Chapter Three: Limits

A princess will be faced with many perils, therefore it is always important that a princess should learn to cope and recover from such shocks to the system as quickly as possible.

Though the endless paper work had become something of an easy thing to deal with, especially after her little distraction, there was another part of her job she did not enjoy. The bickering of the various nobles and other high society ponies had worn her down again. She didn't mind holding court but most of the ponies that walked in had no real need to be there.

Some were fine, proposals for new changes and the like, ideas that needed funding. Some had even been interesting... but then there were the complaints, things she couldn't change, things she couldn't be bothered to hear, and even things that just made her want to bang her head against a wall.

And the throne... didn't she feel subconscious sitting on those cushions while wearing her crown that marked her as the reigning monarch at that moment.

"They just wouldn't stop! Entering my establishment as if they had a right to be there!" The owner of a very reputable restaurant continued.

Twilight pressed a hoof to the bridge of her snout, she had about as much as she could take with this endless nonsense, "If they have the bits to be there I don't see why you should have need to complain."

"They're commoners!" The flighty unicorn near screeched in horror at her words.

Twilight allowed herself a silent sigh, this was all too much for her taste, she had never really cared for the nobles and their views on the class system that was the curse of Canterlot in her opinion, "I understand that you may have some ill feeling towards this but I must ask you... did they cause a commotion?"

"Well... no... they didn't."

"Did they appear presentable?"

"Well... yes they did..."

"And did they pay in full, without complaint, for the meals they ordered?"

"..."

"Then please explain what the problem is."

"They were commoners!" He cried.

Twilight groaned, a bit more audibly this time, "Thank you for your time, next please!"

The unicorn left with an expression like a slapped flank, the air he carried was one of ultimate insult. Twilight didn't care though she had had enough of that to last a lifetime! This was the very reason she had remained a recluse during the majority of her days, she had never been comfortable around the snobbery of nobles and wealthy high society ponies.

Perhaps her parents were to blame for that, though respected in some groups they were more inclined to companion themselves around the lower classes.

As her mother had once said; ‘When one has nothing unimportant to brag about real conversation occurs.’

Twilight had never really understood that, not until she had spent some time with the ponies of Celestia’s court.

The princess released a quite sigh, she was more comfortable around her friends even now, she missed them terribly which is why she was grateful for her friend’s sudden arrival… even if it had left her terribly confused… and terribly embarrassed! The memory of not a few hours ago still stole at the corners of her attention..

***

Twilight regained consciousness under the light bleeding gently through the leaves of the tree tops above, every nerve in her body tingling with a peaceful euphoria. At first she had no idea what to do or how she had come to be in this mysterious wood without a clue as to why she felt so good. Shouldn't she be at Canterlot running the nation?

She lay on her side, blinking tiredly without much effort left to move or even think.

And why should she? Its wasn't as if she were in any danger or... mmm, her back was incredibly warm for some reason and the unknown foreleg wrapped tightly around her waist was very comforting. Twilight emitted a small noise of contentment.

"Welcome back to Equestria princess." An all too familiar voice purred to her.

Her eyes went wide and she froze, suddenly the comfort and peace evaporated to reveal a deep sense of horror as memories came flooding back. She looked as best as she could down at her side and saw a blue wing placed over her like a blanket. She began to shake slightly, knowing all too well that the pony holding her was none other than her friend, a friend of which had hunted her down and taken advantage of her...

"D... Dash?"

"Sleep well?" The rainbow mare nuzzled at her neck.

Twilight exploded into actions, leaping out from Dash's grip like a sleepy cat woken suddenly by a loud noise. On her hooves now she looked down upon the form of the pegasus with horror and amazement. She had no idea what to say so she just stood there, one foreleg raised and body leaned back as if the pony she faced was a hideous creature from beyond the veil.

"I... you... we...!?" Twilight began, her voice horse with absolute shock.

