Eastern Silver Golden Sun

Chapters

Starts With A Spark
Tick-ticking Away
Heart to Heart
Escalation
Storm Clouds on the Horizon
Guttering in the Wind
Memories
Old/New Faces

Starts With A Spark

Once Hazuki and Yin had reached the relative safety of their rooms, Yin dropped her façade and leaned heavily on the kirin, her breath coming out in raspy gasps. Hurriedly helping her friend over to the closest bed, Hazuki eased Yin’s prone form across the comforter and rushed to grab a small pouch that was cleverly hidden in the folds of Yin’s cloak.
“You waited too long again,” she hissed half in anger and half out of worry. Her magic fumbled with a small elongated object in it before pulling it free of its confines, revealing a small crude pipe. Carefully, she levitated a pinch of cured flower petals out of the same pouch. Lightly crumbling them into the bowl of the pipe, she lit it with her magic and bade Yin to inhale. Weakly, Yin closed her lips around the mouthpiece of the pipe before carefully, deeply inhaling. Sighing after a count of four, she repeated to process twice more before releasing the pipe from her mouth.

“Public…” she wheezed, easing back down on the bed tiredly with a light cough.

“That’s no excuse,” Hazuki admonished gently as she disposed of the ashes in the pipe by tapping them out into the fireplace. Placing the makeshift pipe back in the pouch and returning it to its hiding place, she turned a sad expression toward Yin’s resting figure. “You know what’ll happen if you don’t take care of it.” She murmured forlornly, walking over to nuzzle Yin gently.

“I do,” Yin admitted with a drained sigh, voice laden with defeat. “But maybe I’m tired of fighting,” she whispered. First panicked alarm, then woeful comprehension dawned in Hazuki’s eyes.

“But you’ve come this far,” she mumbled miserably as she buried her face in Yin’s mane to hide her tears.

“Yes,” Yin breathed resolutely, “I’ve delivered my message. And I’ve seen her once more. She found happiness without me, Hazuki. She can find it again when I leave.”

“I thought she was your sole reason for enduring,” Hazuki countered, not removing her face from Yin’s soft silvery curls.

"You met her daughters,” Yin mumbled as she closed her eyes. “She was able to move on. It is only fair I let her keep that-”

“Fair?!” Hazuki barked irately, lifting her face to look at Yin’s resentfully. “Fair is letting her choose! You have a choice, why can’t she?”

“She already let go Hazuki,” Yin replied crossly. “Now I can choose to release my hold, or continue gripping onto something that may well be dead.”

“You don’t know for sure,” Hazuki agued. "You can be so stubborn sometimes." Huffing, her companion just lay still. As the kirin turned to straighten her mane with a brush suspended in a coppery glow, Yinfâng rolled her eyes and rose from the bed with stiff limbs--her ‘sessions’ always left her uncomfortably lethargic--just as a knock sounded at their door.

“Who is it, Yin?” Hazuki asked distractedly, still trying to tame her mane. Stupid mess was so fine, it tangled at the drop of a hat!

“Just a staff member, I think,” Yin replied as she cracked a yawn. “I’ll answer the door.” Sauntering over to the impressive set of double doors that entered their shared rooms, Yin opened them just wide enough to permit ranged vision without allowing a pony a look inside their quarters. “Yes?” she inquired politely. The stallion at her door was shuffling nervously with a platter balanced precariously on his haunches.
“Erm, I have the food you requested delivered to your room, miss…?” he mumbled, nervous at having to look slightly upwards to meet her predatory eyes.
“Ah yes. Thank you for delivering it so quickly,” she demurred. Grasping the platter he proffered with a single claw she thanked him politely while withdrawing to close the door. As he coughed for her attention though, she stopped. “Is there something else I can help you with…?” Yin asked, baffled at his behavior.
“I was, ah, also asked to give you this,” he explained, extending a bright pink envelope he had quickly dug out of his tailored butler's jacket. “You’re reply?” he asked as he gestured toward the folded piece of paper, the letters RSVP written in scripted letters adorning the front.
“A moment…” Yin murmured, setting the domed tray down and sitting to open the envelope. In flowing script it revealed both she and Lady Hazuki were cordially invited to a tea party in place of dinner.
“What does it say?” Hazuki asked as she hovered over Yin’s shoulder to read it.
“Do you want to go?” Yin queried, offering the paper to be read.
“I’ll go if you do,” Hazuki grinned, challenge in her bright russet eyes.
“Alright,” Yin sighed, turning back to the butler outside the door. “We accept, sir.” She answered as he nodded with approval.
“Excellent. Somepony will be sent to lead you to the appropriate room. I bid you both a good day.” Bowing politely, he turned and trotted away with his nose in the air.
“I still don’t get how ponies walk around like that. They can’t even use chi.” Hazuki chuckled when she heard Yin mutter to herself as she closed the door. The kirin grabbed a book off the top of the pile Yin brought back from her library visit earlier, deciding to make the most of her afternoon. It was going to be a long day.

__ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . __

“Seems rather quiet,” Yinfâng commented as they trailed after a guard down a series of hallways.

“Oh, I’m sure the bulk of the staff is busy eating, it is dinner time after all.” Lady Hazuki dismissed with a slight toss of her head.

“I suppose…” Yin trailed off, not as certain as Hazuki seemed to be.

“Here we are your Grace; milady,” the guard gestured waving toward a modest set of double doors. Yin approached the doors, but tensed faintly before she moved to open them.

“Well, here goes nothing,” Yin muttered as she grimaced a little to herself. Hazuki observed the bunching of muscles across Yin's back, a sign of tension she had picked up from their travels. She knew Yin wasn't overly fond of large gatherings, and felt slightly guilty for using the girl's unconscious weakness toward challenges to get her in an uncomfortable environment. Still, an intervention of some kind was needed. Hazuki refused to sit idly by while Yin just gave up on her own happiness.

“SURPRISE!” A host of ponies shouted gleefully, with a bouncy pink pony at the forefront. She sprung forward in a shower of confetti to greet the two Qilinese visitors as they entered the small ballroom decorated for a party.

“So were you surprised? I bet you were! It's a 'Surprise, this isn't a boring stuffy noble-pants party like you thought' Party! That one is next week, I think. But shh! Don't tell anypony!” Pinkie giggled happily, bouncing with with barely repressed excitement. Yin was a statue, eyes wide and ears pinned back from the verbal and visual assault.

“Yes, we were very surprised, Pinkamena. Your invitation hinted at something a bit more... formal.” Hazuki asked as she smiled and glanced around the room.

“Oh, you can just call me Pinkie!” the party pony smiled. “Well after I met you and Yinfâng this afternoon, I thought, ‘I need to throw them a ‘Welcome to Equestria’ party'! But when I asked Princess Celestia about it, she told me there are special parties she puts on for foreign dignitaries. I kinda figured you'd be expecting that, so then I thought, ‘well how about a ‘Yay new friends from Qiling’ Party, and Princess Celestia said that would be a wonderful idea. I even made you some special Qilinese cupcakes!” She chattered excitedly as she showed them to the food table. “Well I gotta go check on the other guests, but I’ll come visit with you again later!” Bouncing away before either guest could get a word in edge-wise, they both just looked at each other bemusedly and shrugged. As they perused the snacks, Princess Celestia chose that moment to walk over and offer her own greetings.

“I hope you are finding the festivities to your liking. I’m not certain either of you are used to these sorts of parties, they do tend to get rather lively. I hope you don’t mind too much,” she smiled a tad uncertainly. She still had some lingering misgivings over their last encounter.

“I’m certain we’ll enjoy ourselves, Celestia. This was very thoughtful of Pinkie Pie.” Lady Hazuki smiled cheerfully. “Where did she find all these ponies?” the kirin wondered out loud as she looked around the room. Most of the guests seemed to consist of castle staff, as a few were still in uniform. She might have to speak to Celestia later about her questionable choice in maid outfit.

“I honestly don’t know, Pinkie seems to know more ponies than I do. But that’s the Element of Laughter for you, friendly with everypony and always ready to celebrate something. Try those cupcakes, I think you’ll like them,” Celestia pointed at a plate of green tinted cupcakes with a reddish frosting adorning the top. “They’re green tea flavored with azuki frosting. I know that’s your favorite.” She smiled at Yin, hoping she would like them. Grinning in delight, Yin grasped one delicately in her claws and took a bite.

“Mmm, they’re delicious Tia,” she moaned happily at she took another bite. “Pinkie is quite the skilled baker, I will have to thank her for these later.” Grinning joyfully, Celestia hid her relief at hearing Yin use her nickname with casual humor.

“There’s also some brewed green tea in a bowl over there. It is slightly sweetened though, so be careful. I don’t think Pinkie Pie can make anything without putting sugar in it,” she smirked ruefully. “I had to talk her down from the amount she was originally planning on putting in it after she tasted it without.” Chuckling lightly, the three of them fell into some easy conversation as they gravitated toward a place less trafficked, plates of food trailing along in golden and henna tinted auras. They ended up in a slightly out of the way corner, where they found a butter-yellow pegasus trying to shrink into the floor.

“Hello Fluttershy,” Celestia greeted with gentle warmth. “How are you finding the party?”

“Oh, well, it’s alright,” the shy pegasus offered a timid smile, as she tried to hide behind her mane.

“It certainly is boisterous, isn’t it? I’ve never been to a party like this before. I usually only hear decibels this high in nightclubs.” Yin confided, sitting a comfortable distance from the mare.

“Are parties different in Qiling?” Fluttershy asked curiously.

“Oh yes. They are usually stiff, quiet, dignified affairs. Everyone ends up in little groups where they might share a few drinks and talk quietly amongst themselves. If there is music it is low and soothing, and it is usually held someplace next to a garden where one might walk in silent contemplation. Perhaps hold small on-the-spot poetry competitions. Nothing like this,” she gestured toward the dance floor where ponies were busting a move to the cheerful beat of the music, or playing various games set in the corners.

“Oh, that sound wonderful,” Fluttershy beamed. “Are there any animals in the gardens there?” she asked as she perked up with curiosity. Sensing her friend would be comfortable here, Hazuki nudged Celestia and motioned with her head to follow her. The two slipped away as the chimera and pegasus chatted amicably, though the princess kept one ear cocked in their direction.

“-ight be a few song birds, and probably some mice, but generally they are kept very neat so a body might not stumble into a hole or step in something they’d rather not,” Yin smiled jokingly. “Very few kirin actually keep many animals at their estates, besides the odd bird here or there. Most can’t be bothered with looking after them.” The chimera explained.

“Oh, I see. Still, that kind of party is more my speed,” the mare confessed wistfully.

“Did someone say ‘speed’?” a sky blue pegasus interrupted, fluttering down from somewhere near the ceiling. “Cuz’ speed’s my thing,” she boasted as she tapped a hoof to her chest.

“Oh, hi Rainbow Dash! We were just talking about Qilinese parties,” Fluttershy explained as she smiled at the rainbow-maned mare in greeting. “They’re apparently a lot quieter than ours usually are,” she explained.

“Eh, that sounds kinda lame,” the blue pegasus scoffed as she waved a hoof dismissively.

“They do get rather ostentatious,” Yin agreed. “They rarely have food, and you have to drink if someone offers but don’t ever let on that you’re tipsy; it’s disgraceful,” she snorted while rolling her eyes. "I say the strangest things when drunk, but I say them with perfect articulation now. The pompous gits haven't seemed to catch on yet." Grinning, Rainbow lightly punched her on the shoulder acceptingly.

“You’re alright,” she said approvingly. “We should hang out sometime,” she invited. “Have you ever heard of the Wonderbolts?”

“Oh Rainbow, you and the ‘Bolts,” A new voice interjected.
Ear still trained on the trio, Celestia smiled to glimpse Twilight and the rest of her friends-sans a pink earth pony- walking over to join them. “You need to get a new hobby,” Dawn snarked. “if you want, I know some great S&M clubs-”

“Dawn!” Twilight hissed. “Not in front of Yinfâng, you’ll embarrass us both!” she reprimanded, blushing a little in discomfort. “Sorry, she’s always like this,” Twilight apologized, bowing her head slightly.

“I take it you’re the blunt, sarcastic one of the group,” Yin deadpanned, earning a smirk from the earth pony.

“Got that right. Seems I've a bit of a kindred spirit here, eh? Maybe we should-” she grinned suggestively before Applejack cut her off.

“Stop right there, sugarcube,” she warned, stuffing a hoof in Dawn’s mouth. “Don’t hit on th’ Princess’ guest, it’s not polite.” Pinkie chose this moment to bounce over and join the rest of them.

“So how were the Qilinese cupcakes I made? Didja like them?” she asked hopefully. “Yes, they were wonderful, thank you. Where did you get the ingredients?” Yin asked, gracing the excitable mare with a grateful smile.

“When I asked Princess Celestia what your favorite sweets were, she explained what mochi were and how they were made. I didn’t know how to make those, but they gave me a neat idea for a cupcake! I found a specialty store where I got the beans, and the Princess let me use her own stock of green tea. I’m so glad you liked them!” Pinkie bounced a little in joy before she settled down with everyone else.
Looking at the group from across the room, Princess Celestia grinned, relieved to see her old friend getting along with the Elements and her daughters. Turning back to Hazuki, she sipped her tea before ‘biting the blade’, as it were, and asked her the question that had been burning in the back of her mind all day.

“You and Yin seem rather…close,” Celestia probed, her expression a mask of indifference. The kirin was quick to riposte.

“My thoughts exactly. Don't think I did not notice what went on between you two in the throne room,” Lady Hazuki remarked, her expression a mirror of her companion's as she sipped her tea. “You two seemed rather familiar for a royal and vassal, who had only been acquainted for a year or two I might add. How do you feel about her?” the Kirin questioned seriously, pinning Celestia with a poignant stare that brooked no avoidance. The sun princess fought to stifle a gulp of nervousness. Touché.

“I… care for her a great deal. There were… strong feelings between us back then. I had given up, after eighty years… but now she’s back. I just want to know if I have a chance,” Celestia admitted, her ears flat with dejection.

“There are no romantic feelings between us, if that is what you are wondering,” Hazuki assured before resting a hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “But she is under the impression you have moved on. I told her not to jump to conclusions…” Hazuki shook her head ruefully as Celestia raised her head, eyes brimming with hope. “Be careful with her, Celestia. That poor girl has been badly used and needs a healing touch.” She cautioned, gazing sorrowfully over at the merrily chatting group across the room. Wanting to ask but knowing it was not her place, the sun princess instead elected to observe from afar, her sharp hearing tuning in once again to the group of mares surrounding the mysterious chimera.

“Oh darling, I simply have to ask,” the purple-maned unicorn asked with a toss of her head. “This may come a bit out of left field, but did you happen to bring any garments made of that fabulous silk with you? I’m just dying to get a good look at it.” She exclaimed, giving Yin a winning smile.
"I’m afraid not. When Hazuki-sama and I left, we could only carry essentials with us," Yin explained carefully, curious as to why she wanted to know.
“Oh, what a shame! I have always wanted to work with Qilinese silk, it simply shimmers marvelously!” Rarity swooned dramatically. “Either way, I would love to make a dress for you darling. I never get to work with some one of your stature and color. Pale blue or violet with black trimming would look absolutely smashing on you!”

“Hay, no way you’re getting my friend into a dress. She’s too cool for frilly stuff!” Rainbow exclaimed, pointing a hoof accusingly at Rarity.

“Fashion is always in, Rainbow,” Rarity huffed with a disdainful toss of her coiffed mane.

“Um, not to interrupt or anythin’,” Applejack interjected with a nervous shuffle, “but I gotta get somethin’ off ma chest. I don’ mean to be rude, miz Yin, but it’s been botherin’ me all day. What exactly are ya?” She asked. Celestia saw the chimera twitch at the blunt question, though it was with innocent curiosity and not the fearful contempt she had expected when this question finally popped up.

“Oh thank Celestia! I didn’t want to be the first to ask,” Twilight said with sheepish relief, ruffling her wings. “I’ve read tons of books and never come across a reference to your species,” she explained, her head tilted with a quizzical expression.

“I was wondering when one of you would ask,” Yin smiled gently. “I’m not surprised you’ve never heard of my kind. Any references were purged five hundred years ago in Qiling, and no foreigners ever studied it, to my knowledge. I am what you would call Subditus Chimaera- an artificial chimera. Our kind is very rare, as we can only be created synthetically with magic.” Yin clarified to the stunned group.

“So you weren’t born all awesome and stuff?” Rainbow Dash asked, astounded.

“What kind of spell does that?” Twilight questioned, entering her ‘scholar mode’ as she tapped a hoof against her chin. “it’s a kind of magic called Bio Alchemy,” Yin explained.

“I’ve read about Alchemy,” Dawn interjected. “It’s a process by which a pony can manipulate matter to change its shape or molecular composition, right?”

“Right,” Yin confirmed, nodding. “Bio Alchemy is a branch that specifically focuses on living tissue, which is bonded a little differently than inanimate matter. Creating chimeras, specifically, involves combining at least two, usually three different creatures into one new entity. Depending on the…materials, and the caster, you almost never get the same creature twice.”

“So how’d ya start out?” Applejack asked.

“I was born a snow leopard,” Yin answered, an inflection of pride in her voice.

“Cool! So what are your other parts?” Pinkie probed, missing the tiny flinch Yin gave.

“I am also part kirin and…dragon,” she explained, the polite smile stiffening on her face as she tried to hide her discomfort. Celestia twitched an ear, heart sinking as she figured where this was going. She went to intercept, but Hazuki placed a staying hoof on her shoulder and shook her head. Celestia huffed, but took a seat once more. She knew Yin would have to learn to deal with this on her own, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

“Dragon…!” Fluttershy ‘eep’ed, hiding behind her mane.

“Qilinese dragons are different from our dragons, Fluttershy,” Twilight soothed, her voice distracted. “What about their souls?” she asked before Dawn elbowed her.

“What--oh.” Twilight looked shamefully at the floor as she caught sight of the chimera’s pained expression. The others looked at her with questioning eyes before turning worried gazes upon Yinfâng.

“You have a point,” Yin mumbled as her gaze dropped to the floor. “Between common animals, the stronger soul would become the dominant one, but with sentient beings…” The others faces became grave when they realized where this was going. “The resulting creature can become a dumb, gibbering beast, or go mad. Most simply…die. The…the other two used had their souls ripped out just prior, to ensure there were no 'complications'.” Yin's face was a mask of dejection.

“You knew them, didn’t you?” Dawn surmised softly, sympathy writ all over her face.

“One of the victims was my adoptive older sister,” Yin murmured, unshed tears bright in her eyes. “I was sent to be a servant in their household for my safety, but her family took me in…besides, father always said I was... lòng xián shí--dragon-hearted,” she cracked a small smile in remembrance. “Oh Yin, I-I’m so sorry..” Twilight stammered shuffling closer with a consoling nuzzle. The others edged closer in a show of support.

‘It’s alright, Twilight. It happened, and nothing can change that,” she assured, brushing the last hint of tears from her scarred eye with a flick of her supple tail. Unable to wait any longer, Princess Celestia wandered over to offer silent moral support, Lady Hazuki trailing after.

“Hello girls. Is everything alright?” Celestia tried to mask her worry with a genteel façade while Hazuki sent Yin a look asking much the same.

“Everything’s fine, Celestia. We just touched on some old memories,” Yin reassured with a watery smile.

“I see,” Celestia murmured, wanting to offer solace but not wanting to make the chimera uncomfortable in public. 'I know she hates crying in front of others, perhaps now it the time to make my move', the alicorn mused. “I have something for you,” she smiled with tender eyes, “if you don’t mind following me?” Yin nodded in assent, quirking her lips at Hazuki to let her know she would survive. As the two left the room, those watching all noted how closely they walked together.

As they trotted down familiar hallways, Celestia fought to suppress a grin every time she felt Yin shiver at the brush of her coat. She used to tease Yin like that, and the fact she reacted the same was promising. They finally reached a familiar balcony where the two had shared tea the day before. Pushing open the glass doors, Celestia beckoned Yin over to a dark shape sitting off to one side. It was a beautiful mahogany baby grand piano.

“I just realized I don’t even know if you still play, but I got this for you,” Celestia started, biting her lip uncertainly as Yin took in the sight with wide eyes.

“You remembered…” Yin murmured, carefully wisping a claw across the ivory keys with a gentle smile.

“Of course. I always loved hearing you play…” Celestia smiled wistfully, stepping closer to envelop the silver-maned chimera in one great wing. “You are welcome to play here whenever you wish, day or night. The palace staff has all been informed,” she explained with a gentle nuzzle.

“Thank you so much,” Yin whispered, voice choked with gratitude as she leaned into the touch. “For this, and tonight. I enjoyed meeting the Elements, and your…daughters.” The smallest inflection of pain in her voice made the Princess’ heart twinge as she pulled away.

“Yin,” Celestia faltered, not sure how to handle this subject. “I just, I want you to know-”
“It’s okay Tia, really. You were able to move on, have a family. I'm- I’m glad you found happiness without me,” Yin cut in, resignation in her voice.

“No it’s not,” Celestia disagreed as she turned toward Yin with a determined expression. With one sudden decisive movement, Celestia gave the startled chimera a chaste but passionate kiss. 'Oh, how I missed this,' the alicorn moaned. “It’s not okay,” she breathed, breaking the kiss. “And it wasn't happiness. I never loved him, Yin.” Celestia cast her eyes upward slightly, as if searching for the right words. “I… hurt so badly, missing you, and in a moment of stubborn weakness did something I never should have to try and kill the pain." Magenta eyes blinked hard in an attempt to banish the hint of tears glimmering in their depths. "I don’t regret it happened because that mistake gave me Twilight Sparkle, and I love her with all my heart." She glanced down to lock gazes with the chimera. "But I do regret having been…intimate with somepony I did not love. With somepony who wasn’t you,” she whispered leaning in to capture Yin in another kiss. Yin resisted for a moment before mewling into the kiss, encouraging Celestia to wrap her wing tighter and deepen the kiss as a bloom of hope unfurled in her chest. The two broke apart reluctantly, panting for breath. Yin leaned in as if to initiate another kiss, but shook her head and pulled away with hesitance as Celestia looked at her with bewilderment.

"I can’t. I’m sorry, I just... I-I can’t, I can’t do this to you…” Yin murmured desolately, tears in her eyes as she inched backward, her steps jerky. For a moment, Celestia felt as though she had taken a blow to the gut, her breath leaving her lungs in one great, silent whoosh; the newly budding hope in her chest already withering.

“Yin, why…? Please, if this is about the girls, I swear I-" She was cut off as Yin shook her silvery mane in vehement denial, still inching her way toward the door as tears pattered to the granite floor. "I-Yin no, please, I-I stil--” Celestia choked, feeling as though everything was constricting around her, pulling into a void where a tiny bloom called hope used to be, rendering her immobile. She wanted to run to her, grasp her close, kiss her again and again until she promised not to leave, just please don’t leave me again—all she managed was lifting one hoof toward Yin’s retreating form before the chimera turned and bolted, brokenly sobbing ‘yìhán’ over and over as she stumbled out of the balcony. Celestia couldn’t move to chase after her, all she could do was slowly lower her hoof to the floor as she quietly broke down amongst the pieces of her shattered heart. She replayed the whole scene in her head over and over, trying to find where it had all gone wrong. The entire time, she recalled, Yin had been trembling.

Author's Note

Don't expect updates this regularly, but I figured I may as well get at least one more chapter out. Up the tension a bit. :)

Tick-ticking Away

TRIGGER WARNING:
Mentions of rape, drug abuse and attempted suicide. I'm earning my dark tag here, folks. Don't like, don't read.

Luna found her there hours later, gazing with hollow, despondent eyes at the piano. “Sister, what is the matter?” she asked softly. “Night Court ended hours ago, and Twilight and her friends have all retired for the night.” Stirred slightly out of her reverie, Celestia roused herself enough to approach the piano and hit one melancholic note.

“I’m not sure, Lulu.” A forlorn sigh escaped her lips. “I still love her. I love her so much,” she murmured as she began to tear up once more. “But she pushed me away, and I don’t know how to fix it. It hurts, Lulu.” She whispered hoarsely as her sister nuzzled her consolingly. “And the worst part is I don’t think she even wanted to. If she had, then I could play the bigger mare and let her go for her happiness. But… Yìhán, yìhán. I remember using that one fairly often.” Celestia conjectured, as her thoughts began to churn. “Why was she sorry…? And why did she say she can't do something to me?” Celestia began musing to herself as her posture straightened. "There is something going on here, something I'm missing." Luna decided to wisely keep her mouth shut on the subject, only offering an encouraging smile. Perhaps Tia would talk out her problems with Yin, like a grown mare-- “I do believe Hazu-chan and I need to have a little talk, she must know something.” Celestia declared, missing Luna’s face hoof as she bid her sister good night and quit the balcony. Just as Luna was about to follow her sister, she felt a presence approaching. Whispering to the shadows, she melted into them while a familiar figure entered the balcony. Moonlight glinting off silvery fur, as the source of her sister’s heartache approached the piano in silence. Sitting stiffly on the low bench, Yinfâng ran hesitant claws in a few practice bars, her timid notes growing surer with practice. Just as Luna was contemplating confronting the former leopard, she noticed tears glittering in silver fur before the most beautiful melody she had heard in a long time began floating on the cool night air. As she listened to the descant grow in intensity, she heard in the music what Yin perhaps would never say out loud. It felt as though she were saying a sorrowful farewell. Stepping even deeper into the shadows, Luna swam through their velvet darkness until she emerged in her own quarters. Something wasn’t sitting right with her. Perhaps she would instigate her own investigation of this enigmatic stranger.

__ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . __

Celestia sighed in frustration. It had been a long, agonizing two weeks of no progress on the 'Yinfâng Project'. After their little encounter, Yin retained an agonizing politeness towards her that reminded her of their first few weeks of acquaintance. Despite all her best efforts, the chimera remained so obstinately distant it made her want to cry, or yell and throw things. And her irritation was beginning to show. The last couple of days those ponies she worked closely with on a regular basis started asking her if she was feeling alright. Her assistant even suggested she take some time off! Just before she snapped under the pressure, her sister had distracted her by asking for a private talk at her soonest convenience.

She had solicited in a tone of voice that said Celestia might not like what she had to say, and the looming tension had made an already strained day nigh intolerable. Lulu was probably going to chew her out for being rather short towards the generals in the home security meeting the other day, the glare Luna had shot her sister with would have dropped a manticore at twenty yards. Sighing again in consternation this time, she headed toward the private gardens she and Luna used to talk alone.

Luna paced with stiff agitation in front of the decorative fountain that graced the center of the gardens. She knew Celestia had been sounding out Hazuki about Yin’s behavior, but her clouded judgment kept her from making any real progress. Why even she, Queen of the Night (and covert ops) turned up very little in her scrutiny. What she did find, however, was rather serious. She wasn’t sure how her sister would take it, either the news itself or the methods Luna used to obtain it. Either way, she was not looking forward to this little chat.

“You wanted to talk with me, little sister?” A warm voice suddenly emerged from the curve in the path. Luna gave a tight nod and gestured for Celestia to join her by the fountain.

“Indeed I have, sister. We… fear we have ill news for thee, and we suspect thou art not going to like it, or how we came in possession of it,” Luna started as she shifted her eyes away and pawed a hoof nervously on the cobbled stone. “Thou must realize, Tia, we were just trying to help, because thou wert so upset and—we art rambling. Forgive us. We decided to investigate thy friend, Yinfâng.” She blurted, flinching.

