Embrace the darkness

"Can I look now, Dashie?" Twilight asked attempting to lift the blindfold Rainbow had placed over her eyes, only to have the Pegasus pull her hoof away.

"Not yet Sparkles, we're almost there." Twilight huffed and continued allowing herself to be guided by Rainbow to where ever she was taking her. Twilight just wished the runes would hurry up and finish healing, that way she could activate the rune of sight and she would be able to see even if she was blindfolded. Twilight felt the cobble stones of the streets turn to grass and Rainbow pulled her to a stop.

"And we're here!"

Twilight blinked in the sudden bright morning light as Rainbow tore the blindfold off revealing a blanket spread out on the shore of Ponyville lake covered with all her favourite foods. There were apple fritters, apple pies, two bottles of apple cider, and one candy apple. Twilight's stomach rumbled loudly as she took in all the food laid in front of her.

"Aren't you glad I convinced you to skip breakfast?" Rainbow asked sitting down on the blanket to dish out the food. Twilight joined her girlfriend tucking her tail between her legs to cushion her still sore marehood. Rainbow noticed, and her mouth dropped open.

"Don't tell me you marked your fun spot as well!" Twilight blushed and took a sip of her cider.

"Not that it's any of your business."

"Well actually it kinda is, especially as I was planing to end this picnic with something special for you."

"Just wait a couple more hours and you still can."

"I can spare a couple of hours." Rainbow said handing Twilight a plate of food.

Twilight had to admit there was nothing better than having a proper meal after living the past week on nothing more than coffee and noodles. She finished her plate in record time, even finishing before Rainbow, which was a feat in itself. Twilight held out her plate in her magical grasp.

"Is there anymore?"

"Damn Twilight, you must have been hungry. You can have the rest of mine."

"But that's your food!"

"Honestly Twilight you'd being doing me a favor, I've been eating more than I should lately."

Normally Twilight would argue further but right now she was really hungry, and she only felt a little guilty when she took the plate from Rainbow. By the time she was done eating, she had also finished her bottle of cider off, and now she was ready for a long nap. Yawning tiredly Twilight laid down by Rainbow's side and, the Pegasus delicately placed a wing over her Princess' sensitive body.

"Hey Rainbow Dash!"

Twilight was woken suddenly from her nap by Scootaloo's shout, and she looked over as the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Spike made their way over to their picnic.

"Hey Scoots," Rainbow greeted, "got any new tricks to show me."

"You bet!"

Twilight abandoned any thought of continuing her restful nap, and stood up stretching her limbs. "what are you four up to. I thought you were brainstorming ideas of earning your cutie marks."

"We did," Sweetie bell said, "we're going to be Cutie Mark life savers."

"Uh-huh, and who are you planning on saving from draining?"

"That's where Spike comes in." Applebloom said. "He's going to swim out into the lake and pretend to drown, then we're going to go out and save him."

"And exactly how long did it take for you to come up with that idea?"

"Five minutes." Scootaloo cut in. "Whoa what happened to you? Did you step on Rarity's cat or something?" Twilight was about to answer when Rainbow cut her off.

"So Scootaloo, about those sweet moves you were going to show me."

"Maybe Later Rainbow. Right now I got a cutie mark to earn." With that Scootaloo threw Spike in the middle of the lake with instructions to start drowning, and the three fillies began swimming out to him.

"When will they ever learn?"

"They're just fillies," Rainbow pointed out, "they'll get smarter when they get older."

"I hope so or Equestria is going to be in a lot of trouble."

"Let's leave them to their fun." Rainbow suggested and began packing up the picnic. Twilight helped by levitating the saddlebags over and holding them open for Rainbow Dash to put everything in. Once they were done they left the lakes, and waved goodbye to the Cutie Mark Crusaders struggling on the shore as they tried to untangle themselves from a length of rope. Twilight wrapped a wing over Rainbow Dash pulling her close to protect her from the cold Autumn air that began blowing in from the Everfree Forest.

"Just once, I'd like a winter where I don't have to deal with snow clouds blowing in from the Everfree Forest."

"Don't worry Dashie," Twilight said nuzzling the Pegasus' cheek, "I can help you clear up the clouds."

