Author's Note

This story takes place before Amator Solis.

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Dream a Little Dream

The basket full of kittens was absolutely adorable.

Ember looked down at them, beaming. They were all safely tucked in, and she counted them off one by one, then frowned. One of them was missing. She looked around, suddenly deeply worried, but soon saw the escapee. Ember trotted over and gently lifted the kitten in her magic. Such a naughty little cat! Now it was all fixed, though. She would tuck this last kitten safely into the basket and everything would be perfect.

But as she turned around, she saw that two more had gotten out of the basket, and the rest were all trying to climb out as well.

With her brow furrowed in concern, Ember carefully set the first kitten into the basket, and went after the one that was already most of the way across the room. That one was tucked back into safety, but by then most of the others had gotten out and were crawling in every direction. Ember felt a knot of fear in her chest. How was she going to keep all these kittens safe? She scrambled after them, chasing them with increasingly frantic distress, catching kitten after kitten and returning them to safety, but she couldn't get them to stay! Everything turned into a mad haze of chasing and catching and scrambling and failing and no matter how she tried she couldn't catch them fast enough, and some of them had surely gotten out of the room entirely and they'd be hurt and it was all her fault. What kind of person was she, anyway, that she couldn't even take care of a basket of kittens? She was failing at this. She couldn't do it.

Suddenly she thought of Far Gaze. Far Gaze could help. She would go get Far Gaze, and he would make everything right for her, like he always had, right from the first. She dashed out of the room, into the hallway outside. She swiftly flung open the first door she came to, but the room inside was empty. So was the next, and the one after that. She kept going, running faster and faster down the long hall, using her magic to open each door, but each room contained nothing. There was no sign of Far Gaze.

Her frantic desperation turned to despair and she dropped to her haunches inside the last empty room. She couldn't find him. She'd never find him. He had left her, abandoned her forever. She'd never see him again, and it was all her fault. She curled herself up in a huddle on the floor and began weeping, intense sobs shaking her entire body.

"Ah, poor changeling child." The voice could have been condescending, but it wasn't. It was soft, tender; a warm, caring voice, perhaps even motherly, though Ember had never known a mother in the pony sense. A touch came on her withers, softly stroking down over her wings. "All is well, all is well. You may cry if you need to, but this is only a dream. Only a nightmare."

Ember felt a strange shock go through her, but she knew even before the voice had finished speaking that it was true. She nearly went limp with relief. She hadn't failed. There wouldn't actually be any dead kittens because of her. And Far Gaze hadn't really abandoned her forever.

Even as relief filled her, though, her tears didn't stop. Something about the grief and despair she'd felt still seemed far too real, and it wouldn't let go its grip on her. She felt a warm embrace enfold her, arms and wings wrapping around her, and found herself being held tight by Princess Luna. Luna put her chin atop Ember's head and stroked over her wings soothingly, and Ember buried her muzzle against Luna's chest and wept.

Luna simply continued to hold her while she cried herself out. Ember gradually calmed, and as she did she felt a growing sense of embarrassment creep over her. She didn't even know Princess Luna. She'd imitated her many times, and she knew Celestia very well indeed, but she and Luna had never met before Ember started soaking her coat with tears.

She lifted her head, sniffling, and said, "I'm sorry."

"There's naught to be sorry of," said Luna gently.

Ember's ears went down. "There might be. I shouldn't be crying all over one of the rulers of Equestria."

"And why ever not?"

Ember blinked at Luna for a moment, then sighed. "I don't know. Forgive me."

"You seem somewhat distraught, despite your nightmare ending. Having troubles? I can listen, if you want to talk."

Ember's ears flattened further. She felt a strong reluctance to speak. She was supposed to be the one who helped ponies. It didn't seem right for her to put her problems on someone else. That was absurd though, wasn't it? She could already imagine what she would say—what she had said, even, to Luna's own sister—if someone claimed they didn't need help because it was their job to help others. It wasn't even her job, it was just something she couldn't keep from doing.

"Ember?" Luna's voice was still gentle.

Ember looked up, startled. "You know who I am?"

Luna smiled. "Of course. You have some small fame in certain circles. But come, tell me your troubles. It sounds as though you have a few."

Ember heaved a massive sigh, and wiped her tear-stained cheeks. "I suppose I do. They seem so petty, as if it's not even worthwhile to worry about them. Truly my life is a good one. But I can't keep from fretting sometimes. Apparently enough that it infects my dreams."

"And what it is that you fret over? Not kittens, surely?"