“You did what!” Celestia squawked, outrage plain in her features as she snorted with frustration. She huffed and paced for just a minute before deflating with a sigh. “...What did you find? Hazuki was a steel trap, and I can’t spy my way out of a Daring Do novel.” She sighed as she sat in dejection.

“Thou wert too close to the situation Celestia; tis not thine fault.” Luna soothed, taking a seat across from her sister. “We found precious little ourselves. However, what we did find disturbed us, and we felt it necessary to bring it to thy attention.” The Night Princess inhaled deeply, bracing herself for what would come next. “We ordered some of our best guards follow Yinfâng discreetly. Most noted that she seemed to be contracting an illness of some sort, observing her breaking into coughing fits somewhat regularly the last week and a half. Our sharpest observed that at certain times of thy day, Yin would sequester herself some place secluded, and…” Luna narrowed her eyes. “Pull out what appeared to be a pipe…Sister, we believe thy friend is using drugs of some kind,” she stated carefully as she tried to gauge Celestia’s reaction.

“She would never!” Celestia shouted indignantly, affronted on her friend’s behalf. “Yin has always been extremely health-conscious! Why, she trains every--” Celestia cut herself off abruptly as her eyes widened in realization. “At least, she used to…did any of your guards see her doing any kind of martial training, or exercising of any kind?” Celestia asked intently, her voice sounding strained.

“No, no pony reported any strenuous physical activity. In fact, Night Gaze noted that she seemed to grow winded quickly when doing anything physically demanding. We-I take it that is out of character for her?” Luna queried gently.

“Yes,” Celestia admitted. “Honestly, she makes our best soldiers look positively lazy compared to her usual regimen. And I have never known her to let illness show. I once caught her working with a high fever, and I only caught it because, well…” Celestia mumbled in embarrassment. “I caught it several hours later than I should have. She is incredibly disciplined.” The Sun Princess continued smoothly, schooling her features into her usual façade.

“Ou-my guards reported her keeping the pipe and whatever she smoked in it within a pouch secreted somewhere in her cloak. What do you want to do, Tia?” Luna asked seriously, a grave expression on her face. “Do you let it slide? Or do you confront her? And if you do, you know she will ask how you found out. This may well destroy any chance you had, as well as your friendship and her trust in you. Are you willing to risk that?”

“I-I don’t know, Lulu,” Celestia whispered, her head bowed in uncertainly. “Thank you for coming to me with this, though I am still unhappy you used the methods you did. I appreciate the gesture,” she smiled reassuringly before it dissolved into a pensive frown. “I will have to think on the matter.”
“She goes there every night Tia,” Luna murmured softly. “Always just after Night Court. She plays beautifully.” At Celestia’s shocked stare, Luna smiled lightly. “Perhaps you should go tonight.” Leaving her sister to reflect in peace, Luna left the garden to get a bite to eat before Night Court started. Her dear sister had much to consider.

_...:*:..._

There she was. It was just as her sister had said. Celestia watched from across the hallway as Yinfâng entered the balcony. With a quiet reverence, she flipped open the protective key guard and whispered her claw tips over the ivory keys. Celestia tip-hoofed over to the door, standing just outside them as her beloved began playing a gentle melody she didn’t recognize. As her claws elegantly ghosted across the keys, Celestia lost herself in the music as she watched Yin play. She made playing the piano look so effortless, her skilled claw tips dancing beautifully; a great contrast to her clumsiness when she'd first started out, though Celestia had enjoyed watching her just as much back then.

As she wound to a conclusion, Celestia stepped out onto the balcony. Without so much as a glance in her direction, Yin flowed into another melody she did not recognize. It swelled powerfully, the notes seeming to swirl magically around her. Celestia could only stand immobile, the poignant harmony bringing tears to her eyes. Why did it feel like she was saying goodbye in her song? As the last notes faded into the night, Celestia approached Yin and sat beside her.

“You’ve improved,” she noted smiling at Yin tenderly. “It was beautiful, Yin.” Her companion remained silent. “I’ve been worried about you,” Celestia admitted. “You haven’t been acting quite…yourself. Are you feeling we--”

“I know you’ve had ponies shadowing me,” Yin interrupted, still not looking at her. “And you’ve been questioning Hazuki about me.” Slightly alarmed, Celestia jumped to justify herself.

“I’m so sorry Yin, I’ve just been worried about —wait, you knew my sister’s guards were following you?” She asked, perplexed. Chuckling wryly, Yin finally turned her pale verdant orbs to meet Celestia’s.

“Of course. I haven’t gotten that rusty, you know.” She chucked again, rolling her eyes playfully. "Didn't know they were you sister's, though."

“You let them follow you, didn’t you?” Celestia stated contritely, as her friend began lightly coughing into her claw. “But why? Did you want someone to find out? I know about the pipe, Yin. What are you hiding? Please, won’t you tell me what—Yin?!” Celestia suddenly cried, as the chimera crumpled to the ground, hacking violently as she struggled to breathe. The princess could only watch as Yin's eyes rolled up into her head as she passed out. To her credit, Celestia abstained from panicking-- until she found the drops of blood in the palm of Yin’s claw. Eyes widening in fear at the sight, Celestia’s horn flared brightly as the two vanished in a blinding flash of light.

An hour later, a frantic kirin found the Princess wearing a path on the floor of the waiting room in the castle’s medical wing.

“I was just informed Yin collapsed! Where is she, is she alright?!” Hazuki rattled as Celestia’s hoof steps paused long enough to greet her distractedly.

“The doctor should be out any minute--” she started, before they both whipped their heads toward the sound of a door opening. An officious pale blue unicorn stallion glanced up from his clipboard as he stepped out to greet them, trying not to quail under the two intense gazes boring down on him.

“Your Highness; your Grace,” he nodded in nervous acknowledgment. “My name is Dr. Mortar. If you will please follow me?” he marched back through the doors he came in, leading them down several bland hallways to a row of offices near the back.

“What’s wrong with Yinfâng, doctor?” Celestia pleaded as he closed the door with a nudge of orange magic.

“Princess, your friend is in very bad shape,” he started grimly. Motioning to some charts hanging on the wall. “We found signs of deterioration in her lungs, as well as heavy traces of an unknown substance in her blood stream. We suspect this is the source of the deterioration. We also found what looks like mild smoke damage in her esophagus and trachea as well.” He described, pointing to a few blurry photos on the light board fastened to the wall.

“The substance in her blood. How bad is it?” Hazuki asked with a strained voice, her visage one of barely contained resignation. The doctor eyed her pensively.

“You have been traveling with her, correct?” he asked. “Do you know what she has been taking? Because if you do and you let her--” he broke off, startled, as tears trailed down the Kirin’s face.

“Please, Hazu-chan,” Princess Celestia implored softly. “It’s whatever she was smoking isn’t it? If you know what it is…” Hazuki, bowing her head in defeat, reached into her mane and pulled out the pouch she had hidden there.

“It’s called Koibito no Yoru-- Lover’s Night.” She whispered as she plopped the pouch on the table. “It’s harmless to kirin, but dangerously addictive to Lóngrén--eastern dragons,” she clarified quietly, not meeting Celestia’s eyes.

“I see,” the Doctor murmured as he carefully collected a sample. “What are its effects?”

“It’s a… type of opiate, mostly,” she hedged as the doctor hummed over his notes.

“And how long has she been taking it?” the doctor asked without looking up from his clipboard.

“I’d have to guess about seventy to eighty years,” Hazuki mumbled dully as Celestia looked at her sharply.

“that’s a very long time, I’m surprised she’s still alive,” Dr. Mortar stated bluntly.

“Kirin are very resilient to poisons.” Hazuki explained while ignoring Celestia’s attempts to get her attention.

“Thank you for your cooperation, I’ll have this sample sent to the labs for testing. In the meantime, if you wish to visit her she is in room #215. Just down the hall, first right then a left.” He waved a hoof distractedly shooing the Princess and Priestess out of his office, but not before Celestia grabbed the pouch in her telekinesis on her way out. They didn’t make it very far before Celestia rounded almost viciously on Hazuki.

“You knew she was taking it and you--” she hissed before Hazuki cut her off.

“Yes. She’d been taking it for too long before I got to her Celestia, and--” Celestia interrupted her angrily.

“So why didn’t you make her stop?! She was coughing up blood Hazuki!” Celestia snarled, stamping a hoof furiously.

“I can’t just ‘make her stop’!” Hazuki argued vehemently. “Even you cannot--”she ceased mid-rebuttal at the livid expression on Celestia’s face, her eyes on the pouch levitating between them in a golden shimmer. “Tia what are you--” she flinched as the temperature spiked dangerously around her.

“Watch me,” Celestia jeered as she ignited the bag in a sudden burst of flame, leaving nothing but ashes to drift to the floor.

“NO! What have you done?” Hazuki screeched, eyes wide in horror, lifting a hoof toward the ashes as if trying to salvage their remains. Trembling, she slowly sank to the floor along with the ashes, tears splashing amongst the soot.

“I did what you would not,” Celestia stated coldly, glaring down at her friend, who only quivered beneath her burning gaze. Without looking up, the Kirin lurched to her hooves and brushed past Princess Celestia without so much as glance in her direction before staggering wantonly down the hall. Celestia followed sedately at a distance behind her until she reached Yin’s room to find Hazuki sobbing quietly, her face buried in Yin’s mane. Celestia felt a jealous prickle in her heart, but ignored it in favor of sitting on the opposite side of Yin’s bed. Her friend lay prone on her side, with an IV taped to the inside of her foreleg and an oxygen mask obscuring her muzzle. Nuzzling the chimera gently, the two stayed like that for several minutes before they began to feel their friend rousing.

“Tia?” Came a weakly hoarse whisper. “Hazu-chan? Where am I?” She asked, glancing around as a nurse suddenly entered to room to check her status and adjust her IV before bowing politely and exiting again.

“You’re in the castle’s medical wing,” Celestia replied, smiling warmly at her love. “You collapsed…I was so worried,” Celestia murmured, unshed tears gleaming in her eyes as Hazuki raised her head to pin her sickly friend with a look that spoke volumes.

“She knows?” Yin sighed roughly, wrestling the mask off her face as Hazuki nodded tearfully. ‘Everything?’ she mouthed silently, to which Celestia did not notice the subtle shake.

“Yes, I know about the drug you’ve been smoking,” Celestia reproached, “and I’ve destroyed it. Why were you taking it, Yin? Was it the Empress?” Celestia questioned, noting with trepidation the way her friend visibly stiffened at the mentioning of her former employer. “It was, wasn’t it? Why did she make you take it?” Noting the look Yin gave her, Hazuki excused herself quietly. This would be hard enough for Yin to explain without her there. Once the door latched behind them, Celestia looked at the former leopard expectantly.

“What do you know about the drug Koibito no Yoru?” Yin asked tiredly, avoiding Celestia’s probing stare.

“Hazuki said it was an opiate, and highly addictive to Lóngrén,” Celestia stated, eyeing Yin’s reaction.

“That’s all? Nothing else?” When Celestia shook her head negative, Yin gave a deep sigh laden with resignation. “It is an opiate for Lóngrén yes. But…it is also used as an aphrodisiac by the kirin. Fresh stamens are especially potent. The flowers only bloom at night, which is why they are called Tsukihana no Koi.” Yin explained jadedly as Celestia’s eyes began to widen in awful comprehension. “Slave collars can make a body do things, but not even they can make a body feel things,” she whispered as she closed her eyes wearily.

A sense of vertigo sucker-punched the princess, her mind reeling with shock.

"So, she..." Celestia gagged, "She used them to...Oh Faust, I-I need some air..." Celestia choked as she reeled over to a window, throwing it open to gasp in the cool night air, trying to swallow the urge to dry-heave. She was glad she hadn’t had anything to eat in quite some time, that might not have ended well. Once she got control over her reactions, she went to sit by Yin once more but stopped partway at Yin’s flinch.

“It is a stimulant to kirin, dangerously addictive to Lóngrén,” she chuckled humorlessly, “and lethal to leopards. If I continue, the poison will finally overwhelm my immune system within the year. If I stop taking it, the withdrawal will probably kill me within the month.” Celestia felt her heart drop like a lump of iron. In the hallway... She had destroyed the last of it. Her breath grew short.Gone-- it was all gone, she had effectively killed her--

“Now, don’t look like that,” Yin admonished weakly. “I know what you’re thinking, so don’t pin my inevitable death on yourself. Honestly, I had been considering doing the same, and now you’ve saved me the trouble of agonizing over it.” Yin admitted mildly as Celestia’s head shot toward her with an accusatory glare, sharpened by the glint of unshed tears.

"You were just going to let yourself die faster?" She squawked, incredulous. "What about Hazuki? What about me? Were-were you even going to tell anypony, or just abandon us?" At Yin's hurt expression, she winced inwardly and deflated.

“I’m sorry,” Yin whispered in a miserable voice. “I just thought to spare everyone the trouble of worrying about it. Just, have Hazuki tell you and the others I had to leave...then never return. I didn’t think…I guess I just never believed you could still care for me the way you did then. I’ve changed so much…I’m so broken inside Tia,” she whispered hoarsely, the pain in her voice ripping at Celestia’s heart.

“She spat on my morals, twisted my loyalties, and abused my skills to achieve her own goals. She raped me every night Tia, for seventy-eight years to sate her warped lust. I’m just damaged goods with an expiration date. Who would want me?” She muttered morosely, tears trailing down her fur. Celestia shook her head, trying to vocalize her disagreement, but couldn’t force the words past the tears choking her silent. “I tried to end it once, you know. My honor as a warrior and dignity as a living being demanded it, but she stopped me just as I’d plunged the blade into my belly." Celestia felt the blood drain from her face.
A dry chuckle tumbled past her lips. "My skin was a lot tougher than I expected and it was too shallow to do any real damage,” she reassured the Sun Princess at her dismayed sob. “She gave a standing order to never intentionally harm myself again after. Her fear, amplified by the collar, imprinted it so deeply I still can’t do more than nick myself, otherwise I might have tried again.” She murmured in disappointment. “Can you really say you still love me the way you did?” she asked as she glanced up, only to find Celestia had vanished. “That’s what I thought,” she whispered to herself as she quietly cried herself into a fitful doze.

Author's Note

(Edit: How did I not notice a whole effing chunk of text missing from this?! :raritydespair: No wonder I got the downvotes, poor people were probably confused as fuck. :facehoof: Well hopefully this cleared up some confusion. God dammit. :ajbemused: )
Hey guys. To celebrate ten views and more likes than dislikes, I decided to post another chapter. It's way shorter than my other two, but hey, better something than nothing, right?

(Disclaimer: I in no way condone rape, drug abuse or suicide, which are all very real and serious concerns.)

Heart to Heart

Celestia had been pacing the balcony to her room fretfully for the last hour or two, trying to digest everything she had just learned. She’d had to teleport out of there to avoid being sick all over Yin’s hospital room floor, and almost hadn't made it in time. Her stomach still roiled, and her tongue still had the bitter tang of bile lingering on it. Just a reminder of the thought that her beloved had been psychologically and sexually abused, and had tried to kill herself because of it...the taste was morbidly appropriate. And to top it all off, the rotten cherry on the whole rancid sundae, was Yin’s inevitable…death. Oh Faust, her kitten was dying. Here she had just gotten her back only to lose her all over again. Permanently. Forced to watch her slowly suffer...

Catching movement down below, she spotted Lady Hazuki walking the gardens below her. Desperate for someone to talk to, and certainly owing her friend a sincere apology, she leapt off her balcony and glided down to meet her. Landing softly, she clip-clopped over to her friend, ashamed of her earlier actions.

“Hazuki...san?” she queried softly as she approached her friend cautiously. The kirin did not turn to acknowledge her, but she did not retreat from her either. Placing a tentative hoof on the Priestess’ shoulder, she tried again. “Hazu--” Her friend flinched under the touch, sitting stiffly until she seemed to just deflate.

“What do you want, Celestia?” she asked as Celestia winced at the coldness in her voice, dropping her hoof from the pale green fur as if it burned.

“I came…to apologize. She told me everything. About the drug, and…what the Empress did, and how she tried to k-kill herself,” she stammered, her voice thick with grief. “Oh Hazuki, I’m so sorry. What have I done?” she whispered hoarsely, her head hung in disgrace.

“What’s done is done, Celestia,” Hazuki gave a tired sigh, her back still facing the Sun Goddess. “Honestly, she was thinking about quitting anyway.”

“She told me as much,” Celestia confessed. “And that’s another thing that bothered me. She was just going to give up and go off somewhere to die, and she wasn’t even going to tell me,” she protested, distressed. “What did she think I would do if she told me, just dismiss her as…damaged…oh, pony feathers!” Celestia suddenly cursed to Hazuki’s baffled surprise. “I just left her there! Horse apples, I’ve probably given her the wrong impression… apologies Hazuki but I must take my leave!” she blurted as she took to the air once more, this time for the medical wing. When she arrived there, she found a balcony near a patients’ rec room and snuck in. Quickly finding the right floor, she headed for room two-fifteen. Hesitating under the weight of her mistake, she braced herself and knocked.

“Yinfâng?” she probed, hoping for a response. “Yin, may I enter?” she requested, the silence making her nervous. ‘Perhaps she is sleeping,’ she realized, opening the door quietly. She had expected The room to be dark, but she had not anticipated the emptiness, or the neatly made bed with no sleeping chimera tucked safely inside. For just a moment, she felt her heartbeat stop as she feared the worst. Had Yin’s condition worsened when she left? What if she had… d-died? What if it was her fault?! Quelling her panic with a simple breathing technique, she trotted briskly through the labyrinthine halls to the reception desk.

“Hello,” she greeted the startled mare staffing the reception desk. “I am looking for a patient. Perhaps you can help me?” she smiled, her public façade masking her anxiety. “The patient's name is Yinfâng.” After the mare stammered a greeting and bowed, she looked through her binder to find Yin’s name, oblivious to the nervous twitching of her Princess' wings.

“Ah, here it is. She’s been moved to room three-ten your Highness.” Celestia politely thanked her and headed toward the new room at a brisk trot. Her heart beating anxiously, Celestia’s worst fears were assuaged; Yin was still alive, but she was still worried. What if her condition had worsened after all? Reaching the room, Celestia knocked once before entering the room. Startled, Yin looked up from the magazine she had been reading to meet Celestia’s apprehensive expression with her baffled one.

“Oh, um, hello your Highness,” she met the sun diarch with a timid smile, the title making Celestia flinch. “They said I’m recovering well and should be out of here soo-omph!” Huffing, she glanced bemusedly at Celestia who had grabbed her in a desperate hug and buried her nose in Yin’s silvery locks.

“You are not ‘damaged goods’,” Celestia hissed tearfully in her ear. “Don’t ever refer to yourself as such again, do you hear me?” she commanded. “It does not matter to me what you look like, or what you’ve been through, or what you’ve attempted,” she declared, pulling back enough to surprise the chimera again with a gentle peck. “You are a strong, beautiful soul who has endured terrible cruelties, and has struggled to remain true to yourself. That is the soul I fell in love with, never forget that,” she reassured her love with a tender smile, hopeful as it was mirrored on the chimera's face. That is, until she realized the smile did not reach all the way to her pale green eyes.

“You don't know what that means to me, truly. I...want to be with you, so badly Tia, practically since I met you. But I have all these… misgivings,” she hesitantly explained. “The biggest of which is, I am dying. Unless you have a miracle cure hidden in your horn, then it is best we just put all this behind us and remain good friends for what little time I have left.” The poorly masked pain in the chimera’s eyes broke Celestia’s heart.

“I am…aware of your limited time,” the mare confessed, burying her muzzle briefly in Yin’s mane to hide the pain in her eyes. “However, I still want to be with you.” Celestia murmured as she gave Yin a comforting nuzzle, wether to reassure herself or her beloved she wasn't sure. “Even if you were to die tomorrow, I would want all the time with you I could have. As a lover, not just a friend,” she smiled, willing the chimera to respond to the love flowing from her heart. "Please, can we just...try?" Seconds dragged in the silence, Yin's face a mask of indecision. Finally, she let out a sigh.
"I-I don't know Tia, I--" She gave a derisive snort. "How can you just accept this--me? Like this. I'm a freak, I'm broken, and I'm dying--"

"I don't care," Celestia interrupted, pulling back to give the girl a fierce gaze and a supportive hoof on her forearm. "Beings change, no one is perfect, we all have out flaws. But I can see past the scars, Yin, and the mare I see is worth everything. You are worth something, Yin. I wish you could see that." Yin shook her head again, but her resolve seemed to weaken as she set a tentative claw over one white hoof.

"Alright, Tia. I-I suppose I...can try." Celestia let out a bark of joy as she hugged the former leopard. "Just, can we take it slow?" She plead, nervousness still apparent on her face.

“We can take it as slow as you like, Yin. Besides, I don’t intend to let you die on me so soon. I’m sure we can find a spell that can cure you, we just have to look for it.” Celestia affirmed resolutely before leaning down to grace silvery locks with a gentle kiss. “Now, about that title you addressed me with earlier…” she frowned playfully, making Yin gulp in dismay.

"Aw, but Tia, I only called you that because...well, after the way you left..." she hedged, hoping to get out of whatever embarrassing 'punishment' the princess had in mind.

“And because of that, I will postpone your punishment for now. I really am sorry I left the way I did,” she apologized, her violet eyes downcast with shame. “I had a lot to think about and was overwhelmed by what you told me…but I shouldn’t have just left you there. Forgive me?” she asked shyly, to which Yin giggled, and did the one thing Celestia had been longing after for days. She leaned up and initiated a kiss of her own, tenderly caressing her cheek with a claw. That was all the answer Celestia needed, as she happily returned the kiss.

__ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . __

It was two days later when Celestia approached Yin, who was out on the balcony having tea.

“Hello, love.” She greeted the chimera with a playful peck on the cheek, to which Yin blushed and glanced around nervously.

“Tia! What if someone saw you?” she hissed with a blush on her face.

“Oh, so what if they did? There are no rules saying I can’t have a foreign inter-species Consort. And if the nobility complains, I’ll just threaten them with new taxes,” Celestia joked, before her face turned serious. “I have a proposal for you, and though you may not like it, please hear me out. I do not have much time in the day to look into a spell to cure you, despite all I have regulated to Luna for the time being. I know you don’t trust outsiders with examining you, but I need assistance. Will you let me bring Twilight and Dawn here? They are both extremely bright, and Twilight is the best researcher we have. Between the two of them, we should come up with something very quickly. What do you think?” she asked with nervous hope in her voice. Yin’s face was a veritable mask of neutrality as she considered.

“Would I have to tell them… everything?” she whispered sadly, her voice begging a negative.

“No, I don’t believe that would be necessary,” Celestia denied in a relieved huff. “If they ask just tell them that it is sensitive information that is not important, they’ll take it at face value. Well, for the most part. Dawn can be a little…” Celestia rolled her eyes briefly while Yin nodded understandingly.

“I had a question about them, actually. If I may?” Yin asked cautiously as Celestia stiffened slightly before nodding her consent. “Their chi is exactly the same. That never happens, not even with identical twins. You also never mentioned Dawn’s birth.” When Celestia sighed dejectedly, Yin hurriedly tried to retract her words. “Of course, if you’d rather not--”

“No Yin, it’s fine,” Celestia reassured with a slight smile. “It’s just… a long story, and rife with a personal failure of mine that is hard for me to talk about. However, you most of all have a right to know.” Celestia sighed once more, before launching into the tale of Balance, and all that came to pass through those dark times. By the end of the tale, it was very early evening, and Yin had migrated around the table to drape a foreleg over Celestia’s withers in comfort.

“I see,” Yin murmured contemplatively. “Hard lessons to learn, but you and your daughters and the Elements seem to have persevered.” Yin smiled as she hugged Celestia tightly. “I am proud of you, for facing all you have done. You are certainly dealing with it better than I did with my own… issue. This changes nothing, Tia.” She assured the Sun Princess, who had waited with bated breath for condemnation or disapproval of some sort. When she got a hug instead, and support, she let a few tears leak out before wrapping the chimera in her own feathered embrace.

"Thank you, Yin. I still have nightmares sometimes," the mare confessed, Yin nodding with understanding.

"I've been there. I won't say they will get better, but they will get more manageable over time." The two sat there for a moment, before breaking apart as Yin coughed lightly. Waving a claw to reassure Celestia it was not serious, the princess managed to control her panic until the coughing subsided. “I’m alright, just lingering side-effects,” she smiled, slightly strained. “The withdrawal effects haven’t quite hit me yet. I am fine with you bringing Twilight and Dawn here, and I will cooperate as much as I can.” Overjoyed, Celestia swooped in and gave her the deepest kiss she had yet, practically pinning her to the floor of the balcony. Once they broke apart, panting, Yin caught a glimpse out the glass doors and face-palmed. “Now you’ve done it…” she moaned, as Celestia turned to see the small crowd of gawping ponies staring at them.

“…oops,” she giggled, to which Yin just groaned. “Quick, run away!” Celestia laughed, nudging Yin to get off the floor. Looking around, she tried to find an escape point when she noticed Yin standing precariously on the rim of the balcony. Dashing forward in alarm, she tried to grab Yin before she fell. This balcony faced one of the steeper parts of the mountain! Before she reached her, though, Yin pushed off; laughing as she seemed to lightly swim through the air. Turning, she grinned impishly at Celestia’s stunned expression.

“Part Lóngrén, remember?” she snickered, flicking the Princess’ nose lightly with the tip of her tail as Celestia pinned her with a good-humored glare before following Yin’s example and taking wing.

The next morning saw Twilight and Dawn walking into Canterlot Castle, debating betwixt themselves as to why they were summoned here. When they reached the Throne Room, Celestia looked up from the myriad of paperwork she was busy signing. Smiling, she gave the rest to her assistant, Paper File, to save for later.

“Hi mom!” Her daughters said together, running up to hug her happily. Meeting them halfway, Celestia returned their hugs enthusiastically.

“Hello Dawn, Twilight.” She greeted them warmly. “I have called you here today on a very important project of mine.” She explained as she led them down the hallway outside the Throne Room. “I hope you both are able to commute for the next month?” she nodded grimly at their assent, her seriousness reflecting in their expressions. “Good. This way please,” she intoned as she guided them to the balcony that had become a favorite meeting spot for her and Yin. When they reached it, they could catch faint strains of music drifting in from a door cracked open to the balcony. Oblivious to their presence, Yin lost herself in her music while they all sat to listen. Twilight and Dawn had open-mouthed astonishment written all over their faces, while Celestia merely smiled proudly at her beloved. She really had improved a great deal. “I bet you never knew she could play a piano, let alone so beautifully,” she grinned at them, as they finally picked their jaws off the floor. “When she was assigned to me during the peace talks between Qiling and Equestria Eighty-five years ago, she confided in me her love of music. I gifted her with her first piano, and encouraged her practice since. She has improved so much,” she smiled contentedly as the melody drifted around them.

“I don’t recognize the piece she is playing,” Twilight noted, looking at her mother curiously.

‘I am not surprised, Twilight. She composed that piece herself,” she confided smugly, while Dawn and Twilight gawped anew.

“Damn, she’s good,” Dawn purred, eyes lidding suggestively. “I wonder if--” Celestia cut her off with a reproachful glare.

“Language, Dawn. And do please keep your hooves to yourself, she is already taken.” Celestia smirked, causing Dawn’s eyes to widen in shocked realization.