"Are you sure a delicate princess like yourself can perform weather duties?"

Twilight hit Rainbow over the head with her wing before pulling her closer once more. Rainbow always loved the feeling of having a wing wrapped around her. When she was a filly she would often go under her parent's wings whenever she was upset, or frightened of something. It gave her a sense of warmth, and security, her own little haven where she could retreat to, where nothing could harm her. Even to this day she continued loving that feeling. But to Twilight's continued annoyance, Rainbow's ego would never let her be seen as somepony who needed protecting, but as somepony who protected. So when they came within view of Ponyville theirs wings switched places and they walked up to Applejack's stall in the Ponyville market place.

"Howdy, love birds, what can ah do for ya? Whoa! Twilight what happened to you."

"Don't worry I'm completely fine, I'm just trying out some new type of magic."

"Well ah can see that. You're glowin'." Twilight looked over her body and sure enough the runes were glowing with dark electric blue light.

"It's about time." Twilight muttered, and began removing her bandages.

"What the hay kinda magic are ya playing with Twi?"

"It's rune magic." The Alicorn explained, "the runes are kind of like batteries that can store a lot of magical power, when accessed that power can only do what the rune says. But Star Swirl the Bearded found a way to combine a series of runes in a specific pattern so they form one entire rune, that can store an infinite amount of magic which can than be used to make my spells more powerful and effective."

"So can non-magical ponies use runes?"

"They can. But they'd need to be recharged by a unicorn once you've used their powers up."

"Do ya have any runes that can make ya stronger, and see in the dark. That'd sure be handy once winter comes."

"This one, and these ones." Twilight said pointing to a rune on her shoulder, and the runes beside her eyes. Rainbow pointed to the particular complicated runes covering her wings.

"What about those ones? Do they make you fly superfast or something? Because I could use a real challenge when racing."

"No Rainbow, that's a phoenix rune."

"What's it do?"

"Maybe I'll show you when we're clearing up the clouds."

"They're putting you on weather duties now?"

"No, I told Rainbow I'd help her clear up the clouds that came in from the Everfree Forest."

"Really, A delicate Princess like you?" Applejack asked, and both she and Rainbow burst out laughing. Twilight glared at them both, before turning around to walk away.

"Just for that I won't tell you how amazingly perfect your food was on our picnic date."

"You're welcome!" Applejack called out to the retreating couple.

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Back at the library, Twilight was in her bedroom standing in front of the full length mirror studying the glowing runes covering her body. The pattern of glowing runes was actually extremely beautiful Rainbow realized, especially the way the dark electric blue light  contrasted with her lover's violet fur.

"So can you switch the glowing off, or is it permanent?"

"Don't know." Twilight said, sitting down next to Rainbow, who began tracing a hoof over the runes following their spiraling pattern all across the Alicorn's body. "I just read Star Swirl's book which only explained how to create them, it didn't say anything about this. But I have a theory that it's because they're charging themselves with my magic, once their fully activated the runes should stop glowing."

Rainbow pulled her girlfriend closer and ran her hoof over the runes covering Twilight's chest.

"So which one of these runes were you talking about when you said I would like one of them." Twilight grabbed Rainbow's hoof and slowly guided it down past her waist so it stopped directly over her rune of pleasure.

"That one." Twilight gasped when electric tingles from the rune ran through her body, as Rainbow slowly began massaging her. Rainbow bought her now soaked hoof to her mouth and began licking Twilight's juices off it.

"You're right, this is definitely my favourite. What's it called?"

"The rune of pleasure." Twilight whispered. Rainbow laid back, pulling Twilight on top of her, and opened her legs.

"Just how much pleasure does it give?"

"Let's find out." Twilight whispered kissing Rainbow, running her tongue across her lover's lips before slipping her tongue into her mouth, moaning as she tasted a bit of herself in Rainbow's mouth. Rainbow held Twilight tightly before flipping over to reverse their positions. "I don't think so Dashie. You were on top last time." Twilight's horn glowed and Rainbow was flipped over onto her back. Before she could do anything Twilight's magic enveloped her limbs and kept them pinned to the bed. "Just lay back and enjoy the ride." Twilight locked their lips together once more, before positioning the glowing rune of pleasure over Rainbow's own marehood and softly lowered herself down. As soon as they connected, they both gasped as a thousand sensations beyond words coursed through their warm wet spots of pleasure.

