War. Ponies didn't go to war. So why had war been declared?
Crystal swallowed around a lump in her throat as she shifted her attention to the article under the awful headline. Two of the gryphon kingdoms were going to war, and Equestria had pledged its support to its ally, Nordanver, against the invading Sudramoar.
Her head started to spin. Nordanver. Nordanver was where the attack had been that put Silent in a coma. Her stomach clenched and her knees went weak. He was going back to Nordanver. He was going to war. There was no way Silent would stay behind, especially not when the gryphons were involved.
She needed more information. The newspaper gripped in her magic, she started walking, then jogging, then full-on galloping to the library. Tears stung at her eyes from the thoughts swirling through her mind.
Equestria was at war.
Ponies were going to war.
Silent was going to war.
Ponies died in wars.
Silent was going to die.
The doors to the library stood little chance when Crystal found them. They may have been locked for all she knew, but her panic-fueled magic shoved them open with such force that nothing could have stopped it.
Sapphire Pageturn sat behind the front desk, her eyes wide. "H-Hello?" She cleared her throat. "May I help you?"
Crystal's cheeks were hot with tears, and the hitch in her voice only made her feel worse. "I need—I need information. About the Gryphon Kingdom."
Sapphire looked at her with clear concern showing in her knitted brow. "Oh." Her gaze shifted to the newspaper clutched in light pink magic, then lowered to the same one on the desk before her. Slowly, she nodded. "I understand. Please, come with me."
The war hadn't started yet and already it had sunk its teeth into her life and the ones around her. Sapphire, normally overeager to share knowledge to an almost extreme level, was quiet and somber as she led Crystal through the library. The air was heavy with near total silence, the only noise keeping it from being perfect their hoofsteps and Crystal's sniffles.
"Here you are," Sapphire said, gesturing at a collection of books. "These rows contain all the books we have on the Gryphon Kingdom, past and present." She glanced at Crystal. "Is there anything I can help with?"
Crystal remained still for a moment, then tried to smile. "Do you have any tea?"
"Tea?" Sapphire's lips twitched upward and she shook her head. "Normally, we don't allow food or drinks in the library."
"Oh, right, of cour—"
"But," Sapphire interrupted, "I think certain situations call for certain allowances. So long as you don't spill it on anything."
Crystal's smile grew more sincere and, without thinking, she embraced Sapphire. The mare tensed from the physical contact, then relaxed and returned the gesture.
"Thank you," Crystal whispered.
Sapphire pulled back and nodded. "Trying times are ahead of Equestria, but we'll endure. The princesses will make sure of that. I have faith in them."
Crystal just nodded. It was all she could do. What was there to say? She was still crying and not one bit of her had any faith in anything at that moment. She watched Sapphire disappear around a corner, then she sat down and slumped against the towering bookshelf beside her.
Her magic reached out to grab one of the books and brought it over. The History of the Gryphon Kingdoms. It seemed like as good of a place to start as any.
The information filtered in slowly, page by page. The Gryphon Kingdom was originally under the banner of a very powerful gryphon emperor who had no heirs and selected no successors. Upon his death, the four major duchies split from one another and declared themselves independent kingdoms.
Their culture seemed so different from the one to which she was accustomed. Small skirmishes at the borders of the kingdoms seemed frequent throughout their history. Competition was the driving force for them. Sudramoar had made several attempts to expand its territory to seize the resources of the continent.
Crystal lightly sipped the tea Sapphire had brought her and flipped ahead several pages. Useless. This information was useless! Her brow furrowed as she cursed herself. What was she going to do with a history lesson?
She paused when her eyes glanced over the word 'Equestria' and she started the section from the beginning. It was about the conflict from a couple decades back, when King Kronson of Sudramoar had requested aid from Equestria. Ponies were sent to protect civilians from the territorial battle between his gryphons and those of Austveger, the eastern kingdom, as they fought for control over resource-rich lands. Always with the resources.
A chill ran down her spine. She knew about this. This was where Silent's father, Stratus Knight, had been injured. Tears jumped to her eyes at the thought. Was this war where Silent would suffer a similar fate? He had said that Stratus never came back the same. Would she end up like his mother, Wallflower, after all?