Dash shrugged and stood, stretching out her lithe body with a soft grunt. Twilight watched her friend like a hawk, realizing suddenly that what she was actually doing was ogling said lithe body with new emotions she had not really felt before. Her blush burned brighter and she looked away.

"Did we... I mean... did you...?" Twilight attempted, her mind now a haze of worry and dread.

"What?" Dash turned to her with a look mixed of amusement and confusion.

Twilight lowered her head and whispered in a terrified voice, "Did we have... sex?"

Dash gave a short bark of laughter, "Don't you remember?"

Twilight didn't, for all she could come up with nothing came to her after... well she couldn't remember exactly, it was all a blur... a fascinating blur but a blur all the same.

"Don't worry Twi," Dash rolled her eyes and grinned. "You passed out on the second wing."

"I... passed out?" Twilight blanched, a whole new wave of embarrassment and shame working its way into her system.

"Yup." Dash nodded, "You probably needed the rest what with all your work... oh and just saying but, you're really sensitive you know... the way you squeak too is kinda cute."

Twilight, at that moment, lost the courage to stand and speak about it, so with a small hop and an accidental squeak she bolted.

"Okay Twi." Dash called after her, "I'll talk to you later."

"I gotta go!" Twilight exclaimed and fled, taking off to the sky on shaky wings.

***

Indeed... not the most prestigious moment in the young princess's life... sure she could claim it was all an accident and that she had no power during the event but that would be a lie. Somewhere in her mind she felt giddy about the memory.

She blinked away the sudden loss of awareness and focused on her job as the page returned from the doors at the far end of the room, where a certain Lord followed him. "Presenting Lord Slight of Hoof!" The page bellowed, but why Twilight would never really understand, it wasn't as if she were a mile away.

The noble lord marched towards the steps of the throne with an air of superiority, his expression aloof and his head held high. Twilight resisted with quite some effort the desire to just leave the throne room and go cry in a corner. The unicorn was a tall fellow with a pale green coat, short cut neat golden mane and tail and soft blue eyes. When he reached the spot where ponies would speak he gave a deep bow.

"Erm... good to finally meet you Lord Slight," Twilight responded.

"Indeed," He raised himself, straightening the sleeves of his black suit, "I hope you do not mind but I hoped we could discuss my latest proposal in more detail."

Twilight's smile became entirely false, "I see..."

"I believe if you understood better the situation in the west front you would be more willing to agree to my proposal on a controlled tax scheme." Trying not to reveal any displeasure at the idea Twilight nodded for him to continue, she may as well just accept her fate in this regard, "As you know it is not an area with much stability considering it lies just within our borders, usually it would fall under a local lord but seeing as it does not have one it would be prudent to..."

"Blah blah blah..." Impatience muttered.

"...the turmoil in that area..."

"He just keep going doesn't he!"

"...due to migration and weather instability..."

"What's he even talking about?"

"...during the fall season..."

"Urgh! Is he just going to keep speaking all day!?"

"...making a routine example of..."

"I can't take much more of this..."

"Hush!, this is important!" Intelligence snapped.

"Hah! Don't make me laugh!" Impatience responded.

"I still think we should hang him!" Anger flared.

"Oh no!" Good argued, "We can't do that!"

"Makes sense to me," Impatience agreed, "It would get this over and done with faster."

"See!" Anger growled triumphantly, "I knew I wasn't the only one!"

"...but when you consider the change in agriculture..."

"Please just tell him to shut up!" Impatience begged.

"I like his suit!" Madness threw in for no apparent reason.

"If you don't all hush you're going to cause a scene!" Intelligence proclaimed.

"Oh please! Not again!" Embarrassment begged.

"Pfft, as if I care," Anger growled.

"I miss Dash..." Lust sighed.

"Hey! You don't get to speak!" Anger raged, "Not after what you did!"

"What did I do!?"

"...if all turns out well I know..."

