Chapter Seven:
Night Mare

“Are you okay, Princess Twilight Sparkle?”

After Twilight's sobs had calmed and quieted, Twilight could only lay limply on the stone slab. She had heard Luna's question, but lacked the strength to try and answer. Pathetic. She was so pathetic in her current state. Drained of the fear that had overpowered her, Twilight just felt exhausted. Exhausted and upset with herself. She had quit in the middle. Undignified. Worse, she had freaked out in front of Princess Luna. Did that mean she failed the task that had been assigned to her? What would happen if she had?

“Twilight, answer me. Please.”

The plea got Twilight to look up at Luna. The worry in the mare's face surprised her. Luna looked just as shaken as Twilight did. Maybe more. The worry was obvious on her face. It was confusing. Why was Luna looking so crestfallen? Was she that disappointed in Twilight? Had she failed that badly?

“I'm sorry,” Twilight started to say.

“Do not apologize, Princess. In truth, it is I who should be apologizing to you.” Luna leaned down to nuzzle Twilight, but when the younger mare pulled away, her crestfallen expression only deepened. “See how you flinch away, my Twilight. I have pushed you too far.”

Twilight didn't know what to say. Luna seemed so sure of herself before Twilight had uttered the safe word. She hadn't seemed very worried about Twilight's well being at all when Twilight had been restrained. Why was this suddenly different?

Her mind was torn. On one hand, a part of the fear remained. On the other hand, Luna's upset expression cut through the fear, making her realize that she had not been the only one who had suffered during that session. Despite Luna's strong, cruel voice, she seemed defeated now, as if she had been the one who had been restrained.

“I couldn't bring myself to cut you, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said. “Seeing your terror when you thought you had been cut was hard enough. Just...just so you know.”

What. A flicker of fear slapped Twilight as she thought of the swipes of the blade. The liquid she felt rolling down her body. How could Luna say she hadn't cut her when Twilight had clearly felt it?

“I felt it,” Twilight said. “I felt every time you cut me.”

“But I didn't, Twilight. Not in truth, with the blade you thought I wielded, nor the one I picked up after.” Luna swept a wing towards the dinner cart. “Knife play is a very psychological kind of torment, as well as physical, possibly. I planted the idea of the knife in your mind so you would keep believing that I was using it. I switched to this one after.”

Twilight eyed the glowing scalpel as Luna's magic lifted it up. The scalpel was clean. No blood. It didn't make sense. She looked down her body, looking for cuts and scrapes but saw none. It was impossible. She had felt it. She had felt every burst of pain her body had received–

Or had she?

The first time Luna had cut her seemed so odd. Although her mind had blanked from sheer terror, her body had never registered any actual pain. She had thought it was her body locking down into self defense mode under the duress it had been under. Could it be that there had never been any actual cuts? That her terrified mind had filled in the blanks of what ideas Luna planted in her mind? Was that even possible?

“What about the blood?” she blurted. “I felt myself bleeding.”

Wordlessly, Luna motioned back to the dinner cart with a wing. Next to the plush velvet pillow that held the ceremonial knife was a small bowl of water. She dipped a wingtip into the bowl and flung the water at Twilight. The water was warm...just as the blood had been when she had felt it.

Twilight's mind whirled, unable to process the information given to her. She had never been cut. The blood was water. It had all been some kind of trick? Some trick to psyche her out?

“Why,” she demanded. “Why did you do this to me? Why did you make me think that you were going to really hurt me?”

She hadn't meant for her voice to be so angry. In the confines of their session, she would have gotten whipped for it. Instead of looking angry, Luna looked antsy. Miserable, almost.

“Between the three established trainers in this ritual, I was assigned to break you, Twilight Sparkle. My sister didn't think that Princess Cadence would be able to handle the job and she has something else in mind for you. What that may be, I know not. What I do know is that my sister meant to use my anger against you.”

“Anger?”

Luna signed, and motioned for Twilight to follow her. Like Cadence's chamber, one corner of the room was filled with plush pillows, the majority of them in varying shades of midnight blue and black. She made herself comfortable on the pillows, then motioned for Twilight to do the same. Twilight followed, hesitating slightly.

“My imprisonment on the moon had changed me. Surely you must know that; you and your friends were the ones who had defeated Nightmare Moon. Yet, a part of that anger remained. The moon is...lonely and dark. One thousand years' imprisonment drove me to the brink of insanity...but with that came anger. An anger that lurks deep within me today.”