The life of the wife of a soldier. Wallflower had explained that concept to her when they met, and she did her best to hold onto those words. Crying would do no good. She raised a hoof and wiped away the tears, then went back to reading.
She just had to find something in one of these books that would help. What? She didn't know. She knew nothing. She just wanted to know something. Anything. Whatever it took to make the fear dull, even just a little.
♡
Crystal jolted awake at the sound of somepony turning the front door's lock. After hours of fruitless research at the library, she had given up and came home to wait for Silent. She must have fallen asleep at the dining room table, where she had been reading the article about the war declaration over and over.
The door opened and Silent stepped inside, freezing when their eyes met. His gaze flicked briefly to the newspaper, and he knew. They both knew.
"Welcome home," she said into the silence, but the words were hollow. She wasn't the one that needed to speak.
Silent bobbed his head in a light nod and removed his helmet. "Thank you." He set the helmet by the door, glanced at her, then started toward the bedroom.
Her gaze followed him a moment. Was he stalling? She slipped out of the chair to walk behind him. "How was your trip?"
"The trip was fine." Short responses. She didn't like it when he gave her short responses; it never meant anything good. "The reason for it was awful."
That was an understatement. "I can imagine," she replied cautiously, eyeing him as he pulled a box out of the closet. The box he'd been avoiding. "What are you doing?"
He didn't look at her. "Unpacking, like you asked."
She opened her mouth to respond, but he pulled back the lid of the box and sighed. Her mouth snapped shut when she saw the contents. A helmet, a cloak, and a sword.
Tears jumped forth and she swallowed to keep them at bay as he took out each item and examined them. He was going to war.
"Silent Knight," she whispered, her voice trembling with the rest of her as she stepped toward him. Maybe he was going to donate them to the cause rather than volunteer himself. Maybe... "Why are you unpacking that now?"
After a pause, his head lowered and angled away from her. "Because disharmony has consequences."
Her brow furrowed. "What?"
He heaved a sigh and put a hoof on the box. "When we do the wrong thing, there are consequences. It was something Luna said to me once." His wings pressed in close to his sides. "I have done the wrong thing, so now I need to do the right thing. I'm not sure what that is, but... I have a guess."
She watched as he picked up the helmet that had been inside the box. It was an older style that didn't have the crest built in, but instead allowed the wearer's mane through the top. Her heart sank, but she fought to hold onto that glimmer of hope.
"I see," she said in a soft voice. "I'm sure you'll figure it out." She reached out to put a hoof on his, but thought better of it and withdrew. It was time to press the topic head-on. "The papers say the Guard is looking for thirty thousand royal guards to volunteer."
He nodded. "They are, to protect Nordanver's cities. Not to fight their battle. The Army likely won't fight much, either. The princesses want a show of force to discourage King Kronson and end the war without combat."
The papers hadn't said that much. It brought her some small relief to hear, actually. "Oh. Well, that makes sense." She shifted from one hoof to the other. "So, then—"
"Russet is going." He drew his hoof over the edge of the helmet, never taking his eyes off it. Never shifting his gaze to her. "He volunteered right away."
She knew where this was going, and she felt a strange numbness in her limbs as a result. "I see."
"It might be bad, though." His hoof dropped down to the floor. "You can never tell upfront. Last time, there weren't supposed to be any casualties, either. Look how that turned out. Ponies died over there while things were quiet here." His ears folded back and he finally glanced at her. Uncertainty was in his eyes. "Perhaps it will be exactly like that again. It really doesn't seem fair."
She shook her head just slightly, maintaining eye contact with him. "No, I suppose it's not."
They stood in silence for a while. Silent stared down at his father's belongings. The feathers on his wings started to shake, as did his right forehoof. "Crystal... honey."
Her chin followed his example and trembled. At first, no sound came out when she opened her mouth. She finally forced out a quiet, "Yes?"
"I—" He swallowed. "I'm sorry. I think I should volunteer." He closed his eyes. "I don't want to. I really don't... but I think I should."
