Bookends 3 or Family Values

CHAPTER FOUR

A Royal Visit

That following Friday afternoon, Twilight and Cheerilee decided to take Rain Shadow and Wind Walker to visit Canterlot.  Plus it had been a month or so since Twilight’s mother visited and she had heard that Shining Armor and Cadence were in Canterlot to meet with Princess Celesta.  And they had not seen Twilight or Cheerilee since the procedure.

As Twilight had found, most Pegasi didn’t enjoy train rides as being too slow.  So Twilight and Cheerilee talked the older mares into a nice ride with nice conversation, and a late lunch in the dinning coach.

Rain Shadow related how much she had relaxed since she was free to go home without fear.

Wind Walker had moved in with Rain Shadow right away.  She had been living in Cloudsdale and jumped at the chance to be reunited with her first and only love.  She said that she always knew that things would work out and she would be with Rain Shadow eventually.

Wind Walker was genuinely impressed with Twilight’s actions in standing up for Cheerilee and Rain Shadow against such overwhelming odds, and at such a high cost to herself.  Wind Walker said that she could see why Twilight was Rainbow’s best friend.

The two had to work hard to get all the legal issues cleared up with Rain Shadow’s liberation from her oppressive marriage.  She even joked that she was so relaxed now that she had to be careful because she was starting to put on weight.

At the station, there were several ponies waiting on them, Twilight’s father and mother; Night Light and Twilight Velvet along with Shining Armor and Cadence.  As soon as they disembarked the train, the family was all over them.  Wind Walker was introduced to everypony and all said how happy they were to have her there.

Twilight thought it kind of funny that even though they were as glad to see Twilight, Shining and Cadence were really focused on Cheerilee along with Night Light and Twilight Velvet.  The rest of the ponies thought it amusing as well.

But it could be forgiven, it was Shining’s biological child and the couples only claim at any child, even if it was technically to be a niece or nephew.  Twilight did half-seriously remind her mother and father that she was carrying a child also and that it was their grandfoal as well.

“I can understand their feelings,” said Wind Walker, “that’s why I was thrilled when I found out that the two of you decided to do this.  I feel in a way now that Rainy and I are together, they are going to be like my grandfoals too.”

“You’ll always be considered a grandmother to our foals,” said Twilight, “and like another mother to me.  It’s so special to have three mothers!”

Wind Walker hugged Twilight a very warm and loving hug, a tear rolled down both mare’s cheeks.

“Hey! Twilight!” said Cheerilee laughing, “I’m right here and you’re in the embrace of another mare…again!  And my mother’s partner this time!

Don’t you ever get enough at home? I said in the past, what a horny little mare I’m married to!”

“Yes,” laughed Rain Shadow, “I don’t know what to think of that!”

All the ponies assembled laughed.

“Well if Twilight can wait,” said Twilight Velvet laughing, “why don’t we take your things to our house and get you girls comfortable for the evening.  You can do some tours in the morning.”

“Luckily you have a princess and prince for a brother and sister-in-law,” said Cadence with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, “we have the use of one of aunt Celesta’s wagons and four of the Palace Guards to drag around pregnant mares.  We wouldn’t want them to have to walk or anything inconvenient like that, especially Twilight the Younger!”

Again the ponies laughed, Twilight hugged Cadence warmly, but whispered for her to hear only;

“And like I said before, bite me princess!”

“I’ll leave that for Cheerilee to do,” whispered Cadence back.

The hug was tightened as proof that it was only kidding that was going on and just how much the two loved each other.   Then Cadence gave a wicked chuckle;

“I warned you about that princess stuff Twilight!” said Cadence out loud, trying to sound stern, “now you will pay the price!”

Twilight knew that she was joking around, but that didn’t stop her from being concerned.

Cadence levitated her tiara and sent it in the direction of Twilight’s muzzle.  But it stopped short.

“You brother is married to a princess,” said Cadence, “that makes him a prince.  If your brother is a prince, then technically that makes YOU a princess!  So by my Royal Command, you are required to wear this tiara all the waking hours of your day until you depart for Ponyville!  Oh, and don’t worry about me, I’ve a spare back at the house.”