"It's....."

"Amazing." Twilight said finishing her soulmate's sentence, and began rubbing their marehood's together sending more undescribable sensations through their bodies. Rainbow tried to meet Twilight's thrusts with her own, but the Alicorn's magic kept her immobile, and she could only squirm underneath her lover.

A few short seconds later, Twilight cried out and began thrusting harder more deeper, as the pleasure of the most intense orgasm in her life ran through her body. She collapsed onto Rainbow's chest releasing her magic, and the Pegasus held Twilight's hips in position, as she fell into a realm of orgasmic bliss she didn't even know existed. Twilight kissed her lover deeply to muffle Rainbow's screams, as her juices soon joined Twilight's in covering the sheets. Rainbow fell back a look of absolute bliss covering her face.

"How was that even possible." Rainbow gasped as she tried to catch her breath.

"It's quite simple," Twilight said rolling off of Rainbow's chest, a string of their juices still keeping them connected. "The rune of pleasure connects us together in such a way that your pleasure becomes mine, and mine yours. The more we love each other, the more intense the pleasure."

"No kidding." Rainbow said still breathing heavily, "even after a sonic rainboom I'm not this tired. I don't think I'll be walking for a week." The Alicorn was about to say something, but Rainbow kissed her softly on the lips before she got the chance, and began moving downwards leaving a trail of kisses and nips in her mouth's wake before she finally reached her real prize.

"Rainbow what are doing?" Twilight moaned as the Pegasus began licking her inner thighs and around her marehood, but never actually licking the place Twilight was desperate to be licked.

"Getting you clean for the party Pinkie is throwing Rarity to celebrate her new winter designs."

"Wh...ahhhh.....What party are you tal...uuhhhh....about?"

"Could you repeat the question please?"

"Rainbow Dash! stop teasing me or you'll be wearing my chastity spell for a month."

"Yes your majesty."

"Keep it up Dashie, and I'll be bringing out the riding crop and bridle."

If there was one thing Rainbow hated more than not being able to cum, it was the riding crop. Immediately she sealed her mouth on Twilight's mound and began thrusting her tongue into the center of her lover's sweet nectar. Rainbow gasped as she felt the sensation of somepony else eating her as well. But she knew Twilight was the only one in the room with her, so that could only mean... Rainbow flicked her tongue over Twilight's clit, and moaned as she felt the same sensations. Twilight had said they would share each other's pleasure's, but Rainbow didn't imagine it would be in this way. This just become twenty percent more awesome. Rainbow began thrusting her tongue faster into Twilight's marehood, feeling the same sensations as though she was eating herself.

"Dashie, not so fast....I'm going to..." The rest of Twilight's sentence was cut of by a loud gasp as she held the back of Rainbow's head thrusting herself more deeply into the pegasus' mouth as she began cumming. Rainbow tried to swallow as much of her lover's sweet  juice as possible, but she was too busy moaning as she felt herself cum at the same time. As the last waves of pleasure left them they both fell back to the bed basking in their after glow. "I'm thinking a shower would be more productive, don't you?"

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Once the two lovers had cleaned themselves up and Twilight had placed the sheets in the wash to be cleaned later, they made their way over to Rarity's boutique and Twilight felt a little self conscious as ponies stopped and stared at her.

"You'd think they've never seen anything out of the ordinary." Twilight muttered after one stallion had run into a post as he openly gawped at her.

"Don't worry Twi, they're just amazed at how beautiful you look."

"Maybe I should ask Rarity for some kind of cloak or something to hide my runes."

They stopped outside the unicorn's door and Rainbow gave it a quick. They heard the sound of hoofs approaching the door, and Rainbow kissed Twilight fiercely on the lips letting go just as the door opened.

"Rainbow Twilight how good of you to.....Twilight! What on earth happened to you."

"Nothing happened to me," Twilight muttered, getting tired of everpony asking that question. "It's just some new magic I'm practicing."

"So Rarity," Rainbow said getting the unicorn's attention off Twilight, "you gonna let us in, or are we just going to stand here all day?"

