Princess Luna shot through the window of The Marionetter to crash land in the single seater of The Marionetter. It was less than elegant yet unavoidable. She was simply too excited thinking about today. He was going to keep his promise and hold her. As the sun rose in this morning she would bask in him for but one sleep. A sleep she hoped would preface an eternity of more.

His admittance to want to hold to her had released all reservation. His feelings for her were true, this was without doubt now. The only issue that plagued her future was his own admittance of those feelings. Today she wanted to show him the path to this. Strangely though, he had not been waiting for her in the chair. In hindsight this might have been a good thing considering inelegant landings. At the moment he was nowhere to be seen. Luna had this horrible feeling about the reason for this.

The room itself was still much of the same to her. All the odd shapes with their off white coloured coverings draped neatly around. Her platter was in its usual place, the tea had been freshly prepared, still steaming in the simple pot. She looked about thinking he might be hiding again, it would have been a wonderful preface to the day.

A crash drew her attention to the door as he stumbled through, with Melody pushing him along very abrasively. Luna found it exceedingly difficult not to laugh at this rather large creature being so intimidated by such a small mare.

“You are going to keep that promise or I will break out those glass eyes and stick them-HELLO PRINCESS LUNA!”

She sniggered, “Hello my friends. What’s all this?”

“Deeper than a teacup here was trying to weasel out of his promise to you!”

Luna was very sad hearing this, her good humour falling away instantly. “Marion?”

“He was going on about some nonsense how you may have some serious feelings for him and that he is scared because he-” his arm wrapped around the back of her neck, hand clamping on mouth. She could not break free of the grip, he held on to the point where her stomping on his paws failed to shift him.

Luna knew what Melody was about to say and she giggled seeing the odd pair, her sadness washing away knowing his feelings for her.

“I apologise for her Luna, she forgets that it is not her business.” Melody rolled her eyes and reached for the lid of the savouries, a quick toss and a loud ring making him stumble back and release her. Melody was unusually spirited today, now Luna saw where the ‘battle axe’ came in.

“You should hear some of the questions this here fool has been asking! He’s so nervous-hey! Put me down!” He had hoisted her up, carrying the struggling mare to the door. “Oh so you’re just going to throw me out huh?! After all those weird things you kept asking you’re just saying cheerio? Well fine! Luna! If he tries to run you got to trip him up! You understand?” Luna was in hysterics seeing Marion struggle, the sniggering into her hoof barely being held back.

He dropped her out the open door and made ready to close it on her, bending low to her scowling face. “Are you quite finished?”

“Yeah I’m finished! I’m finished forcing you to go be nice to her! You better worship the ground that there mare trots on because we all know you have no luck finding somepony willing to put up with your boring jibber jabber, or your ridiculous need to wear this thing,” she hit the mask, a small ring echoing off. Melody’s head poked out from behind Marion’s stunned body. “Sorry, Princess.” She smiled sheepishly with a wink as he tried to recover. “Oh and one more thing!” She pulled him down from the collar of his dress jacket to her. “I better hear good things when us ladies catch up. You got that, lover colt?!”

Luna could see him giggle, “Thank you, you battle axe.”

Melody grabbed his head, nearly bringing him over in the simple hug. These creatures had poor balance. She gently spoke to him, smiling to Luna, “You look after her now.” She released and trotted off mumbling something to herself about kicking that flank of his. The mangled Marionetter closed the door with a sigh and adjusted his collar.

“I am sorry about that, Luna.”

She had settled, wiping her eyes from the effort to hold back. “As you should be, you were trying to run from me? Dost thou not know I have flight?” She flared her wings open for emphasis, and a little to dazzle.

“I was not trying to run. Just had a little...ahem...concern.”

“I have had some time to ponder tonight, I do not wish to push you.”

“I am told by some sources that it is needed. I am actually very tired now, normally I do not wait until the dawn. Would you mind if I drew the curtains?” Luna used her magic to quickly shut the window and curtains, a cheeky grin cast to him. “Well that works.” It became very silent around the room, the dawn shone though just enough. She found the dim light very inviting, the thick curtains bathing the place in a dull golden glow.

“I am tired in kind.”

He stood there, probably as nervous as she was. It did not help to see him nervously shifting about.