There it was. She knew it was coming, but it still hit her in the chest with a dreadful force. Her body went numb at first, then her blood ran cold. "No." She held her ground even though she wanted to run. Or to hit him. Or to do anything but just stand there, frozen. "Silent Knight, no!"
His tail twitched and drooped. "I don't want to go, but I'm not sure I could look myself in the mirror if I didn't. Do I really have a choice if I feel that way?"
"You do!" Tears blurred her vision. "You have every choice! You're a security chief. That's important! Let the Army go. Let the other royal guards. Let those ponies go. Stay here and protect the governor." A small sob choked her voice as she pleaded, "Stay here with me!"
After a pause—just long enough for her to believe he was thinking about it—he shook his head and looked at her. He winced at the sight of pain showing on her face. "I don't know that I can do that. Not after what happened. There is more to it than you know."
"How can you say that?" Anger overshadowed the rest of her feelings and flared in her chest like a thorny bloom. "What about me? What about us?! It isn't just about you anymore, you know!"
He flinched, closed his eyes, and turned his head away. He said in a low voice, "There is no way I can live with myself or be a good husband to you if I stay here while other ponies go to war in my stead."
"It doesn't have anything to do with you!" The tears falling down her cheeks were hot. "You have a duty to Cadence. You have a duty to me!"
A light sigh escaped him. "Unfortunately, it does. It has a lot to do with me. I know my duty, Crystal, but all of this is partially my doing. I facilitated this."
"What?" She rolled her eyes and stomped one hoof. "Don't be so dramatic! That's the guilt talking. You've got it up there in that stupid head of yours that you have to go everywhere soldiers go and die like them. There is more to life than that, Silent! I promise you'll be fine if you don't die on some battlefield!"
"Do you think I don't know that now?" he snapped, his head jerking to the side to glare at her. "Do you really believe I don't want to just stay here with you? You'd be right about the old me, but there is something you don't know. It changes everything!"
She glared back at him. "What does? What don't I know?!"
The muscles along his jawline tightened as he set his jaw. His wings were clasped tight to his sides and his ears were pinned back. Sucking in a breath and releasing it through his nose, he closed his eyes again. "This whole thing started over the death of the King Kronson's grandson."
Irritation joined in with the rest of her swirling emotions. "Yes, I know all that! The Nordanver gryphons assassinated or imprisoned him or whatever it was they did to him. And now they're under attack because of it and want us to bail them out."
He opened his eyes and looked at her. He was calm. Almost resigned, like a pony who had nothing left to lose. "No, they didn't."
"Yes, they did! That's what I read in the papers. It was something like that." She tried to understand the look on his face, but it only muddled her feelings all the more. "I can't think straight and it doesn't matter anyway!"
"It does matter, because it's all lies! Lies told by Sudramoar's king that couldn't be disproved by the princesses so that they could protect a stupid pony." He turned away, blocking his face entirely from her view. His voice was quiet and even as he continued, "That gryphon had another name: Alastair."
Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes went wide. Alastair. The gryphon captain that had nearly killed him in Nordanver? A trembling hoof rose to clasp over her mouth as the first piece fell into place.
"Crystal... The moment I got well, I started hunting him down. I fell in with some other ponies that wanted him dead. We called in every favor, used every trick, and hounded him."
More pieces lit up and she started to shake. "Silent Knight..." She already knew the answer. She didn't want to believe it. She couldn't comprehend it. But she knew. "What are you saying?"
"There was nowhere for him to hide over there. We made sure of that. So he and his soldiers came here to avoid prosecution. They thought no one would look for them in Equestria. He fell right into our trap. When the time was right, I set up an ambush."
No.
"Remember when I missed your birthday?"
No, no, no.
"In the middle of the night, we attacked them. We slaughtered them all. I killed him myself and several others. I have a huge part in this, Crystal. I know it is all a ruse to start a war, but I gave it to them. I played right into their claws."
Crystal just stared at him. There was no more trembling, no more tears. How was she supposed to feel? Silent, her husband, her love had killed someone. It was an awful thought. She couldn't fathom the concept of death and slaughter.