“No. Bucking. Way. How did you manage to tap that?!” she spluttered incredulously, while Twilight glanced between them in puzzlement. “Ugh, I don’t even want to think of you…wait. That’s actually kind of hot, in a completely objective sort of way,” Dawn mused, staring at Yin when the proverbial light bulb clicked in Twilight’s head.

“Wait, you mean…Dawn, I think you might be jumping to conclusions here--” Twilight argued before Princess Celestia cut her off.

“Actually, Dawn is mostly right, Twilight,” Celestia grinned as a fierce blush slowly spread across Twilight’s face. “And you, I know what you’re thinking. Stop it,” she admonished lightly at the mischievous grin spreading across Dawn’s. “Our relationship is still in its fledgling stages, as it were. Also, she is part of the project you will be working on. Come join us, we will discuss this on the balcony.” As the lot approached the piano, its occupant at that moment reached the crescendo of the piece she was playing and the all had to stop for a moment as the music washed over them in a harmonious wave of sheer beauty. The two sisters sat, stunned, while Celestia visibly shivered. Once the final notes died away, the unicorn and earth pony approached the chimera gleefully.

“How did you learn to play like that?” Twilight exclaimed, amazed.

“Where did you learn to compose like that?” Dawn asked, equally amazed. Grinning at their enthusiasm, Yin led them over to a small table that had four cushions circled around it.

“My answer to both of you is this: lots and lots of practice,” she smiled ruefully. “Literally, it took me decades. Now, I believe we are all here to discuss something, yes?” she questioned, as Assam brought out tea for them all as well as an extra pot. Eyeing Yin disapprovingly, she bowed once at Celestia and took her leave with a huff.

“What’s her problem?” Dawn grumbled glaring in the direction the snooty unicorn had left.

“It’s Tia’s fault. She scandalized the poor sycophant yesterday, and the mare blames me.” Yin interjected, pointedly avoiding Celestia’s good-humored glare as she hid behind her teacup.

“So, about this project…” Twilight prompted as Dawn sniggered at her mother’s expense. All playful ire gone, Celestia straightened her posture to fix her daughters with a somber expression.

“I called you both here for a very important research project,” she began, her tone causing the two ponies to straighten their own posture. “I recently found out that… well, Yin is very sick,” she explained quietly as two shocked pairs of eyes turned toward the chimera in question. “I need you to help find a cure.” Celestia finished as she gauged the reaction of her daughters.

“Why the hay didn’t you tell us?” Dawn bristled while Twilight pinned her with a worried stare. Yin glanced at her with one eyebrow raised.

“I’d just met you. What was I supposed to say? ‘Hi, my name is Yinfâng and sorry if I cough blood on you, I’m a little under the weather’?” Yin snarked back, rolling her eyes.

“How bad is it really?” Twilight prodded, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “I get the feeling you’re sugar coating whatever it is, and I wanna know.” At this statement, Celestia seemed to crumple in on herself, much to her daughters’ alarm. “Mom? Mom, what’s wrong?” Twilight yelped, moving a hoof to support her while Dawn pinned Yin with a glare.

“Well that didn’t take long,” Yin muttered under her breath. “Well there’s no easy way to say this, so…I’m dying. I’ve got roughly a month left.” Yin stated matter-of-factly, while she once again found herself being stared at in horror.

“Since when?!” Dawn seethed in disbelief. “You were fine at the party! What changed?”

“I agree,” Twilight nodded. “This happened far too quickly. Were you exposed to something, had a change in diet?” she asked, to which Yin let out a startled bark of laughter.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” she grinned humorlessly. “You see, I am sick because I’ve been slowly poisoning myself for the last eighty years or so. I just recently stopped. And before you ask, no, I was not immediately aware I was taking poison. However, by the time I had realized, I was already addicted. Stopping would have killed me faster than continuing.”

“Then why did you stop now?” Dawn challenged, to which Celestia flinched.

“An accident, but that’s not important right now,” Yin quickly interceded before Celestia could say anything. “What is important is finding a cure. We will have to rely on magic, since there is no natural remedy for this particular drug. I have compiled a file here with everything you need to know about it, as well as a lab analysis taken from the last of it, there is no more. We cannot grow any out here, either, as it is indigenous to Qiling; it will wither in foreign soil. Any questions?” she asked, as the both quickly looked over the small scrolls she had given both of them.

“Yeah, why the buck were you taking it?” Dawn antagonized, fixing the chimera with a glare. At the question, Yin felt pain flicker across her face as she drew in a deep cleansing breath.

“Because the Empress of Qiling forced me to take it after she transmuted and enslaved me with a magical collar,” she explained tonelessly. To which Dawn winced and muttered an apology while Twilight fixed her with an angry glare and bumped her with a lavender wing.

“Don’t worry about it Dawn, it is a reasonable question.” She smiled reassuringly at the earth pony before Twilight piped up.

“I have one as well. Why were you smoking it, when the file says you were taking it orally up until about five years ago?” She questioned, tapping a page while Celestia perked up interestedly.

“Very astute of you, Twilight,” Yin nodded approvingly. “There are other effects it has when fresh that lose all potency when the flower is cured. I think it is due to a magical property of the bloom, but there I have no concrete evidence to back that claim. By smoking it, I removed those effects and weakened the dose I was taking. However, this resulted in me having to smoke it several times a day as opposed to taking it orally one a day. Hence all the additional smoke damage to my lungs,” Yin explained evenly, though the last came out bitterly. “I am so out of shape it isn’t even funny. Can’t even puff a little mist, it’s pathetic.” She mumbled under her breath, though audibly enough for those around the table to hear her. Nuzzling her comfortingly, Celestia moved to get up from the table, with Dawn and Twilight following her example.

“Well, can I leave this in your capable hooves?” She asked her daughters, who nodded determinedly before heading toward the door. Just before they left though, Twilight turned to look at Yin.

“Um, everyone says hi, by the way. They were wondering if you would have time to visit tomorrow maybe, but with things the way they are…” she trailed off, her expression melancholy.

“That’s sweet of them to think of me,” Yin smiled in genuine happiness. “Besides the fact you will most likely need some blood samples, I would love to visit everyone, if that is permissible?” she questioned, glancing at Celestia. When she nodded happily, Yin turned to Twilight with a grin. “When you have gathered all you need, I will accompany you back to Ponyville. It is not so far away I can’t fly back after a day or two.” As the two sisters left eagerly to gather the books they needed, Celestia turned to give her love a deep kiss of gratitude.

“I will miss you while you are gone, and a part of me does not want to let you out of my sight. Nevertheless, another part of me loves seeing you bond with my daughters and their friends. They are all good mares. Please, please be careful while you are away. Promise?” she whispered, slight desperation in her eyes.
“I promise, Tia,” Yin whispered back resolutely, before sealing the deal with a sizzling kiss. As Celestia walked sedately in the balcony doors with a loopy grin on her face, she caught sight of Dawn grinning lewdly in her direction and waggling her eyebrows. Pinning her with a glare, she shooed her daughter after Twilight down the hall. The smile never left her face.

__ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . __

As the train pulled into the quaint town of Ponyville, Twilight, Dawn and Yin found themselves enthusiastically welcomed by the other Elements of Harmony, accompanied by a strange looking wagon.

“It’s tradition,” Pinkie Pie explained cheerfully as she flipped a lever. Five minutes later saw Yin reeling with her ears ringing and covered in confetti. At least she got a cake out of it, even if it wasn't her favorite pastry. The group took her on tours of their places, starting with Sugarcube Corner and ending with Sweet Apple Acres for dinner.

“So yer called a kai-mera?” a young red-haired filly asked Yin after everyone had eaten, eyes wide in wonder. Two other fillies were introduced to her as well.

“That’s so cool!” a young orange pegasus filly exclaimed as she zipped excitedly around Yin. “Can we get a Cutie mark for being a chimera?” she asked hopefully. "That would be the awesomest Cutie mark ever!"

“Sorry little one,” Yin chuckled ruffling the filly’s mane. “I’m afraid this took no special skill on my part, except for maybe surviving,” Grinning at the three disappointed faces looking up at her, she suddenly scooped them up in her forelegs and tossed them in the air; the three fillies shrieking with delight as she caught them. “Don’t worry, I have a feeling you three are really close to finding your Cutie marks,” she reassured them as the all grinned at her happily.

“How did you get your Cutie mark, miss Yin?” the one called Sweetie Bell asked, examining her flank.

“Yeah, and what does it mean?” Scootaloo wondered as Applebloom nodded. Yin soon found herself surrounded by the rest of her new friends.

“We’ve been wondering about that ourselves, sugarecube,” Applejack stated with a smile. “Ah understand leopards don’t have Cutie marks normally, right?” she questioned.

“Indeed Applejack, that seems to be an equine thing, mostly. I guess I qualified for one when I was changed. Growing up in a dragon family that was heavy with martial tradition, I picked up open-clawed combat surprisingly quickly. I had been one of the best claw-to-claw fighters in father’s dojo, which is why I was selected to be assigned to the High Empress. Now, I was trained in primarily in Lóngquán Wǔshú, dragon martial arts. However, there are levels of achievement in karate-- Qiling martial arts-- which is displayed in the dojo by colored belts tying our ‘gi’s shut. When a karate-ka had reached the highest level that can be taught, they are given a black belt.”

“That’s what yer Cutie mark is, right?” Applebloom interrupted excitedly, pointing her hoof at the black loop on Yin’s haunches. “It’s a tied black belt!”

“Correct! It first appeared sometime after my change, when I achieved the level of First Dan.” She stated proudly, leaning down to show the awed fillies the stone loops pierced in her ear.

“Awesome!” Scootaloo yelled. “What does Dan mean? Does it mean you can beat up a hundred bad guys?” she rambled while Sweetie Belle and Applebloom stared in open-mouthed wonder at the small hoops. Jewelry, especially the permanent kind, was seldom worn in Ponyville.

“It means I have achieved a rudimentary mastery of the Dragon Fist, and am qualified to take a disciple. I suppose you could say it means I can beat up a hundred typical soldiers of average skill, or at least five average Dragon warriors.”

“Cooool,” the three fillies oohed, before Applejack chased them off to go play and leave miss Yin to talk with the grown-ups.

‘Oh darling, those earrings are simply marvelous!” Rarity gushed, leaning in close to get a better look. “I cannot fathom how I missed them before. The first is a ruby for sure, the third a citrine, but I can’t quite…aha! The second is a cachemirine garnet, isn’t it?” she deduced. “I just love garnets, they come in so many colors, and they’re so clear!”

“Wow, you sure know you’re gems, don’t you?” Yin smiled, impressed.

“Of course dear, that’s my special talent,” she explained, showing off her Cutie mark.

“So you got some pretty sweet moves, huh?” Rainbow asked, nudging her with a grin. “You’ve gotta show me your stuff some time. Maybe we can work out together!” she invited, eliciting a sad smile from Yin.

“I’d love to. Perhaps sometime next month, maybe,” Yin offered, as Twilight and Dawn shared a knowing glance between them. “I’m a little out of sorts at the moment to do anything to strenuous.” Sensing they should leave before any awkward questions popped up, Twilight jumped in.

“Well Yin and I need to get going; she needs to get settled in at the library. Oh! She hasn’t even met Spike yet! We may be busy tomorrow, She, Dawn and I all have a very important project to work on, don’t we?” she emphasized with an emphatic look at Dawn. Unnoticed by the trio in question, Applejack narrowed her eyes. Something was up; her Element-senses were tingling.

“Aw, can’t it wait for just one day?” Pinkie whined, a pleading expression on her face.

“Yeah, I wanted to show Yin my moves!” Rainbow complained.

“Sorry girls, but this one is very time-sensitive,” Twilight justified, a hint of sadness in her voice.

“Thank you very much for the meal Applejack, it was delicious,” Yin bowed her head in thanks. “I will be sure to say goodbye before I leave.” As the alicorn mare and former leopardess departed, Applejack watched them leave. Something just wasn't sitting right with her, and she was going to find out what.

_ . . . :*: . . . _

“Spike! We’re home!” Twilight yelled as she entered the library. Yin looked around in wonder; she’d never been in a building that was a living tree before.

“Welcome home Twilight!” A young male voice greeted them happily. Yin turned her head to see a purple drakling with green spikes running down the stairs to meet them.

“There you are. Spike, I’d like you to meet Yinfâng. Yin, this is Spike, my number-one assistant,” Twilight introduced as they sized each other up.

“Spike, it is a pleasure to meet you. Please pardon the intrusion upon your home,” Yin greeted formally, bowing slightly.

“Aw, it’s no problem! So you’re the chimera Twilight told me about, huh?” Spike smiled, holding out his claw. Shaking it, Yin nodded.

“Ancient legend says that your kind and Qilinese dragons are all descended from the same dragon god, so I suppose in a very loose sense I could be a second-cousin of yours,” Yin grinned, drawing a delighted smile from the dragon.

“Neat! Can you breathe fire?” he asked, anticipation in his eyes.

“Actually, Lóngrén are air dragons. I breathe clouds,” Yin explained receiving a gasp from both dragon and pony.

“Really?!” Twilight exclaimed excitedly. “I didn’t know they could do that, I just thought they could ride the air currents and walk on clouds like pegasi. Fascinating! What else--” Before Twilight could get into a good ramble, Spike interrupted her.

“Um, I think it’s time for bed. You cold or something Yin? You’re shivering a little,” Spike asked pointing at Yin’s lightly quivering forelegs.

“Oh I’m alright Spike, just had a long day. I’m afraid Qilinese dragons don’t eat gems, but I bet we both like pancakes! Can you show me how to make them tomorrow morning?” Yin asked, to which Spike nodded enthusiastically. Once he headed up the stairs for bed, Twilight approached her.

“Yin are you really okay?” she asked worriedly as she placed a hoof on her new friend’s shoulder.

“It’s a small side-effect of withdrawal. It comes and goes for now, but I imagine it will get worse in the next week or so.” Yin told her quietly. Twilight nodded understandingly.

“One thing you didn’t write down was symptoms of withdrawal. If you’re going to stay here, I’d like to know what to look out for in a worst-case scenario,” Twilight asked gently, to which Yin nodded.

“Trembling and shortness of breath for starters, both of which I have already. Fortunately, flying takes very little effort on my part if I just coast on a current. Next will be painful cramps, the shakes, and hot and cold flashes. My whole body will begin to ache badly on top of all that. When the fluctuating heart-rate and breathing kicks in and I start to fade in and out of consciousness…well, we’ll know my time is nigh,” she finished quietly, her eyes downcast. Twilight just hugged her, her embrace warm and comforting.

“Then we better get cracking,” Twilight said firmly, to which Yin just smiled and nodded.

__ . . . . : * : . . . . __

The following morning was a flurry of activity once Dawn came to join them for breakfast. Yin was surprised to find such a well- equipped lab in the library’s basement, but put it down to Twilight being Princess Celestia’s daughter. Sure paid to be royalty. That day was a flurry of tests as Twilight and Dawn acquainted themselves with Yin’s altered genomes and did a basic health exam. Lunch found Yin tired and slightly dizzy from all the blood samples they took for testing. After a restorative meal prepared by Spike--who explained neither of the other two could cook even if they remembered they had to eat-- Yin was relegated to paper pusher while Dawn asked her questions about her theories on how her physiology worked. Contrary to how most assumed chimeras worked, they were not like Manticores where one could easily pick out all the different pieces. They were fused together on a molecular level, all the way down to their DNA. If you were to look at said DNA, it would not have bases recognized as belonging to this, that, or the other; it would be one whole new creature with some similarities. Thus, it was hard to say what would be effective, and what wouldn’t. When they were done for the day after much cajoling from Yin, she and Dawn retired to the guest room for the night. A quick coin toss saw Yin on the floor, though she preferred it anyway.

“Hey Yin?” Dawn called softly, in case the chimera was asleep. At a questioning hum, Dawn bit her lip before continuing. “Well, I noticed something from the analysis today, and I don’t think Twilight’s caught it yet but…um, the drug has what looks like a stimulant in it. One that has a very specific effect…” Dawn eluded hesitantly, as Yin’s figure tensed under the sheets. Dawn may be a little nympho-maniacal, but she knew how to be sensitive about…that when the situation called for it. Yin sighed resignedly.
“I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us. And Twilight, if she figures it out. It’s not something I like talking about, or feel comfortable with others knowing.” she muttered dejectedly. Dawn just murmured understandingly before flipping on her side. Gaze hardening, Dawn considered what this really meant for Yin when she said she’s been poisoned and enslaved. She didn’t like it one bit.

Author's Note

What the heck, I've got a huge back-log, I'll post when I feel like it. Also, for those of you reading, I'd appreciate feedback, even if it's just an emote, so I know I'm not just throwing this out in the void. :applejackunsure:
Also, should have my cover art up within the week! Yay! Slow going between making that, and writing this thing, and some other stories I'm working on.

On a completely unrelated note, any webcomic fans out there should go check out Daughter of the Lilies, it's super awesome!

Escalation

The next day after Twilight left the first initial tests to be analyzed, she sent Yin upstairs for a break. Just after the chimera fetched herself a glass of water, she heard a tremendous crash from the second floor. Leaping up the stairs, she found Rainbow Dash sprawled out on the floor, books and papers scattered around her haphazardly. Edging closer, Yin poked her tentatively. Groaning, Rainbow got to her hooves and pinned Yin with a serious look.

“Are you alright, Rainbow Dash?” Yin asked cautiously, to which she received a brief grin of assurance.
“I am here for an intervention.” Rainbow stated firmly. “Tonight Vinyl Scratch is hosting an awesome dance party in Applejack’s barn, and you are going. No buts,” Rainbow interceded before Yin could decline, shoving a blue hoof in her mouth.

“What’s all the commotion up here?” Twilight huffed as she and Dawn reached the top of the stairs.

“Apparently I am going to a dance party tonight,” Yin stated mildly, glancing at Rainbow in amusement. “In Applejack’s barn. Hosted by Vinyl Scratch, whomever that is.”

“You are too, Twilight!” Rainbow declared. “Everypony will be there, which means you too. You can spare a few hours at least. If either of you don’t show, I will personally drag you there. See ya there Dawn!” Before either of them could object, Rainbow was back out the window she had roughly entered through.

“Well, looks like we have plans tonight,” Yin stated with a hint of laughter. “I think a few hours of not worrying about it will do us all some good,” she affirmed before Twilight could refuse.

“But your stamina is practically--” Twilight argued before Yin stopped her with a shake.

“I can handle an hour or so if I take it easy, trust me,” Yin smirked. “Now, let’s get a bite to eat, and then we find a spot at which you feel comfortable pausing in your research, okay?” At Twilight’s defeated sigh, Yin clapped her companionably on the shoulder as she passed her down the stairs. Once out of sight, Dawn released the crazy grin she’d been hiding and whispered in her sister’s ear. Nodding mischievously, Twilight smirked as she penned a brief letter to Princess Celestia. If she came in disguise, it might be nice to see her mother having fun in a normal setting; especially at one of Vinyl’s parties. She’d have to let Pinkie in on it, though; otherwise there might be a disaster. Calling for Spike, Twilight let him in on her plan as he sent the letter to the Princess, snickering.

_ . . :*: . . _

Celestia was bored.
The day was dragging more than usual, and she fervently wished she could make her sun go just a little bit faster in its arc across the sky. Yinfâng had not sent a letter with her return date yet, and Celestia was missing her terribly. She tried thinking of some way to invite herself down there, but every idea she dismissed as transparent, desperate, or just plain stupid. Besides, she didn't want to interrupt Yin's bonding time with her daughters.

She sighed again as another completed form flitted over in a golden glow, landing gently on a stack of similar sheets of parchment. Just as she levitated the next packet, she felt and heard a familiar coalescing of magic pop into existence above her head. Trying not to get her hopes up too high, the princess grabbed it with her magic and unfurled it, a wide grin splitting her face as her eyes scanned the letter. Well, it might not be the huge breakthrough she was hoping for, but the break certainly sounded nice. Plus, she had an invitation to visit now! Still smiling to herself, she opened the next packet with considerably more enthusiasm.

She had a date tonight, after all!

__ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . __

“Well here we are,” Twilight announced in a peppy voice. “I’m waiting for somepony, so I’ll meet you inside,” Twilight informed Yin, who just shrugged and entered the barn emitting a heavy bass rhythm. Glancing around, Twilight spotted Pinkie and scurried over. Whispering her plan in the party pony’s ear, a grin slowly split the earth pony’s face.

“Gotta hand it to you Twi, this is the best idea you and Dawn've had yet,” she giggled. “You think she’ll show?”

“I wouldn’t miss this for all the cake in the world,” said a familiar-- if higher pitched-- voice. Turning, the two mares spun to see a white-coated, blue-maned pegasus with pink and teal highlights approaching them. Grinning, Princess Celestia did a twirl for her daughter. “How do I look?” she grinned coyly at their astonished faces.

“Good enough to eat,” Pinkie muttered to Twilight, who could only nod dumbly. As they proceeded into the barn; they spotted the rest of their friends in a circle near the center of the barn, just outside the dance floor. Applejack was trying to cajole Rarity onto the dance floor, while Rainbow was tapping her hoof impatiently.

“There you are!” She exclaimed as the rest approached. “Who are you?” she asked Celestia, giving the pegasus mare a friendly but curious look.

“Hi I’m Solar Flair!” Celestia introduced herself cheerfully. “I’m a friend of Twilight and Dawn’s from Canterlot. I came out to visit on a whim, and Twilight told me to meet her here. I’ve never been to a party quite like this before,” she admitted timidly, looking around curiously. “The music is very interesting.”

“Isn’t it great?” Rainbow enthused, beaming. “Vinyl’s the best DJ ever. You ever heard stuff like this, Yin?” she asked the chimera playfully with a nudge. Celestia eyed her interestedly.

“Yes, actually, quite often.” Yin affirmed nonchalantly to everyone’s shock. “My big brother was a bit of a rebel while I was growing up, and he took me with him on his escapades into the underground club scene,” she explained. “I met all his band buddies there.”

“Your brother played in a band?” Rainbow asked excitedly.

“Ya have a brother?” Applejack asked curiously.

“Can you dance?!” Pinkie Pie squealed excitedly, to which everyone subtly perked up.

“Um, yes, yes, and I suppose?” Yin answered hesitantly. “I’m not really that good…” she tried to dodge, but Rainbow had already pinned her with one of those looks.

“Come on then, dance with me,” she demanded to Celestia’s ire as she moved a short distance away and started swaying to the beat. “Come on, you can do it,” Rainbow encouraged as the others started to join in, sans Fluttershy, Twilight, and Solar Flare. As Yin started to rock to a slowly swelling beat, Celestia watched her avidly while the others subtly gave her room to get comfortable. Yin was just bobbing her head until the beat hit an apex…and suddenly busted into a shuffling dance style as everyone’s jaws hit the floor. Spinning and shuffling, Yin never noticed the circle forming around her as she lost herself to the hypnotic beat. Celestia found her eyes pinned to the rippling muscle in Yin’s flanks as she twirled adroitly. Yep, she still had it. It was muted, but definitely, definitely still there.

Carefully watching Yin’s movements, the disguised alicorn quietly snuck off to a corner to practice a bit. No one paid her any heed as all eyes were on Yin at the moment. It didn’t take her any more than fifteen minutes before she had passably mastered a simple version of Yin's adroit claw and hoof-work. It was rather fun! Making her way back to the dance circle that had formed, she watched as various ponies now took turns showing their skills on the floor. Others had begun to dance at the fringe, and Celestia used this opportunity to edge closer to Yin. Sidling up to the chimera, she purred in her best seductive voice.

“Would you care to dance, hot stuff?” Chuckling to herself inwardly at the look of panic on Yin’s face, she smiled roguishly as Yin’s eyes widened in recognition before smirking. Celestia had often snuck out with her in this form back then, too. Of course, they never went anywhere as exciting as underground clubs. Perhaps she would have to--

“Certainly milady,” Yin snickered, gesturing with a bow toward the circle. Celestia found herself intercepted by her daughters and their friends, and waved her companion ahead as Yin reentered the circle to much cheering.

“Can you believe her?” Rainbow blustered. “She said she wasn’t any good!"

“She certainly can bust a move, can’t she?” Celestia agreed, hiding a giggle behind one hoof. “If you'll excuse me, I think I shall join her.” Before anyone could turn to gape at her, the disguised sun princess stepped out into the dance circle. Beyond shocked, the five friends could only watch as some pegasus they had barely met matched Yin on the dance floor while Twilight and Dawn shot each other incredulous looks. Though she was less skilled, her steps were sure as Yin slowed her pace some to match her movements. They were practically flirting out there, they were so close together!

“I think the joke’s on us this time, Twi,” Dawn grinned as her sister face hoofed. When the two retired to get a drink, the others pinned them at an overturned half-barrel table. Joking, they all razzed Yin good-naturedly.

“I thought you said you weren’t very good at dancing!” Rainbow groaned humorously, hoofing Yin in the shoulder who just shrugged.

"That was really basic stuff. Trust me, if you ever see a Lóngrén dance, you would find mine pales in comparison." Rainbow just scoffed.

“And you!” she grinned at Celestia. “You got some pretty good moves yourself. I thought you said you’d never been to a dance party before!” Rainbow hoofed Flair in the shoulder as well, albeit more softly. The others chipped in their own compliments, though Dawn laid it on a bit thick with Flair, earning herself a raised eyebrow. A mare walked up to their group with a flirty smile on her face, asking Yin if she cared to dance. Flustered, the others just giggled at Yin’s obvious discomfort while Celestia frowned slightly at the interloper.

“Sorry, but she’s taken for the night,” Celestia intervened, twining a hoof around Yin’s forearm. “As penalty for breaking a promise she made with me earlier,” Celestia explained, smiling politely. Her eyes glared a very obvious warning though: ‘back off’. Huffing, the mare left the group to whistles and laughter.

“I gotta say sugarcube, that wuz somethin’ else,” Applejack giggled behind a mug of her own family’s cider. “Sure as sugar saved Yin’s hide, thas’ fer sure.”

“Yeah, I didn’t know you two were acquainted,” Pinkie Pie mused, a shrewd look in her eye.

“Princess Celestia introduced us a while ago,” Yin explained charmingly, sharing a knowing glance with ‘Solar Flair’.

“I’d like to catch up, I hope you don’t mind if I borrow her from you girls for a bit,” Flair asked politely as the others shook their heads and shooed the two off. Watching how closely the two walked off, Rarity smirked and leaned in toward the other girls.

“I think spring has sprung for our friend over there,” she gossiped, flipping her mane at the supportive grins of her friends.

“I think you’re right Rares. I’ve never seen Yin act mushy before. And Flair’s got the hots for Yin super bad,” Rainbow guffawed, waggling her eyebrows as she took a sip of her own mug. “Can’t blame her either, Yin’s got a nice pair of flanks on her.”

“Dash!” Twilight objected, blushing.

“Don’t be such a prude sis,” Dawn teased. “For an alchemical abomination of magic, she's pretty easy on the eyes.”

“This mean ya gonna give ‘er a go?” Applejack asked a little edgily.

“Aw, no one can replace you in my heart, AJ,” Dawn soothed with eyes half-lidded suggestively. “Besides, Flair would kill me. Came close enough to death once to not want a repeat of the experience, thank you very much.” Rolling her eyes, Dawn hid in her mug of cider to escape Applejack’s half-hearted glare. Trying not to grin at the overhead conversation, Yin and Celestia had wandered off to a quiet corner to talk and cuddle as best as they could.

“I’m rather surprised you are familiar with this kind of music!” Celestia smiled delightedly. “It’s certainly different from what I’m used to.” Grinning back, Yin smiled sheepishly.