"No, not kittens. Ponies, mostly. My clients. I do what I can for them, and mostly I feel they go away feeling better than when they arrived. But there are so many things I can't help. There are so many ways I worry that perhaps I harm, even. There are so many little things I do wrong all the time. I didn't tell Bell Pepper the other day about safe words. I should have! They're important in the kind of play he wants to do! I know he's not stupid, he'll probably figure things out just fine, but I should have mentioned them. I should talk to ponies about condoms. I never use them. I don't need them. But am I teaching my clients that having sex without them is fine? How many of them have followed my example and caught something? Some of them ask, and I explain, but I should be telling all of them why I don't use them. And today..." Ember shivered, feeling like she might start crying again. Sky above, what if she'd made the wrong choice? What if some innocent was hurt because of her? Yet how could she have chosen differently?

"Today?" asked Luna, her voice neutral, her expression kind, yet intent.

"I've called the guard on clients a few times," said Ember softly, letting her eyes drop from Luna's penetrating gaze to rest on the carpeted floor. The room she was in seemed to be her private bedroom, that she shared with Far Gaze, at least going by the carpet and most of the fixtures, though the bed in it was her public bed, the one she shared with clients. "Sometimes a pony gets belligerent, though it's rare. Now and again I get told something criminal. Some people seem to want to confess to their lovers. Twice it was..." Ember flicked her ears at the uncomfortable memories. "Twice it was ponies who wanted me to be a foal for them, and who said things... They said horrible things about foals. Each was different, one was a stallion and one a mare, even, but the things they said implied in one way or another that foals were sexual beings, that foals wanted sex, and presented themselves sexually. That the innocent things foals did actually meant they desired these terrible ponies. The taste of their emotions didn't even bear guilt, they came to me instead of molesting real children solely because they worried about being caught. It was awful, but I knew I'd done the right thing by turning them in. Today, though..."

"You had a client who wanted to lie with a foal?"

"Yes." Ember drew in a deep, steadying breath, then blew it out. "He was... Stars, I've seldom tasted so much guilt. He hated himself for it. He didn't say anything about children wanting it, only about what he wanted, and how terrible it was, yet how very deeply his desire ran. I... I did it. I gave him what he wanted, and told him that if he was ever tempted he could come back to me whenever he wished, and I wouldn't even charge him if it kept him from touching a real foal."

"And that bothers you?"

"Of course it bothers me! I don't judge kinks, I've done ageplay many times, it's a relatively common kink, but it was play. It was people who were attracted to some aspect of the fantasy of childhood, not people who just straight up looked at real foals with desire. Wanting to pretend that you are a child is very different from wanting to harm a child! So playing such games never bothered me. Those clients never wanted me to be young, they nearly all wanted me to treat them as if they were young, or occasionally they wanted me to be an adult but act in bratty, childish ways. It was about the game, about the play, about a fantasy. This, though..." Another shiver ran through Ember.

"This felt far too real, and so I worry. I thought about calling the guard again, truly I did, yet he hated himself so much. How could I be so cruel to somepony who'd never done any harm, despite his desires? He wanted to do the right thing, to find some safe outlet so badly... I don't know. I fear deeply that by giving him his desire I only made it stronger, made it all the more likely that he'll act on it, despite my offer to help him if the temptation grew too great. I don't know. I wanted to send him to a real therapist, but he wouldn't go. He said they were sure to turn him in to the guard. I couldn't force him. All I could do was give him the offer I gave, or turn him in myself, but I don't know which was the right thing to do! I try so hard to help ponies, but if he goes on to touch a foal, it will be my fault. I'll have failed."

"Oh, Ember. You judge yourself far more harshly than you would judge any other in your place. None of us are perfect, and 'tis not in the least your fault should somepony else choose to do evil."

"Even if I had a chance to prevent it and didn't?"

"Mayhap if you knew of a certainty that harm would come of it, but you do not know. For all you know you have done precisely as you should to aid this stallion in staying safe and harming none."

"I wish I did know. Truly I do."

"Alas, a sure right course is seldom granted in this world. Any who think they have found one should question it deeply." Luna hugged her again, folding dark wings around her. Ember sighed, relaxing into that embrace. "You remind me so much of my sister. She too would save every creature in all the world if she could. Especially when she was younger, she always dove into the problems of others. She learned better eventually, but she still acts as if it's some great sin for her to relax and lay down her burdens for a time."