Luna's head lowered down to the pillow. “My sister meant to use that anger to break you. I'm sure it's been said multiple times, the point of this is to break and rebuild. Princess Cadence would never be able to hurt you beyond the training she has given you, so the task was assigned to me. But I...couldn't...”

Twilight should have been angry. She was meant to be broken? Right from the start, Celestia had planned to break her and had assigned her own sister to do the breaking. For all that Twilight had endured, she should have been angry. She should have felt something. Instead, exhausted as she was, she only felt pity. Luna was clearly upset at having her own anger weaponized. Twilight couldn't imagine what one thousand years' isolation was like, but it had to have been lonely. With that loneliness came anger, just as Luna had said. Luna had done so much to change since she had been returned from her form as Nightmare Moon. Twilight had heard rumors that Luna had taken extensive classes to catch her up on the thousand years she had missed. She had even tamed her royal Canterlot voice and otherwise archaic speech. Why would she be used like this by her own sister?

A sort of connection had been forged between them. For all that Luna had done to her, she should have yelled at the Princess of the night. Rough her up physically. Give her the same sort of treatment. Yet, the connection she felt between her and Luna seemed to grow stronger. They were both pawns in this strange ritual. As much as Luna might have seemed in charge, she was still following orders from a superior. Unfortunately, that superior was her own sister, who didn't seem to care about her psyche, or Twilight's.

“What do I do now,” Twilight said softly. “I stopped and used the safety word. What happens now?”

Luna lifted her head. “You have the choice to walk away from all of this, Twilight Sparkle. My sister intends for you to keep your title as Princess, but have less responsibility and expectation if you walk away. You will still be royal, but like a little sister who hasn't earned her place yet.”

It wouldn't be a genuine title. Among the other Princesses, Twilight would be something else. Royal in name but not in duty. It was almost a relief. She would be able to return home and rest. She knew she needed it. Spike would make her something warm to drink and make sure her bedding was freshly cleaned and warm from drying in the sun. She could go home and rest.

You wouldn't be able to take knowing that you failed, some inner voice within her said. She hated it, but it was a fact. Out of every challenge given to her, Twilight had always faced it head-on. Even if she misunderstood the task at first, like thinking her test with Celestia would be on paper instead of saving the Crystal Empire, she didn't back down. Her friends taught her that strength came in different ways.

As soon as she thought of trying to pick up what she had just stop, her body shivered. No. She wouldn't be able to endure the bladed part of the session again. Even if Luna had told her exactly how it worked, it did little to remove the anxiety that came with thinking she would be gutted. She had been okay with learning submission as it came. Most of her answers had been automated, the yes, Mistress Luna leaving her lips without thought. But getting back on that stone slab and letting Luna spin some more bladed weapons around her?

Not happening.

Twilight struggled to find the right words. “I...don't want to quit. I don't want to be a disappointment to any of you. I just wasn't strong enough for the knife part. But I am strong enough for everything else. I am. I've come too far to quit now.”

Luna let out the strangest little laugh, sad but amused. “You are the student my sister has placed the highest hope on. Time and time again you have proven to her that you could not only meet her expectations, but go above and beyond them. Unfortunately, I think I have failed you, Princess. When given power to dominate, we are not supposed to break as I have. I was not supposed to be the one crying over being hurt. But...I can't...”

Her speech fell apart as she fought against the sob that wracked her body. Twilight watched, shocked, as Luna buried her head under her hooves. She wasn't crying so much as she was breathing heavily, as if she was trying to fight the surge of emotion that threatened to sweep her off of her hooves.

Twilight felt her heart breaking for Luna. Some part of her wanted to comfort the Princess, who, just mere moments ago had been the center of her fear. Now, seeing Luna like this, she seemed less terrifying. More...real. She was more or less in the same position Twilight was in. They were both under the control of Celestia, who ruled both of them. She had never feared or had ever been angry at her mentor, yet she couldn't help but feel like Celestia should at least apologize to Luna. Celestia's relationship with Luna had never been on equal footing after Luna's return.

The strangest urge to protect Luna arose out of all of this mess. It made no sense. She should have been running from the mare who had tricked her. Seeing Luna about to fall apart made her realize that they weren't that different.

“I'm sorry you had to endure this,” she said softly.

Luna's head rose again. Her expression was of total confusion. “What for, Twilight?”

