Silver Lining: Uh… Um. Where would I even start to-
 
Inkwell: What are you doing here?
 
Silver Lining: [jumps]Eep! I’m sorry! I was told this… this library was free for public use. W-was that wrong?
 
Inkwell: [rolls eyes]…No but this is not a place for cloud headed mares to wander about. Some of these books aren’t for public eyes.
 
Silver Lining: Eh?! Cloud headed? You think I’m cloud head?
 
Inkwell: I’ve been watching you wander about aimlessly for the last 20 minutes. Clearly, you don’t even know what you are looking for since you’ve gone everywhere from cooking to comic books.
 
Silver Lining: I do know what I came for! I-I just don’t where it is…
 
Inkwell: [Cocks brow]
 
Silver Lining: The princess is said to have gotten her wings well into her adulthood and yet can fly super well. So since she’s kind of… booky (is that the word?) I figured I could find that book and it would help me get better at flying. Then Mom would be proud of me and be happy. She would have the eyes I see in photos when she was younger. She would-
 
Inkwell: I didn’t ask for your life story.
 
Silver Lining: S-sorry! I don’t mean to get carried away. I just… you seem like you’d know what to do if you had those kind of problems.
 
Inkwell: …
 
Silver Lining: [gulps] D-do you happen to know where that book is, Mr Librarian?
 
Inkwell: I’m not a Librarian. I live here and yes, I can probably find that book. The faster you find the book, the faster you can leave. [strokes chin with hoof.] Hm. Knowing mother, it’s probably in her favorite spot. Follow me.
 
Silver Lining: Thank you! [She follows him.] If you live here, you’re the princess’s son… Oh, you’re Inkwell, right?! Wow, you’re a lot cooler looking than I thought. I’m Silver Lining but you can call me Silver if you want.
 
Inkwell: Silver? Ah, Ms Dash’s daughter. No wonder you want that book. But I would have thought you Pegasi wouldn’t need such a thing. Aren’t you naturally talented like your mother?
 
Silver Lining: No. I’m… terribly average at flying. Mom can make the sky explode and crowds gawk with wonder and awe at her performance… I just make ponies laugh at my attempts. Mom says its fine if I can’t be as great as her but I know she hates that I’m not like her.
 
Inkwell: …
 
Silver Lining: [looks down] Sometimes, I catch her staring at me with this… expression. I don’t know what it is but it always makes me feel like… Like I’m just a stain. Like just the sight of me fills her with disgust. She tries to hide it but I know she finds me disappointing. I don’t want her to hate me. I want her to be proud and love me. To look at me like other moms look at their child.
 
Inkwell: …Sounds to me, like you have your own issues.
 
Silver Lining: [blushes for some reason] It’s not so bad. I just have to keep trying and-
 
Inkwell: It must be hard to be such an idiot.
 
Silver Lining: Eh?
 
Inkwell: …[sighs] I don’t like getting involved in other ponies problems but I can’t stand ignorance. It’s like no pony ever reads books anymore.
 
Silver Lining: W-what do you mean?
 
Inkwell: Your name. Your name clearly shows what your mother feels towards you and yet you choose to ignore it. Or perhaps it is just ignorance.
 
Silver Lining: What does my name have to do with-
 
Inkwell: Do you know what a ‘silver lining’ is?
 
Silver Lining: [shakes head]
 
Inkwell: [sighs] Of course, you don’t. It’s a metaphor for the underlying good in a seemingly bad situation.
 
Silver Lining: Like … getting caught in the rain and finding a cool present for a friend while taking shelter?
 
Inkwell: Sure. In other words, your mother seems to view you in such a way. I don’t know your mothers circumstances but however bad it was, you must have been the bright spot in all that. So I don’t your mother hates you as you say she does.
 

 
My entry for Vindhov ‘s contest. Iv’e wanted to draw this for a while but couldn’t think of a another oc to act as her partner for this. Silvers name shows how much Dash loves her despite her unconscious avoidance of her daughter. I figured she wouldn’t know the meaning of the metaphor so this idea came about. It was only when I saw someone else pair these two that I finally found her partner in this.
 
Also, as I was planning this, I started shipping Inky and Silver so I might draw more of these two later. Why?
 
BECAUSE SHIPPING IS MAGIC!
 
The characters belong to Vindhov, not me.