“So...”

“So...”

“...Where dost thou wish to lay?”

He walked past her and pulled a large white covering away to a puff of dust. Underneath was a beautifully carved bed frame with patterned white and deep purple coverings. Seeing such remarkable colour in this humble room, Luna wondered what other treasures lay hidden about.

“Normally I do not bother sleeping here, I fall asleep on the wingback there.” Luna thought about how Melody told her how he would wait every night. “I think this is fit for a Princess. If not perhaps we should then arrange a different day to-”

Luna flew over him and crashed to the bed, nestling in and rubbing her face to the silken sheets. He had excellent taste. She looked up to see him still standing there nervously, it was very cute. She let her hind legs fall limp and pushed herself up on her forelegs with a twist of the body and a flare of the wings. Despite her efforts to tease him, he only shook his head with her playful tap on the bed. She watched him gently step to the hanger, removing the jacket then coming to join her.

“Is there something wrong Luna?” Her concern was apparently showing.

“The garments thou dost wear, would it not be more comfortable to remove them?”

“I am fine thank you.” He sat on the edge and removed his odd shoes, she was amazed at the bizarre paws as she leaned over the edge on her belly to peek. They were similar to his hands, but the digits were shorter and the body of it elongated. The claws were uselessly short, barely capable of their function it seemed. It looked funny, mostly because there was little hair on it, not the coat of fur she had hoped to snuggle. He leaned back with a sigh, she felt his tension of the nights work being released in it. Still he wore the gloves to great annoyance.

Reaching for one of them, she took it to her muzzle and gently bit the tip to pull them away as she held the wrist. He hesitated by clenching it to her anguish. She laughed softly to his fear, calling his name gently, “Marion...”

“Please no Luna.”

“I thought we were friends. Is this but another one of your falsehoods?”

“...I do not-”

“If we are friends, then please trust your friend. What could these possibly hold to bring such fear?”

“The hoofleg hands, Luna...do not-”

“I will not hear it, Marion. I wish to at least feel an honest touch please.” She remained laying on her belly as she waited for him to reply. It came in the form of him looking away, then allowing his fist to unclench. She resumed her pinch of the glove with her teeth, watching them slide down to expose the underneath.

By the stars he trembled. Such a fear was as frightening for her. All she could do to the half uncovered hand, was bring her lips for a quick press and massage it between her hooves. The trembling did quell as her frogs glided over and took the shape of the soft palm. It was concerning to see the many scratches and grazings he had. Those sticks did require some mastery.

She then slid the glove off entirely. The hand was odd, but not strange. Already she could see an old scar on the left one, running across the digits neatly. It had a digit too many, oddly rounded claws at the end that seemed useless, again hairless. What struck her attention was how warm they were, such a warmth to emanate into her muzzle as she pressed to it.

“Radiant,” she whispered. He seemed to exhale sharply with relief, the shoulders sagging a noticeable amount.

She shifted to the other side of him and repeated her gesture, this time taking the glove off in one clean glide. She had to repeat it, only then could she grant him the permission to grant himself that freedom. “Simply radiant. Such a warmth that does carry from thine heart.”

She could hear the congestion as he spoke. “Thank you… Luna. I am sorry to be-”

“You have every right my friend. I understand your fear to expose that which causes others to fear you.”

“You do. They are disgusted by it though, not afraid.”

She softly chuckled once more. “I am not, you are not I hope. So there is no reason to fear.”

“Why aren’t you? The lack of hair is already off putting to most.”

“Marion...all I hear is they are afraid, they fear, they disgust, they. I am here, I adore these. Thou hast a most unique hold, they are surely thine secret of such success.”

He was silent for a while, she felt the grip tighten with a slight tremble. “Thank you...my friend.”

She slid a hoof to the collar, only brushing the edge against the white button there. It was surreal to see her hoof there, so close to him with so much in between. Taking a breath, she stole her courage. If he could find even that strength for one moment, it would need to be from her. “I want to feel you completely, please do not hide from me anymore.”

The response was immediate, instantly she felt the tension spread as he made ready to rise. Her grip loosened however, and as surprisingly he remained there. There was a draw to him, to her. As difficult as it was to understand, the one who had fled for so long did not.

