Field Notes on Alicorn Reproductive Behavior

by biologic orthodoxy

Rating: mature
Tags: Sex, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Romance
Length: 10616

Twilight Sparkle takes personal charge in investigating the mystery of where alicorns come from.

Twilight Sparkle is given a unique opportunity to research the once-in-a-millennium phenomenon that may answer once and for all the question of where alicorns come from.

Published 2012-04-04 21:04:13 UTC
Last updated 2012-04-04 21:04:13 UTC

Or, Where Little Alicorns Come From

Twilight wondered if Luna—Princess Luna—realized how hard it was for the unicorn to keep pace with her brisk trot as they approached the doors to Celestia's private chambers. Not for the first time, Twilight deeply envied the princess her long, shapely legs and her graceful stride; next to her, Twilight felt gangly and awkward, and the difference in size invited the feeling of being a filly beside an adult too easily, which was an uncomfortable feeling for a grown mare speaking to one of her closest friends.

“What's this all about? Has Cel—the princess really been in seclusion this whole month?” Twilight asked, taking refuge in professional attention to the situation at hand.

Luna spared her an anxious, thin-lipped grimace over one shoulder. “I'll leave that to her to discuss with you, Twilight.”

Twilight frowned. “That serious, huh?”

“Yes.”

The unicorn was a little distressed by Luna's exaggerated expression of solemnity in return. Even though the younger princess was inclined to take things rather seriously in any case, this seemed unusually extreme.Luna held the gaze for a moment, making Twilight worry she'd said something insulting, but the princess then turned and set herself to the task of mounting the long staircase to Celestia's apartments, Twilight scrambling after her.

The emergency summons had come as something of a surprise in the dead of night, and Twilight had responded immediately—only to find Luna waiting for her rather than Celestia. Rumor had slipped even as far south as Ponyville on the tongues of wandering travelers and those in the know—so Rarity had been the first to ask Twilight if she had any idea why Celestia hadn't been seen by anypony in a great while.

Even Twilight's letters and reports went unanswered until this evening, when Spike belched out a great gout of flame at the foot of Twilight's bed, terrifying them both. The message was brief, and to the point—so unlike the princess that Twilight had originally suspected it was fake.

We must speak with one another. Come at once, and be courageous for me, my beloved student.

Yours, Celestia

As they reached the top of the stairs, Luna paused and waited for Twilight to catch up. The princess put a hoof on the unicorn's shoulders and gave her a gentle smile. “Be brave, Twilight...and don't hesitate to ask me for advice if you need it.”

“Er, of course,” Twilight replied. “You're coming, too? I mean, I guess I assumed—”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “I think once things are made clear to you, you'll understand why she asked me to stay with you for the time being. But the conversation will be between the two of you; I will be present as support for you both.” She sighed, and smiled, the pressure of her hoof growing slightly greater for a moment in a gesture of affection. “Open your mind and heart to things, Twilight...and trust to your instincts. That said, I'll be here if you need me—for anything.”

Twilight frowned. “If you're trying to make me less nervous, it's not working.”

“There is much to be nervous about...but it's nothing you are incapable of dealing with,” Luna replied, smiling gently and pulling her hoof back. “Just remember...she loves you a great deal. That's why she needs to talk to you, now...”

“Wait, what does that—” Twilight began, but Luna had already began pushing the door to Celestia's private chambers open, gesturing with her head that Twilight should follow.

Twilight had been privileged, although not uniquely so, to have spent time in Celestia's study many times, but this place...this place was the princess' refuge even from her faithful student. The unicorn had only been here once before, a few years earlier, because Celestia wanted to show her a rather delicate magical instrument that she was disinclined to move around lest its calibrations fall out of line...again.

It had struck Twilight as unusually spare. Celestia's study was full of odds and ends, bookshelves and tables full of instruments lining the walls, which were themselves decorated brightly with tapestries and paintings of all kinds. It was a tasteful riot of sensory experience, which spoke of the richness of the princess' long life.

Her chambers, though...

A large bed set under great panel windows, some lounging seats, a couple small bookshelves which were not even full, mostly displaying her most precious treasures...and not much else. The walls and floor were a clean white, the furnishings made of pale wood upholstered in a pale goldenrod. Clean, simple, spartan. A void, Twilight had realized, unburdened by the chaotic mess of her day-to-day life—a sanctuary, well-deserved, for a weary mind.

The huge windows usually let in a great deal of light—well, Twilight assumed so, based on her one previous experience when the room had been almost unbearably bright in the light of an early spring afternoon—but it was the dead of night, now, and the massive golden-yellow curtains were drawn. It took Twilight a moment to adjust to the gloom, illuminated only by two pale lamps near the door.

The slightly luminescent shape Twilight recognized instantly as Celestia curled up to sleep, was the only thing in the room that was clearly visible. In the low light she seemed to glow, her ethereal mane still billowing gently as it always did, lit as if by an internal fire.

“Sister?” Luna asked, with a prim calm that Twilight suspected was tamping down some discomfort. “She's here.”

“Er, hi,” Twilight said, cursing herself internally for how edgy she sounded; but this was all very strange indeed.

The form on the bed stirred, its head raising. “Twilight...”

Twilight almost cried out, eyes wide. The princess' voice, usually so calm, so patient, so...sure, sounded stressed and anxious—and she slurred out the name, as if half-asleep, or drunk.

Automatically Twilight stepped forward to comfort her. “Princess, what's—”

Luna placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, restraining her. Twilight looked up to her in confusion, but the younger princess' expression was even more difficult to read than usual in the darkness. “Stay here, for the moment.”

“What? Why? Is something—”

“Wrong would not be the right word.” Luna released Twilight's shoulder and paused, considering this. “Something is...well...”

“Let me explain,” Celestia said. Again Twilight was distressed by how groggy and unsure she sounded; every so often some words in a sentence had a pause between them as if she were forced to think about each one, and her breathing was somewhat labored. “Twilight...it might be said that something is right with me.”

A terrible thought occurred to Twilight. “You're not—no, please. You're not...dying, are you?”

Luna laughed. “Almost the opposite! She's very much alive. That's rather the trouble.”

“Don't make fun, Luna,” Celestia said, managing to sound annoyed. “No, Twilight, I am perfectly healthy. It is, as Luna says, rather the opposite...I've come to a time in my life when I can...er...” She coughed a couple times, in a polite sort of way. “Reproduce.”

Another novelty, Twilight reflected—the princess trailing off out of awkwardness. “You're...in heat?”

“Something like that,” Celestia sighed. “It's...a little more...complex. There are a lot of...side-effects; for example, Luna is the one guiding the sun at the moment. My magic is very...focused on the task of reproducing. This only happens every so often, as you can imagine.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes. “Like, one in a couple generations, or—”

Luna sighed. “Like the last time it happened was before Nightmare Moon.”

Twilight's jaw dropped. “Once in a thousand years?!”

“Something like that, yes. I've only gone through this once myself, and I'm nearly as old as she is,” Luna said, with forced casualness. Twilight got the impression the sisters didn't talk about this very much, and not because they were shy—after all, Celestia had herself fielded some questions from a growing purple mare about some things her mother and father had sat her down to talk about. Instead, the two of them were clearly distressed by how intense it was, and were being careful to avoid upsetting one another...or Twilight. “This will be...three, for you?”