"Of course darling, how rude of me. Please come won't you." Rarity stepped aside holding the door open allowing them to walk inside. Low party music was playing, and the whole place was covered in streamers and balloons. Twilight also noted the table filled with food was as far away from the mannequins wearing Rarity's new range of winter clothes.

"Twilight!" Pinkie screamed dropping the balloons she was carrying before pulling the Alicorn into a tight hug, "it's been so long since I've seen you I've missed you so much and you're all pretty and glowy now how did that happen?"

"Need air." Twilight managed to gasp out.

"Of course you need air you wouldn't be able to breathe without air." Pinkie said obliviously unaware.

"Pinkie pie darling, I think Twilight is saying you're hugging her just a bit too tight."

"Oh sorry." Pinkie said releasing her hold on Twilight, "it's just I've missed you so much!" Thankfully Rainbow pulled the party pony out of hugging range just as Pinkie was about to grab her again.

"Where's Fluttershy?" Twilight asked not seeing the timid pony anywhere.

"Ah think Fluttershy had ta stay home to take care of some sick animals," Applejack said walking over with a plate of food.

"Applejack!" Rarity yelled appalled "I must insist you' to remain inside the white lines I've drawn around the food table. I cannot risk a single stain getting on my clothes!" Applejack rolled her eyes but did as the unicorn asked.

"So Rarity, I was wandering if you have some kind of cloak I can wear to hide my runes."

"Why on earth would you want to hide these beautiful things?' Rarity asked running a hoof enviously over one of the runes, "you look absolutely amazing. I don't suppose if you've got the time you might be able to do me?"

"Hey!" Rainbow said standing in front of Twilight, "back off missy, I'm the only she's doing."

"Rainbow Dash, get your mind out of the gutter, you know very well that's not what I meant."

"Do you have a cloak I can use or not?" Twilight asked impatiently.

"Yes of course darling just wait right here."

"So Twilight, want to check these clothes?" Rainbow asked walking over to the mannequins.

"Ah didn't know you were into fashion Dashie." Applejack teased walking over to them.

"I'm not, I was thinking of buying something for my girlfriend, if that's okay with you."

"Honestly can't you two go a day without bugging each other. It would certainly be a nice change." They both mumbled an apology and the three of them began checking out the clothes. The clothes were beautiful and elegant without being too over the top and one particular mannequin caught Twilight's eye. But before she could study it further, Rarity walked back in carrying several packages.

"As you all know, winter is next week so I've decided to give you all a little something to see you through the cold days ahead." Rarity gave each pony a parcel which contained a blanket and a scarf the same color as the ponies themselves and adorned with their cutie marks. "But I made something more special for my favourite couple." Rarity said handing them a single larger present. Twilight used her magic to pull the paper off and pull out what the items inside.

One was a long scarf cyan blue on one half and violet on the other, Twilight's cutie mark was on the blue side, and Rainbow's on the violet side. The other item was a double blanket also half blue, half violet, with a large depiction of their cuties marks in the opposite color.

"Rarity, they're amazing. Thank you so much."

"It's quite alright darling. I took a chance with the designs, but I think it sends a clear message you two belong to each other. Here let me help you with that." Rarity took the scarf from Twilight who had somehow managed to tangle it up, and wrapped the blue end around the Alicorn's neck, and the purple end around Rainbow's neck, pulling them close together. "There perfect. Oh I also got this for you Twilight." Rarity said handing her a black cloak.

"Thank you Rarity," Twilight took the cloak from the unicorn and placed it over her back tying it place around her neck. Some of the runes on her face and hooves still showed, but at least now she wasn't so noticeable. As the part progressed Twilight talked with each of her friends catching up on what had been going on with them for the past week she had recused herself in the library.

"....Then when she opened the present a banana and whipped cream pie hit her in the face!" Pinkie said laughing loudly as she recalled the latest prank she had pulled on Rainbow.

"You forgot to tell her about how I then placed the pie in your bed." Rainbow said joining them.

"Oh, that reminds me about the time I smashed a cupcake in your face."

"What are you talking about Pinkie? You never smashed a cupca..." The pegasus was cut off as Pinkie pulled said desert from her mane and smashed it in Rainbow's face.

