Two Lonely Mares

1. Night's Chosen

I lay on the bed in the infirmary wing of the castle. Doctors finished putting me together, Princess Celestia herself had cast spells of mending bones, and now I was left to rest and let the spells do their work, given recommendation to have a nap, and a mild sedative to help me fall asleep - but it would still take a while before sleep would come, and while others would not hear a thing, a dweller of the Everfree Forest like me was capable of recognizing voices of the princesses talking quietly outside.

"Who is she?"

"My chosen."

"Don't you dismiss me like that, Luna. She is dangerous. Have you seen how effortlessly she took a veteran soldier?"

"Verteran? Pheh. Sis, art thou all out of touch now? A fancy gimp was he, seeking pass into elites through deceit and artifice. Made he blind thee with tall tales and braggartry?"

"No, Luna. I gave him a benefit of doubt but I saw through the deceit soon enough. Still, the way she fought! Wolf cub style, that art was forgotten ages ago! She could take on any single guard, or even a dozen of them. She is dangerous. And one thing more, Luna. What's with that... 'you'? Even to me you speak per 'thou'. You know this is not the modern way, you did learn that fast enough."

"I find the lack of pronouns of respect most disconcerting, sister. Thou art right, she hath more power than eye doth meet. I like to picture her a princess in exile, and address as such, though she vowed to be of common blood. And yet she hath never her power abused. She suffered abuse quietly. Even when thy student accused her falsely, ruining her dwelling, she took no revenge but gave help in its stead."

"So far she's proven nothing but help, but... she's a mystery."

I fought a yawn, the medicine was taking control, making me want to fall asleep.

"Then wouldst thou not desire this mystery to find uncovered? For her heart lies open to me as mine to her, and the lack of worthy student is all that holds her secrets in the dark."

"Hopest you... to unravel the secret of Starswirl's journal?" I imagined Celestia wincing at getting infected with Luna's speech style.

"Me? Nay, sister. Too much conflict and darkness dwell in my heart. And yet I believe in her being the key."

"Do you hope she could teach Twilight what we couldn't? Would she agree?"

I could imagine Luna's face. I grinned just as she surely did. I just loved bringing a smile to her face.

"She already did, sister."

And then drowsiness overcame my senses and I drifted off.

* * *

I was lounging in a huge throne of soft red velvet, surrounded by canopy of golden, black and white silks, with fountains and birds chattering beyond, fine light filtered through canopy of ivy overgrowing a gallery of tall columns separating the throne room from the palace gardens. With a tiara of gold, diamond and obsidian on my head and golden jewelry holding clothes of finest muslins and chiffons more revealing than hiding my body I awaited the message. A zebra guard in dusty battle armor knelt in front of the throne.

"We have captured Lucian, the prince of Equestria, Empress!"

I grinned. "So what are you waiting for?

Don't make me wait any more!"

The huge double doors at the end of the chamber opened and three more guards led the stallion in. Tall, midnight-blue alicorn, slim but with obviously masculine outline, with golden manacles binding his legs. I clapped my hooves with joy.

"Prince Lucian! At long last!

Guards, remove his bonds now, fast!"

"But your majesty... he is extremely powerful! He could kill you!"

"Is that true, prince Lucian brave?

Will you, promise to behave?"

The dark stallion bowed his head to me. "We only seek peace, Emperess. We surrendered willingly in a bid to parlay, averting the war."

A pleasant shudder ran through my back. That voice was deep, sensuous, it felt like smooth, hot chocolate.

"If such is your heart's desire,

Join Equestria with Empire.

With new borders far north stretched

will come freedoms quite far fetched.

You may remain at the helm,

ruling province of the realm.

Fealty you will swear to me,

and Equestria remains free.

Thought of war? It makes me ill.

Not a drop of blood will spill.

Dragons will be kept at bay,

Gryphons will need fief to pay,

While Equestria prospers, strong

Within Empire, ages long.

but these goods - I want to share'em,

Only if you join my harem." I sent him my best mischievous, alluring smile.