With that the tiara floated atop Twilight’s head.  All her companions broke out in riotous laughter at Twilight’s incredulous look on her face.  Cadence chuckled and said;

“Please ponies, please!  Show proper respect to Her Highness!”

Cadence then bowed to Twilight.  The rest of the extended family followed her example.  It was embarrassing enough for her family to do this in a public place, but there were a number of passing ponies who saw the group of ponies bowing to a pony wearing a tiara so they stopped and bowed as well.

They all rose up, helped Twilight and Cheerilee into the wagon, and they started off for Twilight’s parents home.

“Just wait until aunt Celesta and Luna see you,” said Cadence, winking at Twilight, “they’re going to have a ball!”

“That’s what I’m afraid of!” said Twilight.

Later at the Sparkle home the group settled in for the evening.  Cadence wouldn’t let Twilight take off the tiara and told her she was serious about her wearing it while she was in Canterlot.

There was a delicious evening meal accompanied by a fine crystal berry wine brought from the Crystal Empire which was technically over one thousand years old.  Cheerilee and Twilight were disappointed because they couldn’t have alcohol while with foal.  Cadence promised she would give them several bottles after the foals were born.

Afterward they sipped more wine and talked into the night.  Rain Shadow and Wind Walker, whom all were instructed to call Rainy and Windie (except Cheerilee, Rainy was still mom) were so happy to be accepted into this family of accepting and loving ponies.  Plus it was the first time that Windie had interacted with a princess.  She was surprised and pleased by the casual and warm personality of Cadence.

The only problem that came up in the evening was that Twilight’s bed, although comfortable for Twilight and Cheerilee prior, was now too small to accommodate two mares and their added baby girth.

Rainy and Windie said that they wouldn’t mind sleeping close in Twilight’s bed and letting Twilight and Cheerilee have the larger guest room bed.

“Just don’t be playing with Twilight’s toys,” said Twilight Velvet, “she gets upset when somepony gets them out of order!”

“Mom!” exclaimed Twilight.

The family could tell that Twilight was starting to become sensitive to all the teasing everypony had been dishing out since her arrival.

“Sorry honey,” said Twilight Velvet, “we tease you because we love you so much and are so happy to have you and Cheerilee here.  And you can’t blame the rest of us for being excited for the coming foals.”

The rest of the ponies apologized and promised that they would tone it down.  But Cadence told Twilight that she still had to wear the tiara.

The next morning there was a large breakfast for everypony.  Twilight Velvet asked Twilight and Cheerilee if it would be okay for her to show Rainy and Windie around Canterlot.  She wanted to get in some mother to mother time with them.  Rain Shadow and Twilight Velvet had become quite good friends while Twilight was in a coma.

Night Light had to go to work and Shining Armor and Cadence had Crystal Empire business to attend to at the castle.  Plus Cadence told Twilight and Cheerilee that the princesses were expecting them to visit, and she didn’t think that it was a suggestion.  And she reminded Twilight that there were enough Palace Guards, both off duty and on, around the city that she would know if Twilight took off the tiara.

The pregnant mares found that there was a cart waiting to take them around.  They decided not to fight it but Cheerilee did get a good laugh when the Guards pulling the cart bowed to Twilight and would address her as princess.

They were taken to Canterlot Castle and were ushered to the throne room doors.  As Twilight approached she saw the guard bow.  A voice from an intersecting hall was heard;

“Gets old, doesn’t it?”

It was Cadence passing by.

The doors were opened for the two mares and they were told that they were expected.

As they entered the magnificent throne room, Cheerilee was still in awe.  There before them on the dais were the two princesses.  They looked at their guests, then at each other, and then back at Twilight and Cheerilee, mostly at Twilight.

Celestia was able to control her mirth for the most part but Luna almost fell off her throne.

“To what do we owe this honor, Princess Twilight?” asked Celestia, who couldn’t control it any longer.  It was the hardest Twilight had seen her teacher laugh before.

“Our niece told us what she had commanded you to do.” Said Luna, “but we didn’t think you would look so funny, especially with that look on your face.”

Twilight was on the verge of tears, she didn’t suffer the mood swings to the degree of Cheerilee but she could become quite sensitive quickly.

“Your Highnesses,” said Cheerilee gesturing at Twilight.  This was to make them look how Twilight was reacting.

