was once again something Silver didn't expect. The sudden feeling of the warm nuzzle against his face caused his body to tense up and his face to have the look of surprise. Her tone of voice also only adds to his embarrassed feeling. But thinking back Silver remembers Slipstream doing the same thing with her roommate Dark Star, and that Dark said Slipstream just enjoyed being affectionate.

"She wasn't kidding." He thinks.

Still, it probably just meant that she liked him or was comfortable around him or something. And realistically Silver couldn't see how that would be a bad thing. So finally Silver decides to give in and just relax.

"You seem awfully tense, is everything else alright?"

Looking straight ahead with a blank expression Silver thought about the question. He was unusually irritable at the moment, especially for being out in the sun. Still Silver didn't feel like he could pinpoint any exact reason. And even if he did he doubted that talking about it with Slipstream would provide any effective therapy.

But now she had got him thinking about it. Between his career being in a bit of a rut, his inability to make many friends in this town, and the events that happened with Dark Star not too long ago, maybe he could be justified in his emotions. After awhile his eyes finally shift back to Slipstream.

"I'm... Fine." He says, as though coming to the conclusion as he's saying it. "It's nothing really important." Silvers mind was now on his problems, he knew he was being a bit stubborn, Slipstream had seen through him so easily before she probably wasn't going to buy it now. But that didn't bother Silver, out of all his problems, he was actually only thinking about one thing now.

"So, how has Dark Star been lately?"

[Dark Star]

Slipstream was certain now that Silver was hiding something. The way he was fidgeting about combined with how he seemed to avoid eye contact fully supported it. But the foals were definitely not the reason behind though, it was something much different. She thought about asking him about it but wondered if it was appropriate to do so. A mental image of Dark Star scolding her suddenly came to mind, saying "Don't ask him now, only if he brings it up are you allowed to ask". She giggled how it is she was so close to the dark mare, she was able to perfectly imagine what she'd tell her at a time like this, which was made slightly more amusing after Silver had asked about her.

"Bright-Eyes is doing alright, she's making serious strides in conquering her shyness. Ya know, if it weren't for me, she'd almost never leave the house" she told him in a humorous tone. "Just one of the upsides to being nocturnal, by the time you wake up, almost every-pony else is sleeping" she elaborated in a deeper tone, deliberately mimicking the mare in question. She couldn't help but giggle about what she'd done just then; Somehow, someway, imitating her friend just made her want to laugh. She glanced over and saw Silver forming a few question marks forming around his mind, so she kept talking. "Y'see, before she met me, she was actually really shy. Before she'd ever enter a social gathering, she'd usually stand a few feet back, hide behind something and then wait for the right time to come out and be social" she stated as she wistfully glanced at the sky.

She tightened the grip she had on Silver with her wing, then continued. "The first time we met, I didn't think she was much of a pony, but after seeing what she can do once night falls...I knew then and there that I just had to be with her" she said as a small glimmer appeared in the corner of her eye. "So I went back home to Cloudsdale, told my parents all about her, and the next day, I was living with her. She seemed like she was against it at first, but before I knew it, she was really enthusiastic about it" she explained. All of these memories flowing through her mind just then, she couldn't help but flex her wing muscles harder, her other wing fully extending now. "Oh, but listen to me, I've been ranting so much now. So...what else do you wanna know about me-I mean...about her?" she asked.

[Toast]

Another look of discontent grew on Silvers face as Slipstream started talking. Not because of what she was saying, but because he had only now noticed her wing had replaced her hoof over his body, which would have been fine if it wasn't for the pressure she was putting on him.


"Y'see, before she met me, she was actually really shy. Before she'd ever enter a social gathering, she'd usually stand a few feet back, hide behind something and then wait for the right time to come out and be social"


Silver looks at Slipstream with minor curiosity in his face. It was interesting to hear to Dark was more of a shy pony. She had been pretty open and social with him, which caused Silver to wonder how much of that was Slipstreams influence. If it hadn't been for Slipstream was it possible Dark may have just ignored him when they met?