He pondered for a moment, then bowed low. "A steep price you set, Emperess, yet for safety of my subjects I am willing to pay it," he replied in a grave voice, though I saw sparks of mirth in his eyes.

"There, guards, unshackle the prince,

and treat him well ever since." I sent the prince a grin which I hoped didn't look too lewd.

The guards milled around removing the enchanted manacles and remaining wary of the alicorn, but I stood from my throne, walked up to the prince and brushed his chin with my mane, my flank against his chest.

The prince flinched and took a step back. I pouted, sending him a wry smile.

"Does the prince find me vile?

It’s my offer, does it rile?

Do not fear, my thoroughbred,

I won't force you in my bed.

If you want renege the deal,

I'm to listen willing still."

The prince lowered his mouth to my ears, and I heard Luna's own voice whisper. "Nay, but the rousing in my groin perturbed me. In this sensation I am learnt not." She gave my ear a little nibble, then she stood firmly, in a proud pose. "We shall not our nation endanger. Renege will I not; lead me to your chambers, Empress."

I turned in place, flicked the alicorn's nose with my tail tip, and trotted briskly towards the neighboring room.

That room was meant for relaxation, filled with pillows and soft mattresses, fine muslin curtains bathing it in soft glow of purple and orange, potted young palm trees and marble sculptures by the walls peeking discreetly at the fluffy pit of debauchery, guarding small bookshelves stocked with a choice of relaxing reading. Tall carafes of drinks and ornate bowls of fruit and snacks occupied low tables, where among scattered vessels small trails of smoke from incense curved through the air. A large hookah stood near the center, its multiple pipes reaching around the room like tendrils of some sea monster. Quiet music of strings and flutes was coming from a neighboring room, a lattice partition keeping us out of sight of the musicians, while allowing the sounds to flow freely.

I saw my new stud take the room in, quite impressed. The throne room and the empress' prisoner setting were all a dreamscape of Luna's creation, but I used my imagination in calling this location to life. I didn't let her...him dwell on it too long, as I lay by a table.

"Please, come closer, eat a treat.

Feed me dates and grapes, my sweet."

Prince Lucian lay on the other side of the table. Two grapes levitated in his magical glow, one for his mouth, one for mine. Next came a carafe and two cups of refreshing Jallab. I found the mouthpiece of one of the hookah pipes nearby and took it in my mouth. The hookah gurgled quietly as I inhaled deeply and paused, enjoying the aromatic smoke. I released it slowly, blowing the puff into a beam of light falling through a gap between curtains, observing swirls and strands it formed as it passed the bright gap.

"This implement I know not. Pray tell me, what was that activity?"

"May your land barbaric rot,

Smoke of shisha know you not?

Tickling lungs, relaxing mind,

finer taste you'll never find!

If you want, come, try it out.

See what hooka's all about."

The prince accepted the mouthpiece, sucked at it eliciting a loud gurgle from the bowl, and sure enough exploded in cough so hard it shook the reality of dream. "What is that infernal contraption?" he exclaimed, squeezing tears out of his eyes.

"Less of smoke, and more of air.

Give it tender, loving care.

Just a little puff, a kiss,

or the pleasure you will miss."

Prince Lucian first drank from his cup deeply, then he tried the pipe again. The hookah gurgled quietly and soon I saw his eyebrows tense in attention. Mouth half-open, little puff escaping through the lips, sucked back in, in a cautious long breath. I nodded with approval. He frowned a little after breathing out, a question painted on his face.

"That is an acquired taste.

Try again, there is no haste."

He did so again and I realized the tobacco made of dreams has no chance to act all by itself on a pony who never tried it before. I concentrated on instilling that special feeling of sudden release of weight on your mind, typical to smoking for the first time. I succeeded apparently, as Luna... well, Lucian - smiled, cocking his head. "I believe this shall be one of my favored leisures."

"Do not fall into its snare.

It's relaxing, but beware:

While the shisha taste I bless,

it is poison in excess."