The princesses descended the dais and rushed to hug Twilight.

“Oh darling, darling Twilight,” said Celestia, “we only laugh because we love you and Cheeri so much, we meant no harm.”

“Sweet Twilight, you know how we feel about you.” said Luna, referring to things said to Twilight when she was in the coma, “understand that we jest like this only with equals.  There are very few ponies, ever, that we would interact with like this.”

“I think it is time you took us up on our offer,” said Celestia.  “I think it would help to understand this better.”

“We are honored, your highness,” said Twilight, “but Cheeri and I are deeply committed to each other.”

Celestia smiled;

“As I had said earlier, you don’t understand yet what we are offering.  You’ve always trusted me, my most beloved Twilight, please trust me now.”

Cheerilee and Twilight looked at each other, they nodded and Twilight looked back at the princess.

“We’d be honored,” said Twilight.

“Guard!”called Luna.

The door opened slightly and a guard entered.

“No admittance until further notice,” said the Princess Of The Night.

“As you command,” replied the guard.

The doors closed and Luna, with her magic, secured the door on the inside.

Then three tiaras floated to the thrones.

“I will deal with my niece if she says anything,” said Celestia with a smile.

The four ponies walked to the wall behind the dais and opened the hidden door.  Then they entered the princesses inner sanctum.

The place was as Twilight and Cheerilee remembered it.  Tia and Lu led them to the large bedroom/living quarter.  They all lowered themselves to the cushion.  Twilight and Cheerilee were not too comfortable with their baby-bellies.

“Feel free to sit up or lay down,” said Tia, “there is no ceremony or custom here.   Be comfortable.”

The two pregnant mares sat on their haunches as their hosts snuggled close to each other.  Then Tia and Lu kissed a loving kiss then looked at Twilight and Cheerilee.

“I know you haven’t understood what it was we were offering,” said Tia, “we want you to experience love at the immortal level, like we do.  But now we would like to experience something that we never have, something we can never do ourselves.  And we need your permission to do so.”

“You want to experience our pregnancy,” said Cheerilee.

Lu and Tia smiled and nodded their heads.

“How would we do all this?” asked Twilight.

“We would use a spell that temporally switches minds between bodies,” said Lu, “you would experience our feelings, knowledge and power.  You can make love to each other as we do.  There is no way to explain the difference unless you experience it yourselves.”

“We, on the other hoof, would get to feel a new life inside ourselves.” Said Tia, “we would be able to feel things that you perhaps take for granted or don’t even notice out of it being use to it.  It is a curse of our immortality that we can never bear children.  But after all, we are mares and the desire to have children is part of the mare’s make up, despite us not being able to do it.”

“We have never been as close to ponies that we could offer this.  We understand if you say no.  And you would be able to back out at any time.” Said Lu, “but Tia and I decided to ask this of you because, even though we are immortal, we may never get the chance to have close friends who we could do this with.”

“We would be forever in your debt,” said Tia.  The emphasis on forever was noted and Twilight made a mental note to ask about it later.

The looks on both their faces showed that this was not something that they were asking lightly.  And they could tell that this was truly something their hearts desired.

Twilight was curious about what her teacher was hinting at, and Cheerilee was moved by their plea to experience the feeling of a new life inside them.  Twilight looked at her rose colored wife who nodded her head.

“Tia, Lu,” said Twilight, “we’d be honored to do this.”

Twilight had seen the princesses happy on many occasions, but she had never seen them like this.  They became as giddy as a couple of school fillies.

“What do we have to do?” said Cheerilee.

“Just make love,” said Tia, “don’t be embarrassed, we are about to become so familiar that such an act in front of us will be inconsequential.  We will feel the same; you don’t yet know or appreciate the level of familiarity that this will bring us.”

Tia and Lu started to kiss passionately, and then with a small amount of trepidation, Cheerilee and Twilight started to kiss as well.  At first they were self-conscious, but as the passion started to rise and the innate desire for each other kicked in, it became no problem at all even with the two Alicorns doing the same just a couple of feet from them.  In fact, the moaning that was coming from the two Alicorns was arousing.