And yet, what had Alastair done to deserve her sympathy? He had tried to kill Silent and nearly done so. He had killed several guards. Guards whose deaths still haunted Silent.
"Right or wrong," Silent continued, giving up on a response, "retribution doesn't come without consequence. It is time to go pay what is owed. I'm sorry, Crystal. I really am. If I could do it again, I'd do it differently. Not because I don't believe he was a threat, but because I realize now what I'm doing to you. What I've done to you.
"It hasn't been fair even if you thought you knew what you were getting into. You're a better wife than I deserve, so if you're not here when I get back, I'll understand."
Crystal watched in shock as he collected his father's belongings. "How dare you," she whispered, but he didn't seem to hear her. Instead, he walked past her to go to the front door. The fire reignited within her and as he pulled the door open, her magic thrust outward and slammed it shut. "You are not dismissed," she said through clenched teeth, walking toward him. "You'll 'understand' if I'm gone?" She tossed her mane over her shoulder. "Don't you dare walk away from me, Silent Knight."
Silent ducked his head, but he was stallion enough to turn around and face her. "I have to go."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm certain the war can wait another hour. I am not done yet. Not by a long shot." She gestured at him with one hoof in a circular motion. "I don't get it. This whole killing business is unnatural, but I guess I just have to accept it is part of who you are."
His ears folded back. "I don't like killing..."
"Fine." She snorted. "But it is still your business. And this is mine." She stormed the remaining distance between them, lifted a hoof to his chin, and forced his head up. "Every day you're gone, I'm going to be sitting here, waiting and worrying. Every day, I'm going to live in fear that I'll get a letter saying you died because you couldn't live with the idea of somepony dying for you."
She withdrew her hoof and spat, "Go to your stupid war, but just know that I won't be gone. I won't walk away. I'll be right here, Silent Knight. I'll be right here waiting. Waiting on you. So every day, you get to live with that."
He met her gaze briefly, a great shame clouding his expression, and he whispered, "All right."
"All right," she repeated. Suddenly, she felt exhausted. The fire burned out and she wanted to cry again as she wrapped her forelegs around his neck. "Come home safe... please. I nearly lost you to this once. Don't do that to me again."
His own walls seemed to fall as he dropped onto his haunches and embraced her, holding her tight to him. "I won't make a promise I don't know that I can keep, but I'll be careful. So careful. I'm not going for some glorious death. I want to be with you, but this is something I have to do. It is my penance. That might not be something you can understand, and I'm sorry."
He buried his face into her mane and murmured, "I love you, Crystal. I'm sorry that this is my job and who I am... but it is who I am."
"I know." She buried her face against his neck as the tears returned in full force, falling from her cheeks and onto his coat. "I've always known. I'll just have to hope that you find a way through it." Her head lifted and she kissed his jawline. "I love you, too."
They remained in each other's embrace for a while, Silent's grip remaining strong, Crystal's tears slowing down. She wasn't ready, but he finally started to pull away to look down at her. The pain she felt was reflected in his eyes. "Until next time, Mrs. Wishes."
She gazed at him and tried to smile, but it fell short. "Until next time, Mr. Knight."
He nodded, turned away, and disappeared as the door shut behind him. She stood there a while longer in the suffocating silence, staring at it. Hoping it would open again. Hoping he would change his mind, come back to her side, and promise to never leave. It could happen; there was still time.
It didn't, but it could have.
Catching up to Trials, and knowing what's happening there is just making this all the more... can't even find the words to describe it...
Crystal is strong, we know that much... But will she be strong enough for this?
Well...what a nice surprise to wake up to. After reading this from SK's point of view, and now seeing it from Crystal Wishes' point of view...it's just...powerful. *sighs heavily* And so it begins...will Crystal be strong enough to endure what lies ahead? Only time will tell...
So heavy Crystal, oof..
Ah, here it is. The part were he leaves. I don't think any of us was looking forward to seeing it from Crystals point of view. Lord knows it was hard enough from Silent's knowing what this was going to do to poor Crystal.
Now the waiting game begins as she waits for word of Silent. I get a feeling she'll have some company once Velvet hears of this.