A fig covered with poppy seeds floated from the tray to my mouth in the puff of blue magic. I held it with my teeth, and my lover bowed his neck to me. I leaned to him, and as our lips met, we held out, neither of us willing to take a bite and split the fruit - and let our lips part. His breath was hot, his gaze - adoring. Even though the square of his chin, the broader nose was very handsome, I decided I preferred the face of my beloved princess. But she put so much heart into this play I would not tell her to stop, no matter what. And besides...

It seems we came to the same conclusion at the same time. The middle of the fig fell on the floor as our lips pulled away. We both stood up and met halfway trying to run around the table to each other, nearly colliding. We both burst in laughter.

"Emperess, if I may, I bid ye to relax, and let me be your servant."

"Is that what my prince so wishes?

Mop the floors and do the dishes?" I winked.

"If such is your order, Emperess. Too many do serve my fancies in far Equestria. So scarcely do I give of my self."

I stood up and turned around. A few golden rings clanged as I swished my tail.

"No, my stud has but one duty.

Which is worship of my booty!"

I wiggled my rump, and dozens of rings of my jewelry rang.

"This duty I shall perform with utmost zeal." Lucian bowed low, and then covered my buttocks with gentle kisses, slowly zeroing in on the center. I lay with my eyes closed and concentrated on the sensation, not allowing my body to tense, but relaxing in a bliss instead. The touch of the tongue centered on my little nub and it felt like spark of pleasant fire drilling its way into my body in a special wonderful itch.

Not letting the feeling overwhelm me, I raised my head turning it to Lucian.

"That's enough good for my plot.

Now come, show me what you've got.

I see something down there, thick.

Give me taste of your big dick."

Lucian gulped loudly and stood up. Step by step he approached me, a crimson blush spreading from under the blue of his cheeks. He stood stiffly in front of me.

"My sweet prince, just please relax.

I see colt experience lacks.

In my land, when colt is shy,

mare like me will with him lie

just to teach him how it feels

when his cock a cunny fills."

I sent him a sly grin. No, that didn't help. Ears turning red. Not an improvement. Well, let's try this. I buried my nose under his stifle, reaching with my lips to his sheath. There it was, still small and wrinkled but already halfway out, musky and with a few bright blotches, the very tip completely pink. And there was a darker semicircular marking on the edge of the slightly flared tip.

"Prince, despite the bright on dark...

this looks like your cutie mark!"

Lucian squealed and jumped away. He looked at me with a complaint, tears in his eyes. "Just do your deed and taunt me not!" He stomped his hoof.

"I'm so sorry my prince brave.

I'll stay silent like a grave."

Without waiting for reply I crawled up to him and pushed my nose between his legs, where the small organ was beating a hasty retreat into the sheath. I nudged it gently and breathed warm air on it. It hesitated, and another breath later reversed its direction.

Still without so much as nudges, just breathing on the maleness I brought it to a semi-erect state. I raised my front hoof and made a horizontal circle gesture with it - the prince read it right and turned obediently, stepping over my back with one front hoof, me now positioned below him, facing his back.

I put the semi-hard organ in my mouth and raised my head, taking more of it. I bumped my nose against the groin when the tip rested against my throat. The stallion above me shuddered and bucked his hips lightly. The maleness throbbed and I felt it filling out, gaining firmness. I took a few deeper breaths, relaxed my throat, closed my eyes, concentrated - and soon enough I felt the tip sliding deeper, past my tonsils, and then down my throat. I touched my throat with my hoof and massaged it gently, feeling the stiffening flesh on the other side. I moved my head a little back, and was suddenly met with a buck of hips, groin meeting my nose, a moan coming from above.

Oh, prince starts to like that! Well, my love, I'm happy you're enjoying it but I need to breathe from time to time too.

I closed my teeth. Not too hard, but hard enough for making it uncomfortable. And sure enough Lucian jumped back, apologizing profusely. I just chuckled, took a few deep breaths and dived under him again, swallowing his length. I could feel it slipping past my throat, the tip resting somewhere halfway down my chest, stiff and throbbing slightly. I heard quiet gasps from the prince, his groin shuddered but he didn't buck.