Twilight didn't know how to express her thoughts into words. Luna might have defended Celestia, for all she knew. She came to lay down next to the Princess. “If it's any help, I know that what you did to me wasn't something you enjoyed. And I think that's what matters to me. If you had honestly enjoyed putting me through that, then I don't think I could sit so close to you like I am now. If you had honestly enjoyed tormenting me, I don't think I could look at you with anything but hatred.”

Luna's eyes threatened to spill more tears. “Torment is not what it was meant to be, but I'm afraid I lost some of myself with that. Forgive me.”

She wasn't the only mare that had lost something within their experience with the knife. Twilight nodded. “Only if you forgive me for not being stronger.”

The softest laugh escaped Luna. “You're still here and you dared to stay next to me. That already makes you strong.”

“Can I stay here for a while? Next to you, I mean?”

As Luna nodded, Twilight pulled herself closer to her. Luna was warm. It was a strange comfort. She didn't know why she was brave enough to stay this close to Luna, whenever she had been terrified of her only moments ago. Outside of the strange ritual, Luna was just as she always had been to Twilight. No, that wasn't quite correct. Twilight had seen more of Luna than what she had seen before. It was a softer side of her, more remorseful. They had never spent a lot of time together, so being able to understand her on a level beyond casual talk was a welcome change.

She wasn't sure how long she lay down next to Luna. Luna seemed comforted by her presence as well. It was all Twilight could do, for the both of them. They had both been shaken by the session. In this quiet, there was a strange sort of peace.

She wasn't quite sure when she had begun nuzzling Luna, but there she was, moving her head on Luna's neck. A small shock went through her when she felt the Princess nuzzle her back. It was just the slightest movement of her head, but Luna was returning the gesture. Her touch was velvet soft, almost hesitant. It was endearing.

Luna had probably never had a lot of affection in her life. Second fiddle to her sister before her imprisonment, she had probably been admired, although the ponies she ruled over slept while her beautiful moon was on display. Her own insecurity and anger had driven her into refusing to lower the moon. Her isolation and return had left a lot of ponies doubtful about her intentions. There probably weren't a lot of people to show her any affection. Maybe that was why she was so hesitant. Twilight didn't know why, but she wanted to show Luna that she wasn't afraid of her, despite how she had felt when she had been restrained. Luna was still a pony just like her, remorseful in what she had to do. She wasn't cruel.

Luna gave the softest gasp whenever Twilight leaned in to kiss her on the neck. “Whatever are you doing?”

Twilight felt the heat rise to her face. “Sorry.”

Luna's dark fur hid most of the blush rising, but it was still visible. “N-no, it's not that I minded. You just surprised me.”

“I can do it again, if you'd like.”

Luna didn't reply, but Twilight saw consent in her gaze. Maybe not consent, but longing. She wanted to say yes, but didn't know how.

Not knowing why her heart was suddenly beating faster, Twilight took charge, repeating the kiss on her neck. Luna's exhale was encouragement to do it again, and again. Her lips caressed the mare's neck up and down and Luna tilted her head back. Her eyes closed but her mouth was open.

“What are you doing to me? I feel...I feel...”

It seemed as though Twilight had been right about Luna and affection. She didn't know what to make of the smallest kisses. Luna had known how to use that strap on dildo that she had used on Twilight, but when it came to actual affection, she didn't seem to know what to do. Not that Twilight was any more experienced, but she could at least give Luna some affection. It was all she could think of doing, to make up for not only failing but upsetting Luna as well.

The kisses continued and Luna's breath grew short. It was enough of an encouragement for Twilight to do more, to suck at her neck, then lick at the spot. Luna shivered and a small moan escaped her.

“Twilight, what are you making me feel–”

Twilight silenced her when she turned, pressing her lips to Luna's. Luna shivered once more, but she didn't pull away. At first, it seemed like Luna was just thrusting her lips forward into a pucker, like she didn't know what to do, but as Twilight kissed her, she loosened up, learning how to move her lips, how to kiss back. Electric heat was laced with her kiss. She wasn't sure who had made the first move, but Twilight felt another lick of electric heat when she felt Luna's tongue brush up against hers. The kiss deepened as their tongues met, almost shyly.

Twilight thought the kiss she had shared with Cadence had been something. Her former foal sitter was someone she cared for, but Luna was something different. She didn't know if she was being driven by a need to prove herself and comfort Luna, or because she actually felt something, but she didn't want the kiss to end.