“The underground club scene was well established in my younger years, and Lóngzhùzhái never had the same tech restrictions Qiling and Equestria had back in the day. It actually influenced a lot of my earlier music that you never heard from me. When we met, I was trying to learn something new. I…playing it hurt. Too many painful memories attached.” She smiled tightly before coughing lightly, drawing a worried look from her companion.

“Perhaps one day you can share that story with me. How are you holding up?” Celestia asked softly, concern writ on her face.

“I’m alright,” Yin assured her. “Though I only have about one more dance in me with ample rest in between,” she confessed, looking a little put down. “If we find a cure, I’m going to have so much training to catch up on. I can already feel the burning ache in my everything,” she grumbled as Celestia giggled, tucking her head under Yin’s chin.

“Don’t you mean when we find a cure?” she murmured, nuzzling Yin’s neck. Sighing, Yin rested her chin on her love’s head gently.

“Tia…as much as I hope you find one…” Yin started hesitantly, knowing this conversation had a good chance of going sour.

“We will!” Celestia insisted, pulling her head from under Yin’s chin to pin her with a determined stare. “I won’t let you die, not like this. Just trust me, alright?” She plead as she buried her face in Yin’s fur, desperately seeking comfort. Whether to give it or receive it, she wasn’t sure; perhaps a little of both.

“Alright,” Yin conceded. They could talk about it later, if it came up again. After several more minutes of savoring eachother's company in relative silence, Yin distangled herself from their embrace. “Come on, I got one more dance in me. Care to share it?” she offered with a grin. Smiling, Celestia stood and joined Yin, the two sauntering back to the dance floor. While the two danced --albeit with less vigor on Yin's part-- Dawn sidled over to Twilight.

“I wonder what went on between them to make mom act like a blushing schoolfilly with a really bad crush around Yin all the time.” She observed, sipping her own cider.

“Indeed. I wonder what mom sees in Yin. I mean, when they first met Yin was a snow leopard. They’re basically predators, mom should have been instinctually wary of her, not attracted.” Twilight mused. Dawn laughed.

“I think I can get where she’s coming from.” She grinned lewdly. “Just think: all that raw power dominating you, the thrill of the ‘chase’. Can you imagine Yin stalking you across the sheets to ‘devour’ you with that sexy predatory grin on her face?” Dawn described dreamily, her focus on some faraway place Twilight did not want to go.

“Ugh, I now have an image of Yin I never wanted to have. Thanks a bunch,” Twilight groused with a facehoof.

“But it’s a nice image, yeah?” Dawn grinned cheekily. Twilight just mumbled incoherently, a bright red blush adorning her cheeks. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Twilight fidgeted and looked over at her sister, a serious expression on her face.

“Dawn? I checked the analysis again before we left…that drug…you noticed it to, right?” She asked hesitantly, unsure if this was the right thing to bring up at a time like this one. Sighing, Dawn nodded. “Do…do you think--” Dawn cut her off with a shake of her head.

“I brought it up with her last night. Whatever your thoughts are, keep ‘em to yourself, alright?” she sighed sadly. “She told me herself it’s not something she likes to talk about.” Twilight’s eyes widened briefly before narrowing dangerously at Dawn.

“So then…Yin was--” she started heatedly before Dawn shoved a hoof in her mouth.

“To. Your. Self.” The earth pony reiterated, glaring at her twin. Twilight glared back reproachfully, but nodded. A dance party was not the place to talk of such things, after all.

Unbeknownst to the two sisters, Applejack had wandered closer to the two and heard the tail-end of their conversation. She had no idea what they were talking about, but it had to do with Yin, and it didn’t sound good. Her eyes narrowed contemplatively. Now wasn’t the time, but she would have to confront Dawn soon. If Dawn knew what was going on with Yin, Applejack wanted answers. Quietly wandering away, she joined Rarity and Fluttershy at a different table.

“Hello darling,” Rarity welcomed her smile fading as she caught the troubled look on her friend’s face. “Whatever is the matter dear?” she asked leaning in a tad closer as her voice dropped slightly. Glancing around furtively, Applejack murmured to her to friends quietly.

“Ah think sumthin’s up with Yin. Ah get a feelin’ around her like she’s hidin’ sumthin’, and Ah reckon’ Dawn and Twi know what’s goin’ on.” She explained stiffly, her posture suggesting how uncomfortable she was with the whole situation. Fluttershy’s ears lowered slightly in alarm.

“Oh no. You don’t think it’s something bad, do you?” she asked nervously, unsettled by the gravity in Applejack’s voice.

“Ah’m afraid so, sugarcube. Ah feel like a tall tree in a lightnin’ storm. Jus’ waitin’ for that bolt to strike.” Rarity frowned slightly in thought.

“Do you think it has something to do with the Element of Honesty?” she questioned.

“Mebbe so Rares. All Ah know is they’re hidin’ somethin’ bad, an’ Ah wanna know what it is.” Applejack stamped her hoof lightly with frustration. The three decided to get together sometime tomorrow to discuss if further, before the rest of the gang, Yin, and Celestia rejoined them at the table.

“Thanks for dragging us here, I’ve had a great time,” Yin smiled. “Unfortunately Solar Flair needs to head back to Canterlot for work in the morning, and since I don’t want her to travel alone I’m going to accompany her there.”

“Hasn’t the last train already left though?” Rainbow asked amidst the groans of disappointment.

“Yeah, so we’re going to fly,” Yin explained before Pinkie got in her face.

“You can fly?! Why didn’t you tell me!” she gasped, grabbing Yin’s face in both hooves. Her cheeks mushed, Yin’s answer came out rather garbled.

“Hm put drgn, huff cus Hy cn fwi,” she slurred, slightly confused at everyone’s surprise.

“You have no wings though,” Rarity pointed out. “How do you stay in the air?”

“Well air dragons work differently,” Twilight clarified. “They’re innate magics allow them to ride air currents and walk on clouds much like pegasi. However, where pegasi magic is expressed through the wings and hooves, theirs is through their claws and lungs.”

“Basically, she can swim through air currents like fish swim through water,” Dawn interceded.

“How’s the lung thing work?” Rainbow asked, puzzled.

“It’s really quite fascinating,” Twilight said excitedly. “Their lungs work like a water diffuser, by taking in atmospheric air and condensing it into liquid. Their body heat then--” Dawn stuck a hoof in her mouth as the others chuckled.

“She breathes clouds,” Dawn simplified, to which the others gasped in delight.

“How simply marvelous!” Rarity gushed excitedly, Fluttershy and Applejack sharing her enthusiasm.

“Awesome! That means she has her own portable bed wherever she goes!” Rainbow exclaimed waving her hooves around excitedly. “Hey Yin! Can we see—hey, where’d she go?” Perplexed, Rainbow looked around for her friend, who was currently MIA.

“She and Solar musta left already,” Applejack concluded. “Snuck away while Twi was ramblin’, most likely. Can’t say I blame ‘em either.” Dawn nodded in agreement.

“One thing I’m glad we don’t have in common.” She rolled her eyes. “Besides, I think they want some ‘alone time’, if you get what I’ sayin’,” She waggled her eyebrows before a huge yawn threatened to unhinge her jaw. “Alright everypony, lets hit the hay.” As everyone wandered home, Applejack pulled Dawn aside.

“You stayin’ with me tonight, sugarcube?” She asked, hoping she might ask Dawn what was up on the way there.

“Aw, why, you miss me?” Dawn smiled lasciviously. “Sorry sweetheart, but I need to finish that project Twi and I are working on. It really is very time sensitive. I may be there all month.” Applejack’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“This ‘project‘ o' yours don’t have anythin’ to do with Yin now, does it?” She asked, eyeing Dawn carefully.

“W-Why would you think that? I mean sure, she helped us start it, but we can take it from here,” Dawn hastily diverted, trying to derail Applejack away from her current train of thought. “We were just curious about how artificial chimeras worked, and needed some blood samples. They only last so long, you know,” she grinned nervously. “Whelp, I gotta get back. See ya around Applejack!” With that, Dawn did a one-eighty and booked for Twilight’s library, leaving the slightly stunned earth pony in the dust.

“Well that hangs it! Dawn’s poker face ain’t any better’n Twi’s when she’s hidin’ sumthin’!” Applejack snorted and stamped a hoof. “Ah’ll get to th’ bottom o’ this yet!” Muttering, the orange pony turned and headed for her farm. She needed plenty of rest tonight, she had a meeting bright and early tomorrow with the others.

_ . . . :*: . . . _

High up in the air, Yin and Celestia were laughing as they recounted their adventures that evening.

“I can’t believe you picked it up so quickly!” Yin admired as Celestia blushed lightly.

“I always was good with my hooves, which was quite useful tonight. Did you see the look on Rainbow Dash’s face?” Laughing, Yin nudged the Princess playfully.

“I’m just imagining the look on her face if she discovers who ‘Solar Flair’ really is,” she teased, adopting a mock-horrified face. “I hooved the Princess Celestia, co-ruler of all Equestria and goddess of the SUN in the shoulder? Like a common work pony?” She gasped dramatically, which elicited a snort and rolled eyes from the still disguised alicorn.

“Really, my ponies are so ridiculously star-struck around me sometimes…”

“Sometimes? Try all the time,” Yin joshed with a roll of her own eyes. “Oh Princess, what whimsy may this lowly servant strive to fulfill for you?” she mocked playfully in a falsetto voice. “It would be my greatest honor to grant your every desire! May I perchance lick clean the slippers which grace your divine hoof? You need merely ring this bell and it shall be so!” Batting her eyelashes flamboyantly at the sun princess, Celestia shoved her in good-humored annoyance.

“They are not that bad,” she objected, giggling slightly.

“I have one word for you: Assam. She positively simpers at you. And have you seen the way that mare glares at me? You’d think--”

“HALT! Who goes there?” A stern male voice interrupted as two bat-winged pegasus guards intercepted them. “This is restricted airspace. Please leave immediately!” One ordered strictly while the other glared.

“At ease.” With a flare of brilliant white light, Celestia transformed back to her regal alicorn form, raising a hoof to order the two guards to stand down.

“Your Highness!” The one on the right blustered, clearly startled.

“Begging your pardon, Highness, we were unaware it was you,” the other fumbled as the two attempted to bow in mid-air.

“That’s alright. Please return to your posts.” With a salute, the two night guards flew somewhere above them as they continued their circuit of the castle air-space, their armor rippling as they seemingly vanished into the night sky.

“Pretty good enchantments on that armor,” Yin noted, impressed. "Compliments to your sister." As the two landed on their balcony, Luna appeared from the shadows, her face grave.

“I’m glad you are back sister. This seems to be an auspicious month for surprise visits from foreign dignitaries. The Sovereign Empress of Lóngzhùzhái and a small entourage have arrived, and wish to speak with you.” Yin stumbled a bit in surprise, her face a mask of shock.

“Mother is here?” she whispered, drawing a look of astonishment from the lunar Princess.

“Thy mother is a dragon queen?” She asked, mystified as to how a former snow leopard claimed familial ties with one so far outside her species and rank.

“It's...complicated. The short version is politics were involved, and she took me in as an adoptive daughter…” Yin explained distractedly as Luna nodded in understanding. “Why is she here? She never leaves father for so long…”

“Let’s go find out, shall we?” Celestia proposed, already headed for the Throne Room. As they entered the room through the great double doors, a host of serpentine dragons twice the size of Celestia bowed in greeting.

“Princess Celestia, it is wonderful to see you again,” a warm feminine voice welcomed. A bronze-scaled, pale golden-maned dragoness stepped forward, her branched horns gleaming dully in the light.

“And you as well, Empress Jia Li,” Princess Celestia welcomed equally warmly with a polite bow of her head. “What brings you to Equestria, your Majesty?”

“Grave news, I’m afraid. But first, I would like to introduce you to my eldest son, Crown Prince Sheng.” At this, a deep golden dragon with a fiery red mane stepped forward with a bow.

“It is an honor to meet you, Princess—YOU!” He suddenly roared, as he looked up at the Day Princess and caught sight of Yinfâng. Roaring angrily, he leapt forward and tackled Yin, flinging them across the room.

“Sheng, NO!” The Queen screamed desperately as she sprinted to intercept the figures wrestling on the floor. When her guards moved to intercept, she frantically waved them away.

“It was you, wasn’t it?!” He thundered furiously as the chimera struggled underneath him. “What did you do to my sisters, monster!” He screamed, reaching a claw back to rake it savagely across Yin’s face.

“ENOUGH,” Came a voice laden with suppressed fury. A golden glow surrounded Sheng and ripped him off of Yin, who struggled to her claws and hooves, winded but no worse for wear. Trotting to her love worriedly, she was just beaten by the Empress who grabbed Yin to herself protectively.

“Why are you protecting her?” Sheng demanded lividly. “She’s that tyrant’s patsy—release me!” he struggled fruitlessly in Princess Celestia’s powerful aura. “I can see your drug-addicted palsy from here, scum! Was that your price, you--”

“No! Sheng, it’s not her fault. She’s your baby sister. She’s Yinfâng,” the Queen sobbed, clutching the trembling chimera to her chest sorrowfully.

“Wh-what?” he choked, all the fight draining from him as Celestia gently deposited him back on the floor, though she was careful to keep an eye on him. “Th-that can’t be, we-we saw the--Yin is dead!” he stuttered, gaze bouncing between his mother and sister. “Isn’t she…?” he asked timidly, eyes coming to a rest on his mother. At her subtle shake, he slowly dragged his gaze to Yin disbelieving.

“Hey big bro,” she offered tiredly, a wary smile pointed at the red-maned Lóngrén. “Been a while, Teakettle. You still haven’t learned how to keep a lid on it,” she grinned at him as his eyes widened in recognition. That was Yin’s special nick-name for him, a light jab at his quick temper and tendency to breathe steaming hot clouds when angry.

“Gods, Yin…what in the nine hells happened to you?” he growled, voice thick with tangled emotions.

“Sheng, language,” his mother chided before releasing her daughter. “Your Highnesses, I ask that my family and I have some time alone together; we have much to catch up on.” She asked respectfully, to which both royal alicorns acquiesced gracefully.

“Empress Hazuki, is here as well. She has begged asylum from her sister, and is the one who brought Yinfâng here. She will be in a room near to yours, your Majesty,” Luna disclosed as she summoned a guard to her. “The rest of your envoy will be stationed in a room located in the barracks. We shall see you all on the morrow.”

“Our thanks, Princess Luna. Come Sheng, Yinfâng.” With a bow, the Lóngrén envoy left the Throne Room, but not before Princess Celestia shared a gentle look with Yin before they departed, promising to meet with her later. All the way to the quarters granted them by the pony sisters, mother and son retained their composure while Yin figuratively sweated profusely under her coat. That was one thing she was somewhat glad she had retained; no sweat glands. She knew there was a shouting match in her near future, especially with her brother involved. Once the door closed, however, all self-control was lost as both rounded on Yin abruptly. Holding up a claw, Yin tapped an ear to tell her mother to place a sound-dampening spell on the room. Nodding tersely, her mother’s twin horns glowed golden for a moment before she suddenly swooped in and once again hugged Yin to her tightly, almost choking the air from her lungs.

“--”

“” Sheng shouted, interrupting his mother. “” Spinning to look at Yin furiously, he finally noticed she seemed to be having difficulty breathing in her mother’s grip. “” he deadpanned, looking at his mother pointedly.

“” she apologized sheepishly letting her daughter slip from her hold. Gasping for air, Yin coughed a few times before regaining control of her breathing and smiling reassuringly at her mother.

“” she admitted, before she was suddenly swept up in another hug, from her brother this time.

“” he choked, a few hot tears slipping down his elongated muzzle. “” Laughing, Yin clamped a claw around his mouth to stop the flood of questions.

“” Sobering her expression, she wiggled out of his grasp to look him in the eye. “” Once he nodded solemnly, she sighed, her eyes clouding again in sadness. “” Here Yin sobbed a bit, choking out the words. “” she explained to a horrified Sheng as his mother wept quietly at the reminder that she had lost half her children, and had her youngest transformed irrevocably. “” Taking a deep breath, Yin closed her eyes. “” She finished, as Sheng narrowed his eyes dangerously.

“” He probed, pinning his sister with an intense look.

“” she begged quietly, a blush of shame on her face. “” Turning, Yin fled the room, tears slipping down her face. Once outside the door, she gathered herself as best as she could, she trudged slowly down the hall with her head hung low. So lost in her thoughts, she never heard the gentle chiming of golden-shod hooves stop in front of her.

“Oh, excuse me…!” she apologized looking up at the pony she just ran into, only to come face to face with a pair of expressive violet eyes.

“Care for some tea?” Princess Celestia offered sympathetically, kissing her lightly on the cheek. Smiling weakly at the snow-white alicorn, Yin nodded as the Princess led her away to their special balcony.

Ordering for both of them, Celestia dismissed Assam before conjuring a large plush cushion for them to curl up on. Staring vacantly at her tea, Yin just curled into the tightest ball she could while burrowing under the wing Celestia draped over her miserable form.

“Was it really so bad?” she asked gently, to which Yin buried her face in the multi-hued mane rippling next to her.

“I couldn’t tell him to his face Tia. I just couldn’t. And I never told mother about it being...hazardous to my health. She will not take that well,” Yin mumbled, muffled slightly by the hair in her face. Humming gently in sympathy, Celestia draped her neck over Yin’s in an equine hug.

“It’ll be alright, you’ll see. Now drink up, tea makes everything better,” Celestia joked lightly, which earned her a watery grin before Yin reached for her mug.

Tensing suddenly, Yin leaped to her hooves, startling the Princess with her sudden movement. Hackles up, Yin scanned the area with an intensity that unsettled Celestia. Tail swishing agitatedly, Yin pinned her love with a perturbed expression.

“Get inside and call the guards, as many as you can. Something is headed this way, and it is not friendly,” she instructed, her ears flat to her skull. Hesitating, Celestia paused to scan the surroundings with her magic. Feeling something malevolent headed her way, she closed her eyes to better identify the aura that was rapidly growing nearer.

“NOW!” Yin suddenly roared, jerking her out of her trance. Spinning, Celestia bolted through the glass doors, shouting for the Royal Guard to take battle formations. Yin suddenly sprung past her, urging her toward the Throne Room where she would be more protected, before shouting in a foreign language; Celestia assumed to warn her family, or for the Lóngrén guards from earlier. Twenty yards behind, Celestia couldn’t help but admire the grace with which Yin ran despite having two different appendages at the ends of her legs.

Hearing glass shatter down the hall, Celestia felt her fear rocket as thunderous wing beats rapidly approached her. Sprinting faster, she saw the throne room ahead of her and her Guard ponies running toward her with alarm in their faces. Whirling abruptly, Yin made a complete one-eighty and started tearing desperately toward her, wild fear in her face. Celestia could hear a terrible cawing shriek behind her, panic spurring her on. Roaring ferociously, Yin launched herself in the air just as the presence screeched, clearing Celestia’s spiraled horn and clashing with something just behind her.

Sliding to a stop, Celestia looked behind her to see her love tangled with an abhorrent creature she had not seen the like of in over a millennia. Everyone in the hall could only watch with stunned horror as the snarling mass of silver fur and ebon feathers wrestled on the floor, which was rapidly gaining ink and crimson smears. Just before any unicorn guards could release the magic they had been building up, a wet snapping sound immediately halted the fight, both figures slumping still amongst a mess of blood and feathers.

Author's Note

Here you go, some action and a bit more plot to chew on.

...I just realized how that sounded. Gonna be a bit before we get there. :twilightblush:

Storm Clouds on the Horizon

“Yin!” Celestia screamed, galloping to the jumbled figures lying prone on the floor strewn with blood, fur and feathers. As the Princess reached them, the mass shifted and Yin staggered upright, cuts and gashes oozing blood. Horn glowing, the red flow trickled to a stop as Celestia quickly cast a healing spell, staunching the worst of the bleeding.

“Yin, are you alright?” Celestia cried, leaning against the shaking chimera to help support her, not caring if she smeared her pristine coat with blood.

“Water,” Yin croaked, her chest heaving with the effort she had just expended. Celestia shouted for someone to bring a glass of water, to which Assam, surprisingly, delivered very quickly. Grabbing the glass, Yin took a large mouthful before swishing it around and spitting it out with a look of disgust; brackish water splattering on the floor. Repeating the process, she downed the rest of the glass with a gasp.

“Gods, that was so foul,” she retched, passing the glass back to a scandalized looking Assam. “Thanks for patching me up, Tia,” she smiled hoarsely. “I’m alright now, promise.” As the two walked away from the carnage which was under watch from the guard, Luna suddenly came barreling down the corridor from the other direction.

“SISTER! THERE HAST BEEN A BREECH OF SECURITY! THOU MUST—oh,” she stumbled to a halt a she caught sight of the corpse heaped in the blood-smeared hallway. Whirling toward the nearest guard, she ordered a perimeter sweep and double security at all entrances to the castle. Once that was taken care of, she turned to her sister once more. “Well, it seems thou hast taken care of the problem,” she commented, eyeing the carnage again. “Who dispatched the creature?” she asked, rather impressed at the extreme angle the thing’s neck was at.

“Yin tackled it before it could harm me,” Celestia explained, voice heavy with gratitude as she nuzzled Yin lovingly. “She saved me from a rather brutal thrashing, if I do say so myself. Yin, what is that thing? It looks like a karasu-tengu, but…” she trailed off contemplatively, befuddled.

“I’ve encountered one or two before, karasu-tengu that have been inexplicably tainted. Being demons, they are more aligned with dark energy which is what alters their appearance so drastically, I think. I’ve seen it in a few other shadow fey, but nothing quite so acute! I really don’t know what’s going on any more than you do, Tia,” Yin explained confusedly, leaning on her love tiredly. Noticing how quickly the chimera’s energy was flagging, Celestia turned to her sister.

“I’m going to put Yin in my room to rest, I will rejoin you shortly.” Nodding, Luna stood back as Celestia teleported herself and Yin with a blinding flash. Once in Princess Celestia’s quarters Yin collapsed with a groan, too exhausted to support her own weight anymore. Worried, Celestia carried her over to her bed carefully where Yin curled up into a tight ball and promptly fell asleep. Kissing her lightly just to one side of her horn, Celestia tip-hoofed out her door and closed it gently with a click. Seeing two mildly surprised guards outside her door, she instructed one of them to have Dr. Mortar sent to her room and then send a missive to Empress Jia Li and Prince Sheng to meet outside her quarters. The doctor was free to enter. As the stallion saluted and galloped off, she instructed the other to let none pass except the doctor until her return. Saluting, the guard stood at attention as Princess Celestia teleported back to the hallway, where she found her sister directing the collection of the remains of the creature that had attacked. Turning to face her, Luna’s expression was grave.

“We will have the remains taken to the labs and studied; perhaps we can find what infected the Tengu. Are you alright sister?” Luna queried her voice fraught with worry. Smiling reassuringly, Princess Celestia nodded, remembering she might look a bit gruesome with a blood-smeared coat. She cast a quick clean-spell, though she felt a shower was definitely in order.

“Yin saved my sorry hide once again. I was so panicked, I didn’t even have time to counter attack before she was on the creature,” Celestia explained. “She even sensed it coming, or it would have attacked us out on the balcony.” Luna let a tiny smile slip free.

“Indeed sister, hearsay tells her fight was truly amazing,” she agreed, eyes full of admiration. “Yon guards barely started casting before she had that thing’s neck snapped.” At this Celestia frowned slightly, looking a little sad.

“She was impressive, yes, but…” Celestia trailed off, looking pensive.

“What is it sister?” Luna asked, curious as to why Celestia seemed so troubled over what she considered a stunning victory.

“Oh, you will think I am exaggerating…” Celestia looked sheepish now, though her voice was serious. “Well…how do I put this…we could see her moving.” She clarified, her frown returning.

“Of course you saw her move Tia,” her sister agreed bemusedly. Grinning inside at her younger sister’s puzzled expression, Celestia leaned toward her sister.

“Yin is a master at chi manipulation; she can use it to accelerate her movements faster than the naked eye can follow for short bursts of time. A short distance like the hallway, she should have covered it in a second.” At Luna’s incredulous expression, Celestia just shook her head dismissively. “It’s not very important at the moment. Queen Jia Li and Prince Sheng are on their way to my room. We must speak with them immediately, but I feel they will want to check on Yin when they hear what happened. A doctor will be there momentarily to patch her up. Can you meet me there as soon as you are done here?”

“Of course sister. We shall be there as soon as yon fell creature is safely secured.” Nodding reassuringly at her sister, Princess Luna turned to address the team assigned to inspect the damages for any harmful magical residue. Seeing the situation was well in hand, Princess Celestia once again teleported to her room. As soon as she arrived, she saw the doctor had already entered. At the grave look he gave her though, she felt as though she had swallowed an iceberg. Hurrying to her door, she opened it to find two nervous Lóngrén pacing outside it. Ushering them in quickly, they rushed to Yin’s side when the saw her lying prostrate and being attended to by a doctor.

“What happened?” Queen Jia Li asked stiffly, her face tight with worry. One minute her daughter is relatively fine, and the next she’s critically injured!

“We were attacked by what appears to be a tainted karasu-tengu,” Celestia began, her eyes never leaving Yin. “Just before it could strike me, Yin engaged it in combat and snapped its neck, sustaining a few injuries in the process--”

“That’s impossible!” Sheng exploded, rounding on the Princess angrily. “Yin is one of the best martial artists out there, there’s no way--” A sudden blow to the head from his mother’s tail shut him up.

“Sheng, mind your manners, Princess Celestia is the ruling monarch here not you,” Jia Li chided sternly, bowing in apology to the Princess. Celestia smiled briefly to show no harm was done before turning to address the doctor.

“Dr. Mortar, what’s your diagnosis?” she asked apprehensively. Yin had not woken up despite all the commotion, and had a slight wheeze in her breaths. When she'd left her, the former leopard had not been in this bad of shape. Turning to his audience, he shook his head worriedly.

“The wounds she sustained are fairly light, but due to the strain put on her body by trying to counteract the poisons for close to eighty years, her defenses are weak. While her body is focused on the more immediate problem, it struggles to neutralize the toxins in her bloodstream. Her wounds are closing fine, but she is taking damage to her lungs, which is putting stress on her heart. I have given her a mild sedative, but I can only address the symptoms, not the cause.” He explained sadly, clearly frustrated at his helplessness.

“Why can’t you just keep giving her medicine to fight the symptoms then?” Sheng catechized, a growl in his voice. Dr. Mortar pinned him with a slight glare.

“Because that won’t cure her, it will just alleviate some of her pain until she grows immune to the medicine or dies. She is very resilient to poison, yes, but the same holds true for medicine as well.” Growling in frustration and hurt, Sheng whirled away to pace in irritation.

“Why is she so sick now then?! She managed for eighty years or something, right?” The young dragon snarled bitterly.

“From what I can tell, the kirin part of her gives her resistance, but not immunity. Her dragon part kept her addicted, which has compounded enough to give her potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms. The real problem here is that the substance was simply pure poison to her snow leopard part.” Queen Jia Li half gasped, half sobbed, trying vainly to muffle her distress as the doctor spared her a tiny sympathetic glance before continuing. “Eighty years of constant warring has worn her body down. While her immune system struggles against the lethal parts of the poison, the withdrawal symptoms kill her. Once her wounds close up she should be fine, however, I’m afraid this stunt has shortened what little time she has left.” As the Empress and the Princess quietly broke down into tears, Sheng roared angrily.