"I feel..." he rasped, "I feel your heart."

Well, I certainly could feel his, the pulse making the shaft stiff, stretching my gullet.

Carefully I let my control slip a little bit, triggering the swallowing reflex. My throat squeezed the shaft, pulled on it, pulled it deeper in. It stiffened in a prolonged throb. I swallowed again.

"Wait... my love... or I..." a desperate voice sounded above.

I swallowed again.

This time the shaft straightened, firm like steel, filling me, unyielding. Lucian gave out a long moan and suddenly I felt thick cum flowing through the shaft and shooting straight into my stomach. I felt the rapid throbs and massive amounts of cum pumped directly down my gullet, filling my belly with satisfying warmth. Hot, sticky semen, so thick it felt chunky, tickled me pleasantly. My throat swallowed a few times more, squeezing whatever remained in the rapidly deflating stallionhood, then I gripped it with my lips and pulled, sucking and pushing the last of it onto my tongue.

A few deep breaths, and I smeared the stallion juice over my palate, delighting in the taste, with my eyes closed.

I felt warm breath on my mouth and as I opened my eyes, I found my prince smiling to me from inches away. His mouth met mine and with a naughty grin I sneaked my cum-coated tongue between his lips. He sucked on it, licked its surface and shared the naughty grin, reveling in the taste.

He pulled back, a sticky string stretching between our mouths, then snapping in the middle, the two stringy halves snapping back and sticking to my chin and his nose respectively. We licked them out of each other's face, then paused, gazing at each other lovingly.

"It was me supposed to service you, Empress," he complained.

I licked my lips and rubbed my belly. "You did well, my stallion sweet.

That was some delicious treat.

Now please rest, my stud agile.

Then, when rested, in a while,

if it's not too much of strain

you will service me again." I gave him my best grin.

Lucian snorted with laughter. "Your rhymes never cease to amuse me."

We went back to the table, took a drink, and Lucian took a puff from the hookah pipe. I observed the smoke circling in his mouth.

Then suddenly he looked around, a little panicked. "Duties call, love. I shall come later!" he called, then he dissolved into trails of smoke, and soon my dream lost focus and clarity too, erring into common, silly realms of normal sleep.

* * *

I woke up with a start. My brew! The sun was below the horizon already, shadows of dusk filling my hospital room. I tried standing up, and my bandaged ribcage protested with violent pain in several places. I collapsed back onto the bed with a yelp.

Maybe five seconds later a female doctor in a long apron was by my bed. She glared at me. "You cannot move for another couple days at least!" she admonished. "Your bones need to mend."

"Such restriction cannot be!" I gasped out. Speaking was painful.

"...I must go to Everfree!"

"Out of question! Here, You are healing now, and surely in pain, and shock, I'll give you a sedative and you'll be able to sleep through the worst of it." She produced a filled syringe from somewhere. "Besides, you must be in shock. There is nothing that needs your..."

"If you move me disallow

then bring Luna here right now!"

"You are obviously unwell and you must rest more. This will not hurt the least bit..." she reached with the syringe in her mouth.

I knocked her mouth with my hoof, bowed my neck, gripped the falling syringe in my teeth, then jabbed it into her neck. A push from my hoof emptied the content. I added a quick chop to her neck to make her unconscious right now, then rolled out of the bed. My ribs protested the actions in sharp pain, but now, adrenaline-fed, I was able to ignore it. Two short breaths, I pulled the apron from the doctor and draped it over my back, while recalling the route I was carried into the room. I walked out, trying to look relatively inconspicuous.

I walked through the medical ward undisturbed, passing the empty rooms and cases of equipment, then I pushed the exit door and stepped out. Not two steps later I heard a firm voice from behind.

"You are not a doctor. You are a patient. You cannot leave like this."

It was a royal guard, white a unicorn in armor stationed by the ward door.

"I'm a prisoner, am I not?

Locked in there, left to rot?"

"No, but... patients are not supposed to..."

And then suddenly from behind the door a shrill call sounded. "She's gone! Find her! Bring her back!"