Cheerilee’s hoof was at Twilight’s marehood, Twilight was starting to kiss down Cheerilee’s neck.  They worked themselves, lying on their sides, to have the other’s marehood in front of their muzzles.   As they were exploring each other with their tongues, there was a golden glow.  Suddenly Twilight felt a surge of her innate magic level.  She had had her eyes closed; she opened her eyes and saw that the marehood in front of her was surrounded by a white coat color!  Her own hoofs, which were holding open her lover, were a dark blue.  Cheerilee had discovered at the same time that she was now working on a dark blue marehood.  They raised their heads and looked at each other.  Twilight saw that it was Tia looking at her.

“Cheeri?” asked Twilight.

“Yes,” replied Tia/Cheerilee, “is that you Twi?”

“It’s me,” replied Lu/Twilight.

The two smiled and continued to make love.  Twilight noticed the difference in size of Celestia’s marehood, something she had never even thought about.  The taste was different as well, not unpleasant just the natural personal musky taste and smell of a mare’s clean private part.  Truthfully, it was more arousing than Twilight was expecting.  Her mind actually strayed to thinking what it would be like if Celestia was in the body.  The technique she was using was the same Twilight was use to from Cheerilee.  Cheerilee later confessed to the same thoughts about Luna.

As they got deeper into it they could start to feel the world around them as they never had.  Twilight could recognize the raw power that Luna commanded.  She could feel her memories, and desires.  She was surprised at just how much Luna was attracted to her.  But the level of love felt for her sister was unbelievable.

Truthfully, Twilight was a little disturbed when she found out that her teacher’s lover was her own sister.  But the explanation of how with them being immortal and could not count on any other lover for any length of time.  The only pony she could count on could only be her sister.  She also sensed that this arrangement might have to include Cadence in the future, after Shining Armor was gone.  There was a brief sense of sadness for her brother.

As they continued, she felt the orgasm build, it was nothing like she had ever experienced.  As it grew closer, the boundaries of mind and body dissolved along with the boundaries between her, her lover and the two princesses.  Their minds and bodies became one.  The physical world disappeared; they were suddenly one being with four minds.  The universe exploded into pure light, time did not exist.  It was an eternity of pure bliss.

‘I told you, my most beloved, that it would not be what you would expect.’ Twilight heard in her mind, it was Celestia.

‘You two now know us unlike any other pony ever, even Star Swirl the Bearded never achieved this,’ said the part of her mind that was Luna.

‘I am so overwhelmed,’ said the part of the mind that was Cheerilee.

‘You are experiencing something that no Earth pony has ever,’ thought Celestia.  ‘you feel the magic that is innate in Unicorns but Twilight can tell you that she, as powerful as she is, does not have this level of power.’

‘As overwhelmed as the two of you are,’ thought Luna, ‘exercise the power you now have and feel the level of awe that we now feel in your bodies.’

‘We weren’t ready for the fullness you two feel; after all you have had almost six months to ease into it.’ Thought Celestia, ‘but the most glorious thing is to feel the movement of another being inside of us, just to feel the heartbeat is the greatest feeling we have ever had experienced.’

Twilight could feel what Celestia and Luna were feeling.  They had never realized that if they tuned their awareness good enough that they could feel the heartbeat of their foal.

‘There is one more thing you should know,’ thought Celestia, ‘be still and see if you can feel it.’

All four minds went quiet.  Twilight and Cheerilee felt it almost at the same time.  There were two more minds in there with them!  Minds that were at perfect peace and happiness, minds that registered pure love for the being that was supporting them, the contentment of the womb.  There were no words, but what they were thinking was understood.

‘Wait!’ cautioned Celestia, ‘if you go deeper, you’ll know everything about them.  If you want the sex and race to be a surprise, then don’t go any further.’

‘My love,’ thought Cheerilee, ‘to have felt them, knowing that they are healthy and happy is enough for me.  I can wait another five months; we are over half way there.’

‘I agree, my darling,’ thought Twilight.  ‘But thank you for this gift…..’

‘I can feel your minds,’ thought Celestia, ‘you don’t know how to address us at this level.  In public it will be necessary to address us as you have.  But alone, and in casual circumstances, we will always be Tia and Lu.  We would like it if now you would consider us as sisters and lovers, but at a much deeper level.”