“Luna… I am so different, no feathers, no fur, no scales, nothing but bare skin. It has so much pain on it, you will be upset. Please reconsider.”

“How could I be upset with you? Shed then and let me feel this so close.”

“I w-would if I cou-” His words stopped in an instant, and Luna was beside herself realising what she had just done. With all the frustration and fear, she had indeed pushed her muzzle in the gap of the collar for one thrilling moment. His neck tensed at the touch, she made effort to accent her breath with a swoon before lifting away. It might have been a mistake, for now he was not breathing at all.

“That was for me, Marion. You may breathe again.” He exhaled abruptly, almost choking. “You may never be able to repay that gesture, in this I find peace.” Another sharp breath trembled out. “I wish not to loose you, for in all our insanity my fondness aches for anything. What words could I say to tempt you free of your idea that I will be so disgusted by what is there? How long will you make me wait with false promises to even innocently hold to you?” She waited in silence, savouring the firm back she clung to. “Speak…”

“It has been very long…please.”

Luna sighed heavily, an ancient wisdom colliding with another. She had to be the first to make any gesture, yet it would fade in its meaning without context. To tell him would be to reveal a truth so few knew of, yet she trusted him. It was then her thoughts found a place to hold to; every push was her doing, and none thus far were protested. He was either accommodating, or perhaps exactly what she was. Surely this was too soon to tell.

“Listen to me my friend.” Sometimes it was frustrating she could not see his ears display his focus as other ponies, the silent ones of the mask ever rigid. “In my crown,” she raised it off her head with the simplest spell to float before the mask, hoping he was indeed looking out of it, “lies a power that protects me.” Another flicker and her breast plate unclipped to slide free, floating under the crown. “My armour, the same power therein.” With a deep breath her hoof wear slid free to join the presentation before them. “Therein,” she gently repeated.

It was an odd sensation to be this exposed around another individual, oddly safe around him. The cold clung to the places the armour once did, and her chest was given warmth by the trembling back. He might have been terrified, but he was not fleeing.

“They are…lovely?”

“The charm that protects me, I forsake for thee.” She cast them to the side in a dramatic toss for emphasis. The ethereal ring each part emitted as it collided to the floor was a welcomed flare.

His shock was obvious as the mask subtly followed her rolling crown, the title she wore no longer in front of them. There was no power in these relics of course, no magical power at least. Perhaps it was her turn to express a half truth in the way he did his own falsehoods.

Marion picked up the piece and replaced it atop her head. Perhaps it was important for him.

“You are insane…”

She chuckled at that. “You wear these garments to keep you safe, to keep you protected from so much hurt. It weighs heavy on me you see a need to protect your person from me.”

“Tis not from you. I know you will not hurt me.”

“Dost thou? It will hurt should I gallop out yonder window in shock.” She could not resist, this time only kissing the collar of the shirt. There was this subtle bend in his back, and she dared to hope he was leaning into her. “I will not lie in presuming the sight will not shock me, but I speak in earnest when I say it cannot be enough to force me away from here. No scale, plumage, hairless, could be enough.”

“Can it not be another day?”

“When you hold me, let it be an unshielded body that does and not a fabric.” She inhaled deeply, hoping her calming exhale would be contagious. “You fight so hard against yourself, Marion Marionetter.” Although Luna was smiling, a tear tolled off her cheek. It was turmoil incarnate to see him this way. “You guide me to finding peace, to finding bravery. Set aside yourself long enough to listen to yourself. Does this make sense?”

She waited, every tick of a clock in the room louder with each second. It was difficult, and extremely irritating. He was trying to back out of a promise he made to her in person. That embrace they shared but a day ago seemed to mean nothing to him, the words he had spoken caught up at the time in emotive speech.

As hard as she tried to be annoyed, years of wisdom and experience could only bask in his bravery thus far. Being hidden this long would cause any creature to loose sanity. She would be content to share his hold, his bed. Embrace was a gift he did bestow to friends, such as Melody, and Luna. Now she wanted more than anything for him to turn around and sink with her to the sheets. She had set the path, it was his turn to follow suite. The mask could remain on for now, but only for now.