Also, Crystal if you could, please kick Anzel in the ankle for me for his last chapter. Those poor guards...
Is SK being selfish or selfless? Do his personal reasons for going to war tarnish his sense of duty? Something to think about.
Good stuff as always. Always excited to see that this has updated.
May Life challenge these promises, Crystal Wishes. May Fate seduce you every day to break them. May Longing and Fear make them unbearable...
... and may Love give you the endless strength to fulfill them.
So sad. I couldn't wait to read this in Crystal's Pov, but I also dreaded it. It was hard enough going through it once with Silent. I really hope that when this is all over, Crystal and Silent get their happy ending. Goodness knows they deserve it.
After following Crystal's growth as a 'person', I'm stupid proud of her for standing up to him and being like OH HELL NO YOU SIT YOUR PUNK ASS BACK DOWN WE TALKIN'. I love that she's come so far.
I'd bark at you to stop toying with my feels with your writing, but damn do I love it. YESGOOD!
7097628 No. It does not.
Yep, that was exactly as painful as we all expected.
Sniff,(wiping a tear from my eyes...)
7097628 I think he's being selfish from both his AND Crystal's perspective. He wants redemption for the problem he caused, but I may be biased because all I could think was "PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE, CRYSTAL! Maybe then he'll listen to you!" this is like the moral dilemma from American Sniper, does Family or Country come first?
Oh, his decisions and Crystals decisions definitely stay true to their characters, that doesn't make me want to slap him any less.
7098135
Yeah, I guess the question could be: does he deserve redemption, and at what cost? Is taking it for himself truly "redemption" when his path will undoubtedly cause even more pain?
Oooo damn this one was a feels trip. Ive read both sides of the story, and on both sides there is alot of turmoil. But Atleast they didnt part on super bad terms. Granted that was a pretty low blow with the bit of you live with the fact im here waiting.. but then again she was angry. I cant wait for the next chapter cause this one was a roller coaster. Nice Mulan reference with the chapter name. I read it and heard the song in my head lol.
It seems like the only way that Crystal will ever get the happiness she deserves is if Silent Knight either leaves the guard, or she leaves Silent Knight. I hate to say that he's damaged goods, but even from birth he's been raised to be a guard/soldier, and even if he somehow survives this war he's going to be further changed, more damaged, and frankly I don't see how he could ever truly honor his commitment to Crystal Wishes when he's always put the crown first above everything else.
How is a stallion like Silent Knight going to be even a decent husband, let alone a good father? Maybe I'm being pessimistic, but from reading both stories it seems like Crystal Wishes is just doomed to loneliness and disappointment and pain with Silent Knight.
I so need to read the three stories from Silent's POV. But I have so much to do irl...
that was crazy sad from Crystal PoV
Ha, title of recent chapter of Trials update.
You watched Mulan recently didn't ya?
Nordanver, Nordanver send Sudramoar right over!
Surprisingly that is fairly close to the positive reaction Silent Knight can engender in her.
Twilight would be thrilled. Aside from the reason why there is a library emergency.
Crystal's cheeks were hot with tears, and the hitch in her voice only made her feel worse. "I need—I need information. All your books on martial arts. Particularly anything by the Knights of the Moon." An eerie calm descended over Crystal. "This time he won't be alone," she said with absolute conviction.
Finishing flipping through the first book Crystal turned to Sapphire. "I know Kung Fu."
Front flipping over the dinning room table Crystal ran through a series of katas before striking a pose before Silent. "I'm going with you."
Silent's jaw dropped. "Uh—"
Crystal pressed a hoof to his mouth. "I accept who you are Siley, all of you. As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword. Now I have both."
Ruining the moment Velvet chose that instant to leap through the still open door. "Surprise," she shouted.
"Velvet?"
"Crystal."
"Crystal."
"Silent? What is Velvet wearing?"