‘You won’t understand the depth of this now,’ thought Luna, ‘and it is our wish that you don’t fully understand this for a very long time, but our minds will forever be linked.  This will also have consequences for the near future however.  You’ll understand at the right time.’

Twilight and Cheerilee caught the very smallest of understanding of what they were being hinted.

‘As much as none of us will want to,’ thought Celestia, ‘we have to return to our bodies.  But I hope that after this, you’ll want to join us again.’

Twilight and Cheerilee both felt the other want to respond in the positive.

‘Your thoughts are understood,’ thought Celestia. ‘Now we return!’

Twilight opened her eyes as the last of the orgasm wash over her.  She was now pleasuring Cheerilee.  After catching their breath, all four mares sat up and looked at each other and smiled.

“Tia,” said Twilight “was there any particular reason that we entered the bodies we did?”

Celestia blushed brightly.

“It’s because my sister won,” said Luna, ever so slightly annoyed, “we both wanted you to experience what making love to us would feel like.  Please don’t be upset at us Cheeri, you now know from being linked to us the level of love we feel for both of you.   It’s silly really, but I did get to use your body to make love to Twilight’s.”

Cheerilee thought for a moment.  She knew in the past it might have hurt her feelings, but now she understood things at a much deeper level.

“It was my honor Lu,” said Cheerilee with a smile, “maybe next time Twi and I could be in on the decision making.”

The fact that Cheerilee had suggested that there would be a next time, thrilled both the princesses.  They had harbored fears that it would be Cheerilee that would resist.

Luna hugged Cheerilee and kissed her.  It was more than a ‘thank you’ kiss.  Cheerilee was surprised at first, but she felt that with the level of intimacy they had achieved, it really was alright, including the tongue in her mouth and the hoof at her marehood.  So Cheerilee returned the level of the kiss to Luna.  Cheerilee marveled at the pleasure she felt rubbing Luna’s love organ.

It was almost amusing, when they broke the kiss; they saw that Celestia and Twilight were finishing a similar actions.

“Good gracious!” said Cheerilee, still in the embrace of Luna, “I turn my attention away from you for one moment, and I find you making out with another mare.  And this time the ruler of Equestria!  Don’t you ever get enough?”

“Shall I send her to the dungeon?” asked Celestia slyly.  “Or just banish her to the Everfree Forest?”

“No Tia,” said Twilight, “I’m going to have to show her just how much I don’t get enough!”

They all laughed as they departed the inner chambers.  The final laugh was as they were leaving, Cadence’s tiara appeared on Twilight’s head.

“You mustn’t forget your dignity, your highness,” said Luna.

“I would reply, ‘bite me princess’,” said Twilight, ‘but I now know that it would only lead to something else and I’m kind of spent already.”

All the ponies laughed, Celestia and Luna were still laughing as the throne room doors closed behind them.

Later at Twilight’s parents’ home, they were asked how their visit with the princesses went.  They told everypony that there were no words to explain.  It did appear that Cadence knew what they were talking about and they remembered the hint of what was to come with her.

The rest of the weekend visit went joyfully for all.  Cadence and Shining still showed Cheerilee more attention.  They also explained that they planned to have Cheerilee and Twilight’s eleventh month free and they would be staying in Ponyville or Canterlot to be there for the birth.  This started a talk on who was going to be there for the birth itself.  Cadence, Rain Shadow and Twilight Velvet all wanted to be there for Cheerilee, as well as for Twilight.

Twilight joked that there were so many ponies that wanted to be in the delivery room, that Cheerilee and she might have to wait outside!

Then it was mentioned that as soon as the foal was able to travel, that Cheerilee (and Twilight) would have to come to the Crystal Empire. There the crystal ponies were also expecting to be introduced to the princess and prince’s foal.

But when alone at night the couple started to feel that the demands on their pregnancy were starting to be more than they had planned.  They had originally wanted only their wife to be there for them, and maybe their mothers.  They didn’t think that there were so many other ponies that felt that they needed to be there too.

The only thing that helped hold them together under the building pressures was the memories of the minds they had felt when they were joined with Tia and Lu.  Especially the feeling of the minds of their darlings inside them.

As time went by they would find that this was only the beginning of expectations.