Still a steady breath as her heart pounded in her head. Her forelegs tightened about him, squeezing the body in fear he would vanish. When the sniff sounded from within the garb pressed to her cheek, she almost jumped with the broken silence.

“Thank you…my friend. Sorry…”

Luna loosened her grip with held breath, allowing his arm to lift. He unfastened the top slowly, each moment of the descent burning an anticipation in her. As the neck became visible she was not too worried to see the bare skin, not unlike the throat. He paused though.

“Marion?”

“Do you wish to proceed?”

Luna came in close and pushed herself up to hold on his tensed shoulders, pressing to his firm back. Her ears fell in that ease, her wings relaxing to slump to the sheets. Such fierce trembling with each inhale. She felt guilty for forcing him. “I shall not force thee, Marionetter.”

“I cannot do this, but you can.”

“Marion?”

“You can choose. Luna the path you may choose to tread will bring you sadness.”

“Then I shall seek comfort in my friend. Art thou ready?” He slowly nodded and bowed his head, Luna noting his hands gripping the bed sheets very tightly. She gently tugged with her teeth and let it roll right off his shoulders, arms and expose the flesh underneath.

Her breath caught, the grotesque mass of boils was nowhere near to what she had imagined. There was an abundance of protrusions, yet markings not expected at all. She could not contain herself at the sight and fell onto him, holding for all she was to this pain. It was a battle not to pity him, she could not pity him after all this courage.

“You… are so brave, but still such a coward.” She pressed her cheek on the bare body, failing to retain her tears. The many years of The Marionetter had not been kind. It seemed his incredibly thin fur coat was natural, unable to hide the journey of his time.

It was heavily laden with healed markings of scarring, easy to decipher despite the dim light. Luna could instantly recognise the talon scarring of a griffon, the bite of a dog, the scratches from sharp and blunt tools, old burn wounds from what she hoped with all her heart was an accident despite their precise placement, amongst others decorating too much. His body had endured punishment, and in seeing it her heart nearly broke.

He gently turned around in her hold to raise a leg on the bedside. The front was as bad, if not worse because of a single marking; a brand burned over the heart with the symbol Luna recognised as the pony mark of the monster. That marking was painful for her to see. She loosened her grip to look up at the mask she hated, she hated not being able to see him and his sadness. His arm came around and pulled her in. She let herself free to cry over her friend, his warm body doing much to comfort her as it took her soft cheek to the shoulder. Her ears fell back in their sadness, the wings almost instinctively holding around. There was an overwhelming desire now, all she wanted to do was protect him.

“I did not want to make you cry, Luna.” She felt his hand pass through her mane, it was soothing enough that she could ease into him. Such a firm hold, as tight as the one given to him. She did not like being this sad of course, her heart was aching seeing this much suffering and knowing it was still in her kingdom. The once perfect picture she held for the new ponydom was now marred. “Some of these I earned Luna, I have committed such terrible acts.” She heard the depth of his inhale. “The Sticks you see are not meant-”

“Melody told me, Marion,” she forced through her congestion. “I am not afraid.”

“She what?”

“I convinced her to show me the night you saved her. I am sorry my kingdom has done this to you. I am sorry you have been under such frustration and sadness, that you have been twisted to this. You never stopped being so sweet though. You stayed strong and kind, my sweet Marion.”

“Melody...” he growled. He released Luna and stood up, slowly backing out of her wings towards the Marionette Sticks, “Are you not going to act to contain me? Do you not weep for your duty and what you must do?”

Luna felt such pain to be parted from his embrace and to now be feared by him. She did something very unwise at that moment considering his stance, unwise for her to let her guard down and leave herself exposed. His hands now hovered over the sticks. She could see it in the way his muscles tensed, he was ready to fight. Luna smiled as best she could, sniffing and closing her eyes. She did not look but spoke, feeling each word resonate in her.

“Please do not be afraid of me, I do not fear you. You are naught but a tool for retribution, a being who takes such burden for my ponies. They wrong you, fear you, scorn your appearance. They have tortured and tried to break you, yet still you stand for them. You never stopped being kind to them. Marion if you think I dare bring harm to you after seeing all that is, then I have failed you as a friend.”