"If all turns out well, I'll be a stupid pony with no brains!" Impatience mocked, imitating the noble's voice.

"Stop that!" Intelligence snapped.

"Hey look!" Lust squealed, "Its Dash!"

Twilight looked up to the open window far above the doors amongst the struts of the vaulted ceiling, where a certain pegasus was making faces. Returning her attention to the lord below she did all in her power to avoid the new scene above... the game had changed and Twilight knew she would lose if she didn't...

"On that note, under category three of unowned land, and as I have precedence due to the location of this frontier..."

Twilight's eyes snapped up momentarily, Dash was wagging her tongue side to side with her eyes crossed, hanging upside down like a bat from one of the struts by her tail...

"...being the most local lord in the area..."

Dash mouthed his words with an over exaggerated expression, making an angry face and crossing her forelegs. In Twilight's mood one would think this would only make her angry but for some reason her friend's antics had a vastly different effect.

"Princess?" Slight recalled her attention with a raised brow.

Twilight halted the tiny snorts emanating from her mouth, holding in her laughter was harder than she thought. Clearing her throat Twilight apologized and motioned for him to continue. He did so, returning to the original topic in his boring monotone voice, the princess listened and Twilight vowed internally to punish her friend who did not cease to quit even after sniggering at her situation.

Twilight left the throne room with her head hanging slightly low, many things went through her mind, the knowledge that returning to her new office would only mean more paperwork, the horrible sensation of hunger that a simple snack wouldn't really solve, and of course the sinking feeling of knowing she still had more than a week of this before she could return to Ponyville.

She needed something serious to eat but realized that dinner would not be served till much later... after all it was still considered morning.

Sure she could demand something now but she still felt a little insecure about the idea of doing so, she didn't want to bother the kitchen staff who she knew were as tired as she was, the palace after all had many ponies to cater for. She had at least an hour to find something before she had to get back to her office, which was more than enough time she guessed...

As she ascended the steps to her room she did her best to keep her expression strong, there was little keeping her together at that time but she would be damned before showing weakness to the nobles of Canterlot!

She reached her room and opened the door, after entering and closing it she near collapsed with exhaustion, leaning her back against the door with an exasperated groan. Taking a few deep breaths she levitated her crown and placed it on the small stand by her bed. It felt far too heavy right then and she needed to relax, she also took the time to shake off her shoes, they were still uncomfortable to wear even now.

She walked to the center of her room and sighed, trying her best to stretch out the last hour or so from her body.

"Here, I've got that"

Hooves pressed to her back and began massaging her shoulders, "Thanks..." Twilight murmured, closing her eyes and allowing the pleasant sensation to dull her senses.

"That wasn't at all boring! How do you deal with it?"

The princess clucked her tongue and responded with some despair, "Not very well."

"Huh, I'd rather be out flying than be cooped up in this place all day!"

Twilight nodded, "That does sound nice."

"Still... I'm here now so it can't all be bad right?"

"Hmm..." Twilight responded, the pleasure coursing through her aching muscles a relief beyond measure.

"Hey... you could always run away with me you know."

"I could..."

"Yeah, it'll be fun, we'll fly around for a bit, get our hearts pumping, hit the lakes for a cool down then, I dunno, fool around for a while before heading back to Ponyville."

"..."

"We could always take it over, the New Twilight Republic or somethin..."

"Republic...?"

"Its an idea, I wouldn't mind bowing down to you every now and then."

"...?" Twilight couldn't shake the feeling that somewhere she should be arguing against this... and more to the point paying attention to the fact that someone was in her room uninvited. Sudden emotions began to rush, the most predominant of them all a cold chill that caused her to freeze up against the hooves pressing gently into her shoulders.

"Umm... Dash?"

"Yeah Twi?" Dash responded, kissing gently against the back of the alicorn's neck.

Twilight Sparkle leaped forward and spun to face her friend, "What are you doing!?" She demanded angrily.