“Yes,” Celestia said, although “admitted” would probably be the better word.

“Well, if you need some dating advice, I think you came to the wrong pony,” Twilight said, glumly. “But if you're looking for a stallion who can be trusted...or something...” she trailed off, the concept of finding somepony to impregnate the princess seeming slightly...odd. Although she did appreciate the show of trust it represented.

There was a brief pause that Twilight had an inkling included a little look between the princesses.

“I mean, you need a stallion...right?” Twilight continued, although now that she thought about it...who knew what the sisters needed? They were powerfully magical...and Celestia had said that her magic was focused...maybe it was some sort of thing like...like a blessing, almost, where—“Or, maybe, er, do you need, um, a mare who's already pregnant, and then there's some sort of magical—”

“No, Twilight, nothing like that,” Celestia said, obviously forcing her voice to sound firm. “The...stallion in this situation is...er, provided for.”

Twilight couldn't help but stray back a few steps as she realized what she'd been told. “Wait, wait. Surely not...?”

Celestia sighed. With a reluctant expression, Luna channeled some magic into the lamps around the room and raised the light such that Celestia was now clearly visible on the bed, lying with as calm an expression as she could manage, head held upright rather stiffly. As the light rose, she met Twilight's somewhat stunned gaze with a resigned look of her own, and shifted slightly so that her belly was visible.

“Side effects, Twilight,” Luna said, rather glumly.

“Oh...wow,” Twilight said, unthinking.

There was no mistaking it; Celestia was endowed with a very male set of...genitive organs.

Very male.

And very endowed...but then she was twice the size of a normal pony.

“Well, that’s...new,” Twilight stammered.

“Temporary, Twilight, very temporary. And rather noticeable. You see why I’ve been in seclusion...” Celestia muttered, deeply embarrassed.

Twilight let her jaw work lamely a couple times as the realization sunk in. “So...I...” She barely felt Luna's hoof on her shoulder; the immensity of the situation was starting to dawn on her. “Wait, wait, wait. You want me to...”

“Twilight, listen to me,” Luna said, quickly, moving into Twilight's field of vision, obscuring the sight of Celestia blushing furiously and looking away as she righted herself again. “Twilight. This is...there's more to it than that.”

The unicorn looked up, suspiciously. If she had been forced to be honest in that moment, she would have had a very difficult time parsing out exactly what was making her so anxious; there was some fear, sure, and a little hysterical distress at the absurd situation...but as ever, curiosity blazed in Twilight Sparkle, and she took refuge in it. “What do you mean?”

“It's not...a matter of what I want, Twilight,” Celestia said, a little nervously.

Twilight frowned. “Then what is it?”

“When...this happens,” Luna said, kindly, “There's a strong...sensation. An intuition, about...who you want to, erm—”

The three looked to one another awkwardly.

“Mate with?” Twilight proposed.

Luna half-frowned. “That removes all the romance from it, don't you think?”

“This isn't about romance, Luna,” Celestia said, irritably.

“It could be,” Luna replied, petulantly.

Twilight had to admit, she wished it were a little more romantic, herself. There were...feelings being stirred by this, little hopes and dreams that she had long ago told to keep quiet, and they were now voicing their dissatisfaction rather vociferously. “Just an instinct, huh...”

Celestia blushed. “In the...same way that romantic attraction is instinctual, Twilight.” The princess' gaze met the unicorn's. “It is a reflection of the...bond we share.” And more besides, her eyes said.

Luna grinned smugly. "Not exactly a choice, not exactly a compulsion. Romantic, in its way."

“You want me to...be your mate...” Twilight murmured, staring off into the middle distance. “It's like I took one of Fluttershy's dirty novels, a biology textbook, and a fairy tale, and mixed all the words together and then it is happening to me right now...”

“Fluttershy has dirty novels?” Luna asked, stunned.

Twilight, eyes still vacant, shook her head. “No, no, she writes them... pro bono animal hospitals don't pay the bills...”

The younger princess grinned gleefully. “Really...”

Celestia coughed awkwardly. “The point, Twilight, is that I...yes. My time has come, and this choice has come upon us.” She cleared her throat. “Upon you, rather.”

Twilight raised a curious eyebrow to Luna, who grinned awkwardly. “You need to understand, Twilight, this is...extremely intense. When my time came, I could barely stand to be anywhere near the mare in question...” Celestia coughed again, making a show of not looking at Twilight.

“I...see,” Twilight said, pursing her lips. “And...er, what if I...refuse?”

Celestia looked distressed for the briefest of moments, as if even the thought of Twilight refusing physically wounded her. “I...well, I'd remain in seclusion for awhile...'sweat it out', so to speak, as I have done in the past; I have never bothered anypony with it before...” Her awkward expression softened, and earnestness swelled in her voice such that it was almost painful for Twilight to hear. “But I wanted you to decide for yourself. I...well...of anypony...” She trailed off, not needing to finish her statement, such was the shy expression of affection on her face.

“I'm...honored?” Twilight said, ignoring the little flutter of flattery taking wing in her. “Still...”

“This is something that happens very rarely, Twilight, and we...there is need to be careful, obviously,” Luna put in, quickly. “But Celestia feels safe with you, and I would be...well, not, er, pleased, as such, but...” She clicked her tongue thoughtfully for a moment. “I would be happy to be bound to you that much more closely.”

Twilight gave the sisters a shrewd look for awhile. “I guess I have always wondered about it...I mean, you're virtually immortal and magically powerful, but you're still ponies, more or less...”

Celestia gave her a resigned look. “I personally might have preferred you go on wondering, rather than find out in this way...but things are what they are.”

“I mean, is this...the only time you're sexually active?” Twilight asked, blushing slightly.

The sisters looked to each other and a rather darkly amused look passed between them.

“No. Just the only time we can reproduce,” Celestia said, with a somewhat saucy look.

Luna raised her eyebrows at nothing in particular. “Convenient, at times...”

“I'm sure,” Twilight grumbled. Now that she was thinking about ponies who made a living off saucy sort of things, her mind turned to Zecora—who really was handy with “natural remedies”, hem hem...

Silence reigned in the chambers for awhile, as everypony thought about their own little issues. Celestia occasionally gave off a little impatient whine, to Twilight's distress, but Luna caught her eye after the third time and shook her head—don't worry about her too much, she's tough.

“I need some time to think about this,” Twilight said, although a little uncertainly.

Celestia sighed, irritably—Twilight forgave her that, instantly, her heart swelling with sympathy at even the thought of how torn between out-of-control desire and respect for Twilight she was. “Luna, please, take her...take her...no, stay here, please. Twilight, the balcony...”

Twilight hastily crossed the room, feeling Celestia's eyes follow her, and stepped out onto the balcony, shutting the door behind her with a telekinetic slap.

She collapsed on the cool tiles, breathing deep, heavy gasps. This was...wow.

A foal? She was young—not too young to have a foal, of course but still...it was never anything she'd thought about seriously quite yet. It was Pinkie Pie who was the one with that on her mind...