Pulling himself together Silent untangled himself from Crystal and stepped back to face both mares. "I never intended to leave you behind again Crystal." Gesturing at Velvet's skin-tight body suit he continued, "Runic has built some kind of crazy giant mechanical monstrosity. It's something straight out of Airship 40k." Seeing Crystal's eyes start to glaze over he pulled out a second suit. "For some reason the C.W. Step, yes that's its name, needs two pilots who have a deep childhood connection. That's you and Velvet, Crystal."
Beckoning her outside Silent pointed up and up and up at the towering mech. "That's her Crystal. My two favorite ladies are coming with me and that's what you're piloting."
Please see previous retcon.
7098569
glad I'm not the only one thinking this.
7097628
7098135
7098569
He's being incredibly selfish, in my opinion, and that's why I'd love to knock his block clean off. He goes on and on (in multiple stories) about how much he wants to do better by Crystal, and yet he never, ever does the one thing that would do that best. It's always "my honor to the job," "my duty to the job," "my responsibility to the job," the job, the job, the job! Crystal has only ever played second fiddle to his life choices, even when there's a very clear not-pro-Crystal choice that he claims to not want to take.
He always takes it anyway.
7099273
Yeah, he does, but that's the name of the game at this point. I'm going to remain optimistic and say that regardless of what else happens, Silent and Crystal's relationship will survive and they will have, if not a happy ending, then at the very least a hopeful one.
Actually, I think having a child could go a long way into convincing SK to settle down.
HURRY CRYSTAL HE AIN'T GONE YET.
Its a good thing Crystal still remained faithful to Silent after he confessed his involvement in murdering Alastair.
7099273
I think this hits the problem on the head. This chapter's a really good example of the problem with Silent Knight: He's gone for what, a week or more? Comes home, grabs his shit, and then walks out to volunteer for a war he doesn't need to go fight, largely because he presumably feels some sort of guilt over hunting down this griffon and killing him in cold blood (Haven't read the second half of this story).
I honestly hope Crystal Wishes ends up leaving Silent Knight, because I'm not really convinced he's a very good pony for her. Its all very romantic, but at the end of the day Silent loves his work more than he loves his wife, and that's a problem.
7099273 I like to think of it this way,
weight Crystals emotional suffering due to him leaving to follow "the job the job the JOB" verses his on emotional suffering if he stayed.
I think he would be able to get over it MUCH easier if he stayed and had Crystal their to reaffirm that he made the right decision every day instead of Crystal who still worries while he is gone (although we haven't got that far in her story so we shall wait to see how hard this is for her).
Are you trying to make people die of a broken heart? Because that's what you're gonna end up doing of you keep pulling at our heartstrings like that! I am happy/angry that this is such a good chapter. I was shaking while reading this, and the temperature is up in my room so it isn't the cold. These stories are causing stress in my life.
Crystal, was the Title of this chapter "Please Bring Honor To Us All" a reference to Mulan? Because that's what I thought of when I read the chapter title. Great chapter, and I sure you have more heart wrenching chapters in the making. Also I hope people are laughing at my rants about your stories. It's the only way I can ensure I'm happy at the end of a chapter like this.
6968328
So it begins...
7097332 It's definitely not going to be easy, and there will certainly be some trials ahead of her. She said the vows... now it's time to see if she can follow through.
7097386 Time will tell, indeed. It is not meant to be an easy moment. It never is when one's military spouse has to leave for war.
7097475 Sorry, Snowy.
7097558 Things are going to be rough before they get better. But hopefully it will get better... I'm not that much of a monster, am I?
Oh, don't worry, he has no remorse. He's the real monster in this relationship.
7097628 Glad you enjoyed the chapter!
7097659 That is a beautiful sentiment... I'm proud of you! Look at you, you're becoming a hopeless romantic sap already.
But, no, seriously, that is a beautiful sentiment.
7097799 Yeah... That is the hard part about the shared perspectives. You get the fun scenes twice, but you also get the hard scenes twice, as well.
7097934 I'm glad to hear that she's come a long way from where she started! She's definitely grown in my eyes, but I'm biased.
Oh, I know you love it. You're a terrible person when it comes to destroying feels just like I am and will be.