"Fooling around," Rainbow Dash shrugged, "Why? you got a problem with that?"

"In fact I do!" Twilight snapped.

Dash moved forward a wild smile upon her face, "That's what makes this so much fun!"

"I... I..." Twilight panicked, her entire being exploding with fear, desperately reaching inward for any solution that would save her from being ravaged by the creature moving ever closer.

"Stamp your hoof!" A voice in her mind demanded of her.

Twilight did so automatically, the rainbow pegasus before her gave a brief pause.

"Now frown angrily, show her you mean what you say!"

She didn't know why but she did as she was told.

"Explain to her that now is not the right time!" Her Intelligence offered.

Grateful Twilight followed the advice, "I appreciate the offer Dash but I have an important job to do and I have no time for this nonsense!"

Dash frowned but shrugged, "Uh huh... I'll make it quick then."

"..." Twilight faultered, once more she had no idea what to say.

"Tell her to treat you with more respect!" Anger demanded.

It was a little brash and she didn't want to hurt her friend's feelings... however, "Is that all you think I'm worth?" Twilight responded with small anger.

Something odd occurred in Dash's eyes, "What?"

"What am I, some kind of whore!?"

"Hey!" Dash grimaced, panic in her own eyes this time, "I didn't say anything like that!"

Twilight felt elation, for the first time Dash was on the defensive.

"Don't stop now!" Her Embarrassment egged her on.

The princess snorted, "I'm not some common mare you can rut whenever you want!"

"I never said that either!"

Anger flared, "Not good enough! Move in for the kill girl!"

"I would think you would at least try to care about how I feel!"

"I do care Twi!" Dash pleaded with honesty in her eyes, "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings!"

"Tell her you think shes hot!"

"I mean sure you're hot..." Twi continued, following the advice that had led her right so far and turning her back on Rainbow Dash.

"I..." Dash began, then paused slightly confused, "Um... thank you?"

"Who told her to say that!?" Anger burst, flaring once more.

"Its wasn't me!" Good responded.

"Nor I," Intelligence responded.

"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!" Embarrassment tried to hide.

"It was me!" Madness grinned maniacally

"I... I... I..." Twilight floundered.

"Hey, Twi?" Dash smiled with a small blush, closing her eyes.

"I... I..." Twilight answered, turning to face Dash with burning cheeks.

Dash opened her eyes, now warm and filled with things that made Twilight feel giddy again, "You're pretty hot too."

She leaned in, delivering a deep passionate kiss to a shocked Twilight who found no ability in herself to resist. Well... much anyway. The touch captured the young alicorn, taking her away to a place in which the majority of her body did not exist, a happy oblivion that sank her deep into the warmth of her friend's lips.

Pulling away suddenly and falling Twilight gasped for breath, it would be too much to say that the kiss had been unpleasant but even so it was definitely enough to put her mind out of commission.

"Well... that was a thing," Madness chuckled.

"Oh it sooo was!" Lust agreed happily.

Twilight found it difficult to keep her composure, which is why it fell apart entirely, "I... you... we... what!?"

"Hey Twi," Dash spoke, ignoring Twilight's moment, "Why don't we go get something to eat?"

Beside the confusion and utter mind destruction Twilight found herself nodding with agreement, "Yes... lets do that."

Author's Note

So yeah, doing better than I had thought!
I'm actually enjoying this though I did have to rewrite some of it in anticipation of certain events that people voted for to take place. Either way I still appreciate everyone's opinion and thank all those who liked, favorited, and commented on my story.

Anyway I'll probably release a linked blog with info about how its going to happen, nothing too long It would just be nice to get your guys opinion on the matter before I do it. Still that is a little bit off so lets just enjoy the ride!

This chapter was fun, to be honest it gets a bit more 'romance' orientated from here, though it will still contain the comedy and... other things. ;)

btw, I will try to keep chapters at a 2500 word level from now on.
And keep it updated weekly.