“She’s my little sister damn it all! I just got her back and it’s not fair!” flinging open the door to the balcony, he threw himself out of the room and flew off into the night, leaving warm clouds of steam behind him. Sniffling slightly, Celestia thanked the doctor as he excused himself from the room, saying he’d be available whenever the Princess needed him and to not hesitate to call on him again. After clicking the door quietly behind him, Celestia turned and plodded over to nuzzle Yin rather intimately; much to the bronze dragon’s shock.

“Oh Yin, you and your heroics…” Celestia muttered tearfully before turning to face the Lóngrén. “Luna is on her way here, I think it’s time we discuss what’s going on.” Acquiescing with a nod, the Queen went to stand by her daughter’s side as a knock came from the door.

“Princess Luna has arrived your Highness, your Majesty,” The guard who opened the door announced as the Night Princess entered the room. Thanking him, Celestia closed the door and enveloped the room with a golden glow to prevent any magical scrying. As she did so, Luna turned to Jia Li with a serious expression.

“What hast brought thee to our realm, Empress Jia Li? Dost have aught to do with the attack we have suffered this night?” Luna questioned, to which the dragoness sighed resignedly, having anticipated this conversation.

“Yes and no. For the last thirty years or so, the High Empress had been pressuring us to join in a… more involved alliance with Qiling. Though we border each other closely, and our cultures are very similar, we all adopted an admittedly closed off relationship. While the idea of a stronger alliance is attractive, this recent development has made us extremely reluctant to seriously entertain the idea.” Sitting regally and looking rather like a somewhat serpentine cat, she took a moment to make sure her daughter was asleep. “She has begun to use tainted fey as an army. While she has not marched upon Lóngzhùzhái as of yet, we believe she plans on doing so after, of course, she has conquered your fair Equestria. Even more alarming, her appearance has altered over the last year. We believe she may have been…corrupted, much like the fey she uses. We are not positive, of course, when or if this occurred.” Hesitating slightly at what she was about to say, Jia Li took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “We…have heard tell that you harbor magical artifacts of great power, with the ability to, ah, cleanse evil from a vessel without destroying it. My best spies have garnered reliable information that she will be headed here under the pretense of peaceful negotiations before launching a full-scale attack sometime four to six months from now.”

“And your hope is that if she is tainted we might cleanse her during this faux peace talk, yes?” Celestia clarified, to which the golden maned dragoness nodded.

“She must have sent this lone attacker to gauge your strength. She will be more wary now, and take precautions to appear friendly during her talks; smaller guard, less weaponry, et cetera. This will be a golden opportunity.” The dragoness met both sisters’ eyes squarely, hoping to convince them with her sincerity. Luna frowned slightly.

“There are a couple of things that bother us. For one, why did the creature go straight for our sister?" The night princess began pacing. "Were we to stage an attack garnered to gather attention, we--apologies-- I would, well, attack the populace." She held up one deep blue hoof to stem the protest on her sister's face. "I know it is horrible, but look at it from this view point: an enemy afraid is easily divided. None but a few of the palace staff witnessed the attack. While word may spread, there is easier chance for the guard to conceal evidence and stifle rumors--"

"--but an attack on unsuspecting civilians would draw everypony's attention," Celestia interrupted, eyes calculating as she finally caught the thread of her sister's reasoning.

"Indeed sister," Luna nodded, her face a grim mask. "Perhaps even instill panic in the populace with a death toll, possibly in the hundreds as panicked ponies trampled others to escape, were it perpetrated in full day." Celestia grimaced.

"So why did it attack at night then?" Jia Li mused. "Or perhaps we should ask, 'why did the High Empress send it to attack you, and at night?' The guard is no less during night than day at the castle, and an attack during the day would at least ensure more witnesses." Though Luna had paused in her pacing, her hooves suserrated against carpet as she began again.
"Which brings me to my other concern. We know that the Empress has these fey, but you are not sure she is tainted, correct?” she probed, to which Jia Li reluctantly nodded.

“Her appearance has stayed the same until very recently. I have several theories about this, but no solid facts. You saw how twisted the karasu-tengu was, yes?” Celestia hummed.

“Yin thought it was because their alignment is Dark, thus enabling their appearance to be altered so quickly.” She provided, to which the Empress smiled fondly.

“That’s my girl, she always was talented with anything chi-related.” Li smiled with brief indulgence. “I believe the reason it took so long for the Empress to show is because she is a kirin, and thus her magical alignment is Light. However, that does not explain…Lien-Hua.” Here, she fought back tears. “My daughter’s…body…also has a darker appearance; however she showed outwardly within a few short months, despite our kind also being of a Light alignment. This leads me to believe the soul inhabiting the body carries a great deal of influence as well.”

“We see. Thou art implying the soul within is the source of the taint?” Luna questioned carefully, trying to understand the Queen’s hypothesis. Celestia frowned thoughtfully.

“Yin did not report any noticeable changes in appearance, but she did notice strange behavior from the Empress just after I left, followed by Lady Himeko a year later. This suggests that Lady Himeko was potentially infected well before stealing Lien’s body…”
Luna’s eyes lit up with sudden inspiration.

“This sounds rather similar to what we…experienced, over a thousand years ago. We believe it was triggered by our extreme emotions. Perhaps it is the same here…?” She mused, looking to her sister for her opinion.

“You have a point Luna. However, the rapid increase in infected indicates that this taint is viral, somehow.” Turning to the bronze Lóngrén, Celestia quizzed her. “Have your spies noted any other infected who have a close proximity with the High Empress or Lady Himeko? Ponies, or other kirin?” The Queen pursed her lips thoughtfully.

“Several of the kirin and pony generals directly under Commander General Himeko have exhibited drastic behavioral changes, but two ponies have changed notably.” Thinking, Celestia resumed her questions.

“What were their personalities like before?”

“Those generals had always struck me as bullies, and ambitious far beyond their ranks.” The queen recounted thoughtfully. “Though now they are downright vicious, and wield the political power they have as subtly as a sledgehammer.” Celestia hummed broodingly.

“Would you say they were especially magically powerful?” Luna stamped a hoof in realization when she saw where her sister’s thoughts were heading.

“Intensely dark thoughts, yes, Celestia? And the power to bring them to realization.” Luna concluded, to which her sister nodded.

“It is the only thing that connects at the moment. The generals’ ambition and spiteful behavior, twisted to cruelty and abuse of power. Lady Himeko’s jealously of the Lóngrén has driven her to murder and theft of another’s body… but she is not satisfied, I think. Perhaps the intended invasion of Lóngzhùzhái is due to her machinations? And the High Empress…” here Celestia trailed off, unwilling to put to words the crimes she had inflicted. Luna finished for her.

“Her fear of Yin’s mortality compelled her to mutate Yin, and her feelings--” Eyes widening; Luna eyes shot over to Celestia whose own face betrayed her shock as they both came to the same conclusion.

“What?” Jia Li blurted, her gaze jumping between the two in confusion.

“She must have loved her,” Luna breathed, somewhat astonished. “Somewhere deep down, she must have had intense feelings for Yin, for them to have become so twisted. Did Lady Hoshimi ever exhibit any kind of favoritism toward Yin?” Luna asked suddenly at she turned her head toward Empress Jia Li. Frowning, once in thought, her eyes widened with remembrance.

“Yes. She always insisted Yin speak informally with her when alone or with family, she gave Yin allowances no one else had except her sisters, she showered her with praise and affection…Yin was respectfully friendly with her, sometimes a little bashful as one is with a respected teacher, but always maintained a, how do I say this… a humble distance--” Celestia suddenly choked, causing her companions to look at her in bewilderment.

“I just…remembered something, is all,” she hedged, waving a hoof dismissively. “It’s not especially important. Either way, it seems clear the catalyst is dark emotions. Their magical--or chi-- alignment determines how quickly their appearance becomes altered, I think. Magical power designates infection susceptibility. At least this is something, to work with,” the Sun Princess muttered. “Now if only we could find the source…” Nodding, Luna turned to the door.

“We are going to give the investigative team our hypotheses. Good evening sister; cousin,” bowing politely toward the Empress, Luna exited her sister’s chambers. Turning to her bed, Celestia gazed worriedly at Yin, unaware of the narrowed eyes shrewdly dissecting the expression on her face.

“What was it that you remembered earlier, dear cousin?” she asked sweetly as Celestia flinched slightly. “I get the feeling it was of more importance than you are letting on.” Her voice was velvet steel, soft enough but brooking no avoidance. Eyes downcast, Celestia kept her gaze on Yin’s prone figure.

“Once… just days before I left the peace talks with Qiling… Lady Hoshimi approached me. We were just outside Yin’s practice room, listening to her play. She quietly listened for a few minutes, then casually mentioned how…open Yin was around me. I gave the noncommittal assurances that while Yin was free with friendly conversation, she was perfectly polite and professional with me; she was more than proficient at her job, and Hoshimi must be glad to have her loyalty and devotion. She was quiet for a minute, then turned and gave me the most peculiar glare. She said: ‘I have her loyalty, yes, but not her…devotion. Not like you do.’ Then she left. She practically sneered at me. I-I have a confession to make,” Celestia stammered, her voice fraught with nervousness as she finally turned to face the nigh immortal imperial dragon mother of her love interest. She felt as though the power of her sun was immolating the moisture in her mouth.
Puzzled, the Empress nodded for her to continue. “I am…in love with your daughter, Yinfâng.” A great uncomfortable silence ensued.

“You’re what?!” The dragoness shouted, only to wince as she looked over at Yin’s still sleeping figure. Meeting Celestia’s resolute gaze with her own shocked one, she hissed quietly. “Damn it, Celestia, she’s not—I don’t even—Gods, this is…” slowly the Queen exhaled, trying to calm her nerves. “Does she even know?” she finally asked, nodding toward Yin.

“She does. And she has…returned my affections,” Celestia offered cautiously, unsure how to gauge her figurative cousin’s reaction.

“She what?” The Queen exclaimed, quieter this time as she covered her eyes with her claws and bowed her head in exasperation. “Oh gods, this is so…wait…oh gods--” head shooting back up in alarm, she pierced the Sun Princess with a glare bordering on murderous. “You two didn’t--” she started, before Celestia cut her off hastily, Blushing as she waved her hooves in denial.

“No! No, we only, ah, kissed. And...cuddledonoccasion. Very, very discreetly,” she emphasized, somewhat mollifying the disgruntled Empress. “Though, looking back at Lady Hoshimi’s statement…she may have realized something was going on between us.” Looking somewhat abashed, Celestia frowned miserably. “She must have been jealous of me,” she surmised quietly, to which her companion sighed in agreement. After a moment of silence, draconic eyes met equine ones.

“What will you do now?” A sad voice murmured, as Celestia curled up on the floor next to her love.

“I will never give up on her. I have two of the brightest minds I know looking into a cure as we speak. I will not let her die like this.” Looking purposefully at her serpentine friend, Jia Li nodded permissively at the white alicorn. Licking her lips nervously again, Celestia’s gaze shifted briefly. “With your permission, Majesty, I would officially court your daughter.” Eyes lighting up mischievously, the Empress sat haughtily.

“And what are your intentions toward my daughter, young mare?” she intimidated, mock-glaring at the Sun Princess.

“I would…make her Solar Consort,” Celestia admitted quietly, ignoring the humor and surprising the Lóngrén out of her play-acting.

“You would give her a title under only your own and your sister’s?” she asked seriously, her mind already considering the advantages this would have for Lóngzhùzhái. Celestia once again looked at Yin, her eyes aglow with affection.

“Yes.” Carefully observing Celestia’s demeanor toward her daughter, Jia Li came to a decision.

“Save my daughter, Princess, and I will see to it that you have her pa-er, claw in marriage.” She declared, the overjoyed smile on Celestia’s face bringing one to her own as the princess leaned over to give her sleeping daughter a peck on the cheek. Turning, she decided to leave the sun princess alone with her daughter, and perhaps try to find her son. Really, that drake… she shook her head.

A few minutes after the door had clicked quietly shut, Celestia was startled out of her reverie by a quiet, hoarse voice.

“Is she gone yet?” Yin rasped one eye cracking open tentatively. Smiling, Celestia nuzzled Yin affectionately.

“Yes, she just left. Did we wake you?” she asked tenderly as she levitated a glass over to Yin for her to sip at. Leaning up slightly, Yin sipped from the proffered glass still in Celestia’s telekinetic grasp.

“Heard your voices, but couldn’t make out words. Where am I?” She asked blearily, glancing around the room.

“My room. Are you comfortable enough?” Celestia asked concernedly. Weakly collapsing back down to Celestia’s bed, Yin nodded.

“One thing though,” she demurred, smirking slightly. “I could use a nice warm pony to curl up next to.” Crooking a claw, she gestured for Celestia to lie next to her. Hesitating only slightly, Celestia removed her golden regalia and carefully settled next to Yin, who leaned back to curl into her side contentedly. “What did I miss?” she asked weakly, snuggling slightly into Celestia’s flowing mane. Celestia repressed the urge to shiver in delight, Yin’s fur felt luxuriously soft against her own.

“We were theorizing how the taint works. Your mother suspects that Lady Himeko and the Empress have both been infected.” Yin stiffened suddenly, alarming the alicorn curled around her. “Yin, are you alright?” Looking her over to make sure she wasn’t hurting her somehow, Celestia almost missed the terse whisper.

“She’s sure? Is High Empress Hoshimi really tainted?” Her pained voice eliciting a twinge in Celestia’s heart, the white alicorn brushed a hoof through silvery locks.

“She is not positive, but it is most likely,” Celestia offered carefully, unsure how Yin would take the idea.

“W-Would it be terrible of me to hope she is?” Yin whispered, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. “I respected her so much,” she quietly sobbed as a white hoof stroked her mane tenderly. “She was so kind to me. It hurts to think that her kindness was a façade. Did…did she ever really care? Or was I just an object of lust for her?”

“I think she genuinely liked and respected you,” Celestia assured quietly. “We theorized the taint twists and warps existing feelings into something dark. However, if we are right, it would mean she had strong feelings for you,” Celestia admitted, not liking the sting it gave her to do so. “Perhaps they were buried so deep she did not realize, but they must have been there.” Sighing, Yin curled up tighter.

“I never really noticed, but looking back…or maybe I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. She did dote on me more than anyone else in her court…it’s just, she was like this idol I looked up to, you know? The sort of being you aspired to be like, knowing you would never get there. But you still tried, and when she praised you for all you hard work, it was all worth it. It’s uncomfortable thinking that…well, that she wanted me that way when I just wanted her recognition and respect.” Humming in understanding, Celestia draped one wing over Yin comfortingly.

“We’ll figure it out. But first, we need to get you all fixed up. How are you feeling?” Celestia asked.

“Like I just finished one of father’s famous ‘ninth hell’ drills with lead-cored iron weights on,” Yin joked thinly, “but mostly alright. I just…feel so weak. Like I’m swimming deep underwater; everything just feels heavy.” She sighed tiredly. “Even breathing is kind of hard.”

“Oh, Yin… I wish you hadn’t tackled that tengu,” Celestia murmured sadly. “I’m thankful you did, but…well, the doctor said the strain of healing those wounds has weakened your body a great deal. You have to take it easy from here on out, alright?” at her noncommittal hum, Celestia tightened her feathered grip. “I mean it. Don’t leave the castle, and don’t strain yourself. You run the risk of shortening what little time you have left, and we need all the time we can get to find a cure. Promise?” she pressed, her voice insistent.

“I promise, Tia.” Yin turned and met her gaze warmly. “I’ll even let Hazuki spy on me for you, if you let me play every now and again. Deal?” Smiling, Yin cocked her head as best as she could in an effort to appear charming.

“Deal,” Celestia grinned. “Now get some sleep. I’m tired too, you know.” Sticking out her tongue playfully, Yin settled back down and contentedly drifted off to sleep, while Princess Celestia quickly penned a letter to her daughter before joining her in slumber.

Author's Note

Well, here you go. I know it's shorter than a few previous chapters, but to make up for it, here's a picture of Lady Hazuki! Still working on my cover art, unfortunately, but should have it done soon. (supposing I quit getting distracted by ponyfics) I'll post a link to a pic of Yin next chapter.

Guttering in the Wind

~ : --- : ~

They had all been enjoying a nice brunch together when Twilight decided to mention the letter. The Castle had been attacked, and only a swift intervention from Yinfâng had prevented Princess Celestia from being critically injured. Yin suffered a few bruises, lacerations, and one or two puncture wounds, but was otherwise uninjured. She had, of course, intentionally left out the fact that Yin was getting worse and had little time left. Needing to go to the castle to treat Yin, she explained she and Dawn had been summoned to examine the corpse of the creature that had attacked. Everyone was to look out for any creatures that seemed twisted or tainted somehow; it could be a prelude to an attack. Everypony said they’d keep a look out, and separated for the day, most having jobs to get back to. Applejack, worried for her family, decided to visit Twilight in the hopes she might have more information. When she got there, she had to wait for Twilight, who was busy packing, leaving her by herself. It was when she accidentally knocked over a few loose papers while skimming book titles that she caught sight of the letter-- and its contents. It was at that moment that Twilight and Dawn emerged from the basement, and knew the jig was up at the furious look in her eyes...

~ : --- : ~

It had been two days since Celestia had sent Twilight that letter when she finally got a reply. Twilight wrote that she, Spike, and Dawn would be arriving later that evening by train, and they had everything set to stay the next two weeks. They had warned the other Elements to keep an eye out for any corrupted creatures. Fluttershy was being especially diligent since she lived so close to the Everfree Forest and knew its denizens well. Celestia was glad they were on their way. Just last night, poor Yin had taken a turn for the worse…

~ : - : ~

She had been waiting for Yin on their balcony for over fifteen minutes now, and she was getting worried. Yin was almost as anal about punctuality as Twilight, and never missed their evening tea. It was one of the few times they got to have alone together with her busy schedule. Frowning slightly in the general direction of the sunset, she almost missed the sound of the glass doors to the balcony opening. Smiling happily, she turned to look at her beloved. What met her eyes made her gasp with fright. Yin barely stood upright, clinging weakly to the door frame in an effort to steady herself. She was shaking all over, as if she had been stuck outside in a blizzard for hours. If the weather hadn’t been a pleasant seventy degrees out with a light breeze, Celestia might have thought she was suffering from hypothermia.

“Tia, I…d-don’t feel so great…” she stammered, before collapsing to the balcony floor, grasping her stomach and moaning pitifully. Frantically rushing over to the shivering chimera, she nuzzled her desperately for a reaction.

“Yin, we need to get you in bed, you are not well at all. Come, up you get…” she tried to coax the prone chimera to her hooves, but all she got was a weak, pained mewl. Anxiously summoning Assam, she ordered the mare to fetch Dr. Mortar and to send him to her room immediately. Once the mare was gone, she teleported herself and Yin to her quarters, where she gently lay the silver-furred figure on her bed. It was a scant five minutes laden with worry later that she heard knocking on her door. Opening it, she found a frowning pony doctor on the other side. Silently she led him to her bed, where he began inspecting the shivering, unconscious chimera. He turned to Celestia with a grimace.

“These are the first stages of serious withdrawal. These attacks will come in fits at first, but will last longer the further it progresses.” Turning, he motioned for her to follow out of easy earshot of the Chimera. “I’m afraid there is little I can do for her at the moment. I will have to give her a smaller doses to start, as there is a high probability she will develop a resistance to it the more I give her. She will have to endure with this, for now.” Turning to look at Yin sorrowfully, Celestia nodded her understanding. There were limits on how high a dose the doctor could safely give her, and Yin would have greater need later, when the symptoms worsened. “I want her under observation. Is there a room nearby where we can put her? I will assign my best nurses to attend her hourly.” Shaking herself out of her reverie, Celestia nodded again more firmly and led him into the hall. There was a little sitting room she never used just down a ways; it could easily be converted into a comfortable medical observation room for Yin...

~ : - : ~

Sighing to herself, Celestia once again tried to turn her mind to the task at hoof, which was reviewing a debate over the ownership of a particular warehouse. How these things got so blown out of proportion they ended up on her desk and not a magistrate’s was beyond her. Once she finished it, she was free to visit Yin for a few minutes before she had to meet her daughters. Half an hour later saw her wrapping up the document and sealing it with wax, sighing slightly with relief that her day was almost over. Placing the scroll on her ‘out’ pile, she left her finished paper work to be gathered by Paper File and headed toward the Royal Wing. Careful to keep a decorous pace, Celestia broke into a brisk trot once she passed the great double doors to the Royal Apartments. Stopping in front of a rather non-descript room, she tapped lightly on the door to announce her presence.

“Hello Yin,” she greeted the figure curled on the bed warmly. “How are you holding up?” Carefully, she fluffed pillows and blankets around the chimera while she half-heartedly huffed in annoyance.

“I’m feeling much better today, Tia. The meds seem to be working alright. If my personal jailer gives the okay, can I play a bit today? Please? I’ll even play during daylight, promise!” Gazing at her imploringly, Celestia considered for a bit before nodding.

“Only if you get the okay from Nurse Lily,” Celestia affirmed sternly. “Use of The Face is not permitted. And no whining.” Giggling lightly at the slight pout on Yin’s feline face, she lightly pecked her on the nose. “Twilight and Dawn are headed here today; they’ll be staying for the next two weeks.” groaning, the Chimera buried her face in her pillow.

“Dawn’s going to chew me out, isn’t she?” she moaned belatedly, while Celestia chuckled ruefully.

“Probably. Just take it like a mare, it’ll be over before you know it,” she teased lightly, grinning at Yin’s comical dismay.

“Twilight isn’t the fussy type, is she?” Yin asked hopefully as the aforementioned nurse entered the room. “Nurse Lily, am I fit for not strenuous at all piano playing? I’ll even take it slow walking there, promise.” The almost blindingly white nurse with a pale blonde mane huffed.

“We’ll see. Sit up please. Now open up…your throat is fine, now breathe deep for me…” as she listened carefully to the breath Yin was inhaling, Celestia tried to cover her impatience. She wanted Yin there with her while she greeted her daughters, and they only had about half an hour for piano at this rate. Startled out of her reverie by a sudden bout of light coughing, Celestia whipped her head around to look at Yin worriedly. The nurse sighed as she put her stethoscope back around her neck. “Well you still have a serious shortness of breath, but if you promise to take it very easy… I suppose you can play for a little,” the nurse conceded, smiling as Yin grinned at Princess Celestia excitedly. “But,” she warned sternly, “At the first sign of trembling, I want her back here and lying down, understood?” Yin pouted as Celestia made her assurances before the two quit the room.

“Good gods, she’s such a mother hen,” Yin groused as the two headed toward the balcony at a rather sedate pace.

“You can’t blame her Yin, she’s just doing her job,” Celestia soothed, smiling sadly at Yin’s glum expression.

“I know. And seeing as how I seem to choke on air anymore…” Yin grumbled half-heartedly under her breath as she shambled slowly down the hallway, Celestia carefully keeping pace with her. It pained her to see Yin looking so delicate and…frail.
In her mind, Yin was the pinnacle of true strength; confined to a fragile mortal shell, yet she had seen her best opponents thrice her size with graceful ease! Yet underneath the stoic warrior was someone who loved flowers, and music. Perhaps that was what had drawn her toward the snow leopard in the first place. Either way, it hurt Celestia to see such a powerful soul wither away slowly like this, and worse: her helplessness to stop it.

At least, just yet. She had hope Twilight and Dawn might have something for her to go on, something to work with. She settled down on a large cushion to listen to Yin play, lost in her brooding thoughts and the melody wafting in the light breeze. A mere thirty-five minutes later, Celestia shook herself out of her contemplation; Twilight and Dawn would be here any second. Murmuring to Yin that she would be right back, she gave her a light peck on the ear and teleported to the Throne Room. Smiling inwardly as her Throne guards hardly flinched, she was sitting regally by the time the herald announced the arrival of her daughters. Smiling gently, she left the dais to greet her daughters with a hug. Perhaps she should have met them elsewhere, but...oh well. The Throne Room was tradition, sort of.

“Twilight, Dawn, it is wonderful to see you,” she smiled happily. Motioning for them to follow her, she left the multi-hued hall via the door this time. “I am glad you are staying here, I’m afraid Yin’s condition got a tad worse the other night,” Princess Celestia began explaining as they traversed back to the balcony.

“Pony feathers! It’s not bad is it?” Twilight exclaimed worriedly, her wings twitching in agitation as Dawn frowned.

“We’ll explain further once we get…oh my,” Princess Celestia murmured, trying to suppress a grin. The hallway was choked with ponies, all of them trying to get a glimpse of the piano playing chimera. Before when she had practiced it was early evening or midnight, there were very few ponies about then. However, the palace was thick with ponies during midday, and now it seemed all of them were gawking at her marefriend. ‘Or is it lady friend?’ Celestia mused. 'I suppose she’s not a mare, so to speak. Meh,’ she giggled at everypony’s incredulous stares dotted with the occasional amazed whisper. 'I guess it’s not every day they get to see a species with phalanges play the piano. It IS much more fun.’

“Pardon me everypony, I would like to get through please,” Princess Celestia politely announced. Contritely, the crowd began to disperse as the trio began making their way to the balcony. Once they finally entered the balcony, Yin had just wrapped up her piece. Turning to the snickering trio, she flicked her ears in annoyance.

“You’d think they’d never heard a piano before,” she griped with a roll of her eyes. Celestia smirked as she opened her mouth to dig playfully at Yin when she noticed the trembling.

“Come on Yin, we need to get you back to the room. You’re shaking,” she pointed out somberly while Twilight and Dawn exchanged worried looks. With a resigned nod from Yin, Celestia teleported them all to her temporary hospital room. Yin crawled back into her bed as Nurse Lily briskly entered the room and began examining her.

“You were just at your limit; take it easy and you should be okay. How do you feel?” she asked clinically, pulling out her stethoscope again.

“Just tired…I’m always tired anymore.” Yin mumbled, her breathing a little raspy.

“Hmm…sounds like you have some liquid in your lungs. Dr. Mortar warned this might happen; seems you have a mild case of pulmonary edema. I need to clear it out, but we can’t anesthetize you for the procedure, and without that you'd probably choke on the tube...hm. We’ll have to try coughing; even if it hurts, maybe we can get it out that way.” Nodding, Yin lay back for a minute to catch her breath. “You three best leave your Highness. It won’t be pretty,” Lily grimaced. Worriedly looking at Yin, Princess Celestia was about to protest when Yin stopped her.

“Please, Celestia. I hate you seeing me like this,” Yin sighed as she closed her eyes, her breathing getting rougher. “Please,” she whispered hoarsely, sounding close to tears. Bowing her head in defeat, Celestia acquiesced.

“Alright,” she whispered sadly. “Follow me please, girls,” she intoned, dejectedly plodding out the door. Her daughters followed with meek hoof steps, throwing the occasional glance back, but not wanting to bother their suffering friend. Just as the door clicked shut they heard wracking coughs coming from the room, quickly devolving into wet-sounding hacking. Wincing collectively, they quietly headed down the hall to Celestia’s room. Once safely inside, Celestia sighed deeply in an effort to stifle her inevitable tears.

“What happened? She wasn’t nearly this bad earlier,” Dawn started, her visage a mask of ill-concealed worry.

“The wounds she incurred protecting me were too much of a strain on her already stressed body,” Celestia explained slowly. “While trying to heal the physical wounds the poison was left unchecked, causing g-greater…” Choking on the tears she could no longer restrain, Celestia practically collapsed onto her bed, weeping.