But then again...this was the princess. It only happened once every couple hundred years or so..? Twilight couldn't help but feel this was something bigger than both her and Celestia—this bordered on discussing the fate of entire species. The alicorns had every right to exist and want to propagate themselves...and who was little Twilight Sparkle to stand in the way of that?

Especially if...especially if it was with her.

Granted, it wouldn't be exactly as Twilight—ahem—had occasionally fantasized since she was a filly, no law against that.

...it would be like how she had very occasionally fantasized since she found those old books in the archives, with the...illustrations.

Ahem.

Still, she liked to think of her affection for the princess as separate from any sexual urges that came Celestia-shaped in the small hours of night, just as they sometimes came Dash-colored or Rarity-smelling or spoke with Cheerilee's voice or were what she privately thought Caramel Apple-flavored might be. But this was an invitation for Twilight to let her absolute affection for Celestia, in all its faithfulness and loyalty, mingle just a little bit with her sexuality, and it would be alright. In this case, it might actually be for the best.

Maybe it was just this whole situation, but it occurred to Twilight to think that as the sisters weren't so different from ponies except in the rather exceptional ways that they palpably were, maybe something purple and faithful came to Celestia in the night from time to time, and in this situation, they both had an opportunity to...ha, make little dreams a little more real.

And...well...

It was her. Honestly, was Twilight about to refuse something Celestia asked? Especially when it promised to bind them together about as closely as two ponies could be? Twilight would happily be here for Celestia in this moment of struggle, and they'd go through it together...it would be okay. She'd have her friends, and Luna—even the princess of the moon seemed almost excited at this prospect—and even her mom and dad would understand and support her, even if they all understood a story that was slightly different than what had actually occurred just to make things easier.

Twilight imagined cradling a little foal in her forehooves, and it didn't seem so bad—especially when she added the warm presence of the foal's “father” lingering right over Twilight's shoulder, nuzzling her lovingly, to the image. She could handle being the mother of a little colt or filly that would live many, many lives of ponies, and it would be something of Twilight that could accompany her beloved mentor through the rest of her long life..there was some romance to that.

A bit sudden, all the same, but...the princesses had been sort of dancing around directly asking her to do this, begging her even. The compulsion to reproduce seemed to be as much a need as a desire, and...if it only happened every half-millennium...

“Why is it always me that this sort of thing happens to?" Twilight sighed, heavily. "But duty calls. Oh...kay,” she continued, taking in a few deep breaths, letting each out slowly to still, if possible, her throbbing heart. She turned back to the door and re-entered the darkened chambers.

Luna and Celestia looked to her curiously, obviously not expecting her to return this quickly. Silence reigned for a long while as Twilight's gaze moved from one sister to the other, all three privately hoping either of the others would speak first.

“Can I...” Twilight began, taking up the burden of breaking the silence. The princesses looked to her, Luna curious, Celestia suppressing eagerness. “Luna, may I speak with Celestia privately?”

Luna gave her a serious glance. “How privately?”

“Luna,” Celestia all but moaned, which made the younger princess give her a sharp look.

“Not just-outside-the-door private, if that's what you mean,” Twilight replied firmly.

“Made up your mind, then?” Luna asked, eyes drifting to Celestia, who perked up with interest.

Twilight shook her head. “Not...quite yet. But this is, after all, between the two of us...”

“Very well, then.” Luna smiled, trotting up to Twilight and leaning down to whisper in Twilight's ear. “Trust yourself...and don't feel obligated.”

“Oh, believe me...I don't,” Twilight groused quietly. “This is probably the last thing I ever thought I'd have to deal with...I'm not exactly grateful, I have to say...”

Luna smirked and walked out the door to the balcony, bidding them both a somewhat sarcastic goodnight as she pulled it shut and dove into the night sky.

Twilight and Celestia held a gaze across the room for a very long while, the princess' features twitching slightly now and again.

“Twilight,” she said, eventually, “Luna wasn't exaggerating earlier when she said this is hard. I don't mean to scare you, but I am repressing a rather strong urge to pounce on you...”

“I'm sorry, this...this is just a lot.” Twilight said, sighing. Half-forcing herself to, she approached the bed slowly and paused about halfway between the door and Celestia.

Celestia's face fell. “This...I wish I could spare you—”

“What, exactly, do you want to spare me?”

“This choice, Twilight. It's not something anypony should have to deal with—it's certainly not one I ever intended you to face.”

Twilight raised her eyebrows speculatively. “You don't want this?”

“I want this very badly, Twilight. That's the trouble.” Celestia said, grudgingly. “These are...exaggerated feelings. I dislike not being in control..."

"Exaggerated?"

The princess clearly heard the little note of disappointment in Twilight's voice, because she made her best effort at a look of sympathy. "Forgive me, I'm not...totally in command of my language. Er. I...Twilight, I have always loved you dearly, you know that. And it would be foolish for us not to admit that there is an...attraction there. We're both lovely mares, no dancing around it...but still, whatever the outcome, I would have preferred to deal with it in a more controlled way, not in this..." She paused, looking sour. "This rutting mood."

“I hope...well, I hope you believe me when I say I don't begrudge you that. I can more than accept that this is part of your life—an important part! I'm...I'm pleased you thought of me...honored, even, that you'd, um, that...” Twilight said, inspecting a hoof idly to avoid looking at Celestia while she blushed furiously. “Anyways, you've been with me through the hard parts of my own development. And you're right, of course...I want this, too. Um. A lot of psychology is happening to me all at once...but as you say, that's more reason to think hard.”

Celestia frowned, rubbing her temple with a hoof irritably. “Forgive me. I know you're just being careful, but this seems like teasing to me right now...”

“It is, just a little...” Twilight grinned into Celestia's irritated look. “I'll get to it, then. There's a plan, right, if I go through with this?”

“Of course. Do you really think I'd ask something like this of you and not be prepared?”

“No. But hearing it is...comforting."

Celestia sighed, looking distant; Twilight had a momentary insight that her mind was being all but forced to fantasize about the potential future the unicorn's participation would bring about. The lazy grin was a hint, for example. "I'll be there for you, obviously...and Luna, of course. After the fact she'll be more comfortable with everything than, er, at the moment. And I suspect...your friends will be more supportive than anypony could ever hope to dream..."

Twilight felt her blush intensify, such that she couldn't help but worry it glowed in the darkness. "And...um...would it only be the one time? That we...mated, I mean.”

Celestia cocked her head, looking stressed. “I...I want to tell you the truth, but...I have to fight hard not to want to guess at whatever you want to hear...I'm so sorry.”

“I want to hear the truth,” Twilight replied, firmly.

The princess chewed her lower lip. “Well, there's...a process. If it didn't take the first time, we might have to...try again.”

Twilight let the momentary thought that having to try a few times might not be so bad aside for the moment, and focused on the flag her professional curiosity had tossed up. “A process?”

“Yes. You should know better than to think that this would be an entirely biological affair...me being me.”

“Mmm, I suppose so. But, er, I'm not sure I'm...in season, so to speak...”

"Again...not an entirely biological affair, my...Twilight."

"Er, right." Twilight took a few more steps closer to the bed. Celestia's breathing grew noticeably more labored.