"Guess I have something to thank her for." Silver thinks.


However this did cause some questions to form in Silvers mind, but before he could get them out the grip of Slipstreams wings began to tighten more around him. Silver looks over at it with a frustrated expression as it was now causing him some discomfort. The thought to say something came to mind but he was once again cut off before he could mention it.


"The first time we met, I didn't think she was much of a pony, but after seeing what she can do once night falls...I knew then and there that I just had to be with her

So I went back home to Cloudsdale, told my parents all about her, and the next day, I was living with her. She seemed like she was against it at first, but before I knew it, she was really enthusiastic about it"


"Ya that's interesting." Silver says somewhat flippantly. despite the fact that he actually had a few questions about how that all happened exactly. He was now more concerned about the vice around his body.


"Slipstream, Do you mind- *awk*
"

Slipstreams grip tightened again, this time causing Silver some more serious discomfort. The problem though, was that Slipstream was seemingly unaware of what she was doing.


"Oh, but listen to me, I've been ranting so much now. So...what else do you wanna know about me-I mean...about her?"


"Slip...Loosen...the wing... Please." Silver chokes out.

[Dark Star]

Silver choked out a last request, that being for Slipstream to loosen the grip she had on him with her wing. She stopped and pulled her wing off, then got in close to check on him. "Oh man, I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget just how strong I actually am and lose control of it, especially when I get emotional. You're alright aren't you?" the wind-themed mare asked. After he got up, she sighed a breath of relief. "Sorry bout that, it just happens whenever I think about Bright-Eyes" she stated. She worried a little about Silver, but didn't really pay it much mind due to how often it happened. Memories of how many times she'd accidentally crushed something suddenly came to mind, a few mental images being slightly more amusing than others. Slipstream giggled lightly and then stopped as she heard the sound of a twig snapping.

Without any warning, Slipstream unfurled her wings, grabbed Silver and flew off. The ground the two formerly stood on was nothing more than a pocket of dust, filled only with a few inches of snow and a few hidden foals getting ready for revenge. She flew for a short while until they were in the center of Ponyville, the likes of which only took at most, 45 seconds. The green maned-mare set Silver down gently, then roosted herself a second later. "Sorry about that, I needed to get us out before..." she trailed off as she took a good look at Silver. She then started to giggle lightly, which eventually escalating into full-blown laughter.

She took a few breathes in-between and then tried to explain herself. "Y-you should see the look you have...(Laughs some more) you-your mane..." she tried to say, but couldn't say much of anything due to her laughter over-powering her. She pointed over to a mirror made out of ice, conveniently located nearby. It the reflection, Silver would see that his muzzle was covered in frost and his mane was blown back as far as his withers would allow them to go, also covered in a bit of frost. Slipstream kept her little fit of laughter going as she started to flair about on the icy ground.

[Toast]

Silver takes a frantic breath in once the pressure around his body is finally relieved. Luckily Slipstream stopped before she had done any real damage. Still, Silver looks at her with an agitated glare.

"Geeze, do you break rocks with those thing or something." He says.

"Sorry bout that, it just happens whenever I think about Bright-Eyes"


Silver raises an eyebrow. "Uh-huh." He says, finding the statement to be a little bit odd. But really it didn't surprise him. This pony seemed to be just full of quirks and tricks. And really if Silver had the ability to step outside his body and look at himself he would probably be quite surprised at the level of hostility he had toward Slipstream. She was defiantly full of interesting characteristics, had a cheery disposition that he usually enjoyed being around. Yet all he could think about is what this pony might do next to him.

And unfortunately for Silver, his question was about to be answered.

Before Silver could realize what had happened the end of his hoofs could not feel solid ground. Their take-off was also accompanied by a loud and drawn out yell from Silver as they ascended. He hadn't even heard what set Slipstream off, and having never been exposed to flying in his entire life, panic was Silvers only response.

