25.
“Oh… that is rough news Zero.” A young recruitment officer mumbled to Zero when they had heard Zero had been fired. “At least you don’t have to see that viper’s face any longer.”

“She isn’t a viper.” He muttered. “Don’t any pony in here say anything bad about LillyRose; if they do, they’ll have to go against me.” Zero stated as he got up from the bunk and left the barracks, he trotted out to the training grounds and sighed as he looked up at the night sky. Silver Dash looked over at the commotion curiously, watched him leave and turned back to her friends.

Paradox was watching over Zero on his own time; he grinned as he transformed into his disguise of a gray unicorn guard. He approached Zero outside acting like he was a little drunken. “Oh… is you? What are you doing here?” he slurred his words as he fell against Zero.

Zero looked at the unicorn in irritation. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing… why is sum thin wrong with you?” Paradox asked as he stumbled and used Zero as a way to steady himself.

“There is…” he whispered “But I rather not talk about it.”

“Was it about Lady Chaos?” He asked as he slipped off Zero’s side and fell to the grass.

Zero nodded and trotted away from the drunken unicorn. “Please, just leave me alone.”

Paradox was going to get up when a hoof was offered to him. He looked up and saw a mare with a silver and gold mane smiling down at him. “You need help up?” She asked.

His eyes widened and he swallowed hard. “I… um, I…” he slowly transformed and took her hoof in his paw. She kept smiling at him as he stood up.

“You didn’t need help up.” She giggled. “Are you Paradox?”

He nodded and still had her hoof in his paw. “Did anyone tell you that you look beautiful?”

Zero trotted towards the other side of the training field, didn’t notice anything going on around him as he approached the tree at the far end. He sat down on the bench next to the old willow tree.

She landed softly near the old willow. Her wings folded gently and silently as she looked at Zero who was sitting on the bench facing away from her.

Paradox felt stupid at what he said to the mare, but he wasn’t lying and the mare was still there smiling at him. “What is your name?”

“Silver.” she said as she looked at his beautiful blue eyes. “You don’t remember me?”

He shook his head as he just stared at her. “I am sorry I don’t, but I would love to make new memories of you.”

Lilly slowly walked to Zero as he sat on the bench; she sat opposite of him and looked at him. He had his head down and he looked a little angry.

Zero was irritated. He wanted to be alone but even being alone there was always some pony else there. He wanted to tell the other pony to beat it and leave him be so he looked up with a frown on his face and a bitter retort on his lips when his eyes widened to see Lilly staring at him.

“You wanted to say something?” Lilly asked him, a smile on her face.

“My Lady.” he jumped up and bowed to her.

Lilly chuckled. “Do friends really bow to one another?”

He looked up. “I… don’t think so.” He stood up and looked at her.

She stood up also and walked to him. “You looked so sad and angry; what is wrong?”

Zero looked at his hooves. “I am angry because the other guards keep making me angry I wanted, no, I needed to get away from them. You were gone too, might be the reason why I was sad. I missed you.” He blushed. “You’re back now and I feel a little better.”

“Zero…” she whispered. “I wasn’t planning on coming back as soon as I did. I still have to leave to find my aunt Misery, but I had to return.”

“So you’re leaving again? Why did you come back? Did you forget something?” He looked at her crimson eyes.

Lilly nodded. “I forgot something very important.”

Paradox realized that he was still holding Silver’s hoof and he blushed. “I guess you’d need that.”

Silver giggled at his wit and she went over to him and smiled more. “Dox, I really like you, I’ve liked you when Lilly and I would play and you’d just be there.” Her blue cheeks highlighted with a blush. “I wanted to tell you then, but you liked another filly and I…” she looked down at her hooves.

“You don’t think I look like a monster do you?” He asked suddenly.

Silver looked at him in shock. “No? Why would you ask that?”

He smiled as he went over to her and gave her a hug. “Thank you.”

Silver hugged him back; a little confused. “You’re welcome?”

Lilly leaned up against Zero and gave him a hug. “I forgot my heart here.”

Zero swallowed hard when she said that and he hugged her back. “You mean?”

“I mean that you are my heart and I need you with me.” She whispered softly as she let him go from the hug. “Unless you don’t want to be with me.”

“I… I want to be with you Lilly. I want to be a part of your life.” They kissed under the willow tree.

Paradox stepped back from the hug and blushed. “I’m sorry it’s just… I remember you… You’re Aunt Rainbow Dash’s daughter.”

“Yes. Rainbow Dash is my mom, but, I am an adult Dox, so are you…” She smiled shyly at him.

Paradox blinked as the urge rose within him and he couldn’t help himself as he pulled Silver to him; kissing her soft lips tenderly. Silver was surprised by the kiss but thoroughly melted in his arms as he rubbed his tongue up into her mouth entwining with her own tongue and they kissed deeply as her wings spread out and quivered.