“It’s my fault! If I had just fought back instead of panicking--” The princess fumed, stomping a hoof on her mattress furiously. “She’s just so weak… I can tell how much it hurts her pride.” Gently, Twilight and Dawn surrounded their mother, offering what little comfort they could. The three sat there for a moment, drawing solace from each other before Celestia finally pulled away with a shuddering breath. “Thank you girls. I really needed that. Now please, tell me you have some good news.” Her magenta eyes a mix of desperation and hope as they shared a look, Twilight nodding and clearing her throat.

“I think we do. We found that the toxins could be purified by emulating a spell similar to the innate magics found in kirin’s horns.” Twilight announced.

“However,” Dawn interjected before Celestia could shout with joy. “The only problem we found is that in order for the spell to work, the blood must be in physical contact with the horn. The spell is too weak otherwise.”

“Indeed. Increasing the power only killed off vital cells; we think the poison has simply been in her system too long,” Twilight finished, sadly meeting her mother’s eyes.

“Can we run her blood through a magical dialysis?” Celestia questioned determinedly. The sisters exchanged another worried look.

“We thought of that, but…” Twilight petered off, unable to voice the catalyst of her mother’s possible heart-break.

“The spell takes an hour to work without damaging any blood cells. We don’t think the blood can be cycled through quickly enough for her to survive.” Dawn admitted, one hoof lightly pawing the floor in suppressed irritation. “Rushing the process left too much toxic residue, and in all probability would strain her immune system too much to fight off the remains.” Celestia growled in frustration.

“There must be some way we can make it work!” she exclaimed as she began to pace around her room in frustration. Twilight gave a Fluttershy-worthy ‘um’ as Dawn nudged her with an elbow.

“P-perhaps if we could get a better look at how the spell actually works…?” she suggested timidly, her mother pinning her with a slightly perplexed expression while Dawn rolled her eyes at her sister’s hesitation.

“We’ve only tested a spell similar to what we’ve found referenced. If we could see how the spell actually works, we might be able to make a better working version,” she explained as Twilight nodded in agreement. “Maybe you can talk to the High Priestess, Lady Hazuki for us?” She suggested, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. Celestia looked at her blankly for a moment before what she was asking clicked.
“You wish me to ask Lady Hazuki to show you how the innate purification magic in her horns work?” She clarified, wanting to make sure she was on the same page, so to speak, as her daughters. They nodded in unison. Princess Celestia pursed her lips in thought. “To save Yinfâng’s life, I think she will accommodate you. If she asks that you swear silence on how it works after, or wants a memory modification spell performed in return, I ask that you comply. Is that alright with you two?” Nodding more enthusiastically now, her daughters agreed. Smiling as she excused herself, Princess Celestia left to request an audience with Lady Hazuki, a tiny sliver of hope growing in her chest.

__ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . __

It was just after Day Court that found Princess Celestia briskly walking down the hallway to Yin’s room. Her day had been beyond frustrating so far. She'd had an early morning meeting with the Cabinet Ministers and as such was unable to take breakfast with Yin like usual, followed by court and paperwork-- which she postponed for later. She wouldn't be able to meet with Hazuki until early evening, as she was busy meeting with the ponies in charge of Foreign Affairs. Eager to see her love, and sure the poor thing was probably bored out of her mind, Celestia was rather surprised when she heard laughter and music coming from Yin’s room. Slowing to a puzzled stop outside the door, she politely knocked to announce her presence.
“Yinfâng, may I come in?” She asked while listening to various shuffling noises behind the door.

“Certainly Princess Celestia,” Yin announced as a someone opened the door for her from the inside. Entering the room, she was slightly surprised to find five Lóngrén crowded around Yin’s bed, all bowing politely at her entrance. Yin spoke to them in Qilinese and they all broke out of their bow, smiling welcomingly at the Princess. One in the corner with a sea-green mane and deep teal scales spoke first.

“Your Highness, on behalf of the Lotus Guard we extend our deepest gratitude for helping Lady Yinfâng. She is a cherished comrade of ours.” Every Lóngrén in the room once again bowed their heads briefly, making Yin blush a little through the tiny smile on her face.

“Tia, these are my friends and comrades-in-arms,” she started, smiling as Celestia drew closer. One with a guitar in his claws struck a chord.

“And her band family!” He interjected playfully, earning a few laughs from the others in the room.

“That too,” Yin admitted cheerfully as Celestia gave her a brief hug and sat near the bed, earning puzzled looks from the others in the room. “It’s all Sheng’s fault, naturally. He always dragged me along to his band sessions-- and out clubbing-- when he could get away with it. They grew on me eventually.” She smirked.

“Yeah, like a fungus,” joked the jade-green female curled up behind Yin on the bed. Everyone including Celestia laughed at her playfully acerbic tone, breaking the ice for light conversation.

“So you play in a band?” Celestia asked Sheng, who blushed bashfully at the attention from the corner he was tucked in.

“Yes, erm, your Highness. When I was younger, I complained that the twins got to play an instrument and I didn't. And of course I didn't like the ones my parents picked out, and stubbornly insisted on a guitar, because it was cool."

"Such an uncouth instrument for a prince," Yin joked, affecting a snooty air. "You bring shame on your family's great legacy." Sheng rolled his eyes, then with a nervous huff bowed toward Celestia again.

"I, uh, I’m really sorry about my shameful behavior in the Throne Room a few days ago. Thanks for preventing me from scarring Yin’s face—more than it already is,” he added sourly, lightly jabbing his little sister. “I still can’t believe you let a Shisa get a swipe at you,” he complained, earning good-natured eye rolls all around. Yin huffed at him in annoyance.

“I told you, I still wasn’t used to my new limbs. You try going from claws to hooves and see how well you dodge on slippery stone,” Yin groused as Celestia chuckled. “Besides, I think it makes me look badass. Scars are in, I’ll have you know.” The jade dragon hummed teasing agreement, circling Yin closer.

“Yeah, sexy badass scars,” she purred, tweaking Yin’s earrings. “Now you’ll finally find the girl of your dreams. All it took was you nearly losing an eye. Hey Po!” She called over to the teal Lóngrén. “You’re still single yeah? I have the solution to your bachelor issues,” she joked, flexing a claw and earning a playful elbow jab from Yin and scoffs from the rest.

“Don’t be so quick to judge Yin, she does have a point,” Celestia teased, “You did manage to snag somepony’s attention.” Her suggestive smile was lost amongst wide eyes and incredulous gasps from the rest.

“Yin, are you...dating someone?” a light blue dragon accused as Sheng glared at him from across the room.

“Don’t be silly Fai. Yin’s not dating anyone, right?” He grinned nervously as he turned to pin his sister with a desperate stare. His expression grew alarmed when Yin avoided his gaze and remained silent, amongst the whistling from his peers.

“Aw, is big bro jealous?” the female harassed teasingly while Yin and Celestia exchanged a brief glance.

“Shut up Yue, I am not!” Sheng blustered while his friends grinned at his discomfort. He was often teased for having a ‘little sister complex’. “I just…didn’t think anyone would catch her eye, is all! I mean, any little sister of mine must have very high standards!” Celestia giggled demurely from her seat next to Yin. Yin was at just the right height for her to wrap a friendly foreleg around her shoulders.

“She does have very high standards, doesn’t she?” Celestia sighed. “Fortunately, princesses are considered quite the catch these days. Though I must say, I think I got the better end of the deal,” Grinning mischievously, she drew Yin in for a chaste kiss with her other hoof while the rest just stared incredulously as Yin happily returned it. Sheng choked on his slightly affronted sense of propriety while the males hooted and whistled at the two lovers. Yue and one other dark blue dragon shook their heads at the crass display, though they sported small grins on their faces.

“How in the nine hells did you manage to snag a near-immortal sun princess?!” a burnt orange joshed, impressed despite himself.

“My incredible charm and wit,” Yin patronized smugly, rather looking like a cat with a huge bowl of pilfered cream.

“Though really, that dashing scar clinched the deal for me,” Celestia confided with a peck on Yin’s cheek as the others laughed along.

“Seriously?” Sheng blurted, still reeling from the shock. “Since when?”

“Oh, since about eighty or so years ago,” Celestia confessed. “We had that unfortunate break in between then and now, but we’re going to give it another go.” She smiled warmly at Yin, who returned it with one of her own. It was, unfortunately, just at that moment that there was a commotion at the door as somepony barged in rather rudely without knocking.
Applejack stood in the doorway, looking rather like an angry blonde rockslide with the remaining elements just behind her. Too upset to acknowledge anyone else in the now very crowded room, her eyes locked on Yin and narrowed dangerously.

“What’s this Ah hear ‘bout you dyin’ now, Sugarcube?” She asked her syrupy sweet tone of voice doing nothing to hide the steel edge underneath. Yin gulped in the brief silence, before draconic voices erupted in incredulous surprise. The cat was out of the bag, so to speak. Next to her, Princess Celestia sighed and thunked her face with one gold-shod hoof in frustration. They needed this unfolding drama like another parasprite infestation.

Between rumbling Lóngrén voices demanding to know what the orange mare was talking about, and the Element bearers trying to get their two bits in, the room got very loud very quickly.

“If everyone could please just calm down-” Celestia tried to project over all the shouting, but her voice was drowned out by the tumult of yelling. Growling in frustration as her polite attempts utterly failed, she was about to use the Royal Canterlot Voice when Yin saved her the trouble in the form of a hacking cough that brought everyone to an absolute standstill.

“ ‘M okay,” she wheezed, before doubling over into another bout of coughs and clutching her middle with a weak groan. Glaring around the room, Celestia rushed them out with a couple sweeps of her wings, everyone looking very contrite as they meekly filed out the door. Nurse Lily, who had been standing just outside the door, gave her a grateful look before hustling into the room and closing the door with a firm click. Rounding on everyone furiously, Celestia cut off Applejack before she could speak.

“You are all aware that Yinfâng is ill! Your behavior in there was reprehensible, and I will not tolerate a repeat.” She turned her glare to every gaze in the room, mulish expressions turning cowed under her ire. “Now, as I’m sure you all have questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability. However, there are certain details you need not concern yourself with, so anything I do not share will remain unanswered,” Princess Celestia started, before Prince Sheng politely cleared his throat.

“Our apologies your Highness, for our rudeness. Yinfâng needs her rest, so we will retire to our quarters for the night, where I will field my subordinate’s questions myself.” At her nod of assent his entourage bowed and left, leaving Sheng standing alone as he pinned her with a pleading expression. “Please, take care of my little sister.” As the ponies gaped in bewilderment, Celestia nodded firmly before turning with a disapproving glance at her ponies. To their credit, they all looked properly chastised; especially Applejack, who winced as a muffled bout of hacking filtered through the door. Suppressing a wince herself, Celestia motioned for them to join her a little further from the door into a small alcove with a large view of the night sky. Admiring her sister’s work for a moment, Celestia spoke.

“My little ponies, I know you are all concerned for Yin, and I appreciate the sentiment. However, there are reasons we did not share this information with you, and I would appreciate it if you kept this quiet.” She turned to look at the group of mares huddled together uncertainly when Applejack spoke up.

“Ah only caught a glimpse ‘o that letter when it fell Princess. Please, won’t ya tell us what’s wrong with Yin?” Her pleading expression matching everyone else’s softened Celestia’s gaze.

“Yin was forced into taking a drug while under the Empress’ control for eighty long years, which has accumulated enough to become fatal. I cannot say any more than that, it is not my place.” Princess Celestia averted her gaze, but everypony could see the pain in her eyes.

“That’s what Twilight and Dawn were working on, wasn’t it?” Rainbow asked quietly. “They were trying to find a cure.” Celestia nodded in affirmation.

“Indeed, and we have high hopes yet. However, she is in a delicate state right now, since the withdrawal symptoms have started asserting themselves.” She turned back to the window in agitation. “They are only coming in fits at the moment, but soon she will be in constant agony. I would have sent for you in a few days, but...what's done is done. It is best to visit her now while she is still coherent, but please do all you can to avoid exciting her too much.” Hesitantly, Fluttershy spoke up.

“Isn’t there some medicine you can give her? Painkillers, or herbal remedies?” she asked quietly.

“We are trying to hold out on that while we can. Her kirin part makes her very resilient to both poisons and medicines, thus she will grow immune after too many dosages.” The Princess explained while Rarity piped up.

“Then why didn’t she develop immunity to the drug?” Rarity inquired, her refined voice laced with confusion.

“Because the drug used was so highly toxic to her leopard part,” Celestia clarified. “If it weren’t for her kirin half, she probably would have died minutes after eating the first bloom.” Several muffled gasps echoed behind her. “And unfortunately, the same drug is highly addictive to her dragon half. That, more than anything, is what’s k-killing her right now.” Celestia could not disguise the anguish in her voice as it cracked with barely repressed emotion. “If you would like to stay, I will have some rooms set up for you. I have some business to attend to, so if you will excuse me…” With that, Princess Celestia smiled tightly at the mares before leaving for Hazuki’s rooms. She had a very important question to ask.

__ . . . :*: . . . __

Resolutely she approached Lady Hazuki’s door, hopeful determination writ on her face. Tapping against the door politely, she announced herself.

“Lady Hazuki? I wish to speak with you privately, may I enter?” she called, trying to maintain a calm façade.

“Certainly, Princess Celestia, Please come in,” the kirin’s soft voice announced. Pushing the door open with one gold-shod hoof, Celestia entered the darkened room. She found Hazuki huddled on the floor in front of a smoldering fireplace, the logs long since turned to glowing coals. Carefully, Celestia lay near her friend in a silent bid for comfort. “How is she?” Hazuki murmured, her voice hoarse from crying. Celestia had to repress a nicker of sympathy; the meeting must have brought up some painful memories.
"I haven’t really been to visit since the attack, I-I couldn’t stand to see her suffering…” she muffled a sob as Celestia wrapped one white-plumed wing around her friend’s withers comfortingly.

“I don’t blame you. It kills me a little inside every time, and she’s…she’s slowly getting worse,” Celestia grimaced. “The withdrawal symptoms are finally starting to kick in. You should go visit her, I know she would like to see you.”
“Perhaps,” Hazuki mumbled, uncertainty lingering in the silence that stretched between them. “I just, feel so awkward around her family,” she admitted. “After all, I’m the sister of her rapist and attempted murderess. I can hardly stand to look Li in the face,” she whimpered as she bowed her head in shame.

“Oh Hazuki, it’s not your fault,” Celestia soothed. “You weren’t even there, and when you came back, you did your best to get her out.” The Princess nuzzled her friend with gentle affection. The sat there in companionable silence until Hazuki spoke up again.

“How did you two get so close?” she asked curiously, but with some hesitation. She didn’t want to nose into anything too personal. She had been gone for two years already when Celestia visited, and never got to see them interact back then. Celestia chuckled fondly at the memory.

“I had just arrived at Thousand Cranes Palace to meet with Hoshimi. It had been two hundred years since our last meeting, you may remember, and I wanted to update our alliance… as you know though, my timing could have been better.” Hazuki snorted, knowing what Celestia was referring to. “I had been trying to get that stubborn kit to open up to me for a week when we were attacked. My wing had been injured and we fell off the cliff by the main gardens…I guess we bonded then, and slowly grew closer over the next two years.” The sun princess sighed, and Hazuki was unable to interpret the expression on her face. It was a strange mixture of exasperation, happiness, and longing. “I guess I just found something in her that completed me,” She finished lamely, unable to fully express that wonderful fluttering wholeness she felt around Yin. Hazuki smiled happily at her, glad her two good friends had found happiness in each other. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Hazuki finally pulled herself together enough and looked at Celestia curiously.

“So, to what do I owe this surprise visit?” She asked with a warm smile, glad nonetheless for the alicorn’s company. Celestia returned it with only the slightest trepidation; after all, this was a rather delicate question she was about to ask. However, Yin was completely worth it she sanctioned, steel in her eyes.

“I have some good news,” she started, a genuine smile on her face. “My daughters have found the key to a cure for Yin--” She was abruptly cut off by a squealing kirin, who had promptly latched her forelegs in a vise grip around Celestia’s neck.

“Oh, I knew you could do it!” Hazuki crowed, newly shed tears of hope streaming down her face. “Whatever you need, just name it,” she vowed, bringing a rather embarrassed look to the Princess’ face.

“That was rather why I’d come this evening,” she hedged, averting her gaze from Hazuki’s earnest yet puzzled face. “However… My request is a little, ehm…” she trailed off, unsure how to word this request.

“Oh, just spit it out,” Hazuki admonished with a quirk of her lips. “You won’t offend me if it will truly save Yin’s life, I promise.” Calming her nerves, Celestia met Hazuki’s gaze with determination.

“I need the secret to the innate purification spells in your horns,” she requested as neutrally as she could, gauging the kirin’s reaction. A cacophony of emotions flitted across the pale green mare’s face; from surprise to anger, then indignation to contemplation, to finally rest upon a slightly rueful determination.

“I wish I had thought of that before, though I doubt I could have made it work.” She huffed disdainfully. “Unless of course Yin can survive with her entire blood supply in a large bowl while I purified it,” she mused while Celestia pinned her with an unamused stare. Hazuki sat in introspective silence, while the Sun princess did her best not to fidget like a filly in an itchy dress. Finally, Hazuki met her gaze once again. “There is no real spell, as it is intrinsically woven into the bone matter of a kirin's horn; horns, in my case. Nonetheless, I think I may be able to teach you how to imitate it,” She conceded, grinning a little at the infectiously hopeful smile on Celestia’s face. “However, I ask that you tell no one I have taught you this, and that you must never teach it to another. Not even your daughter,” she stressed, her face an implacable mask of seriousness. “I could get in a great deal of trouble if the Council finds out I have taught this to and outsider, and one who is not a kirin no less.” Nodding in grave understanding, Celestia bowed her head.

“I swear upon Faust and the Great Creator that I will not tell anyone of this, or reveal the secret to anyone,” the Sun Princess pledged solemnly, meeting Hazuki’s gaze with her own as the subtle tingle of a Geas settled over the two. Nodding in acceptance Hazuki rose to her hooves, looking forlornly at her door.

“Before we get down to business, I think…I would like to visit Yin.” She murmured, to which Celestia hummed in sympathetic understanding. Due to all of the necessary trips to Lóngzhùzhái to visit the Great Dragon Temple, the kirin had been an aunt of a sort to the Lóngrén Royal Family. Seeing Yin like this must be very hard for her.

“I shall accompany you to Yin’s door,” Celestia offered, wanting to be close to her beloved but not wanting to intrude upon their privacy. The two made their way down the hall to Yin’s room with a purposeful step in their gait. Though she was sorely tempted to curl up next to Yin, she waited outside in the hall to allow the two to talk alone. It was a good twenty minutes later that Hazuki emerged from Yin’s room, gently closing the door behind her.

“She is sleeping now,” she informed Celestia. “I think it is best that we let her rest.” Nodding in agreement, the two quietly made their way back to Hazuki’s chambers, Celestia politely ignoring the dried tear tracks on Hazuki’s face even as her curiosity burned. She had more important things to worry about. Tomorrow was a new day, and she couldn't wait to raise the sun.

< - - - * - - - >

“Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia ,Monarch of Equestria and Guardian of the Sun!” Her vanguard cried as she landed in her chariot upon the wide, sturdy balcony entering into the main Throne Room of the Court of Empress Hoshimi. Dismounting, she gracefully approached the Empress, resplendent in her natural flame tinted fur. She was adorned only in the phoenix-feathered headdress and stiffened collar that was the emblem of her Legislative position in the Triarchy. Her cloven hooves were sheathed in stiffened silk boots with golden brocade, softening her hoofsteps to a quiet susurration. Standing before each other with a single guard on their right, they bowed politely and smiled before greeting.

“Your Majesty, it is wonderful to see you again,” Princess Celestia voiced warmly as Hoshimi grinned back, her eyes crinkling in delight.
“And you as well Princess Celestia. It has been far too long since your last visit. Some two hundred years, I believe.” Her expression suddenly turned serious, as she motioned for Celestia to follow her. Slowly they walked side by side, approaching a garden just on the opposite side of the hall from the Throne Room. Entering it, Empress Hoshimi bade her guard wait at the entrance and Celestia followed suit as they both strolled through the well-manicured trees. At Celestia’s questioning look, the Empress sighed tiredly. “I am afraid your timing could have been better. We are still recovering from a terrible war, and surprise attacks are not yet unheard of,” Hoshimi stated grimly. “The daemons broke through the barrier at the foot of the Mountain of the Gods. We repelled them, but Hazuki is there now to renew the wards. She will be absent from our discussions, her task is one that may take a few decades.” Celestia nodded slowly in grim understanding. She herself had no immediate impending enemies looming in her horizon, the spells on the Gate of Tartarus and Discord’s stone prison were running strong. Her beloved Equestria had experienced peace for nearly one thousand years, but her neighbors had not been so lucky. “I know you have competent guards, but I’m afraid none of them have combat experience against demons; especially these ones. You have not seen such monstrosities as these,” she whispered, horror etching her voice. Shaking herself from her reverie, Hoshimi once again met Celestia’s gaze. “That is why I am assigning you a personal guard during your stay here, one who fought in the war. She hails from Lóngzhùzhái itself.”
“She?” Celestia interrupted in surprise. Female guards were rather rare in Equestria at the moment, it being fashionable for stallions to be career guardponies this century. Though Ryujin were arguably one of the strongest races she knew of. Empress Hoshimi grinned in amusement.

“Oh yes. She has a great deal of combat experience against even the strongest daemons, and is one of the best warriors I have yet had the privilege of working with. Yin, Attend,” she called officiously, to which Celestia was startled to see a creature appear before her in the blink of an eye.

“You flatter me, Your Majesty,” a husky voice murmured, as one of the most beautiful creatures Celestia had ever seen bowed before them. She was feline, with a stunning silvery-grey coat dotted with black rosettes; certainly not the dragon Celestia had been expecting. She wore an ornate chest-plate and helm that framed her face and black-tipped ears very fetchingly, a matching pair of leg guards encircling her fore and hind legs just above her paws. A single plumed phoenix feather adorned her helm, denoting her as being directly under the Empress’ command. Her chestplate was even emblazoned with the Empress’ Cutie mark, a taiji surrounded by the Eight Triagrams. When she finally straightened and met their gazes, Celestia was awed by the pale shade of almost jade green that met her own magenta orbs. The snow leopard—for that’s what she was—smiled shyly then bowed before her again, briefly this time. “It is a pleasure to meet you Your Highness. My name is Yinfâng, and I will be your body guard and guide during your stay here.” Celestia smiled warmly, rather pleased she did not have to look down too far to meet her gaze.

“The pleasure is all mine, Yinfâng. I look forward to working with you.” Yin smiled politely once more, then turned and bowed to the Empress.

“I will Shadow you while you conduct your business, Majesty. Once the day is done I shall escort the Princess to her quarters.” She stated as she straightened once more. The Empress nodded regally.

“Yin, you may use my name freely when in Princess Celestia’s presence,” she admonished lightly with a small smile on her face, the aforementioned raising an eyebrow at the breach in etiquette. Hoshimi was usually so...stuffy. Yinfâng scrunched her nose, giving her face a rather kittenish look that Celestia found adorable.

“As you say, Hoshimi-sama,” she acquiesced. “Though I really shouldn’t act so familiar with Your Most Radiant Holiness. What will the Nobility think if they overhear?” Yin grinned to show she was only jesting, earning a light titter from Hoshimi.

“Well, Princess Celestia will keep our little secret, won’t you?” she asked coyly, to which Celestia met with an equally coquettish smile.

“Oh certainly, Your Majesty. My lips are sealed.” Grinning, she turned her gaze to Yinfâng with a subtle wink, which the feline answered with a bashful smile. And was that a… blush? How cute! Ducking her head nervously, Yin bowed once again.

“With your leave, Majesty; Highness,” she mumbled, before vanishing once again. Celestia turned to face her friend.

“She’s rather shy for an almighty warrior, isn’t she?” she asked as they made their way back to the Palace proper. Hoshimi grinned wryly as a hibiscus bloom suddenly floated down onto Celestia’s nose. Celestia looked up in confusion; there weren’t any hibiscus plants above her, or even near her.

“She can hear you, you know,” the Empress grinned as Celestia removed the flower with her magic. “Besides, snow leopards are reclusive by nature.”
“Oh indeed,” Celestia humphed lightly, eyeing the bloom before delicately beginning to munch on it. “At least she had good taste in flowers.”

Author's Note

Hey there! As promised, a link to a picture of Yinfâng. Let me know what you think. :twilightsmile:

By the way, when I finally get the cover art done, don't expect quite the same level of detail. :twilightblush:

Memories

Celestia smiled to herself as she slowly woke from her dream. She could feel a distant tug in her magic, but had woken somewhat earlier than normal, and had a good ten minutes before she had to raise the sun. Her dream last night had been a pleasant one, of her first meeting with Yinfâng. The princess rolled over, luxuriating in a few precious moments in bed. The dream still lingered, bringing other memories drifting through her sleep-fogged mind...

~ : --- : ~

They had just exited a very long summit meeting, and Celestia was tired, a tad sore, and famished. Why couldn't they pad those chairs a bit better? After an hour or five, they got a little uncomfortable. Yin sidled up next to her, offering a thinly veiled look of sympathy.

"Oh Yin, there you are," the princess smiled. "How are you feeling? You sat there like a statue for the whole thing." Celestia had shot her subtle glances throughout, hoping her quick eye rolls and other minor antics might elicit a reaction. All she got was stony silence, and a tiny ear-twitch or two. Though she could have sworn the stoic feline had smirked at a particularly acerbic retort Celestia had muttered under her breath. The Noble talking at the time had been particularly full of himself, and had one of the dullest voices she'd ever heard.

"Quite fine, your Highness. I'm used to it. Is there anything I can get for you? I know those chairs can be rather uncomfortable after a few hours." Celestia hummed to herself.

“How about a bite to eat, for starters?" She suggested, grinning when the feline's stomach rumbled at the mention of food. "I insist you dine with me." Yin spluttered, shaking her head in denial, offering weak excuses until Celestia interrupted her. "Come now, I promise I don't bite. And this way, you can ensure my food is untouched, yes?" The leopard hesitated, but when her stomach rumbled again, she bowed her head in defeat.

"Shall we head to the Dining Hall then, your Highness?" She asked, pausing on her way there when Celestia shook her head.

"I'd like to eat someplace a bit more...private, if possible," she asked, voice hesitant. She didn't want to overstep her boundaries as a visiting dignitary, but she'd had plenty of loud talking today and wanted a bit of quiet. Yin gave her an appraising look.

"I think I know a place. Right this way, we'll stop by the kitchens on the way there." Yin suggested, gesturing politely for Celestia to follow her. “I know it may not be what you’re used to, but…”
Celestia managed to eke out a bit of small talk as Yin led them to the kitchens, where she motioned for Celestia to wait for a moment while she slinked through the double doors hidden inconspicuously down an adjacent hallway. Reappearing a few moments later grasping a parcel wrapped in a brightly colored cloth, she furtively looked down the hallway and motioned for Celestia to follow her. Stepping quickly, Celestia followed the leopard enthusiastically, feeling like a filly again as they snuck off to eat potentially ill-gotten foodstuffs. Rounding a corner sharply, Yin snuck through a tiny hidden doorway that Celestia would never have noticed if Yin hadn’t shown her where it was. Glancing about the hallway to make sure no one saw her, Celestia quickly slipped through the door to find herself in a tiny courtyard. It was very serene, with well-trimmed flora abound and a small burbling brook feeding into an equally small pond in one shaded corner occupied by a very large weeping willow. Seeing Yin sitting on a small patch of grass, she made her way through the winding pathway to join her on a rectangle of cloth she recognized as the parcel’s wrapping. Spread out before her were several square dishes filled with rows of small white cylinders of rice, each filled in the middle with an assortment of vegetables.