As Silver brain catches up with what was happening to him he looks at Slipstream with an alarmed expression while his backlegs kicked against the air. "Slipstream! what are you-" Glancing down his words are immediately lost as the sight of rooftops racing past make things worse.
"Whooaoh- S-Slipstream, p-p-put me down!" Silver continues to shout as he shuts his eyes in an effort to fight the sensation.

Eventually Silvers wish comes true. Despite the soft landing Silver simply flops on the ground, limbs spread out, breathing heavy breaths through his teeth. After a few moments he shakily gathers himself up to face Slipstream. A mix of emotions brewed in his mind. But before he could get out anything...

"Y-you should see the look you have...you-your mane..."

"huh?" He says, looking over at the ice mirror Slipstream was pointing too.

His mane was ridiculous, it was covered in frost and all the hairs were practically parallel with the ground. He didn't know what think anymore. On his face was just the dumb look of exhaustion mixed with bewilderment. All he could do was turn away from the mirror and Slipstream, and take a few paces forward before heaving a high pitched groan and flopping again to the ground.

[Dark Star]

After Slipstream's little laughing fit was over, she turned her attention back to Silver. He had just flopped onto the ground again, earning another chuckle from the young mare. Slipstream was enjoying spending as much time as she was with the bio-luminescent stallion. 'The guy's a lot more fun than I thought' she thought to herself. She walked over and glanced down at his body, her perky smile still proudly worn on her face. "Need some help?" she asked. Before Silver could have a chance to respond though, he was quickly hoisted off the ground once again and landed on Slipstream's back with a heavy grunt. "I'll take that as a 'yes'" the young mare chirped.

slipstream set off in an arbitrary direction with Silver still on her back, lying parallel to the direction she was trotting. Just another sign of the young mares strength that she had put into action when the time required it. Many of the ponies in town stopped to stare at the impressive sight. It wasn't everyday you got to see a pony carry another one on their back. A few of them were biting back their laughter, others were merely stunned by what they were seeing. Who could blame them though; A young-looking mare carrying a full-grown stallion on her back without any signs of difficulty, the entire thing just didn't seem possible. Then again, there were a multitude of other things (and other ponies for that matter) in Ponyville that didn't make much sense either.

Slipstream turned around to check on Silver. "You okay?" she asked, oblivious to any and all shortcomings that Silver might be experiencing at this time.

[Toast]

"Need some help?"

those were the first words that Silver heard. Although his brain hardly registered the words. Despite looking helpless, he probably didn't in fact need any help. Really he couldn't tell if he was actually exasperated to the point of needed to be carried or if this was simply his way of pouting. Really it probably wasn't healthy either way.

Still, and once again, before he could react to Slipstream he felt himself being hoisted up and thrown onto her back, his landing accompanied by a loud "oomph" sound, and followed by a groan. Now most ponies in this situation would be self-dignified enough to get up and walk themselves, realizing that this was not a proper way to act, however today Silver decided not to be one of these ponies. Instead he just hung like a carpet over Slipstreams back, his body slightly swaying as she walked. Still, thoughts ran through his head. The primary one being about precisely how long he could feel sorry for himself before the embarrassment of the situation caught up to him. Surprisingly the giggling ponies in the street around them did little to shorten the length. Not only because Silver didn't care about being seen in this state, but also because he eyes were currently firmly fixated to the ground. He found focusing on particular spots as they went past gave a peculiar feeling as though they were moving really fast.

"You okay?"

Another question, this time Silver decides to respond.

"Mmm." He mutters.

Well it was sort of a response, but it was enough to let Slipstream know he was alive. However, after a few more minutes went by Silver could finally feel in emotions coming back in check. And it wasn't long until he finally decides to formulate a complete sentence.

"Slipstream...Where are we going?" He says in a surprisingly nice tone.