His voice was surprisingly soft. “Then you are as ignorant as Melody.”

“Ignorant? How… you offend me. Justify this accusation.”

“Why bother waste word-“

Luna could not contain it. “Is this how you treat MY GESTURE?!” she thundered. “How dare you spit on the mercy, the kindness I TRY TO BESTOW UPON THEE?!”

“So it is charity you spend time here?!” He was as angered.

“IT IS MY FRIENDSHIP WITH THEE! IT IS…my…” Luna caught herself alarmingly fast. Not this way, this was not the way she could tell him. Her blood boiled, but it cooled somewhat seeing his hand no longer over his weapons. Her blood cooled seeing the scarred body before her and all the reason he thusly had to defend it. She took a deep trembling breath to compose herself, cleared her throat and spoke clearly. “I know of thine exploit which rescued Melody from a truly terrible night.”

“Then you…” Luna was happy he had calmed in kind, “…know of why I did that?”

“I think so. I do know of your comfort given to her and the trauma you caused. I know you cradled her the entire night as she wept.” He eased his stance to the relaxed one Luna was familiar with. “This is all I know, all I need to know.”

She tapped the bedside but he did not approach. “You will understand that I am less than able to believe your acceptance, princess.”

“I think I know why you ache at their loss.”

“I do not ache.”

“You are a poor liar. Why else were you so quick to assume I would enact justice?” He did not answer. “Perhaps you think it is earned, alike the scars I see upon thee.” Marion took a deep breath in kind.

“There… is…” The voice became hoarse.

Luna closed her eyes once more. “I am not here to place judgement upon thee.” She took her crown off and threw it towards him. It hit the mark but she did not move. He did not in kind. “I know there is a great weight that does trouble you. I shall listen to my friend, but he must lay his grief out before me should our friendship be of such trust.”

“Our friendship is strange to me as it is. Your crown is beautiful.” Luna waited without looking. She had excellent hearing and absorbed the brush of his digits on the grain of her ornate headpiece.

“I know you have told me great falsehoods in this short time we were together, but now I beg you to answer this with all the integrity I know you possess; hast thou ever taken an innocent, or allowed an innocent to be taken?”

A long pause followed. Luna did not like waiting for the answer, she kept her eyes shut with this tension. Now she would truly be endangered if he was not the one that she knew. He was though, she was certain of it. Her breath was shallow, her heart beat loud, she needed an answer from him, but she would wait.

The sound of her crown’s ring approaching nearly broke the determination, the hum of its ancient power echoing in the silent room. She exhaled sharply as her cheek felt his touch, and the returning of that crown to her mane. His eyes, or that of the masks, seemed to bear more grief.

“Never. Luna you are insane to let yourself be that… I could have just as easily been-” He was cut short as she reached up and pulled him close to rest her cheek to his chest. His heart beat as fast as hers, his breathing as shallow. He understood what had happened.

“You would not. I am certain now more than ever of the sweetest heart… that I hear nervously beating.” Her heart sang again as his arm came around to hold. “Speak, my friend.”

“There is a… truth about creatures in groups; they act with evil never thought possible. Good creatures can do very bad things when there is a group of them and the fabric of morality pales. They can do things never thought possible and think it right. It does not make them evil but… I feel that I ended the lives of five ponies who were simply stupid. They did not deserve to-”

“They understood their actions, Marion. They knew their intentions and repeating the event was their death warrant. What you speak of is true, but it is explained in the context of one happening. Acting with forethought is different than acting on the spur of the moment.”

“Words to find peace with a cruel truth.”

Luna knew this feeling too well. “The ponies hurt four mares, you mourn the inability to save them?” She felt his nod. “You think they were not worthy of that reprise.” Another nod. “I treasure life in many ways, Marion. I do not have patience or mercy to those who disregard it more than once.” She stroked his back, the silken touch of bare skin warming to her frogs. “I fear you mourn the lives taken in a time past.” He held more tightly. “You have seen lives ended that may have not deserved their fate. I assume this when your time was younger in this land.”

“It is sickening. The way creatures can enforce a belief and subjugate masses with themselves.”

“I pity them. In some cases it is a mercy to end their lives.” Her ears dropped feeling that weight return.

“That sounds very cold.”