“Twilight, please...this is why Luna...was here.” Celestia's eyes snapped shut, but her nostrils flared. “I can...Twilight, you know how delicate my senses are, and it's ten times worse right now...I can smell your anxiety, and your...excitement...”

The unicorn blushed furiously. “I...that's not weird, is it? That this...excites me?”

Celestia turned to her with a desperate expression. “Now is not a good time to ask me that!”

“I suppose not,” Twilight chuckled.

The princess snorted, irritably; it was such a strangely unrefined action for her that Twilight almost laughed at its ridiculousness. “Please, Twilight...the uncertainty is like torture when you're this close to me...” she murmured in a pained whisper.

“Agh! I'm sorry...I don't mean to, er, stress you.” Twilight replied anxiously. She looked up into Celestia's eyes, which were desperate with need. “About...all this. I...I will. I'll try, anyways, er—happily. I mean...the more I think about it, the more I'm okay with this. Honestly...it's not that stuff that's bothering me, really. But the, er, sex...well...it has to be on my terms. Otherwise...otherwise I'll leave. It'll be too much.”

Celestia's expression, drunk with desire, managed to express sublime gratitude. “Yes, of course. That is...that's what I want, as well. I want this to be your decision. I want you to be relaxed...I want...you, not just your agreement...” She was panting, now, and Twilight was momentarily disturbed by the burning light of lust in her eyes. It must have shown, because the princess shook her head and looked apologetic. “I'm...I'm sorry...”

“No, no, it's...it's fine,” Twilight said. She put a hoof on the bed and smiled as Celestia gestured with her head to encourage her as she crawled up next to Celestia. The princess was trembling, although what exactly the mix of nervousness and desire contributing to that was, Twilight couldn't begin to guess.

Celestia was big, much bigger than Twilight; the unicorn reflected that you never really thought about it when she was being calm and thoughtful, because everything around her seemed peaceful and gentle. But now, in her agitation, was very apparent and somewhat intimidating...especially given what they intended to do.

“Would it be alright if I, um...just explored you, for awhile?” Twilight asked. “That won't, er, upset you, will it?”

Celestia smiled. “Whatever helps you be...comfortable. I...I just want you to be touching me, Twilight, so badly..."

Twilight stood on the bed, a little weirded out that she was still more or less face-to-face with Celestia, who inclined her head very slightly in an inviting sort of gesture.

Twilight began by stepping forward and sniffing, very tentatively, at Celestia's mane—something she'd always been privately curious about.

The summer wind, blowing through a wide grassland...the rich smell of life rising from earth wet with rain...the bittersweet smell of fresh spices...

The sweet smell intoxicated and refreshed her; she found herself taking big, deep gulps of air and relishing feeling her lungs fill with the fresh air. In return, she felt Celestia nuzzle her coat, the princess hmmmming as she, too, took in the scent of the pony next to her.

“I've always wanted to do that...” Twilight murmured. “I'm sorry, I've always been so curious about you—agh!”

Celestia giggled—actually giggled, bright and lively—as her mane billowed into Twilight's face. “Sorry...it never seems to cooperate...but believe me, I don't mind curiosity. To be honest, I half expected you to be disgusted with me in this situation.”

Twilight pulled back. “No, never.” She reached up and brushed Celestia's cheek, gently. “Just give me a little time.”

The princess winked. “Don't take too long.”

“Er...cool it with that for now, alright?” Twilight replied, looking a bit pained.

“Forgive me, I...” Celestia looked away, just a shade guiltily. “It seemed like a good moment.”

“In any other circumstance...probably. But I need to get used to the idea of being physically with you. You know, like...present, here, uh...next to you. Preparing for...sexy stuff.” Twilight gave the princess a weak little grin. “I've...I've wondered what it would be like.”

Despite her rather distracted mental state, Celestia had the presence of mind not to needle Twilight about this confession at the moment, instead just blushing and looking away quietly for a moment. “Thank you.”

“You are very beautiful, after all...” Twilight said, sniffing at Celestia's neck. “And I have always had you to look up to...” An adventurous little flare burst in her, and she gave the broad surface a little peck, enjoying the feel of the silky-smooth coat against her muzzle.

Celestia gave a little start as contact was made, as if shocked, then sighed happily. “I...Twilight, I can't tell you what this means for me...that you'd be willing to...” she whispered, her voice thick with desire.

Twilight lifted her head slightly. “I...” she paused. “Celestia...princess...if I need to stop, could you handle that?”

“Now?” the princess murmured, uncertainly.

“At any point.”

Celestia sighed. “It would be...hard.” She looked to Twilight, her huge, beautiful eyes filled with tense anxiety. “If you think that's likely, please...stop now. I'll want to...let go if things get too far along, and it will be very hard for me to get back in control of myself.”

Twilight closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. When she opened them again, she wore a shy grin. “What if...what if I...made it a more comforting sort of scenario?”

The princess' brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

The unicorn smiled brightly. “Um...'field notes re: alicorn reproductive behavior'?”

“Ha! Oh my...” Celestia's worry seemed to vanish, burned away by intense amusement. “Yes, that might do. After all,” she gave Twilight a very suggestive grin, “It is a very rare occurrence that deserves first-hand observation by one of the finest researchers in Equestria.”

Twilight chuckled helplessly. “Forgive me.”

“I have nothing to forgive you for! Please, begin your research...”

The unicorn tsk'd. “Ah ah ah. First...” she leaned in, eyes closing; to her delight, she felt Celestia's lips eagerly press against hers, their breath coming in deep, desperate gulps through their noses. A burning flare of arousal, hotter and more rich than the nervous excitement of anticipation she'd been experiencing at the prospect of all this, was lit inside her; with it came a courage and surety that she had not expected to feel, but moved with such dignity through her that she was not suspicious of it.

It was the sort of kiss which lingered for awhile, and before it was well and truly over it was punctuated with a few gentle pecks as a sort of signature, but Twilight eventually pulled away, eyes more heavily-lidded now than they had been previously. “Okay,” she said, breathily. “Okay...”

“Mmm...still need to study?” Celestia murmured.

Twilight gave her a playfully serious look. “Of course. This is for posterity...”

“Right, right. Sorry.”

“You'd better be,” Twilight said, sniffing haughtily. Celestia chuckled as Twilight began inspecting Celestia carefully; gently touching, sniffing, and massaging all over the princess' body with the best tones of professional dispassion she could.

“Wings...currently folded, appear to be five meters in span...socket is surrounded by a large cluster of muscle which is extremely sensitive to the touch...repeated massaging of this area appears to induce erogenous response...preening the feathers, likewise. Sorry about that one—will it grow back? Yes? Sorry...

“Neck, very powerful...muscular...smells nice. Kissing and gentle caressing result in the alicorn reporting increased...um, sexual desire and a sense of being teased which she finds annoying...

“Flank is...oh my. Yes. Well. Hmm. Shapely...no, there's nothing—what is it with ponies and worrying about their flanks, honestly, I don't think—I am not pleasantly curvy! And stop...stop that while I'm...no, don't mind...please don't stop that quite yet...mmm...”

After about twenty minutes of Twilight giving every inch of Celestia a good twice-over, gently nuzzling, kissing and caressing her to the accompaniment of the princess' happy sighs and little yelps of pleasure, she lay down next to Celestia, looking a little worried. She breathed some deep calming breaths in and out a few times as the princess nuzzled her, a little insistently.