"Yes I did, and the expression on your face was priceless." Rainbow growled but before she could retaliate a loud knocking came from the door.

"That's odd, I don't remember inviting anypony else. Unless fluttershy decided to come after all." Rarity answered the door, and it was indeed a pegasus but not the one she was expecting.

"Help you with something, darling?"

"Is Rainbow Dash here? She's needed to help clear the clouds blowing in from the Everfree Forest."

"Rainbow Dash Darling could you come here please? There's sompony here for you."

"Let me guess." Rainbow dash asked the pegasus, "I'm needed to help deal with the clouds blowing in from the Everfree Forest." The Pegasus nodded and Rainbow sighed. "Sorry Rarity to leave like this but duty calls.

"It's quite alright darling, just do be careful, it can get awfully cold out there."

"Twilight I'll be home later on tonight in time for dinner. Have a fire ready for me, and make some soup. I'm probably going to catch a cold."

"I'm coming with you." Twilight said walking up to Rainbow, "I told you I'd help you with containing the clouds and I intend to do just that."

"No offence Twilight, but you don't have any experience in cloud busting, and for this kind of job only fully qualified weather ponies are allowed to help. Plus I need you at the library so I know you're safe, otherwise I'll be concentrating on you rather than the job."

"Fine." Twilight muttered.

"Don't worry babe I'll be back before you know it." Rainbow said flying out the door, towards the Everfree Forest. The air was noticeably colder and already she could see snow falling from the mass of dark clouds ahead. "How soon before it reaches Ponyville." Rainbow asked the Pegaus.

"We're giving it an estimated time of two hours, an hour if the wind changes."

"Well go back to Ponyville and tell everypony to prepare as best they can in case we can't contain it."

The Pegasus saluted and flew back the way she had come. But Rainbow knew they weren't going to be able to contain it no matter how much they tried, but she was determined to give Ponyville as much time as possible to prepare before it was covered in snow. Joining the rest of the pegasus ponies working their hardest to break up the storm, Rainbow flew through the freezing cold clouds as fast as she could, breaking as many as possible with her signature ten seconds move. But her efforts barely put a dent in the huge monster. Shivering in the cold wind and covered in snow, Rainbow flew around telling the other pegasus to concentrate all their efforts on the section closest to Ponyville. But even with all the strength of the pegasus combined in one place the huge snow storm made steady progress towards ponyville.

"We can't contain this Rainbow!" One of the Pegasus screamed over the howling wind.

"Maybe not, but we need to delay it long enough for Ponyville to prepare." Just then the Pegasus she had sent to warn Ponyville returned looking exhausted.

"Is everypony safe?" Rainbow yelled. The pegasus nodded and Rainbow went through her weather team telling them to get back to Cloudsdale. Only after making sure everypony was safe did Rainbow make her own way back to Ponyville. By then the conditions had worsened considerably, and as she flew to her home a stray gust of strong wind slammed into her causing her to spin out of control. And the last thing Rainbow saw was the ground rushing up to meet her, and the last thing she felt was her body breaking before darkness claimed her mind.

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Inside the library Twilight was pacing with ever increasing worry. It had been almost three hours since the Pegasus had come back to warn everyone to prepare for a blizzard, and since then the conditions had worsened by the minute and there was still no sign of Rainbow Dash. “I’m worried Spike.” Twilight told the dragon sitting in the blazing fire to keep warm, “Rainbow should have been back by now, I think something happened to her.”

“You know how Rainbow is, she won’t stop until she’s tried her absolute hardest to break up the storm.”

“Look outside Spike. You honestly think the weather team are out there now trying to break that storm up, only a fool would be trying such a thing. Plus Rainbow said she would be back this evening. I’m going out to look for her.”

“What? You can’t it’s too dangerous out there you’ll die.”

“Spike Rainbow is still out there hurt or worse, I’m not just going to stay here and do nothing, I’m going to find her.”

“But you’ll freeze to death if go out there.”

“Spike I need you to cover me in dragon flames.” Twilight said looking determined.

“Why Twilight, what are you doing?”

“The Lost Rune is still not charged sufficiently enough for me to survive out there. Your dragon flames will contain enough power for me to activate the phoenix rune. It’s the only chance I have out there.”