“What a lovely garden,” Celestia commented, glancing around her at the well-kept grounds. “I never would have known this was here, if you hadn’t taken me here.” She smiled, meeting Yin’s expression evenly with gratitude as she smiled back.

“Most don’t know it even exists,” Yin admitted as she pulled out a small dish and filled it with a dark liquid. “When viewed from above it just seems to be one big tree, and others prefer the grander gardens over this rather humble one. I find it very tranquil here though, and often come here to meditate.” She explained, scooping out a tiny portion of a green paste and mixing it into the dark liquid with a pair of sticks. “Here, have you ever used chopsticks before?” she asked, proffering a matching pair of sticks to the princess.

“I must confess, I have not,” Celestia stated, taking hold of them in her magic and watching with interest as Yin grasped them delicately in her paw like a pair of pincers. Watching her for a moment, Celestia quickly got the idea and only slightly clumsily clasped one of the rolls and brought it to her mouth. “Oh!” She exclaimed as she chewed on her morsel. “This is quite good! What is it, exactly?” She asked, taking another roll.

“They’re commonly called Kappa maki. They’re a mix of vegetables, usually including cucumbers rolled in sushi nori and jasmine rice. They’re also commonly made with crab, but I wasn’t sure if you partook of shellfish, so…” Yin trailed off sheepishly, making Celestia grin reassuringly.

“That’s alright; I can’t say I’ve ever had any. Shellfish are not a common food in Equestria, as I’m sure you know. However, I’m not opposed to trying it sometime,” she offered, eyeing the sauce. “So what’s in that?” she asked, nodding to the dark sauce.

“Oh, this is soy sauce with a bit of wasabi mixed in…” Yin began explaining cheerfully, as the two slowly whiled away the remaining hours with talk and laughter. Ending the day with the setting of the sun, Yin once again escorted Princess Celestia to her room and bade her goodnight.

~ : --- : ~

As she finally dragged herself out of bed and stepped out onto her balcony, she saw the edge of Selene slip beneath the horizon cradled in her sister's magic. She waited until Luna had properly settled the stars, leaving the land bathed in an absolute darkness as her horn glowed golden. Raising her beloved Sol from its slumber, she watched as the land was slowly bathed in shining rays of warmth. She ambled back inside to her desk, where she found a scroll tied with an orange ribbon: the color code for 'important, read as soon as possible'. Opening the scroll, she noted it was from the head scientist at the castle labs. Apparently they hadn't gotten very far in the autopsy before the corpse began to deteriorate, slowly collapsing into ashes. They were running the remains through some tests, but had nothing conclusive to offer on either the species or its magical signature. Disappointed, Celestia tossed the scroll back on her desk with a frustrated sigh. Yin was not going to be happy about the news. Speaking of Yin, she perked with a grin; it was time for breakfast, and she wanted to surprise her beloved with breakfast herself this morning. Perhaps even join her! As she ran a brush through her mane and exited her chambers, her thoughts drifted back to the attack of the mysterious beast. How the tips of its feathers seemed to trail a thin smoke, and its eyes glowed like malevolent embers... She shuddered, reminded of another enemy with similarities, though ten times worse...

~ : --- : ~

Yin had received news her family had arrived at the palace, and her sisters had requested they meet up in the main gardens. Unable to leave Celestia, the leopard turned to Celestia with hopeful eyes.

“Would you like to meet my sisters?” Yin asked, melting Celestia's heart with the kitten-ish look she was being assaulted with. What else could she do, but nod happily and hum in response. As she followed Yin down the hallway from the palace dojo to the main gardens, she couldn’t help but watch as Yin sauntered down the hallway. There was just something hypnotizing about the way she walked… As they entered the garden, Celestia was shaken out of her stupor when Yin called out for her sisters.

“Lien-Hua! Bao-Yu, where are you?” She shouted joyfully as she glanced around the garden. Celestia quested around herself as well, trying to catch a glimpse of a dragon or two. She never even noticed the tension in the atmosphere until Yin abruptly appeared next to her, hackles up. “Princess, please get back inside,” she growled, startling the princess with her deep tone. “Something feels wrong-” A terrible cacophony suddenly split the air, making Celestia jump and Yin crouch in a protective stance in front of her. Even though Princess Celestia’s Royal Guards and the Imperial Guards were never too far away, they were unable to breach the ring of daemons that had unexpectedly appeared in the gardens. Celestia froze in horror, her mind violently trying to deny the existence of the creatures in front of her.

They all seemed comprised of burning ash and shadow, strange mixtures of creatures that were grotesque and misshapen. Their eyes were only empty pits of a malignant flame, freezing her with dread. The next few moments seemed to happen in a blur. The three creatures poised to strike her from the right collapsed with torn throats, as the ones to her left were smashed into the stonework of the pathway, their skulls crunching audibly. Yin appeared before her again, splattered with a lightly smoking dark ichor that stank slightly of sulfur and iron. Before she could regroup, several more emerged from shadowy tears that materialized in the air. Growling menacingly at their attackers, Yin struck down the one or two that rushed them, yet they were slowly but surely being pressed back toward the low wall of the garden hanging over a steep cliff.

Screaming abruptly, Celestia flared her wings and reared in an attempt to throw off the creature that was suddenly knawing on her left wing joint as sharp razors dug into her withers. Roaring, Yin spun around and took the creature by the throat, snapping its neck in one fluid motion. They were beginning to swarm in the air behind them. Eyes not leaving the hoard in front of them, Yin growled quietly back to her.

“They are weak to any form of Light Magic. One solid hit should destroy them, but whatever you do, don’t let them touch your horn. Something in their skin deadens the horn and disrupts casting.” Nodding resolutely, Celestia’s horn began glowing with a golden energy as she started blasting daemons left and right, while Yin kept any from getting too close to touch her. Just as the Princess was beginning to believe they were making headway, Yin yelped in pain. Celestia spun to see a daemon that had Yin pinned on her back by the throat suddenly get his belly torn out by her hind claws. Looking to Yin to make sure she was alright, Celestia was about to sigh in relief when she saw Yin’s eyes widen in alarm. She whirled to attack, but was too slow as she felt icy-cold talons grip her horn like a vice. Screaming in rage, she kicked the thing off her viciously with her fore-hooves, shattering the thing’s ribs like porcelain. She tried to blast another one hurtling itself at her, but her horn felt numb and only sputtered a few sparks. Alarmed, she reared and lashed at it with her hooves, but it ducked underneath and threw her onto her back. Uninjured wing flaring, she whinnied in fear as the thing lowered its jaws to rip her throat out, when suddenly it wasn’t there anymore. With the weight pinning her down gone she struggled to her hooves, Yin appearing before her once again, scratched but otherwise unharmed.

“Are you alright, Princess?” Yin solicited tightly, as she struck down yet another attacker.

“I’m fine Yin, nothing a good night’s rest won’t fix up,” Celestia assured her. Even now the small scratches she’s received were sealing over. Her wing wouldn’t bear any weight in flight, but she could open and close it, at least. “How is it that you’re not even breathing hard?” Celestia complained with a teasing manner, trying to brighten the dire situation a little. Yin grinned sardonically as she spared a brief glance backwards to her charge.

“You think this is bad, you should hav—watch out!” She yelled, tackling Celestia so powerfully she knocked the wind out of the solar princess. The next thing she knew, there was a giant fireball screaming above her head, striking the pathway where she had just been standing. The concussive blast from the impact destroyed the ledge in which the edge of the garden stood, and suddenly she was falling. Instinctively, she tried to brace herself with her wings, but her injured wing simply folded in on itself. Casting about her wildly, she caught a glimpse of Yin flailing just to her right and about sixty hooves above her.

“Yin!!” She screamed desperately, trying vainly once again to fly. She might survive the impact, but Yin surely wouldn’t! She caught sight of Yin once again, and this time their gazes locked. She watched, amazed, as Yin turned herself around in mid-air and, bracing herself off a large piece of debris, launched herself downward toward Celestia. Suddenly finding herself nearly nose-to-nose with the leopard, Celestia reeled her head back in surprise as Yin grinned at her teasingly.

“Do you think you can maneuver yourself onto my back?” She yelled over the sound of rushing wind. Quickly, Celestia edged herself over with her one good wing, clinging tightly to Yin’s muscular neck with her forelegs. “Alright, now tuck your legs and wings in and don’t let go!!” Clinging tightly to her friend, Celestia clenched her eyes shut as Yin precariously leapt from one large chunk of rock to another, until she found one consisting mostly of a large paving stone. Digging her claws into the stone as best as she could, Yin carefully balanced herself until they were mostly level with the approaching mountain-side. “Brace yourself!” She screamed, as Celestia’s world jolted and shuddered with impact. Careening down the mountain, Celestia clutched Yin tighter with every lurch and scrape as Yin rode the rock they stood on down the cliff to a grinding halt. When Celestia dared crack her eyes open again, she found herself clinging desperately to Yinfâng, who stood solidly atop the paving stone, the rock beneath it worn away by the mountainside during their ride down. Stepping nimbly, Yin jumped down from the rock onto more solid ground, Celestia still tightly hugging her as if afraid to let go.

“You can let go now, Princess,” Yin advised, rather amused despite the circumstances. She and the Princess may have been the same length in the torso, but the alicorn had much longer legs than hers. She looked a little silly clinging to someone whose shoulders barely reached above the tip of her barrel.

“Can’t I just stay right here?” Celestia joked thinly, half from nerves and half because the leopard felt sinfully delicious beneath her. Despite her luxuriously plush fur, the mare shuddered in delight at the feel of liquid-steel muscles underneath.

“Don’t be foalish, the ground won’t bite you and you stand taller than me,” Yin reprimanded her, Celestia struck momentarily speechless by the novelty of someone actually lecturing her. Chastised, Celestia gingerly left the silvery cushion of Yin’s back for the earth below.

“How…did you do that?” Celestia asked her in amazement, as she looked back up the cliff side they had just surfed down. It must have been at least 500 paces high!

“Cats always land on their paws,” Yin smugly returned, even as she scanned their surroundings. Celestia took a moment to look around her, finding herself on a rather wide partial plateau that remained level for maybe thirty paces in a rough semi-circle before dropping off again. Trying her horn again, she still felt only numbness where there should have been a gentle pulsing, like her heartbeat. It was very disconcerting.

“I still can’t use my magic, and I will have to set the sun soon,” she fretted as Yin turned to examine her horn. Sitting so Yin could have better access, Celestia flushed profusely at the close proximity of Yin’s face, marveling at the tiny flecks of pale gold visible in those jade orbs. Suddenly she was looking straight into those eyes, and she felt as though she were drowning in a sea of vibrant green. Yin looked stricken as a hint of red slowly seeped over her cheeks, clearing her throat awkwardly. The spell broken, Celestia smiled thinly and broke eye contact, glancing somewhere off to her upper right while Yin stared shyly to her lower right.

“I think…if you give it an hour or so, you might manage one spell,” she mumbled bashfully, tail twitching in agitation. “However, that will aggravate your horn, so you’ll have to let it rest for the rest of the night.” Celestia hummed noncommittally in response, still reeling from the shock of her emotions. ‘What is this I’m feeling?’ she speculated nervously to herself. ‘She makes me feel so…different.’ She glanced reticently over at the leopard again, marveling in the play of muscles beneath that beautiful coat as she quickly scaled a scraggly but tall tree to get a better view of their surroundings. “Looks like we got lucky,” she yelled down from her precarious perch. “Most of the rest of the debris fell down the other side of the mountain!” hopping adroitly down the thicker branches, she landed lightly in front of the Princess. “There looks to be a shallow hollow in the cliff face a little ways in that way,” she gestured toward the far left corner of their little shelf. “It’s probably no more than maybe ten to fourteen hooves deep, but it should do in a pinch,” She described, hopping over the few boulders that had tumbled with them as Celestia tried to keep up. The second she put too much weight on her left hock though, she knew she wouldn’t be able to climb over them.

“What is the matter, Princess?” Yin asked as she bounded back to her, concern in her eyes.

“Oh it’s nothing serious,” Celestia feigned lightly, wincing. “I just…may have sprained it a tad, is all,” she smiled tightly, waving her injured hock gently for emphasis. Sympathy and exasperation shone equally in Yin’s eyes as she rolled them lightly before turning around with a sigh.

“Alright, get on,” she grumbled as she flicked her tail to her back, Celestia grinning happily as she clambered onto the shorter leopard’s back. Tucking her hind legs in, she cheerfully hugged Yin around the neck again, ignoring the leopardess’ complaints.

“I hope you know we look ridiculous like this,” she grumbled while deftly hopping boulders. “And your mane is getting in my face.” Celestia giggled when Yin blew at her multi-hued mane in irritation, only hugging her tighter as she began descending the other side of the rubble. When they reached the small cavity in the rock face, Celestia reluctantly got off Yin’s back without any prompting this time, Yin ducking inside quickly to make sure there weren’t any animals denning in it. Given the all clear, Celestia limped carefully inside, finding a good portion of it covered in a thick blanket of moss. The two working quickly, Yin gathered a descent pile of dead branches while Celestia swept out the worst of the dirt from the cave with broken pine branches. Carefully stockpiling their firewood in a crevasse near the back of the cave, Yin started a fire with a few pieces of sparkstone she found amongst the rubble, blowing gently on the tinder while Celestia carefully tested her horn. Finding enough sensation in her horn for one spell, she quickly lowered the sun and raised the moon, fighting to maintain the spell through a sudden haze of pain, like pins and needles in a limb that had long gone numb. Resting lightly while the headache subsided, she glanced over at Yin and smiled reassuringly at the pensive frown on the feline’s face.
“I’m alright,” she assured as she rubbed her horn with a wince. “But you were right; I’m tapped out at the moment. We’ll have to wait for a few hours while I rest and recover.” Nodding in affirmation, Yin excused herself for a moment and stepped out of the cave, Celestia’s gaze trailing her wistfully as she silently padded into the night.

~ : --- : ~

After that fateful night, she and Yin had grown closer as friends, and a year later had seen a nerve-wrecked sun princess confess her burgeoning feelings to a shocked snow leopard.

A faint smile tweaked Celestia's lips as she ambled down the hall toward the kitchens, still lost in reverie. Incapable of avoiding her, Yin had grown stiff and painfully professional around the alicorn. Unable to stomach the loneliness, Celestia had broken down and escaped to the city at the foot of the palace. They had shared a rather emotional night after a panicked Yin had found her and admitted to returning the mare's affections...and the fears holding her back. The next few weeks were rocky, but unwilling to deny their feelings any longer they quietly agreed to clandestine meetings away from prying eyes. Celestia would sneak out of her chambers at night, and meet Yin in their garden disguised as the pegasus Solar Flair.

Walking back to Yin's room with a tray in her magical grip, she bumped into her daughters and their friends in the hallway.

"Why, good morning, girls," she smiled at them cheerfully. "What are you doing up so early?"

"We thought we'd visit Yin, and see if you were able to talk to Lady Hazuki." Twilight explained, the others nodding along and cracking yawns.

"I did, as a matter of fact." Celetia's face positively beamed. "However, her terms were such that I cannot share her knowledge with you. I will have to take it from here." At the disappointment on Twilight's face, she chuckled lightly and gave her a nuzzle. "I know you wanted to finish what you started, Twilight. But it is thanks to your and Dawn's efforts that I have something to even work with. I couldn't have done it without you two." Twilight perked up at the praise, a satisfied smile growing on her face.
As the group reached Yin's door, Celestia politely tapped to announce her presence.

"Good morning, Yin! I brought...you..." the cheer in the Princess' voice died as she took in the scene before her. The sheets on the bed were a crumpled, blood speckled mess, trailing off the bed to a collapsed heap of fur on the floor. The sudden sound of shattering plates interrupted the shocked silence.
"YIN!" Celestia scrambled toward the fallen chimera, gently turning her over to check for a pulse. Her efforts were met with a weak groan, her love trying to remain curled in on herself. "Yin, love, please tell me what's wrong," Celestia plead, ignoring the sudden gawking from the other mares in the room.

"Tia? Hurts..." came a hoarse whisper, jade eyes still screwed shut in pain.

"Where?" Celestia struggled to keep calm, though panicking sounded really attractive right now it would not help Yin.

"Ev'rwhere..." the thin, reedy mewl whistling between whiskered lips almost tipping Celestia over the edge. The princess whirled toward the others with thinly veiled anxiety.

"Twilight, go get Dr. Mortar! Applejack, Rarity, clear the bed! Rainbow, fetch some warm water! Pinkie, Fluttershy, get me wash towels and blankets, she's starting to shiver!" The urgency in her voice finally broke the Element Bearers out of their paralysis, as Rainbow, pink and violet streaked out of the room. Applejack ripped the soiled sheets from the bed, clean ones floating over in a pale blue aura as Rarity quickly stretched them over the mattress. Celestia gently floated the silver-furred chimera over and set her down, Dawn rushing over to check her pulse.

"She keeps fluctuating, I can't get a good read." She muttered, eyes tight with worry as she placed a hoof in front of Yin's mouth. "Her breathing is way too shallow." Rainbow streaked in with a bowl in her grip, somehow having managed to avoid sloshing it all over the place. Pinkie was right behind her with hoof towels, tossing one to the princess who caught it and dunked it in the water. Carefully wringing it out, she began to gently clean the blood specked around Yin's mouth. Twilight suddenly appeared in a flash of magenta light, a dizzy-looking Mortar gripping his bag in his jaws as if afraid to let go of it.

"I brought him, I brought him!" She panted, her wings flaring with agitation. After a moment to shake his head clear, the doctor leaped over to the bed and began examining his patient.

"How long has she been like this?" He asked in a clipped tone, peeling back one eyelid to show an unfocused, bloodshot jade orb.

"I-I don't know, I just found her like this a few minutes ago...!" Celestia was having difficulty staying calm for her little ponies, Dawn and Twilight's presence the only net for her sanity as they pressed against her in comfort. He pulled out a stethoscope, his gaze intense as he listened to the staccato in Yin's chest.

"Pulse, 112 resting...Not good..." The stallion muttered, abandoning his stethoscope to dig in his bag. "Princess, call in Nurse Lily for me, tell her to bring an oxygen tank and mask." He ordered absently as he pulled a needle and syringe out of a case. Shaken out of her worried stupor, Celestia whirled toward the door only to find Dawn had already done as he asked. He pulled out a bottle of clear liquid, Celestia watching anxiously as he pushed whatever it was into a prostrate Yin's neck.

"I just gave her a shot of oxymorphone," He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, distracted apology on his face. "It is the strongest, longest lasting painkiller I have at the moment. It should help alleviate some of the pain, however because it's an opioid I dare not give her too many shots of it." Unable to articulate any words at the moment, Celestia merely nodded her understanding.

"What is...Is she...?" Celestia choked on the tears clogging her throat. The doctor nodded with a grim frown.

"She is entering acute withdrawal syndrome. Usually it fluctuates, with the waves bouncing from one extreme to the next and growing in intensity." Celestia was vaguely aware she was trembling, a sound like roaring waves growing in her ears. "Judging by her BPMs from earlier, she has been experiencing this for at least a couple of hours." Celestia was unable to completely muffle the sob that escaped her lips. "When I find out who was supposed to be monitoring her, I'm gonna have me a nice new pastel rug for the wife," he muttered darkly. If Celestia were in the mood, she'd have snorted.

"I don' mean to be rude Doc, but can ya explain jus' what that means to th' rest of us?" Applejack asked, her ears drooping under the tense atmosphere. Dawn went over to place a comforting hoof on the farm pony's shoulder.

"It means her heart races too fast, then slows way down. Same with her breathing," the pale pink mare explained. "Usually it would fade before it got anywhere too high or low but..." Dawn left the rest unsaid, not wanting to voice the source of her mother's anguish. The rest of the gang's ears dropped, eyes widening and tearing up as they reached their own conclusions.

"But, but it'll stop eventually, right? She just has to ride it out, right?" Pinkie squeaked, her eyes desperately jumping from the doctor to the Princess to Dawn, looking for some sign of hope to cling to. Twilight sighed with a grimace.

"If her heart-rate starts to level out, then yes." Though her words were assuring, her voice betrayed her opinion on the matter. Pinkie's mane went flat at the hopelessness in her lavender friend's eyes. Nurse Lily finally arrived, puffing as she hurtled into the room burdened with a tank of compressed oxygen and a mask looped over one ear. Dr. Mortar quickly set the tank next to Yin's bed, the orange glow of his magic gently but securely tying the life-giving mask over Yin's muzzle. Celestia focused on that mask, and the tiny puffs of fog misting the inside. She counted each puff, far too small and quick to be of any real assurance. Finally she staggered over to the bed and almost fell beside it, draping one wing over a shivering silver frame and tucking her nose just under Yin's chin. She stayed there, immobile as she tried to center herself around each shallow gasp and the hiss of the tank.

After what seemed like only a few minutes, Celestia finally rousted herself enough to lift her head from its rest, idly noting it had been almost an hour. Blinking bleary magenta eyes at the doctor, she glanced around her in a daze, all Twilight's friends clustered about the room. She let Dr. Mortar check on her beloved for a moment, but with his subtle yet grim shake felt her heart cracking like glass exposed to terrible heat. She turned to address the others in the room with a worn voice, the effort of lifting her head almost too much.

"I appreciate all of you being here for Yinfâng in her time of need. However, I would like some time alone with her, if you please." As they moved to protest, she pinned them with a look of barely restrained grief, her eyes flashing a warning.

"Please." They all filed out of the room with meek silence, only Twilight and Dawn pausing for a moment to offer her comforting nuzzles. As the door clicked shut behind them, she turned to face the doctor with a deep, bracing breath. "Doctor." Her voice broke, mirroring the spreading crack she felt in her soul. He cleared his throat.

"Her pulse evened out for a minute, but... I'm sorry, your Highness, it then started to slow down." He looked tired, the bags under his eyes attesting to the emotional stress of fighting a losing battle. "Barring a miracle, at this rate she has only about an hour left. Maybe less." At the Princess' hitched sob, he bowed hastily and gathered his gear. "I gave her another shot, to ease the pain of the cramping. I will leave you now, Highness." Celestia didn't even hear the door click behind him, her whole world was filled with each wheezing gasp and subtle hiss of the breathing tank.

She leaned in to bury her nose in soft silver fur, caught by surprise when the gentle nuzzle was returned.

"Yin, you're awake!" Soft jade eyes regarded her with warmth, a weak grin somewhat obscured by the mask. The chimera wrestled the mask off her face, Celestia's protests dying on her lips as Yin shook her head.

"Whatever the doc gave me...helps manage the pain...center my breathing." She panted, taking a deep breath. "Getting speared...in the chest...didn't hurt...this much." she tried to chuckle, but the effort proved too much as she started coughing. Celestia's eyes widened in shock.

"Getting what?! When did that happen?" Green eyes laughed at her.

"Long time ago...doesn't matter." She gave a resigned sigh. "Don't think...I'll pull through...again this time." Celestia brushed a tender hoof down Yin's cheek, crooning denial.

"No no no, Yin, you can't talk like that. Don't give up yet." Tears pricked at the corners of Celestia's eyes, her mind whirling at light speeds as she tried to create a cure out of what little data she had to work with. "Please, Yin, promise me. Promise. You'll fight this as long as you can, please. I can fix this, if you just promise me you won't give up. Please, please don't give up on me." Yin met her eyes as Celestia stared her down with a determined, borderline desperate tearful glare. Verdant eyes shied from violet with a pained sigh.

"You ask...too much of me." There was a beat of silence as the words filtered through Celestia's brain, but her dismay never made it past her lips as they were captured by Yin's in a sudden burst of strength. "But for you...I promise." Exhausted by her effort, Yin dropped her head back on her pillow as her breaths evened out in a pattern of sleep. Golden light enveloped the oxygen mask, easing it back over the sleeping figure's muzzle. Pure white hooves, divested of their heavy adornments, paced in front of the bed as their owner muttered to themselves in a frenzy. For a nigh-immortal being many considered divine, and despite the millennia plus she'd existed, Celestia had never felt the press of time more keenly than this moment.

Precious minutes ticked relentlessly on, spurred by each weakening rasp. She'd had almost no time to fully analyze the information Hazuki had shared with her, and without it she had no way to adapt a spell that required contact with the horn in order to be properly utilized. Purifying water was one thing, but blood was full of other very necessary cells which could easily be destroyed if she used too much power. This meant use of a dalasis would not cycle the blood quickly enough to keep her alive. Only slow and steady would win this deadly race. If only there were some way to purify the blood without having to remove it from her body... A feeble groan jarred her from her train of thought, as she whipped worried eyes toward her friend. The chimera was curled in on herself again, an unconscious grimace of pain on her face. Realizing the medicine must have worn off, a brief check of her sun told Celestia more time had passed than she'd realized. Yin's breathing was starting to slow, the seconds between each breath growing longer while Celestia's tenuous grip on her composure unraveled. Placing one twitching ear against a silver-furred chest, magenta eyes widened in alarm at the erratic rhythm within.

"Yin?" Celestia tried nudging the prone form for some sign of reassurance, but the chimera remained unconscious. Even her breathing had grown sporadic, the sun princess' own breath racing as she tried to quell the panic bubbling up from within her chest. Her heart felt as though it had turned to lead and was trying to crawl it's way up her throat when Yin let out a rattling exhale--and failed to draw in another breath.

"Yin...? Yin, breath for me, come on..." Her voice cracked, all her shaking and tapping and pleading utterly failing to wake the object of their attention. "No! YIN!" She screamed, a burning pain erupted in her chest, as though somepony had impaled her heart...her breath hitched. Impaled. Her heart. That was IT!

"Princess? Is everything alright?" a worried voice filtered through the door, as the door handle rattled. A golden glow latched the deadbolt, preventing any interference. She could not afford distractions. Agile mind whirring, the princess erected a barrier around the door and placed her horn against Yin's chest, a thin glow enveloping the dying form as Celestia began an intricate spell matrix that, once started, could not be interrupted without perilous consequence. She registered banging and shouting from the other side of the wooden portal, but the sounds filtered to her like sunlight through deep water, her mind utterly focused on the task at hoof.

She eyed her partner with reservation tempered by determination, she was wading in mostly unexplored territory right now. This particular spell was very dangerous if miscast to both the caster and the recipient, and the next spell she needed was completely untested-- or even attempted. Violet eyes once again fell on the still figure and hardened into resolve. She leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on unresponsive lips, sparing a glance behind her at the sound of splintering wood and shattered magical force. She erected a golden dome over herself and the bed as Twilight and her friends stormed into the room, accompanied by Hazuki and Jia Li. She looked down at the prone silver form curled on the bed, eyes shining with fierce, desperate love. No room for trial and error. She took careful aim, reared back, and struck.

Sinking the tip of her glowing alabaster horn deep in Yin's heart, she closed her eyes and focused past the screaming and pounding on the barrier as she began her second spell.

Hours later, the glow around her horn guttered and stopped. Celestia was dimly aware that the pounding on her barrier must have stopped at some point, because she had long run out of the energy needed to maintain it against magic as powerful as that of a semi-divine dragon and her kirin counterpart. Sustaining both the barrier, which she'd had to sink massive amounts of magic into to prevent it from breaking, and the purification spell, which needed a slow but steady supply had been exhausting. Though the latter had required little in the amount of power, it needed careful attention and precision to avoid killing of vital cells. Performing both at once, while still running the spell linking their life forces together to keep Yin alive through the process had been like painting fine china with a brush the width of a hair while hauling a two-ton boulder uphill and reciting pi.