“Um...roll...roll over,” Twilight said, looking straight forward.

Celestia paused, looking reluctant. “Are you sure you want to look at it in that much detail?”

“Oh yes,” Twilight said, looking up at Celestia seriously. “Full survey.”

“Twilight,” Celestia gave her a pained look. “Games are all well and good—”

The unicorn frowned. “If I'm going to let that thing anywhere near me, you better let me have a look at it,” she huffed.

Celestia laughed weakly, and rolled over onto her back so her belly was visible. There it was: a rather more-than-full-size male member—both the shaft and a generous pair of testes—where by rights Celestia ought to retain the discreet little flower of marehood that Twilight had totally never seen before, not ever, definitely never snuck a peek at. Twilight sat up, looking at it in fascination.

“Not exactly a sight for sore eyes,” Celestia mumbled, a little embarrassed.

“I wouldn't say that...” Twilight said, moving down near Celestia's midsection so she could examine it more closely. It was...very long, and thick, but aesthetically, differed from that of most stallions she'd seen—mostly in books, it had to be said. Celestia's was smooth, the veins protruding slightly less than she'd expect, and rather than flaring outward at the head, it tapered down into a point, a fact which made her sigh with a rather ridiculous amount of relief.

The princess guessed at the source of Twilight's relief. “Twilight, not to pry, but...have you ever...?”

“Only with, um, other mares,” Twilight murmured. She reached out with a hoof and gently touched the penis, making Celestia gasp happily, the muscles of her belly twitching. “But...” she gave the princess an embarrassed look. “Um, I'm not entirely inexperienced with...penetration.”

“Oh?” Celestia gave Twilight a very sly look indeed.

The unicorn's expression grew pained. “Well, not to be too crass about this or anything, but I've basically lived by myself since I was sixteen and you let me live in the tower...and, um...well, it's amazing what you can find in a good book...”

Celestia grinned ferociously. “You naughty little mare,” she said, sounding pleased. “That's what I get for letting you into the restricted archives so young, I suppose...”

“It was only the one book the one time,” Twilight said, defensively. “And I was so embarrassed that I hid it under my bed for a week before I got curious enough to actually read it...”

Celestia rolled onto her side so she could prop herself up, and kissed Twilight on the cheek. “I'll forgive you...for now.”

Twilight paused. That little kiss...it would have been unthinkable not an hour ago. But now it felt...very natural. She was even talking about her sex life with the princess without a second thought! Which, to be fair, seemed like a good idea considering that the princess was rapidly representing more and more of a majority of it with every passing minute, but still...

It was...comfortable. Pleasant, even.

All of this was, now that she'd had some time to get used to feeling the princess, being near her, feeling sexual around her. Celestia had been a little intimidating, at first—she was huge, after all, and she was the princess. Untouchable, otherworldly, beautiful beyond words...but having spent some time just being there with her, it was easier for Twilight to be okay with everything, to see her as another mare who it was okay to be active with.

Even if she had this slightly unusual body part at the moment...but to be perfectly honest...

Twilight smiled and slid closer to Celestia, letting one hoof wander down and linger on the princess' belly. “So...I've had a good look at you. I'm...comfortable. I feel pretty good right now.”

“Mmm...so do I,” Celestia said, and lowered her head so they could share another long, lingering kiss.

Twilight let the hoof stray a little lower, smiling as Celestia's breath caught in her throat at the contact. “Even this...this...” She moved the hoof up and down along the shaft gently. "This is okay. This is good. What it means, all of it."

Celestia's breath came in great, trembling hisses through her slack mouth. “T-Twilight,” she managed.

The unicorn leaned in and lay her cheek on the alicorn's. “I wasn't sure...but now I am. I want this.” She pulled her head back so they could have a contest to see which of them had the more smoldering gaze. “I want you...”

The princess hissed a couple more ragged breaths, then leaned in and kissed Twilight's cheek, then down her neck, occasionally nipping at it excitedly. Each little pinch sent a wonderful little spark through Twilight, and she instinctively reached out and clutched herself tightly to the princess' powerful neck in a fierce hug.

“How do you want me?” Twilight murmured. It was a bit crude, she had to admit, but she was operating through a thick haze of lust now that her anxiety had settled. As the moment approached it became more and more difficult to form a meaningful thought, and she dully considered that Celestia was ridiculously strong-willed if she could think through this, much less something worse.

Celestia nuzzled her. “Mmm. Stand up, first. There's something I need to do...”

Twilight blushed furiously in the dark. “Oh.”

“Mmmm. I've...Twilight, forgive me, but I've thought of it, wanted it, so many times over the years...as you got older, obviously," she added, quickly, blushing furiously.

Twilight let go of the princess' neck and gave her a quick peck. “I think we need to just...not worry about that sort of thing. That was then and this is now, yes?”

“Ha. I suppose you're right...”

The unicorn rolled to her hooves and, feeling very slightly embarrassed, turned on the spot and presented herself to Celestia, waving her tail back and forth in a rather more aggressive display than she might have thought herself capable of in sobriety.

“Not...not a sight for sore eyes,” Twilight murmured, trying to sound ironic, but apparently failing.

“Everything about you is beautiful, Twilight. You have always done yourself a disservice in thinking otherwise,” the princess replied huskily, planting a firm kiss on one of Twilight's flanks with a chuckle. "This is just a more private beauty than most. You...I'm so happy you're sharing it with me."

Twilight looked over her shoulder and gave the princess a wry look. "That's a bit...romantic of you."

"What can I say? You bring out the poetry in my heart." Celestia winked at her. "You're the one doing the cut-and-dry field studies, my love."

"Your lov—ahhh...!" Before she could finish her question, Twilight gave a great sigh as she felt Celestia's warm breath on her sex, her back legs trembling as a little bloom of pleasure spread in her loins from the feeling of it brushing across her clitoris.

If she had been asked, and somehow pulled away from the sudden intensity of the moment, she would have been forced to admit that she had rarely been this excited to be pleasured in this way; she wasn't sure if it was the situation, or how long she'd been working herself up over the spectacular body of the princess...or if it was just the knowledge that it was the princess' lips not just touching her precious self, but doing so with desire and pleasure.

"Mmm, what to do, what to do..." Celestia mused, giggling a little when Twilight gave an extremely impatient little moan. "I do hope you're taking notes."

Twilight huffed. "Well maybe I would be if something was going on to report about!"

"Very well, very well...the impetuousness of youth demands action, as ever..."

The princess took her merry time with it, nevertheless; she kissed her way up the inside of Twilight's thighs with agonizing slowness. Twilight gave another little whine of impatience, which made her lover chuckle—Twilight groaned, realizing she was probably getting a dose of her own medicine. But her displeasure lasted only a moment before a warm, firm sensation ran along one of her lips, making her hum happily.

"Feeling better?" Celestia asked, her voice alive with mischief.

Twilight nodded firmly. "Mmm...mmmhmm..."

The pressure moved away and then ran along the other side, slowly, lingering near her button for a moment to send a little stab of pleasure running straight up Twilight's spine to melt her brain.