I dashed, the apron flying off my back and draping itself over the face of the guard who rushed after me. I had to find Luna!

I tried to recall the layout of the castle, and guess connections between its wings, Luna's tower, the dining room, the gardens, the medical wing - I knew too little! I decided to try the long route and backtrack my way to Luna's tower through where I went. Down to the gardens first.

Two guards crossed their spears across my way to the stairway down. I jumped over the spears, feeling the broken bones grinding in my chest, sudden wave of pain dazing me. I screamed, landing on the stairs, my legs buckled under me and I rolled down. I tumbled down, each hit of the stairs causing another increase of agony in my chest, not to mention added bruises. At one point I felt a sharp pain in my foreleg, but there, my tumbling stopped. I stood up, wobbling on my legs, my right front leg protested violently but I limped to the exit. Through the gardens, to the central wing. Dazed, I limped on. Hedges, paths, turns. At last I stopped in front of the gate of the main wing. Somehow, nopony chased - until now.

Two guards. They looked at me with fear in their eyes.

Three others, pegasi, landed behind me.

"Come on, get her!" one of the two at the gate shouted out to the three.

"But it's her!"

"She's badly hurt! She won't..."

I leaped, knocking the guard's helmeted head with my hooves, and rushing inside. My front leg protested violently, and my ribs gave out a disturbing creak, but I steeled myself to keep running. Up the wide staircase I remembered descending after the dinner.

The pegasi guards caught up and blocked my way. They raised their front hooves and swung them in rapid kicks, forming a barrier of hooves that was sure to get me kicked bad if I continued, surely a riot control technique.

Too bad the technique was meant for flat terrain. Here, on the stairs, it was less than optimal.

I stood for a second, then pivoted on my front hooves. Three quick kicks of my hind legs to their exposed underbellies and they tumbled, shouting in pain - me too, all of my weight on the injured hoof momentarily. I ran.

Was it two floors or three? Luckily, on the second floor I noticed a familiar sculpture, and I turned into the corridor. I took a turn I hoped would cut on the travel to the tower, letting me skip the dining room, and yes, to my relief, I soon recognized a familiar corridor. Two more turns, another staircase and stumbling from fatigue, with my front leg throbbing bad, with sounds of chase hot on my back,I ran up the stairs. Two landings, and there, Luna's room. Two dark gray stallions in blue armors, with bat-like wings stood at the tall dark blue gate.

I stopped, my mane standing hight, trying to make them balk. They looked at me in surprise, making no motion to step in either direction, raising their eyebrows. I rushed ahead, attacking the door with my shoulder. I stumbled back as the pain in my ribcage exploded violently, but the door budged. And then, one of the guards pushed the door open for me.

Confused I stepped in.

The room was entirely dark, barely a stripe of purple on the gap between curtains of the balcony.

"Luna?!" I called out. "Are you here?

I need you, I fear!"

"She's out, on a meeting with Princess Celestia and some nobles." I heard from the door. Two slitted irises in shining eyes gazed at me from the doorway.

I felt sinking, all the pain suppressed so far rushing to me. No! I have to find her!

"But she requested to be informed..." voice of the other guard chimed in.

"Sure she did!" the guard from the door answered. "Lady Zecora, will you wait a moment? I'll bring her in a jiffy. She wanted to see you as soon as you regain consciousness."

I nodded, then allowed myself to collapse.

The guard ran through the room, to the balcony and out into the dusk, spreading the leathern wings.

Then I heard the stampede on the stairs. The door slammed shut. I heard muffled voices.

"Step aside!"

"No."

"She's inside!"

"So?"

"She was not supposed to leave the medical ward!"

"So?"

"There's thirty of us."

"So?"

"Move, you bat freak!"

"No."

"Then have it your way."

I heard sounds of fight erupt behind the door. It lasted a while. At last the sounds quieted out. The door opened. Many guards in golden armor stepped in.

I forced myself up, to make my stand.

They formed a circle around me.

I gasped, wobbling on my legs.

They rushed me.