“A truth I share between us; I have been through the depths of war. It is not easy to accept it but these events create themselves. You fought against soldiers I assume, they accept their task with knowledge of what it might bring.”

“They leave their loved ones behind under this ideal enforced upon them.”

“I believe the explanation is indoctrination. The word and its arrival in my absence is subject to great study.” Luna still held tight to him. “I would imagine you hunted the leaders as well as their soldiers.”

“I left every creature that I fought dead.”

“Smart”, she thought aloud. “No survivors is no enemies. The kin could have been a problem but-”

“I do not announce my actions to the world.”

“Marion”, she released a little to look into the masks, hoping to see those eyes, “I understand your grief for I fought in campaigns an age ago. I know this much of where you are; the ideal you held to feels shattered. It will heal and become stronger, but do not fear a slight amendment to it. I promise clarity will come to thee. I fear tis only thine mind that can see it.”

She shifted on her haunches for comfort, studying the mask down to the neck. Her spirits were uplifted to have brought some experience to this creature. It was a place Luna was at a long time ago, having to understand this necessity of action on her own. These were words she remembered hearing from a soldier that long time ago. There was hope they could comfort him as they had her. His hand rubbed her shoulder slightly.

“Here you are comforting me once more with a heavy burden. Your words found their mark, they do help. I thank thee, friend Luna.”

She chuckled, more relief than anything else. He chuckled in kind and the standoff was complete to her. Some minutes soothed while she held her cheek to his chest and past them listening to the easing heartbeat.

She was leaning back to try pull him down to the bed, him stubbornly holding fast. He was a strong one, but Luna was clever and well versed in mischief. Her ears perked in the idea that came. Using her magic to give the slightest pull on the carpet that he stood on, he lost his balance to fall atop her. He was fast, a single arm shooting out to catch the weight while the other still supported her in the bounce of the catch.

She was feeling very hot as his soft bed took to her shape with ease. There was an ache in her that wanted him closer, that wanted his body to hold to hers eternally. She spread her wings and let the calling ripple run over the feathers to display her want. She let her mane playfully wave about, a downwards tilt of her head with a blush and a coy smile to preface her desire.

“That was a dirty trick, Luna.”

“Yet dost thou not love it so.” His other arm slid out from under as he tried to rise. Luna felt that ache scream out of her before she could stop it, “Take me!” Her vision shook as she said it, he halted instantly and she could see the shock on him despite the mask he wore. His response though was unexpected for any male in this situation.

“Are you...INSANE?!”

Her embrace held tighter. “No my Marionetter, I am not, I have never been more sure. I ask of thee to take me now. Let me be one with-” his hot hand clamped on her mouth, it was trembling.

“Luna, I will not.” Her eyes widened with shock. “You are a princess of this land, to be tainted by some foreign beast is...wrong. You asked me tonight to hold you as you slept, that I would love to do. To… umm...”, he swallowed hard, “t… take you… I could never forgive myself.” She tried to speak but his hand remained firm. “You are beautiful and pure my friend, you are carried away right now with emotion. Should I… umm...” he swallowed hard again, this time looking away from her, “take you… it would not heal my pain. Having somepony to hold close to me though… that would be tremendously powerful. Please Luna, don’t make yourself my first innocent.” His hand pulled away to leave her gaping in surprise.

The pain Luna felt burning was enough to cause her to roll on her side and arch inwards, her once proud wings curling up in kind. She hated him for doing this to her, for torturing her in this way. It was clear he did not understand how innocent she truly was, the weight with which her question was asked. She needed him to understand it, now. Forcing herself to speak through her sobbing was a battle in itself.

“I have never...” she could not finish, closing her eyes tight and feeling the warm tears spill out. “Please… my Marion...” His left arm bent and he lowered himself beside, her back facing his front, that large arm wrapping around and pulling her in. She did not know where this was going, but she hoped with all her heart it was where she wanted it to. This so called tainting was not so, she wanted him to be all that he was with her.

“Luna, I will share something very special with you right now. Will you listen and follow my every word?”

“Y… yes...” her sobbing was levelling off, a wave of energy and heat rushing over. He spoke now in the sweetest, most tender voice.