"You're not reporting," Celestia said, slightly muffled.

"I...Mmm. Study continues..." Twilight panted, her voice catching as wonderful pressure and warmth moved on her sensitive, stimulated marehood. "Subject expressed...a desire to...service the researcher in preparation for...mmm. Coupling."

The princess paused. "You know, now...Mmm. I see Luna's point...it lacks sensuality, put like that."

"Oh? Ah!"

"Mmmm," Celestia replied, eventually. "It fails to account for...mmm...how happy I am that we can share this moment with one another..." Twilight felt her impish grin, rather than seeing it. "And how cute you are when I do this."

"Study continues!" Twilight declared, one ear flapping madly to match her huge grin. "The alicorn...is...ha, quite good at this and...ha, ha, oh wow..."

The princess hummed happily. "There...that's the sort of thing posterity should know. I feel the personal touch adds so much to field observations..."

"Ah...just...hmmm. Do that again..."

This continued for awhile, Twilight gratefully riding the feeling of being expertly teased into greater and greater heights of arousal, the princess carefully tending to her clitoris for a moment every now and again before returning to carefully kissing and caressing every petal of the flower of Twilight's marehood with delicate, loving care.

Finally, it was enough. “Celestia...I want you,” Twilight gasped as Celestia rewarded this declaration with a firm kiss right on her clitoris. “Ah! Celestia...”

“Mmm...as you wish,” the princess purred, getting up herself and positioning herself behind Twilight.

Twilight closed her eyes and wiggled her back legs, drunk on lust and eager beyond words to be on with it. What was left of her conscious mind noted how strange this was—she was never terribly eager to be penetrated by anypony or anything that she was not in direct control of, which she'd always suspected was part of why being sexual with other mares was more immediately appealing to her. But the thought of Celestia...

So maybe it was a little weird.

Ah, but that made it so fun...

She shivered, chewing her lower lip in anticipation.

The blessed contact...didn't come.

Cold air blew against her exposed sex, and she looked over her shoulder in a fit of desperate irritation—

Celestia was looking down, awkwardly, her penis easily half a foot over Twilight's back.

“Ah,” Twilight said.

“Yes,” Celestia replied, looking embarrassed.

“Maybe if I—if you—”

“No, no, move your...”

Now Celestia loomed over Twilight as the unicorn lay on her back...staring up at the princess' chest. Though her sex screamed with joy, feeling Celestia's member teasing the very outermost folds of Twilight, the two mares nevertheless froze in mutual displays of intense awkwardness.

Eventually, Twilight reached up slightly and kissed the broad, white surface above her, nuzzling it lovingly. “Not that this isn't...nice, but I feel a bit...”

“And there's no way I could—I have no leverage, Twilight...”

“Right, right. What if I—”

“Here, you...yes, just there...”

Now Twilight straddled Celestia, who lay on her back, chest heaving. The unicorn sat there, momentarily enjoying the feeling of Celestia's chest moving up and down and the great thumps of her pounding heart as Twilight teased the penis behind her with her tail.

Nothing unusually intimate was happening yet, but she still felt very close to Celestia in this moment, looking down on her from above. It occurred to Twilight to wonder if this was why stallions always seemed to want to be on top; she felt powerful, although nothing in the world would make her feel more powerful than Celestia. That was just it, though—the sight of Celestia eagerly submitting to Twilight put them on a much more level ground. Twilight felt in control, and the sensation was helping her tamp down her anxiety.

“Oh...kay,” Twilight murmured. “This'll do.”

Celestia reached up and gently caressed Twilight's cheek. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

Twilight waved a hoof. “No worries, no worries...but, um...” she looked behind her. Suddenly it seemed much bigger than it had, even when she'd been inspecting it by itself.

She shook her head—don't let subjective perspective catch you now, she chastised herself. Listen to your body...

And do it for science!

“I'm going to...take this easy, at first,” Twilight said, placing both front hooves on Celestia's chest and lowering herself so that her sex rested on the warm shaft. Immediately she felt a bloom of pleasure burst in her from the wonderful, silky-smooth feeling of the penis as she drew her clitoris across its surface, and she shuddered in pleasure.

“Mmm...that's nice, Twilight...” Celestia murmured.

“I agree,” the unicorn said, and drew herself up and down the shaft a few more times, reveling in the slightly naughty feeling of her own lubrication helping her slide across it. Celestia's breath came in sharp inrushes, matched by the shaft under Twilight twitching, sending little thrills through the both of them.

"Initial report," Twilight whispered in a deeply pleased tone, "contact with the surface of the alicorn's genitive member extremely pleasurable for both parties...researcher is experiencing intense arousal, and..." She hummed happily, immensely pleased and excited, rather than intimidated, by the raw lust in Celestia's eyes.

As pleasant as this was, it failed to satisfy a...deeper desire in the unicorn. She felt it growing, like an absence in her belly, a void that craved to be filled; and my, my, my...wasn't a solution close to hoof.

"Researcher feels...hmm...ah. Mmm. The time has come..."

Twilight grinned and slid forwards until she felt the very tip of Celestia brushing against her opening. Leaning down to bury her muzzle in the princess' sweet-smelling coat, she hissed out a breath filthy with triumphant desire and lowered herself on to it.

“Yesssss...” somepony moaned. Which of them it was, or if it was both, neither knew or cared.

The sensation of being filled drove her mad with satisfaction, her passage immediately bearing down and grasping the wonderful, warm shaft even as it barely penetrated her. She gave a little growl of happiness, which Celestia matched, the princess drawing a hoof up the smaller pony's spine as Twilight continued to take more and more of the shaft into herself, humming with pleasure and the delicious ache of feeling herself stretch around the princess' girth.

“Ah...ah...ah...” Twilight's body began sapping her control of her breathing, which began to catch in time with the wonderful stabs of pleasure that leapt through her with lightning swiftness. Her head swam with furious delight as, automatically, Celestia's hips pressed upwards slightly and drove herself deeper yet.

“Okay, okay!” Twilight gasped. “I think...I think...that's as much as I can take...” She closed her eyes and tossed her head back as even that much sent her body shivering with satisfied delight.

Celestia reached up and drew her down into a long, lazy kiss, neither of them focusing on it in particular as much as occupying their upper bodies while their loins began doing the thinking for them. Twilight's body, if not her mind, knew what it was called upon to do; thoughtlessly she lifted her hips, sliding up Celestia's member, leaving a slick trail behind. At the same time, the princess drew her hips down as well...

Twilight moaned in delight as the absence that had returned deep in her was filled, spectacularly, with a triumphant thrust. Celestia was even deeper in her, she could tell—it hurt a little, to be honest, but it hurt so good...

She became aware, through the haze, that Celestia's mouth was next to her ear, breathing heavily. "Anything...ha...anything to report?"

They kissed again, long and slow, matching the movement of their hips. "I don't need...I don't need that anymore,"

"Oh?"

Twilight sighed, kissing the princess' cheek. "Nope. I'm...safe. I'm happy. I want this..." She ran a hoof through the princess' billowing mane, leaning up to gaze down into Celestia's big eyes, which burned in equal measure with desire and love. Twilight kissed her again, gently. "All of it. Everything."

Celestia nuzzled her. "My brave Twilight..."