Ember smiled a little at that. "It's no sin to relax, I know that much. But it is hard to not feel responsible sometimes. Helping ponies is sort of what I do. Even the ones without problems I still help to feel better before they go."

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes," said Luna, softly.

"Hmm?"

"It means 'Who watches the watchmen?' And who cares for the carers?" She gave Ember a soft nuzzle. "I know that thou hast cared for my sister, young changeling, and I am glad of't, but who then shall care for thee?"

"Far Gaze does generally take very good care of me," said Ember with a small smile. She was feeling a little bit better now. Talking to Luna hadn't really changed anything, yet somehow it helped.

"That is good. Thou shouldst be happy and well cared for. Thou hast done much for many."

"Thank you," said Ember. "Thank thee, I guess?"

Luna chuckled softly. "Forgive me mine eccentricities. Thou art somewhat of a peer, being something of an alicorn, and something of royalty, and also something of my sister's paramour. And I think of thee fondly, I would be pleased to be thy friend, so 'tis easy to slip into the intimate mode. I hope I do not overstep."

"No, not in the least." Ember smiled. "I should like to be thy friend also. Thou hast certainly acted a friend's part for me this even."

Luna's eyes sparkled and she clapped her front hooves together. "How delightful! Let us be friends, then. And even more delightful, that thou canst say it correctly! So many modern ponies attempt the intimate mode and frankly butcher it."

Ember felt a faint flush coloring her ears. "I, ah, have practiced it a great deal for clients who wanted me to be you for them."

"I am not in the least bit shocked." Luna giggled. "I see dreams, recall. That doth include wet dreams. And not dreams only, for night is my domain, and all that goes on within it! I know that I feature in such fantasies for many ponies. As does my sister. I have seen thee there also, a time or two."

Ember blinked in surprise. "Really?"

"Indeed. Why shouldst thou doubt? Thy clients come to thee because they desire thee, why should they not dream of thee also?"

"I suppose I never thought that any of them really felt that strongly about me specifically. I provide a service. I feel I provide it well, but even though I do very much like and care about most of my clients, it's still just business. Dreams seem...different, somehow."

"Dreams are not always literal, so not all who dream of thee truly desire thee. Yet do they not sometimes fall in love with thee, sweet changeling queen?"

Ember found herself blushing faintly again, for some reason. "Well, yes. I try to discourage that, though. Especially the ones that are monogamous." She sighed faintly. "Even with the ones who aren't, it would be unfair for a client to love me if I didn't love them back. Although there are a few of my clients I could possibly fall for, if things worked out that way." She gave Luna a glance and decided not to mention that her sister was on that short list.

"Thou art quite worthy of love," said Luna softly. "Worthy of regard. Worthy of care." She leaned in closer, nuzzling Ember's cheek again, and there was something strangely intimate about it. Ember felt a faint confusion, though. Luna had made an intimate gesture, and what she was saying might even be a kind of flirting, yet there was no taste of such emotions from her. In fact, Ember suddenly realized, there was no taste of emotion from her at all.

Of course. This was a dream. Luna's actual self was miles away from where Ember lay in her bed, and whatever method Luna used to step into dreams apparently brought the sight and sound of her, but not her true presence.

"Ember?" said Luna, her voice faintly amused. "Thy mind doth seem to be wandering."

"Ah, forgive me. I just realized that I'm feeling a bit off-balance because I'm used to relying on the taste of a pony's emotions to know what she wants. I can't taste yours, though."

"Ah. 'Tis quite the advantage! But I can well imagine how difficult 'twould be to act without such a sense when one is accustomed to relying upon it." Her eyes went slightly unfocused. "Let me see what I can do." Ember watched as Luna's expression settled into one of intense concentration. Then suddenly Luna's emotional flavors flooded over her. She tasted of warmth, contentment, and affection, of the kind of warm regard that could possibly develop into deep friendship or even into love. She tasted also of just the faintest hint of spicy lust, and Ember smiled at the confirmation that Luna's physical closeness meant what it seemed to.

"Is that more to thy liking?" said Luna, still smiling.

"It is. I thank thee for thine effort." Ember smiled back warmly.

Luna leaned in close again, and that faint hint of lust—cinnamon and cayenne, warmth and spice—grew stronger on Ember's tongue. "Shall I offer thee a further effort? Shall I care for thee as thou hast cared for so many?" Her muzzle rubbed against Ember's cheek and down the side of her neck in a gently intimate caress.