“I want you to release all this tension you carry.” His hand pressed on her chest, closer into him. She tried to release it, but it was proving to be a monolithic task. “Luna, the physical is so easy. It is temporary, but it must be shared with a special stallion of your choosing.”

“I want you to be my sta-”

“Shh shh shh, Luna. Listen, do you feel your stomach right now? There is a severe ache I am sure.” She nodded. What you want to do is feed that ache, it is not your body crying out but your soul. I cannot explain why it cries out, that is a mystery, but I can feed it for you until my novelty wears off.”

“It would never.”

“I am sure it will, let us give it time for you to reconsider this path. Tonight, let us follow this one though, together.”

Her voice was trembling, “Wh… what must I… do?”

I want you to close your eyes and feel that ache flow through you as a river. Channel it inside every muscle and fibre of your being and feel it to the most intense depths. Luna was trying to concentrate, there was much resistance from her ache. She was sweating with her feverish anticipation.

“I cannot.”

“Perhaps you need help then, allow me to guide you.” Luna gasped as she felt his hand slide under her side and the arm bend around to place it to the stomach, pressing firmly in. His jaw clamped down on the top of her head and his thighs pressed up against her flank, her ears falling to the side as the cheek accepted the silken embrace of the sheets. The hand on her chest pulled away a moment to adjust her tail for comfort. She felt dwarfed by him as he encapsulated her.

Her breathing was shallow and quick, face burning in accompaniment. “I want you to feel the ache in your stomach where my hand is. Let it flow here,” he pressed the hand on her chest for emphasis, “You must not fight the current Luna, let it flow, let it spill over and be free. Let me feed it.”

She could feel it spilling over, the tide was very slowly washing away. His hand widened and pressed the stomach area firmly. She moaned through her blocked throat, leaving it a paled whimper. His hand on the chest pressed down further and she felt herself being crushed to the hard body, the heat in her face building with the pulsating pressure.

He was very strong. It did not hurt but the intensity with which he held her was incredible. It was as though she was ready burst with the feeling of his hot hands and body. She threw her head back against his neck with a groan to echo her agony, letting the scratchy fur caress her mane and scalp. His body began to arch inwards, the muscles all around her tightening. The arms on her side, the thighs against her flank. She could feel it now, that flow in her every being, ready for more, wanting more. Her skin tingled feeling him there, coat standing on end, her breath was caught, restricted from his compression. She did not care it was difficult to breathe, she wanted him to keep going.

He suddenly released all of his strength and she gasped for the fresh air through her feverish heat. This ease now was cause enough to allow collapse; every muscle no longer straining, the ache fading away with each beat of her heart. With the tension in her jaw gone, she let her mouth hang open to take on more air. Each breath felt strangely full. How he had done this was a mystery, but one amazing one. She knew it for sure now, she knew then that she loved him entirely.

“Well done, Luna,. Are you feeling better?”

She whispered to him, “I lo-”

“No you don’t! You will save those words for somepony who deserves it.”

“Can I not love a friend? Can my love not be of the innocence with which you hold me?”

“Luna...”

“I love you. You do deserve it. I wish you would let yourself deserve it.” He did not answer.

She took his hand in her hoof and brought it to her lips, a kiss and a squeeze to tenderly comfort. His hand pulled back and turned over to expose a warm palm, a slight bend of the fingers to ask her to him. She was happy to place her hoof in that warmth and feel the caress on her sole, the hot bare skin holding so gently around it. His arm brought her in closer, pressing into his body. This feeling was as though to caress every fibre. When she breathed now it was a different feeling, a warmth that filled her mind and body in all entirety.

She felt sleep cruelly come to take her in that release, yet managed to defiantly whisper to him, “Thank you my Marion the Marionetter.”

He exhaled and she felt his warm breath caress her mane and horn. He spoke with such a sadness she nearly turned over to kiss that prison. “Thank you, Luna. I am sorry we cannot be, but I am honoured to share this with you.”

“As am I. You will forever cradle my heart.” A kiss atop her head and she let herself sleep now. As long as he was there upon waking, this happiness would still be there. She knew though with certainty, her Marionetter would be.

Author's Note

Is this too much or what? No idea here...first time trying this sort of stuff, comments?