“But what if it doesn’t work?”

“Spike! It will work. It has to work. Now just do it!”

Spike took a deep breath and Twilight braced herself as green flames erupted from the dragon’s mouth. The flames enveloped the Alicorn but Instead of the searing heat she was expecting, she only felt a river of icy coldness running through her veins as the runes collected the magic from Spike’s fire and threw it in a constant loop around her body. The green flames died down and Spike was panting as though he had run a marathon.

“Did it work, was it enough.”

“It was plenty Spike, now get some rest.”

Before walking out the door, Twilight focused every ounce of magic the Lost Rune possessed onto the phoenix rune carved into her wings. The rest of the runes on her body gradually stopped glowing, and the phoenix rune grew brighter and brighter, Twilight horn glowed and she opened her natural resource of magic to mix in with the rune as well. When she was ready, she stepped out the door and flew into the massive blizzard releasing the power of the phoenix rune as she flew. Bright flames erupted from her wings and spread to the rest of her body turning her mane and tail into long streams of fire, and her fur bright orange. Twilight flew higher into the air and began flying through the thick snow clouds towards the Everfree Forest.

Seeing no sign of her Rainbow Dash anywhere, Twilight screamed in frustration and dove towards the ground. If Rainbow was in the air then there was no way she would be able to miss the bright flames  pouring from the Alicorn, and she would have investigated by now. Which could only mean Rainbow was on the ground either hurt or worse. There! Twilight spotted a blue shimmer on through the expanse of white and flew towards it, desperation lending her speed. It was Rainbow Dash half covered in snow her body twisted in an unnatural way. Despite the flames covering her, Twilight felt numb and cold as ice as she moved closer to her lover’s still body. She extinguished the flames on her front hoofs so she could pull Rainbow’s body from the snow.

The pegasus’s body was covered in blood from the multiple bones sticking out from her skin, and her eyes were open but not seeing anything. Twilight screamed and extinguished the flames so she could hold her lover’s body close to her, not caring if she died out here, at least then she’d be with her Rainbow Dash. Huge sobs racked the Alicorn’s body and her tears turned to ice as they ran down her face.

“I’m so sorry Dashie, I should have been there for you.. You didn’t deserve to die cold and alone.”

Twilight screamed once more, hatred for the world flooding through her body, turning her heart to ice, and her sorrow to anger. Twilight launched herself into the air flames once more covered her body, but she wasn’t using them for protection against the cold, she was using them to destroy the storm that had stolen her lover away from her. Flaming tears fell from her eyes, as she climbed higher and higher only stopping when she had reached the heart of the storm. Screaming in pain and fury Twilight thrust her wings forward sending a massive torrent of flames through the clouds evaporating every cloud within a mile radius.

Twilight continued screaming and sent another massive torrent of flames from her wings. Nothing of this storm was going to survive her fury, including the forest that had formed the storm that had taken her lover away. Twilight began directing the flames, and they began swirling slowly around her forming a sky of fire and fury, with Twilight at its center. No! Destroying the forest would achieve nothing, instead she should be finding a way to bring Rainbow back. Twilight deactivated the phoenix rune and the sky of flames disappeared along with the flames covering her body. She flew back to Rainbow’s body and pulled it close to her.

“I’m going to make you better Dashie, I can still be yours forever.”

Twilight didn’t know how she was going to bring her lover back, only that she had to try. Standing up and moving away from the body, Twilight focused on activating the Lost Rune, and soon all the runes on her body began glowing. Star Swirl’s notes explained that the Lost Rune didn’t form a specific spell, so by focusing hard enough the wearer could get it to do whatever they wanted. And right now all she wanted was her Pegasus back. Taking a deep breath and clearing her mind of all thoughts other than memories of Rainbow Dash alive and well, Twilight opened her natural magic up to the rune and gasped as icy cold power flowed through her body, filling her every fibre and being with power. Twilight placed a hoof on Rainbow’s body and began pouring her magic through her lover’s body.

“Alive and well.” Twilight whispered, “alive and well. Alive and well. Alive and well.”

Even when she had used the last of the power stored within the Lost Rune, Twilight only stopped her mantra when exhaustion claimed her mind and body sending her into a deep sleep.