7098010 Yep...
7098014 I think someone is passing around tissues... if not... someone needs to start, because we'll need 'em.
7098471 It was a low blow for sure... but I think he needed to hear it! The sentiment behind the words is something to carry to heart. Crystal is all in, for better and for worse. And that's a good thing for him to keep in mind. His actions have consequences... and not just for himself.
7098574 There are definitely some benefits from reading both sides! But real life comes before pony fanfiction... so it's okay.
7099056 It was a difficult moment, and unfortunately, it doesn't end just because the chapter ends.
7099216 The timing is both awful and kind of perfect! Not intended but... well, yup.
I've not watched it recently... it was just very appropriate for the chapter title.
7099249 Strong emotions have pretty similar effects on the body! I've been so excited about something before that the surge of adrenaline made me feel dizzy and nauseated. And I've been so nervous about something that I felt the same way...
Hahahaha. I like your rewrites. That would make for a very epic, and very different story.
7099587
7100146 I'm sorry!! At the least... it means my writing is effective, eh? Maybe? Hopefully? I'm glad it was able to convey the feelings in the chapter to have you feel them?
7100304 And so it begins, indeed.
7100523
The fact that I am a horrible being that can very well feast on fear, agony and tears of the characters does not mean that I am incapable of appreciating the power of love! Then again, treat my words as a wish for Crystal's success as well as a showcase of my expectations when it comes to her future.
And know that I shall be siding with any, possible, charming scoundrels that might wish to... aid Crystal with her loneliness. All to my malicious revelry, naturally.
Keep up the splendid work, madam.
7099333
Well, yes, I expect that too. This wouldn't be a Crystal Wishes story if it were all sadness, and stuff. Also, I would develop a serious disliking for our dear, sweet Crystal, and I don't even want to imagine that.
7099931
Actually, Anzel's version of this chapter from Silent's perspective is so much better at showcasing what's wrong with Silent, just because we get to see it directly.
Essentially, he goes:
"Wow. Crystal was really upset and now I feel like a horrible pony. Actually, I've been treating her terribly, so I am a horrible pony. I'm going to change! I'm going to be a better pony to her; the husband she deserves! ...after I volunteer for the war."
7100735
"wow, my house is on fire, I probably should do something about that. After the game."
Now that accelerated downhill quickly.
Nice to see Sapphire so understanding, this was definitely a day that Crystal didn't need another unsolicited history lecture.
Gee, thanks for being so chaiste (or possibly just unfruitful) and for planning so poorly for the future, Mr. Emperor.
Oh yeah, so that was what was in the box Silent hadn't unpacked, I should have remembered that.
Ooo, truth about what Silent did over the course of Secrets. I'm a little surprised he mentioned that, what happened to Alistair is actually really dangerous knowledge from a strategic and political perspective.
*fist-pump*
Hell yeah, Crystal.
7098569 I have faith that it will turn out alright (presuming Silent survives), lots of military families go through deployment and and fallout from it without falling apart. Relationships don't have to fail simply on account of times being rough.
7101189
Yes, but there's a world of difference between "being deployed" and "volunteering yourself for optional duty directly against your wife's wishes."
In the words of Bethesda: "War never changes."
7101234 Yeah, but in the real world, that also happens plenty and marriages still survive.
As I expected, reading this from Crystal's point of view is more heart wrenching than from SK's.
Silent can't die. If he did Crystal's wish would end and this whole story would be over and oh my God, Silent is going to die!
Nah, in all seriousness, when Silent revealed why he missed her birthday.. Damn, my mouth was agape. I was totally expecting Crystal to slap him though.
Wait...so...He's the reason this War started?
Man...if that fact alone makes him feel this way now...just wait till the final dead count comes in...They'll have died because of him.
Well, shit.
Now it gets interesting though, as we'll be seeing Crystal without SK for some time.
That Disney Reference though...
I is the sads now.
7101177 Crystal is prone to panicked exaggeration/conclusion jumping, and this seemed like the most apt time where that trait would show.
I know, right? I guess Mr. Emperor thought he'd just live forever or something. Fool!
If there were ever a time Crystal chose to speak her mind over just smiling and accepting what happened to her, this was probably the most important.