There was a shifting of bodies that Twilight wasn't quite aware of at first. Luna was pulling Twilight on top of her. With her body fully over Luna, she went back to kissing for the slightest moment, before returning to her neck to tend to the area with more kisses. She wasn't sure why it was so important, but she wanted to show Luna that, although she had broken, she wasn't scared of the Princess of the night. Somewhere in that longing, her own heat blossomed, making her want more for reasons other than reassuring the mare below her. It might have been the first time she had been kissed by instinctive, hot lust.

Her kisses trailed down from Luna's neck down to her chest, where the corset was. She nipped at the corset, wondering how to open it. It was as though Luna knew what she wanted, because her horn glowed and the corset began to undo itself, opening before Twilight. Luna pulled it completely off of her, leaving her body exposed to Twilight.

Twilight took her time resuming her kisses, kissing the fur that had been previously hidden by the corset. She felt Luna arch up under her as her lips caressed her chest. Luna's fur was soft and silken, smelling lightly of some floral scent Twilight couldn't identify. Her tongue probed under the fur, seeking the delicate skin under. The softest moan rose up from Luna's lips.

“What...what are you...” Luna couldn't seem to find the right words as Twilight continued to slide lower.

Twilight's head rose up for the slightest moment. “I want to show you that I'm not scared of you, Luna. I broke...but that was because of my own weakness. Not because of you.”

Her words had a big impact on the mare under her. Luna's gaze welled with tears for a moment, before she nodded. Nodding was the only thing she could say in reply.

Twilight continued her way down Luna's body and Luna obliged, arching up and spreading her hind legs slightly in anticipation. She wasn't sure if this was truly the right thing to do; if it made sense to show Luna that she was okay in some other way. She did know that the Princess under her was just as shaken, even if she had broken first. They both needed some form of reassurance.

Luna gasped as Twilight's lips met with the warm, wet heat between her legs. Twilight kissed, then probed with her tongue tenderly, almost shyly. She had no idea of what to do, but she used Luna's reactions to drive her in the same way she had done with Cadence. The vague experience with Cadence was what drove her. She made Luna writhe and moan with her tongue as she lapped at her taste. After Luna's body began to shake and her moans got louder, Twilight pulled away, despite Luna's protests.

“Wait. I don't want this to end yet.”

A part of Twilight couldn't believe she was doing this, that she was being so direct in what she wanted. It wasn't like the clear division of who was dominant and who was submissive with this. She was directing Luna, somehow the stronger one while Luna writhed, powerless, below her. She found a sense of power and a sense of gaining her own control back by taking control of this.

Again using what Cadence had done as a guide, Twilight paused only to rearrange her body with Luna's so they were able to rub against each other. Pleasure shivered through her like erotic electricity as her wet sex kissed Luna's. The smallest movement of her hips made the pleasure hit and she sucked back a moan.

“Move with me,” she hissed to Luna, moving her hips in a sinuous wave.

Luna picked up on the idea and reciprocated the movement. They rubbed against each other, moaning and leaning back. Their hips thrust together, their sexes drinking up the wetness the other gave off. There was power in sex, Twilight found. The pleasure wasn't just the only thing to be had. In taking control of this scenario, she lost some of the fear that she'd had before. She knew she wasn't ready for the knife play Luna had used, but this, right here, in receiving pleasure as well as giving it, was power.

“Oh, Twilight, what are you doing to me?” Luna gasped. “I'm...I want...I want...”

It was almost exactly what Twilight had said to Cadence. She wanted more but she didn't know how to phrase it, half-crazed by the onslaught of pleasure. That was just fine with Twilight. She increased the speed of their movements, her hips moving faster, harder, against Luna's. Luna's head fell back and a cry escaped her. Without any warning, the Princess of the night came, her cry loud and echoing around the room. Her body shuddered against Twilight's but Twilight didn't cease her movement, wanting to flood the Princess with the feeling for as long as possible. Luna practically fell limp against her, but when she felt Twilight still moving, her hips picked up tempo again, letting Twilight get off the same as she had.

Twilight was working towards her own orgasm. With no consent needed to come, she wanted the feeling. Needed it. The pleasure overwhelmed her, overcame her as she moaned and panted with Luna. Her limbs shook as it rose towards that familiar peak, one she craved–

The orgasm swept over her, rendering her thoughtless for a moment. She was barely aware that she was crying out Luna's name over and over again, her hips practically bucking against the other mare. When the pleasure began to fade, she kept moving, wanting to keep the sex going.