"Make...make love to me," Twilight whispered. "Don't mate, or couple...Let's...be together."

"Yes. Thank you, Twilight...my dear, beautiful, courageous mare...be with me. Feel me love you..."

Again, they drew apart and thrust together, Twilight wanting to scream in ecstasy as the agony of absence was again replaced with that so-satisfying fullness inside her; she wondered why she was ever afraid of this unspeakable pleasure.

Beneath her, the princess' beautiful face screwed up in delight, eyes glued to Twilight's rapturous features. Celestia and Twilight drank deep of each other's pleasure, both smiling broadly as they fell into a firm rhythm, Twilight giving a little whine of mixed pleasure and surprise as Celestia managed to reach deeper and deeper inside her. The unicorn's hoof had found its way to her clitoris, expertly manipulating it with practiced ease, gasping as Celestia somehow managed to make the rhythm of their love match Twilight's frenzied ministrations.

“Ah...I'm...my legs are getting sore,” Twilight managed, interrupted by the joyous sensation of her nethers bearing down, clutching Celestia firmly as she found herself deep in Twilight's sex.

“Okay. That's okay...mmm. Lie on your side,” Celestia murmured.

Twilight reluctantly let Celestia withdraw from her, but gratefully collapsed on her side next to the warm bulk of her lover. The princess drew around behind her, wrapping them in a wing like a great blanket, and once again, Twilight sighed happily as Celestia teased her opening. The entrance was much easier, now, and both of them hummed in satisfaction as their gentle embrace was completed, Celestia driving deep with a smooth, even thrust.

The pace was slower now, but now Celestia could more easily caress and nip at Twilight; the variety of attentions making the younger mare twich and shudder with thrills of pleasure that mingled in her depths to an ever-growing height. Each thrust, slow and gentle, was accompanied by Twilight clutching her legs and nether muscles around the wonderful warmth inside her, turning it all into a playful game where the unicorn did her best to prevent Celestia from leaving her.

Before too long, Twilight recognized a familiar sensation of pressure and need growing in her. Celestia, too, was drawing close to her climax; she placed her head on Twilight's neck, taking short, ragged breaths.

“I'm close,” Twilight whispered.

The princess turned her head slightly and kissed the unicorn's cheek. “Mmm. Let...let me go first...'s important...”

“Yes...fill me...” Twilight moaned. “Give it to me...I want it, Celestia...”

Twilight's awkward pleas nevertheless sent the right message to Celestia; her thrusts increased in pace noticeably, driving deep and hard into Twilight, somewhat painfully. Something in the unicorn's mind was dimly aware that their thighs were making contact—she was somehow taking Celestia's entire length. Rather than frightening her, the thought made her grin stupidly as the princess began to reach her final climax.

“I'm...I'm...” the princess muttered between fierce, ragged breaths.

“Do it!” Twilight cried desperately. All she wanted now was to feel the princess orgasm beside her, inside her, filling her up with that wonderful heat and firmness...

With a sudden gasp, the princess climaxed. Twilight yelped as Celestia's powerful forelimbs grasped her tightly to give leverage for one last, powerful thrust, driving all the way into Twilight. The sudden, delicious pain was quickly overwhelmed by a wonderful warmth and pressure inside her, and she realized she was being filled with a truly prodigious volume of...something. She could feel it being pumped into her in thick, heavy spurts, and she nearly called out in shock as this drove her arousal to unprecedented heights. It was warm, like a heat compress, soothing the ache in her; it also seemed somewhat electric, filling her with a wild energy that gave her the chills.

“Ah! Ah! Oh, there's...so much!” Twilight moaned.

Celestia clutched her. “You have...you have to take it all in, Twilight...”

“More! Please! Give me all of it...!”

More she received, until the pressure in her grew intense and painful. She looked down—there was a noticeable bulge in her abdomen. It felt wonderful, for all that it hurt a bit; she could tell there was some special magic happening, that whatever Celestia produced, it was causing this rising feeling of joy, and contentment, and...

Power.

She could feel it, now that she focused on herself—there was power being put into her, raw and wild. The thrumming buzz of it was being turned into pleasure in her nethers, helping push her over the edge as she continued to clench around Celestia.

“Princess...I'm close...”

“You need to climax, Twilight. You need to...” Celestia's tone was firm and instructive, familiar such that Twilight instinctively whined in anxiety that she could not instantly and immediately obey her. “Don’t bear down, don’t try to force it out...”

Twilight grabbed Celestia's hoof and placed it on her sex. “Rub, hard...and kiss me...”

Awkwardly twisting so their lips could meet, Twilight gasped at the unfamiliar, but welcome sensation of Celestia massaging her. It was a matter of seconds before Twilight whined wordlessly into the desperate kiss, the muscles in her loins tensing...

Twilight climaxed.

It lasted awhile. It usually did, with her; but this...Twilight felt this was different. The power Celestia had placed in her seemed to resonate with the throbs of her orgasm, making it last for what seemed like hours; she knew herself to be speaking, but didn't know or care what she was saying. The only thing she was conscious of was the gentle embrace of the princess, who held her and kissed her cheek and neck as the unicorn was lost in a sea of bliss.

As she rode the wonderful current down, Celestia placed a hoof on the distended part of Twilight's abdomen, and gently pressed down. Twilight's pleasure surged again as she felt the pressure dissipate, warmth flowing from her sex throughout her whole body, making her twitch and hum in satisfaction.

They lay there in silence, wrapped in a wing, for a long while. Eventually Twilight dully felt the pressure of Celestia's member leaving her, and was momentarily rather depressed.

Celestia clutched Twilight to her firmly. “I'm so...excited, Twilight. This will be so special.”

Twilight's ears pricked up, and she stirred, turning to face Celestia. Gone was the mad look of distraction in the princess' face; instead she looked as radiant as ever, smiling broadly and lovingly.

Robbed of the madness of lust, Twilight's natural anxieties kicked into full gear, preying on her exhausted mind. She reflexively huddled into the princess' embrace. “So...I'm...so it worked, then?”

Celestia leaned forward and kissed her, very gently. “Yes, Twilight, I think so. Thank you...so much.”

Twilight yawned. She was tired unto death—not being a particularly active pony, this had all taken a lot out of her. “I'm scared,” she admitted, muzzily.

Celestia kissed her forehead. “That's okay. This is a big step for you...but I'll be with you, no matter what. We'll go through this together...”

“Thanks,” Twilight said, and curled up to sleep, wrapped in the warmth of her lover's embrace.

–

Twilight opened her eyes and looked up into the great panel windows of Celestia's chambers, which were no longer hidden behind their great curtains. It was—wow, it was...um, well...twilight. A few stars were even beginning to, hah, yes, sparkle on the eastern horizon.

Half-hidden behind tired lids, Twilight rolled her eyes. She had, she supposed, expended enough energy last night to wear her out for—

That woke her up.

Had she really—and had they actually—?

Her hoof leapt to her belly, an action that felt strangely awkward—that was foolish, though. It would be a long, long time before she started showing. If, indeed, one showed with an alicorn foal—

“Twilight!” a voice rang out.