I tried to fight. I bit, I kicked, I struggled.

There were too many, and they managed to twist my hurt front leg at an angle it was not supposed to bend. I felt my consciousness slipping from pain.

"Let her go."

Luna's voice. Oh sweet Luna's voice. Still, the legs holding me didn't budge.

And then I was released and fell to the floor, as a fury of bat wings and teeth fell onto my captors. The fight didn't last long though - even if the Luna's guard had more dedication and skill, he could not oppose so many. The commotion stopped. I felt hooves pinning my legs, including the broken one to the floor.

"I shall not repeat. Let her go." Luna's voice felt like ice razors in the air.

"Princess Luna, she was not supposed..."

I saw a bright light coming from where Luna's voice came before.

"Luna!" - the same whip-like voice of Celestia as before.

The light dimmed.

"Release her," Celestia spoke, in the usual, calm, gentle tone. The hooves lifted off my body and I raised my head.

"Sister," the voice of my love bore a shrill calm. "They hurt her badly. Look at that leg of hers. They assaulted my guard at the gate and invaded my sanctuary. They refused mine orders and took down guard who rushed to enforce them."

"Luna, they are still not used to... You must understand..."

"Then they shall have no such need. Zecora, please." the cold changed to warmth uttering my name. "Will thy hut welcome me?"

"You want live in my poor shed?

I will need a bigger bed." I grinned.

"Then, sister, my presence shall bother thy guard and nobility no longer. Zecora hath me welcomed warmer than all of Canterlot, and I find no safety in these walls, amongst tormentors of my chosen."

"Luna, please!" Celestia's voice suddenly trembled with fear.

"Am I the prisoner of Canterlot?"

"No, of course not! But Luna, I..."

"Thou art a guest most welcomed in Zecora's hut. Thou shalt leave thy guard at the forest borders though. We shall also establish royalties on all medicines developed."

"Wait, Luna. Another chance? Please?" I felt Celestia's voice break.

"I listen."

Celestia stood firmly, regaining her composure.

"A single batch of medicine against pale foot will not suffice to supply Equestria. Hereby, I, Princess Celestia decree. A task force shall be established. The solar guard present in this room currently shall be its core, with Esquire Zecora as their direct superior. Their task is to produce the medicine continuously, until relieved from this duty but no shorter than until ten working batches of the medicine are produced successfully. Their duty will include brewing, collecting the ingredients and personally testing - tasting the produced medicine."

"Umm, we're to make some drug?" the one who apparently was the superior of the group asked.

"Yes, that's it," Celestia said.

"Collect some herbs, brew something, how hard can it be?" I heard a mutter behind me.

"Zecora?" I heard Luna's question.

I raised my head.

"I would rather work alone,

than chance ponies turned to stone."

"I prefer all of the royal guard turned to stone for sure than a sliver of a chance of you meeting that fate."

I pondered this. I was in no condition to ponder anything deeply really, but still... I imagined Luna's grief in case she finds my petrified body. I shuddered. The pain of the image exceeded the pain of my broken ribs and my broken leg, by far.

"Yes, agree to this I must,

and the judgment is quite just.

But precautions let us take

Medicine we shall make.

But this duty is your own,

that no pony turns to stone."

"Then it is agreed, sister." Luna nodded to Celestia.

"Then it shall be so." Celestia's firm voice sounded, as she turned to her guards. "Esquire Zecora is your direct superior, and failure to follow her orders will be treated like desertion from active duty at wartime and punished accordingly."

"By me, in person," Luna confirmed.

"And now, sister, let us take Zecora back to the medical ward."

"I find no mirth in thy jest, sister."

"Luna, but she needs to..."

"...to assure her potion be right. Or willst thou decree her struggle thus far be in vain?"

I grinned to Luna. She smiled back to me.

"It is past sunset. The Everfree Forest is exceptionally dangerous now. Travel on hoof, or on wing would be unwise. I can send Zecora there. Will you join her on your own?"

"Yes, sis."

My world turned upside down, and then I lay in front of my hut. I heard a low growl. I groaned.