7101248 Indeed.
7101485 It is rough no matter which way you slice it! But Crystal definitely suffers.
7101559 That sounds like Crystal logic you're using there!
She did slap him... with words of truth!
7102616 In a way, yes and no. Kronson was after a war. Silent made it easier.
7103367 Indeed! I'm curious to see how people react to the direction the story goes.
7103415 Sorry for the sads!
Off goes Silent...
Boy, I think I actually almost cried while in class. Great job. I'm not sure if that's sarcastic or not.
Losing loved ones — or, Hell, even the fear of losing them —is something that can change the way a pony lives there life. I know from experience... But I don't think Crystal does. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but so far she hasn't really suffered any huge loss. So the very thought of her losing Silent is enough to absolutely wreck her.
Ugh, I hate getting sentimental over fan fiction. But you guys make it happen so easily!
Title is a reference to Mulan and the song "Honor to Us All"
Destiny, Guard our girls
And their future as it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on these cultured pearls
Each a perfect porcelain doll
Please bring honor to us - (x4)
Please Bring Honor to Us All!
Probably.
Oh my dear... yon alicorns have sheltered thee and thine for far to long. Your studly buff muffins is trained to break things and kill sapients, you have an entire tribe of your species dedicated to destruction and another third who can slaughter with their minds, ones who act as artillerly barrages the others who use weather like humans use battleships.
Kinda sounds to me like it was gonna go that way one way or another. Also... good. Ridding the world of one more savage, a sentiment and method of peace I highly approve of
How about pride? Approval? Not being such an insufferable and milquetoast simp and not burdening your poor stallion further with your guilt tripping before her goes off to probably be gutted and killed or worse taken as a p.o.w?
Sheesh... sorry if I seemed like a prick her, but good God this lady is... uck....
The freakin feels... I HATE you! but I love you too This is a great story and I really relate to crystal. To top it all off my half-brother is entering the military in less than a year and I won't see him for a LONG time after that... BUCK.
I think I can swear should I receive a commission from the armed forces, I will never act like Silent did.
Its a decision that should be made together, even if both partners know what decision must be made at the end of it. I mean, Silent didn't even sit down to try to talk about it. Just sort of walks in there, grabs his war-making gear, says he is going, and when a explanation is demanded of him he makes a grand pronouncement about how this is his fault and how he could of caused it, then leaves.
I mean, yes, it is your duty to go, if for nothing else to provide a example to those under you, because you know a lot of them will have family, marefriends and stallionfriends. It is his duty to go, but at the very least try to be more considerate to your wife. I mean, at the very least sit down with them. Try to talk about it over some tea, or a meal that's practically guaranteed to go uneaten. You shouldn't be rude at a time like this. I mean this potentially might be the last memory of his wife, and his wife's last memory of him, do you really want that to be something you might regret?
I'm sorry, but it seems like Silent handled this excessively poorly.
8293198 Deployment is never easy, and there's no one real way to handle it. Silent spent an entire train ride home making his decision, so by the time he got home, it was already "finalized". He also, on his own, decided that Crystal likely wouldn't wait for him. He was being eaten away by guilt over the circumstances leading up to the war, guilt for having to put her through this, so on and so forth until by the time he arrived home, "talking" wasn't on the table in his mind. He was trying to make a clean and easy break for the both of them, even though it pained him.
On top of that, when he walked in, he knew she knew because of the newspaper. It's possible that, if she had smiled and greeted him with a kiss and coaxed him to sit with her and talk about his trip to Canterlot, their talk may have gone differently.
I'm not justifying his behavior, just explaining his mindset. Obviously, Crystal didn't take too kindly to the way he handled things, but they worked it out in the end in their own way.
In reality, deployment can tear a lot of couples apart. I've read a lot of great articles and accounts of military spouses going through stages of grief, anger, denial... Some spouses will be so angry at seeing their soldier pre-deployment that they feel hatred toward them. "If you're going to leave, then just leave." It could be months, weeks, or days before the solider ships out. Sometimes, the "luxury of time" isn't a luxury at all. There are an unfortunate non-zero amount of couples who break up before deployment because of the sheer stress of it.