Luna had no problem with continuing. They kept rubbing against each other until both came once more. That was when Twilight began to look for other ideas on how to pleasure Luna. The strap on dildo Luna had used was a good idea. When she mentioned it to Luna, the mare's eyes widened at the thought of being penetrated, but she nodded, using her magic to retrieve the toy and strap it to Twilight.

The toy was awkward to walk with but Twilight stood up on her hind legs, letting Luna wet the toy with her mouth. Luna had just about as much experience as Twilight did with taking the toy that deep, although Twilight didn't let her choke. When it was slick, Twilight mounted Luna, the toy probing at her opening.

“Be careful with me,” Luna said, shyly. “I have rarely had the pleasure of this toy.”

Twilight slid in slowly. It was awkward moving the toy at first because she had no idea of its whereabouts. Once she was inside Luna, she moved her hips and let the toy slide out of her, ever so slowly. Luna shivered under her. Once Twilight had a general idea of how to use the toy properly, she began to move again, this time faster, with more confidence. Luna moaned under her as the toy penetrated her.

Twilight didn't think there was pleasure to be had on the giving end of the toy. It was not the type that Cadence had that penetrated both ponies, but Luna's pleasure was more than satisfying enough. With each thrust of her hips, she rubbed onto Luna whenever her body made contact. It wasn't necessarily as mind blowing as the last part had been, but small, sharp jolts of pleasure went through her, fueled by the satisfaction of knowing she had pleased Luna.

Luna's cries were loud and unashamed as she was overcome by Twilight. There was no warning to her orgasms and she came over and over again, dominated by Twilight, the mare who didn't have to use any tool to dominate.

When they were both completely worn out, they lay in a tangled heap of fur and feathers on the stone floor. The cool stone felt wonderful on their overheated bodies. Luna was breathing heavy, her face flushed even through the dark fur. Twilight was the same, trying to catch her breath.

In the midst of their cool down, Twilight managed to gasp, “I feel a lot stronger compared to when I broke. Like I'm able to continue.”

“Maybe you should rest first,” Luna panted. “Before I send you to my sister.”

That got Twilight's attention. “You're sending me on? But I broke. I failed.”

Luna shook her head and took a moment to catch her breath. “No, my Twilight. You might have broken under the illusion of danger, but you came back strong. You showed empathy and understanding to another who might have hurt you for real. To the one who terrified you. And what's more, you were able to take control of the situation instead of hiding. For a ruler to be able to empathize with some pony instead of retreating into basic feelings of, you hurt me, I hate you, is quite an accomplishment. You bounced back from being broken and you feel as though you're ready to continue. That was what my sister was hoping to see, if you had broken. Don't you see, Twilight? You came back stronger.”

Twilight's eyes widened. Was that true? She didn't fail after all? She didn't feel any different than she had before. Well, no, that wasn't true. She did feel stronger. Even if she was physically worn out from what she and Luna had just done, her mind felt stronger. She could face what came next. Whatever Celestia had for her surely couldn't be worse than the terror she had just faced. That terror had been the worst thing she had ever felt, hands down. To overcome it, as Luna had said she had done, was something to be proud of.

“How long can I stay here, Luna? I think you're right. I need to rest.”

Luna gave a soft laugh and moved around so she could nuzzle Twilight. “Rest then, my dear. Take all the time you need.”

Twilight made herself comfortable within Luna's embrace. Their bodies cooled and her breathing evened out. Yet, even as she relaxed, she found a peaceful reserve with her. She had faced the terror and made it out alive. What's more, she wasn't scared of Luna. She didn't hate her. There was true power in understanding what drove another pony. Was this what it meant to have this sort of power over other ponies?

Her mind wandered into thoughts of pony politics and scenarios of ruling. She wasn't sure of when she began to drift off, but her eyes closed and her mind drifted away into a peaceful sleep, safe within Luna's embrace.

Author's Note

I felt that after the intensity of the previous chapter, this needed to be approached with a bit of sensitivity. There are times when the sub is too overwhelmed that they won't always bounce back this fast. Twilight is strong. I think she'll be okay. The question now is, what awaits her with Celestia?

Also, I really do enjoy reading your theories and discussions in the comments. I may not reply to them because I'm always so tempted to be like "I have this and this and this planned!" ...spoils the surprise, you know? c; Sometimes I have to sit on my hooves, so to speak. Lol. Keep the comments coming, everyone! I love reading them <3

Last note, thank you for almost 500 favorites! :D <3 All 400+ of you are made of pure amazing awesomeness for it. Much love. See you all in the next chapter <33