Ember felt her ears heating again faintly. Why was Luna having this effect on her? But then she did always have to take the lead with her clients. Even with Far she usually had to initiate things, though he would take over once he was suitably in the mood. Having somepony else being the sexual aggressor wasn't something she was used to. Even tasting Luna's emotions and knowing exactly where Luna was headed, Ember still felt a little flustered.

It was a good kind of flustered though, so she leaned in and nuzzled Luna back. "I think I would like that."

"Delightful," murmured Luna, and lifted her head slightly to nibble Ember's ear.

Ember made a soft sound of pleasure, a little shiver going through her. This was odd, but also very nice.

Luna nipped again, then nibbled down the side of Ember's neck, her teeth clicking just slightly on the flexible chitin. Ember felt a strange urge come over her, and she gave in to it, shifting, green fire washing over her body, leaving midnight blue hide behind, with soft-feathered wings and a floating mane and tail that shimmered with all the starry night.

Luna tilted her head to the side, regarding this curiously, then smiled. "How pleasing."

"I am a changeling, imitation is what we do," said Ember, with a little smile.

"They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Luna laughed softly and nipped Ember's neck again. Ember gasped, the sensation sharper now that she had sensitive pony hide and not chitin there. Luna pushed her over in the bed, then, bending over her and pressing a soft yet insistent kiss on Ember's lips.

Ember let her eyes slide half closed and kissed back. Luna lingered for a long, sweet moment, then pulled back and looked down at Ember, lying alongside her. Luna spread and wing and drew the feathers delicately over Ember, caressing her softly. Ember shivered at that light, sensuous touch. The taste of lust, warm and wonderful, was heavy in the air.

"Thou art beautiful, and not merely because thou hast taken mine own form, sweet Ember." Luna caressed her more, her wing brushing up and down, wandering over every inch of Ember's body. Ember sighed, stretching out on her back, her own wings relaxing. Luna kissed her again, then nuzzled her cheek, moving towards her ear which she nibbled with delicate gentleness. Ember felt another shiver go through her, and she made a soft sound of pleasure.

Then the softness of Luna's muzzle caressed up the length of her horn and Ember gasped sharply at the contact, the caress against her magical field sending a pulse of warmth from her horn down through her whole body. Luna let out a soft, throaty chuckle and lapped at the very tip of Ember's horn. Ember gasped again, then moaned as Luna lapped in a long stroke up the full length of it.

"Ah..."

"Relax, my sweet changeling," murmured Luna, and then she licked Ember's horn again. "Relax and let me please thee." Her hoof began to caress over Ember, moving where her wing had been before, but more firmly, stroking over the soft, midnight blue of her hide. Ember sighed deeply, then let out another soft, gasping moan as Luna licked up her horn slowly, sensuously, and then took the tip into her mouth. The warmth of her surrounding and interpenetrating Ember's field was amazing, sending jolts of pure pleasure through her as Luna slowly, carefully, took more of the sharp-pointed horn into her mouth.

"Oh, stars," moaned Ember softly.

"Mmm," said Luna, and she pressed her tongue firmly against it within the warmth of her mouth, then began to bob her head on it, sliding it slowly in and out, sending shuddering waves of magical bliss through Ember each time.

She started to move faster, and Ember moaned again, loudly. The waves of pleasure rolled through her whole body, but seemed to be aimed directly at her groin, each stroke of Luna's lips and tongue making Ember's pussy throb with it. She felt already on edge, her pulse pounding, and she said, breathlessly, "Ah... Luna... I am going to spark soon. Oh stars... I can't... ah.... Can't hold back much longer if you keep doing that. Ah!" Luna didn't pause to listen, but Ember had to stammer out one more shaky line, "I spark very strongly. You should probably stop... Ooohh..."

Luna pulled back just long enough to whisper, "This is yet a dream," before diving back down on Ember's horn. Ember felt a final tension go out of her at the realization that there was no reason to hold back and in only seconds the pleasure filling her seemed to flash back from her pussy to her horn, erupting in a volcanic shower of acid-green sparks.

Luna didn't pull back, she kept Ember's horn between her lips, and the sparks filled her, shining within every inch of her body as if for a moment she was a hollow pony of cobalt glass, filled with streaking fireflies. It was a strange effect, and a strong reminder that this was a dream, but Ember thought it looked beautiful.

When the last spark had faded Luna let go of Ember's horn and smiled down at her, licking her lips. "I have had a taste of thee, sweet changeling, and I would have more."

Ember, still somewhat dazed with pleasure, looked up at her, eyes lidded, and said, "Oh, yes."