Twilight turned—it was Celestia, her face a vision of delight. The princess had been reading on one of the lounging seats on the far side of the room, but now she trotted briskly over to the bed and—to Twilight's mixed surprise and pleasure, drew her into a gentle kiss.

“I'm so glad you're finally awake,” the princess continued, giving Twilight a gaze of such overwhelming affection that it seemed ridiculous.

Twilight sighed. “Er...I seem to have slept through the day...sorry.”

Celestia's eyes twinkled with mischievous delight. “You've slept rather longer than that, my love.”

“Your...what? Wait, like, a week? I wouldn't be surprised...”

“Eight months, three weeks, and six days, actually,” Celestia said, seeming terribly pleased with herself. “You've been rather busy in that time, though...”

Twilight's eyes went wide. “But—but—but...the...the foal!”

Celestia frowned. “What foal?”

“What do you mean, what foal?” Twilight nearly shrieked. “Wasn't that the whole point of this?”

The princess suddenly looked stressed. “Ah. I didn't think about it at the time, but Luna suspected you might have misunderstood us...after the fact, of course.”

Twilight opened her mouth to object, but no sound came out. Her mind started spinning out possibilities rather quickly, but the one that presented itself most readily was...well...

She looked over her shoulder...and fluffed the wings she found there experimentally.

“Reproduce,” Twilight murmured.

“It's a bit unusual...magical creatures generally are.” Celestia looked nervous. “You're not...mad, are you? To be honest, I've felt extremely guilty since I realized you misinterpreted what I was saying. I should have been more clear...but...” she looked pained. “I was in no state, and we've never really liked talking about it.”

Twilight rose to her hooves—an activity that was complicated by her legs being about twice as large as they had been previously. Celestia was still taller than her, but not by much—Twilight had a sneaky suspicion that she was now taller than Luna, which would almost certainly drive the princess of the moon mad. She looked over her shoulder again and slowly spread her wings, flapping them awkwardly, wincing at the unfamiliar sensation.

“Er,” she said. “I...this is not what...not what I expected...”

Celestia's pained expression only grew more so, and Twilight took a few trembling steps forward on legs that hadn't seen use...well, ever, and nuzzled her.

“Twilight, I was so irresponsible...” Celestia murmured. “I'm sorry.”

Twilight half-grinned, amused despite herself. “Well...good news. Looks like you have a long time to make it up to me...”

“I suppose so,” Celestia replied, seeming a little relieved. “Still...”

“Oh stop worrying, will you? Just let me get a handle on all this...” Twilight groused. "How do I look?"

Celestia's worried expression warmed into a smile. "Quite...quite beautiful. Not that you haven't always been, but...well, you know how it is...there's 'cute' beautiful, and then there's...beautiful."

"Like you?" Twilight smiled as the princess blushed. She looked down at herself, taking in the changes. Long legs, check. Wings, check. Billowy mane—

She frowned. “Hey, how come I don’t get the, er, billowy mane?"

“Find yourself a celestial object to be attuned to and then we’ll see, hmm?” Celestia looked over her appreciatively. “Mmm...your magic, how does that feel?”

Twilight summoned the book Celestia had been reading to herself. She barely even had to think about it; the magic flowed and seemed to sit up and beg for her, completely obedient. Unfortunately this had the net result of her underestimating its strength and the book smacked her in the face. “Agh!”

“Looks like I’ll have to have you down practicing lifting stones again...” Celestia mused, her face split in a wide grin.

The new alicorn frowned and carefully set the book down. “Student and teacher forever, huh?”

“Not...no, I don’t think that would be healthy. Or fair to you. Nor why, I think, my heart turned to you when the time came for me to bring another one of my race into the world.” Celestia replied, stepping closer to Twilight. “I will be with you as you adjust to this, in whatever way you need me to be. Companion, guide, friend...”

"Lover?" Twilight shocked herself with her own boldness, but...

Celestia looked a bit shy. "If you like." The two alicorns nuzzled into one another gently. “This is alright, isn’t it? Even if it wasn’t what you were expecting?”

Twilight gave this some thought. The dream of the foal had been...nice, pleasant, comforting—but then, it had also been somewhat mundane. This, now, this...wings, long life...“Yeah,” she said, to Celestia's relieved pleasure. "it’s...it’s a lot, but...you’ll be here with me, right? I mean, this is going to bring on a lot of changes...”

“Of course.”

They gazed at one another with deep fondness for a long, long time.

Eventually Twilight grinned, a little bashfully, at Celestia. “‘Your love’, you say?”

“If you don’t mind,” the princess replied, smiling gently.

"Well, it is a bit sudden. We've only just had the one...rendezvous...but I suppose there was a long friendship beforehand..."

Celestia gave her a smug look. "You know, you're right...I might be settling too early. I have a long life ahead of me, after all...you'll have to prove your worth—"

Twilight nipped at Celestia's neck, making the princess gasp in delight. “Don’t tease.”

"Maybe an epic set of trials, a dozen heroic feats, any one of which would make a pony's name live in legend for all time—"

"Not sure you're worth the effort," Twilight said, now kissing the princess' neck and nuzzling the warm coat.

“Okay, okay!” Celestia laughed. “Twilight...Twilight!”

“What?”

“Aren’t you...tired?” Celestia asked, but she was clutching Twilight to herself, giggling happily, in a very young sort of way that thrilled Twilight to hear.

The younger alicorn gave Celestia a saucy smirk. “Not at all. I’ve just had a nice long nap—but you’re welcome to try to wear me out again if you like.”

Celestia chuckled. "What have I gotten myself into...no, Twilight, I brought some food up for us when I sensed you were waking. Nothing terribly romantic, and not candlelit, but...well, you know, substantial. You haven't eaten in nine months, after all..."

As if to reinforce this fact, Twilight's belly rumbled loudly at the prospect of something filling it besides transmutational mystical energy, which wasn't exactly filling. "Wow, no kidding," Twilight said, her somewhat aggressive mood forgotten in the space of an eyeblink.

"Lay down, lay down...we have a lot to talk about, so we might as well do so over a good meal, hmm?"

Twilight ambled back over to the bed and collapsed onto it, grinning hungrily as Celestia called over their dinner. The princess lay next to her and they gently cuddled into one another without a thought, only occasionally pausing their conversation to feed one another something in a playful sort of way.

It was a good night...the first of a great, great many.

--

ADDENDUM TO FIELD NOTES

Several months later...

The two sat in the antechamber of the palace, Twilight looking a bit sour, Celestia pointedly ignoring her with a little grin.

"It'll be nice to see Shining Armor again..." Twilight groaned, "I suppose."

Celestia beamed down at her, grinning slyly. "Twilight, be nice. He's still your brother..."

The purple alicorn pouted. "Exactly."

Her princess laughed brightly as the hoofbeats approached.

First came Cadence, bright as ever, and in her wake, her beloved hus—

"Oh. Oh dear..." Celestia said, a bright smile blooming on her face.

Twilight and her brother eyed each other carefully, both chewing their lips nervously. Occasionally one of them fluffed their wings awkwardly.

“I won’t tell mom and dad if you don’t,” Twilight said, eventually.

"Right. Stars aligned, prophecies fulfilled."

"Good diet, healthy exercise..."

"Right."

"Right."

THE END