Luna chuckled deeply and kissed Ember once more, harder this time, hotter. Ember kissed back with matching heat, wrapping her forelegs around Luna.

Luna pulled from the kiss after a moment and nuzzled down Ember's neck again, nipping here and there. Ember tipped her head back, moaning softly at the touch of Luna's teeth. It was so wonderful to just relax into whatever Luna wanted to do, to not have to plan out the scene or make certain everything went perfectly right for a customer.

Luna nipped at the base of Ember's neck, but didn't stop there, she trailed a line of kisses down Ember's chest and barrel, all the way to where her nipples peeked faintly pink through the deep blue of the fur she was currently wearing. Luna immediately tongued one of them, and Ember moaned blissfully, spreading her hind legs apart.

With a low, throaty chuckle Luna sucked and licked at Ember's nipples, first one and then the other. When Ember was squirming and moaning with it, Luna nipped one lightly, the touch of her teeth on that sensitive spot making Ember gasp. She lingered there for a long time, sometimes nipping, sometimes licking and sucking gently, pushing Ember back and forth between soothing pleasure and exhilarating pain.

Then, at last, she nuzzled lower, her muzzle brushing over Ember's lips, her tongue caressing there, tasting Ember's juices. Ember gasped softly at the contact, then let out a moan as Luna's tongue probed her. Luna lapped up between her labia, working her way up, until her tongue finally found the little nub of Ember's clit. She lingered there, using her tongue-tip to prod gently at it, and Ember shuddered and moaned again, loudly. It felt amazing.

"Mmm, thy taste is sweet also," murmured Luna, and she licked again, drawing her tongue in a long, slow stroke over Ember's clit. Ember couldn't keep from moaning once more. As Luna continued, Ember was soon lost in it, her body tensing but her mind relaxing into the pleasure that rapidly grew as Luna licked in increasingly rapid strokes.

Luna made little humming sounds as she did, obviously very much enjoying her self-appointed task. Her lust was strong enough that the spice of it almost burned, but it was twined with the richness of a caring that bordered on love, and the combined taste was amazing. Ember drank it in, writhing and moaning, tensing more as her pleasure built, and Luna's seemed to build with it.

Finally it broke over her and Ember cried out as the wave of it washed through her, her wings flaring out at her sides, her body arching back on the bed.

Luna kept licking, pushing her through it, wringing every ounce of pleasure from Ember that she could, until Ember at last went utterly limp, panting hard. Luna finally lifted her head, with a rather smug smile, and she tasted now of pleased contentment, warm and bright. She licked her lips, then wiped her muzzle off with one hoof. "I am delighted to have pleased thee so, sweet changeling."

"Mmm." Ember was, for the moment, incapable of saying much more than that. Luna chuckled softly in amusement. Then she rose from the bed.

"Alas, my duty calls me, and I must depart."

That made Ember's eyes finally come into focus as she looked at Luna in puzzlement. "But we're not finished. You've pleasured me twice, and not come at all."

"Oh Ember. Methinks thou hast spent too long engaging in sex as a transaction. It is not a matter of counting off who has come how often, thou shouldst know that perfectly well."

Ember felt herself flushing. "Yes..."

Luna bent in and kissed the tip of Ember's muzzle. "I have delighted in thee, sweet changeling. Thy pleasure hath been mine also. I feel no lack. And as I have said once already, thou art worthy of love, and worthy of care. But now I truly must be off. There is much yet to do in the realm of dreams this night."

"Thank you," said Ember as Luna began to waver and dissolve, the dream wavering around her as well. Luna vanished with no reply, but she was smiling as she went.

Then Ember was blinking awake in her own bed, with Far Gaze lying beside her. Far wasn't asleep, he was instead lying with his head propped up on one hoof, watching Ember with evident amusement. "Have a fun dream?" he said.

"Ah... You could say that, yes."

"I can tell." Far then nodded up towards the ceiling.

With a sudden sinking sensation in her stomach, Ember looked up, already knowing what she would see. There was a black scorch mark, with acid green thaumatic stains streaked through it. "I sparked in my sleep," she said, and put her face in her hoof.

"You sparked in your sleep." Far laughed. "I haven't done that since I was a colt. It must have been some dream."

Ember smiled then, and glanced back up at the ceiling. It looked like she hadn't done any real damage, it was just cosmetic, and could probably be cleaned off. Even if it couldn't, she wouldn't mind having the reminder of everything Luna had done—and everything she'd said as well.

"Yes, it very much was."