She pulled her horn out of Yin's chest with a wince at the wet sucking sound. Just as she was recouping to heal the wound, however, she was caught aback when the gaping hole began stitching itself shut. She removed the oxygen mask as previously labored breathing grew strong and even, hope bursting in Celestia's chest as eyelids fluttered open.

"Ow. Tia?" Came a hoarse whisper, glimmering jade orbs locking with violet. Celestia threw herself on the chimera with a joyful shout, echoed by the other occupants of the room.

"You're alright..." She choked, tears finally spilling over to drip on silver fur. "Thank the Maker. You're alive! Oh Faust, you're okay." A chuckle sounded in her ear while a gentle pair of talons ran through her prismatic mane.

"I promised, didn't I?" Something between a laugh and a sob erupted from Celestia's lips as she gripped Yin in a vise of relieved wonder and unadulterated joy.

"Yes, you certainly did." Her barrier long forgotten, the others finally crowded around the two with whoops and gasps of happiness. Celestia was almost bowled over as Jia Li rushed to her child, but managed to catch her balance when she was crushed into a hug from Hazuki.

"You did it, you did it!" the kirin whimpered, the joy in her voice smothered by the relieved tears streaming down Hazuki's face. "When I saw you plunge your horn into her chest I th-thought that was it, you'd lost all hope and w-wanted to end her pain--but you did it!" Celestia returned the fierce hug with one of her own.

"No, thank you. I couldn't have done it without your help, Hazu-chan. Thank you, so, so much for bringing my precious Yinfâng back to me." The two parted with huge, albeit watery smiles. Celestia turned to address the queen just as the dragoness launched herself at the alicorn, and found herself in another bone-crushing hug.

" You have returned my daughter to me. Words cannot express--" Celestia felt droplets splash onto her fur as her old friend released her and regarded her with a fierce expression. "Where I feared had lost my daughter, you pulled her from the brink at great risk to yourself. Above my sovereignty, and above that of my nation, you have my undying gratitude as a mother. Though she is not of my flesh, she is mine in spirit." Celestia smiled with a tiny shake of her head.

"Save your thanks. She was worth nothing less, and deserves much more." Celestia looked over at her beloved, surrounded by her daughters and their friends. "If she had died, half my heart would have died with her." Jia Li nodded.

"I can see your devotion, it is written in your soul. I warms my heart, to know Yin has you by her side." The sun princess grinned.

"I would prefer no other place." With that, she moved to join the center of their conversation, and her world.

"How are you feeling, Yin?" The former leopardess matched the sun Princess' brilliant smile with one of her own, looking none the worse for wear, considering.

"I feel amazing, Celestia. I haven't felt this good in decades. Whatever you did worked miracles." Rarity let out an admonishing gasp.

"You have no idea, darling. Why, when we saw the Princess stab you with her horn, we all thought--"

"Wait, she did what?" Yin interrupted, wide eyes flicking to the cloth Princess Celestia was discreetly scrubbing her horn with.

"Oh yeah, we all thought she'd gone bonkers." Rainbow scoffed with a roll of her eyes. "Er, no offense, your Highness."

"None taken," Celestia smiled, a bit of a sheepish smile on her face. "It was down to the wire, and I had to do something. I, ehem, may have been a little panicked." Applejack snorted.

" 'Panicked', huh? Tha's puttin' it mildly, Highness. You sure yer alright, Yin? Looked mighty painful." Yin rubbed at her chest absently, and for a minute Celestia worried that she still felt pain from the injury when she noticed Yin was rubbing far to the right of the entry point.

"No, I feel perfectly fine. I can even take deep breaths again." Yin's eyes were slightly unfocused, as if lost in a memory. "Celestia patched me up pretty quickly." At that, Celestia glanced at her oddly.

"Actually, I didn't do anything." Nine pairs of eyes looked at her with quizzical expressions.

"You didn't?" Twilight tilted her head, Celestia laughing to herself as she was mirrored almost perfectly by Dawn.

"No, before I could cast the spell the wound started sealing itself shut." Yin glanced at herself with curiosity.

"Hm." Yin sat on her haunches and lifted one forearm to her scrutiny. She casually flicked out one claw and brought it slashing across before anyone even realized what she was doing. Celestia yelped, grabbing one of the discarded towels in her aura and pressing it to the bleeding limb.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Yin at least had the grace to look chagrined at the admonishment in the diarch's voice, meekly taking the soiled cloth in her other claw as she began wiping the blood from her fur.

"Sorry Tia. I had a theory and wanted to test it. I wasn't really thinking it through." The timid grin quickly morphed into one of pain and indignation when her mother whacked her in the back of the head with her tail. "" The queen pinned her errant child with a glare.

"" Yin quailed under the fierce expression on the Lóngrén's face, though Celestia could still see the vestiges of a pout on her felinoid face. Grinning, she gave Yin an affectionate nuzzle, drawing a few curious glances from the ponies present.

"Let me see that now," the alicorn murmured as she removed the towel from the wound. Or rather, from where a wound used to be.

"Would you look at that," Dawn muttered as she squinched her eyes in thought. A smug grin flashed across Yin's face, but was slowly replaced by an apprehensive one.

"You know, I used to heal pretty quick, after... the change. But nothing quite like this." A thoughtful hum came from Hazuki, who stood there with a look of contemplation.

"That looks an awful lot like kirin healing abilities, but even we cannot heal quite that fast." Jia Li wore a similar expression.

"Ryujin can, but only with the aid of chi. It takes a certain amount of fine control not many chi masters have accomplished, though. " The queen quirked one eye ridge.

"Perhaps it is some strange melding of both?" Yin mused aloud, flexing her claws in absent-mindedness. Celestia found herself oddly ensnared by the little tic-- the claws seemed to grow larger then shrink for no apparent reason. "I seem to have strange meldings of bits, instead of this part here or that ability there copied and sewn on, as it were. I wasn't born with magic, but since all my chakra points had been unlocked I now have vastly improved and expanded chi abilities; my feline flexibility has been enhanced by that of a Ryujin...heck, I even still have retractable claws, sort of." Holding up her claw, she gave a careless demonstration to emphasize her point. Celestia realized what she thought were well-trimmed claws were merely the tips of larger, retractable talons. They even clicked in place until another flex released them to glide back like an assassin's blades. Now that she knew they were there, she recognised the faint bulge around the first joint, so slight you had to know what you were looking for...

"Ahem." the polite cough drew her out of her reverie, as the alabaster princess realized she must have been staring off into space for a few minutes now. She gave an apologetic smile, nodding at the speaker to continue now with her undivided attention.

"As I was saying, the changes wrought by whatever this taint is seem to enhance certain aspects as well," Hazuki continued, tapping a hoof with veiled frustration. "But what I cannot fathom is why the changes are so different between my sisters compared to the tainted Karasu-Tengu that attacked us."

"Um, I may have a theory, Hazu-chan, if I may?" Yinfâng murmured, having settled back down in her bed. The kirin nodded for her to continue as Celestia perked with genuine interest, now that it was her beloved speaking.

"One thing I noticed about Himegami's...change, was not just aesthetic but physical. Her scales are much harder now, almost on par with diamonds." This drew a few startled murmurs from those around her, but her raised claw returned the quiet. "I think the little bit of carbon that is mixed in with a Lóngrén's scales and mane was brought more to the surface, which not only gave her a drastically darker color but enhanced the renowned hardness as well. Tell me, can you describe the changes in the-the High Empress?" Celestia gave an almost inaudible nicker of sympathy, knowing Yin's views on her mentor's potential taint. Queen Jia Li hummed.

"Well, her horns and scales are a solid black, lacking their usual healthy sheen. Her hooves are black too, and...sharper looking, I suppose? Her eyes are rather reptilian now, and her teeth... I believe she has actual canines, now I think of it. No wonder her smile disconcerted me so much." She tapped a claw in thought. "Rather similar to those generals. The pattern on her fur looked strange, too, though I cannot place exactly why." Yin nodded, Celestia piping her confusion.

"I remember how twisted that karasu-tengu looked though. It was nothing so subtle as that." Celestia repressed as shudder at the memory: huge hooked talons thrice the normal size, the unnatural serrated growths that resembled teeth lining the thing's beak, and pupil-less eyes like burning coals...

"Precisely. All the changes are things that enhance the victim's ability to kill things-- their 'darkness' if you will." Yin suggested. "The changes were so subtle on the Empress, her sister, and the generals because ponies, kirin and Lóngrén have a Light chi alignment. karasu-tengu, however, do not. The natural resistance found in those with Light chi would not be there to prevent more involved changes." Jia Li nodded along, unmistakable pride in her countenance.

"A very sound theory, my daughter. The real question I have now is this: where is this taint coming from?" Her expression darkened. "The only likely source I can think of is the ànyǐng èmó - the shadow daemons." The other rulers hummed in agreement, while Twilight and her friends looked a little lost despite the intimidating name of the things. Princess Celestia caught Dawn's gaze and leaned down a little.

"What you might know as S'kabás," she murmured, Dawn paling as the others crowded around her for a whispered explanation.

"I spent seven decades sealing the breach at the Heaven's Gates, and I can assure that it cannot be broken from the other side," Hoshimi declared, coppery eyes smoldering like coals. "That can only mean someone has tampered with it from our side. Someone versed in the ancient binding rituals."
A tense silence stretched between the occupants as they digested this tidbit and its ramifications.

"Who else has this level of knowledge?" Princess Celestia inquired, voice reflecting the tension in the room.

"The knowledge itself, my sisters and I suppose a few dedicated scholars." A heavy sigh escaped the kirin's lips. "But of those with the power...? I think...I think the only other one who powerful enough would be...Hoshimi." Yin inhaled sharply; anger, indignation, and betrayal dancing across her face.

"Why would she do this?" she growled, voice full of hurt. "She knows what those monsters are capable of. They are senseless beasts with no drive other than to kill any living thing they can. Hells, they have no discernible soul to even speak of!" The chimera ranted, lips peeled back to reveal frighteningly long canines. "They devour the souls of mortals and corrupt the River of Life with their very presence! How could the Empress risk another war like the last one? We almost lost!" Celestia placed a comforting wing over Yin's shoulders, who huffed in anger but leaned into the alicorn's warm fur nonetheless.

"Though you bring up a valuable concern daughter, I think we must focus now on how we're going to deal with it," Jia Li proposed, a warm smile curling her lips as she noted the closeness between the former leopard and the Regent of the Sun. She supposed the deep feelings Celestia had for her adopted daughter were not unfounded, after all.
"I propose we meet up later tomorrow evening, so that we might have Princess Luna's input as well." Lady Hazuki suggested as she stood from her seat on a floor cushion. "Also, I imagine you would rather like a bit of rest after your ordeal, yes?" She gave Yinfâng a pointed glance, who responded with a sheepish grin.

"I suppose I did just nearly die, didn't I?" She gave a dry chuckle. "I swear I'm not trying to make a habit of it." Jia Li gifted her with a glare and a tail-smack to the back of her head, which earned her a yelp of indignation. "Okay, okay, too soon. Sorry mom." The Lóngrén-kōgō humphed.

"You'd better be, or there will be more of those in your future. I am going to go inform your brother of your recovery, you'd best prepare for the ensuing hoard to descend upon you." Yin groaned as her mother and Hazuki exited the room, Celestia chuckling at her consternation.

"Being smothered in sibling affection can't be that horrible," she grinned, while Yin just grumbled.

"The key word there being 'smothered'. I've been through this before, and there is nothing quite as disconcerting as being buried under a mass of writhing Lóngrén all trying to give you congratulatory noogies."
Twilight and company, having been rather quiet during the whole exchange, finally piped up.

"So, Ah take it ya been badly injured before, sugarcube?" Applejack asked, ever the spokespony for the group. Celestia gave her companion a appraising look as well.

"I believe you'd mentioned a, ah, grievous injury earlier you conveniently dodged when I asked about it?" One crooked eyebrow implied she would not evade it again so easily.

"Care to share, or shall we forever wallow in mystery?" Dawn drawled, pulling up the cushion Lady Hazuki had vacated earlier.

"You needn't feel pressured, darling," Rarity offered gently. "It's just that you seem to have quite the history, and we are rather curious about our new friend." Yinfâng hummed in contemplation, furtively glancing at Celestia wo gave her an encouraging smile.

"I suppose it can't hurt," she acquiesced, though her voice was tinted with hesitation. The others grinned and subconsciously leaned in. "It's no long, riveting tale by any means," she began, "but it did play an important role in the war, so..." She shifted to get more comfortable, closing her eyes and breathing to center herself. The memory was painful. Not just the injury she'd sustained, but the emotions behind it, as well.

"As you may have figured out, over a century ago Lóngzhùzhái was involved in a was against the ànyǐng èmó. The portal to their cursed realm rests under Kūnlún shān, the great Mountain of the Gods. They seep out from great bottomless crevasses at the base of the mountain, at the mouths of which we've erected great Torii to seal them in. Though we'd suffered great losses, we'd finally managed to push them back to the Gates." Yin paused to sip at the glass of water still sitting beside her bed, her mouth dry with nerves.

"The final battle, which was later named the Battle of Death Valley-"

"Cool!" Rainbow interrupted, while the others shushed and elbowed her. Yin gave her a sharp look.

"It may seem so, Rainbow, but it was named as such because that was the battle we suffered the heaviest casualties in. We lost over five thousand of our bravest that day." A heavy silence fell over the room as the ponies tried to wrap their heads around such devastation. After the Guardian's attack they were no longer strangers to loss, but to have suffered so many...

"As I was saying, we'd pushed their forces to the Gates, where they had the advantage of the Mountain to their backs. The battle was hard though, and we'd managed to draw out their...generals." Yin scrunched her face. "I hesitate to use a word that implies a tactical mind, but they were larger and far more cunning, and seemed to direct the hoards. Anyway, the largest of them was cutting a devastating swathe through our ranks, and the small fry were rallying behind him. If he broke our ranks, it would have quite possibly cost us the battle and allowed them to scatter, so I rushed him in desperation. He was just under a small knoll, and I was able to get much closer since it hid my advance. I leapt to take his head, but he must have caught me in his peripherals, because he suddenly swung around with his spear up. I couldn't avoid it entirely, but I managed to twist just enough that is struck me in the left side of my chest, rather than my heart."
The others gasped in horror, while Celestia just tightened her winged grip in barely repressed distress. She had known her love had been involved in the war. She had known, but hearing it described like this...

"I'm not entirely sure what their spears are made of, but they're these long, wicked, barbed things that tear as much as they cut, and it ripped right through my enchanted armor. Still, if I was going down, I was taking Hulking Ugly with me. I'd managed to retain my grip on my naginata, and somehow got it caught in the thick muscle between it's neck and shoulder. So I gripped it and heaved with everything I had...and managed to part his head from his shoulders." Rainbow let out a whoop and hoof pump, while the others grinned with relief. Fluttershy just 'meep'ed behind her mane.

"How simply awful, darling!" Rarity wailed with a dramatic hoof swoon. Yin grimaced.

"It wasn't easy. My brother recovered me from the field, and got me to a healer in record time. This is all hearsay, by the way. I was passed out by then, blood loss and shock and all that," one black tipped ear twitched, and she pinned Celestia with a look.

"Speak of devils, you may want to get out of the way. I do believe I hear a stampede approaching." Celestia chucked as the climbed off the bed and ushered the others toward the furthest corner of the room.

"I still think you're exaggerating a bit," the Princess grinned as she turned to address the group. "Yinfâng's older adoptive brother and his entourage are coming to congratulate her on her recovery. They are a group of Lóngrén-- air dragons-- but they are all perfectly friendly so please treat them all with respect." The others gave nervous nods, none of them having officially been introduced to the noble creatures. They had seen Jia Li earlier, but with all the hullabaloo names had not been properly exchanged.
"You'd better hope I'm exaggerating, Tia, because I will be siccing them on you as my savior." Jade eyes narrowed as she jabbed one claw at the white alicorn. "And you can bet since they know you they will show their gratitude, mark my words." Celestia was rather glad her white fur kept her sudden paleness hidden. There was only so much the 'Princess Face' could cover.

Author's Note

Hey, sorry it's been a while. Did an extra long chapter to make up for it. Quick reference for ya, one 'hoof' of measurement is about six inches, a pace is the average distance between hoof-steps.

On an unrelated note, hope you all are looking forward to the blood moon tomorrow! Those on the east coast (USA, to be precise) will be able to see it the best, so I'm afraid I'm going to miss out. However, NASA's doing a live stream, so there's that. Til next time!

Old/New Faces

'Another day, another dilemma,' a white alicorn gave an inaudible sigh as she finally dismissed her last petitioner. Some representative of some metal smith union or other had requested the tax on imported iron be reviewed, it had spiked recently. She would have to look over them later, perhaps have a word with the ponies in charge of levying foreign goods. How these things got past her administration was beyond her. She tapped her golden shod hoof on the dais, bringing the low murmur in the room to a standstill. Just as she opened her mouth to dismiss Day Court, a Royal Guard burst through the double doors at the front of the throne room.

“Your Highness!” He shouted, nervously tumbling into a clumsy bow at the foot of her throne at the sight of her quizzical expression.

“We have some… unusual guests, one of whom is claiming to be royalty from, uh… Qiling, Highness.” The guard shifted his eyes among the startled whispers of the Court in a nervous tic. Qiling had declared national isolation eighty years ago, refusing entry of any and all foreign entities, as well as prohibiting their own from leaving their borders without Royal permission. The Empress had even ejected those from Equestria who refused to adopt Qilinese citizenship, despite the fact they had lived there for decades. No statement had been released as to why, and the island country had remained silent ever since.
Celestia had been shocked, to say the least, though she never let it show. She had thought them to be on good terms when she had left peace negotiations there a mere two years prior to the instigation of the isolation edict. Thinking back on it had always saddened her greatly. She had left a dear, dear friend there; the attaché assigned her as protection, and a show of good faith by the High Empress herself. Ah, she missed her still. But after eighty years, well… Shaking her head a tad, she smiled reassuringly to the pony guard looking to her for orders about their guests.

“Please show our guests to the throne room, and treat them with the respect you give any visiting dignitary,” she ordered gently, gracing him with her reassuring smile. As he ran to do her bidding, she stood and addressed the court the please quiet down so as not to appear rude to their guests. As she waited for her strange guests to be announced, she penned a letter to her daughter, Twilight Sparkle, asking that she and her sister come visit her tomorrow with their friends, she had a feeling something big was going to happen, and she wanted her daughters to be here when it did. Suddenly, the double doors were pushed open with fanfare, as the guard that reported to her earlier announced one of the two ponies behind him.

“Her Grace, Lady Hazuki, Empress of Thousand Cranes Palace, High Priestess of Qiling!” the guard announced, standing stiffly at attention. Mildly stunned at the presence of foreign nobility, the court bowed quickly in the presence of the stunning creature before them. It was one thing to be taught that the Qiling rulers were a triumvirate of kirin, and another to see one in pony. After all, they claimed right to the throne by being descended from the God of Dragons! It was never more apparent than now what that meant, as a luminous pale pink mane reached nearly to the floor, interrupted only by the magnificent branched horn that sprouted from the crown of her head. A second horn rested behind, much smaller in size but bearing the same deep green shade and sheen like lacquered wood. Her beautiful pale forest green fur was dappled with a darker scale-like pattern though her shoulders and barrel, which seemed to shine in the light. Lining her neck, chest and the cannons of each leg were real scales, flat like plate armor and of the same shade and luster as her horns.
Small cloven hooves the same hue as her scales peeked through the unshorn fur of her fetlocks. On her flank rested a red gateway Cutie mark, what scholars would recognize as a Torii. In it's center was a geometric pattern Celestia identified as an eternity knot, red with a black border. Her coppery irises seemed to glow in contrast to the black sclera as she scanned the room briefly before resting upon Celestia, where her face broke into a gentle grin of recognition.

Approaching the dais, she bowed once to Celestia before rising gracefully to meet Celestia’s smile of happiness. Standing, Celestia bowed briefly in return before descending from her throne to greet her old friend with a hug; they were easily the same height. This rather forward act of familiarity set the Court to whispering, but she didn’t care at the moment.

“Oh Hazuki, it is so good to see you again! What brings you here, old friend?” She grinned as she released the kirin from her grip.
“I wish it were good tidings, Princess,” she murmured with a sad smile, “but I am afraid my companion and I are here to seek political asylum.” Bowing her head briefly, she turned to look at her companion, who had remained cloaked and unnoticed in the presence of the regal kirin. Finally taking notice, Celestia appraised her friend’s companion. They cut a rather impressive figure, being slightly taller than Luna. All that could be seen was the tip of a metallic-looking horn peeking from the hood shrouding their face in shadow, and... Were those claws? 'Mysterious indeed,' Celestia mused.

“I see,” Celestia sighed, her grin slowly dying. Turning, she took her place once more upon her throne. Looking down at the priestess, she straightened her posture regally.
“Is it bad?” She questioned, sighing again at her friend’s grave ‘yes’. So much could be communicated through that one simple word. This was the last thing they needed after having just recovered from the last fiasco.

“Very well. I shall grant you sanctuary this Day. We shall meet to discuss this further tonight, in my sister’s court. Please get some rest in the meantime.” Summoning a guard to her with a wave of her hoof, Celestia bade him to bring the Lady Hazuki and her companion to the royal guest wing and give them the largest suite available. As they left, she chimed her gilded hoof on the stone pedestal of the dais once again.

“Day Court is hereby dismissed,” she announced. Sitting regally as her ponies slowly shuffled out of the throne room, she prepared herself for the mountain of paperwork her assistant trotted in with. She couldn’t wait for Night Court.

_ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . _

As she finished her royal duties for the day, Celestia dismissed her assistant and headed out of the throne room to lower the sun, and hopefully meet up halfway with Luna before she started her royal duties. Stepping out onto her balcony, Celestia’s horn glowed with golden energy as the sun set to make way for the moon. A she entered her room, she was pleasantly surprised to see her sister waiting for her with a smile. Smiling, Celestia happily met her sister with a nuzzle.
“Greetings, sister,” Luna smiled, returning her affectionate nuzzle with one of her own. “I hear we have some very interesting guests today.” Grinning softly, Luna turned to head toward the dining hall. It was not often she and Celestia could share dinner. Smiling, Celestia fell into step beside her.

“Oh yes, indeed we do. I trust you remember Lady Hazuki, High Priestess of Qiling?” She smirked knowingly as Luna’s eyes grew wide in excitement.

“Hazu-chan’s here?!” She squealed enthusiastically, bouncing a little in her step before coming to a slow walk. “But… what of the isolation edict you told us of?” she questioned, her gaze puzzled as she caught Celestia’s tired sigh.

“Indeed, she and one other I have not yet met have come here seeking political asylum. I wish to sit with you at court to discuss the matter. Will that be alright with you, little sister?” She asked, looking to her sister’s frowning face.

“Of course Tia. This news troubles us.” Luna stated, as they reached the dining hall.

“And I Lulu. And I,” Celestia sighed as they sat to enjoy their meal.
Finishing their food, the royal sisters quit the dining hall for the throne room, Celestia only pausing long enough to let her sister be announced first. It was her Court, after all. Once she had been announced and taken her place at her sister’s side Luna declared Night Court open for all ponies. The great double doors opened, revealing her fist petitioner to be announced as Lady Hazuki. As she stately minced down the carpet, Luna grinned at her old friend’s welcoming smile. When she reached the base of the dais, she and her companion bowed graciously.

“Your Highness, may I be the first Qilinese to welcome you back from your long absence,” she grinned up at her friend as Luna bid her rise.

“Our thanks, Lady Hazuki. We have missed your presence greatly. We should like to meet with thee later, and catch up on all we have missed.” Grin fading to a more serious expression, Luna returned to business. “Pray, what is thy trouble that brings thee so far from home seeking safety?” Expression turning grim, the kirin turned to acknowledge Celestia to address them both.

“My companion and I are seeking political asylum from my sister, Her Royal Highness High Empress Hoshimi. We also to bring grave news. We fear the Empress may plan to invade Equestria within the year,” she announced, alarm ringing through the court as she met the shocked gazes of both royal sisters. Ringing her metal shoe on the stone dais, Luna furiously called for order in the court. When all had quieted down, she turned again to Lady Hazuki.

“Are you certain of this?” she questioned, frowning down at her. The kirin shuffled in discomfort as her companion shifted stiffly beside her. Celestia glanced over at the slight movement, her curiosity once again piqued. It was the only sign of life she’d seen from the figure all evening, aside from bowing.

“I have a very reliable account from my colleague here, but I wish to have a private audience, as she must share some delicate information meant only for your ears, Highnesses.” She confirmed, flicking coppery eyes at her associate. Her companion gave a rigid nod, affirming her statement. Glancing at Celestia, the sisters shared a look before Luna turned to address the kirin, Celestia's mind oddly focused on the cloaked figure.

“Very well. Court shall be adjourned until this matter had been attended to. You are all dismissed!” Luna announced as the members of the court filed reluctantly out the great double doors, whispering amongst themselves in fearful tones. 'And I can't blame them,' Celestia mused. 'If it's not ancient entities and evil cults attacking, it's mysterious, foreign countries.' Once everyone had left and all the exits secured and guarded, Luna and Celestia descended from the throne to stand before their guests. Celestia turned to address the mysterious figure, who still remained shrouded.

“Alright, who might you be?” She asked with a gentle smile as the figure shifted under her gaze.

“Um, Celestia? You may want to sit down for this,” Hazuki interrupted, glancing worriedly at her friend again. “It’s a bit of a shock.” She explained as Luna and Celestia looked at her with quizzical expressions, even as Celestia complied to her request. The figure then hesitantly lifted a white claw to remove the hood from her face, revealing a silvery mane that tumbled down her neck in gentle curls. Her features were feline in appearance, Celestia noted with a start, while a single branched horn glinted like burnished iron in the light. Celestia met a stunning pair of pale green cat’s eyes, her own widening in recognition. One of them was scarred, but she knew those eyes…

“Hello Celestia. It’s been a long time.” A husky voice almost whispered as their gazes locked.
That voice…
A cacophony of emotions flooded her heart, whose beat had increased rapidly.

“…I-impossible…Yinfâng?” Celestia choked in disbelief, feeling herself swaying before she managed to catch herself with a hoof. "No, it can't be... After eighty plus years..." The war of hope and denial was evident on her face, while the stranger seemed to wilt in the strained silence.

"Much can change in eighty years, Tia."
That voice, again...it sent tingles down her spine.

"Rivers become dry canyons, and volcanoes lush islands, but one thing remains constant through time..."
Those deep jade orbs met hers squarely, and Celestia murmured the words she'd heard often decades ago...

"Red strings...draw us all together eventually..."

"...the world is but a little place, after all."
It was her . It was her. It was her!
With a quick jerk she stood and took a single stuttering step forward. One incredulous hoof reached up to lightly brush aside the mane hanging in front of a marred right eye. “But how…? What…w-what's happened to you?” She breathed, a tinge of horrified sadness in her voice. Yinfâng grimaced, her gaze shifting a little to the right to avoid direct eye contact.

“Oh this? Had a little scuffle with a Shisa-”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it!” Celestia shouted, stamping a hoof and startling everyone present. “When last we met, you were a snow leopard!” she accused, causing Luna whip her head in surprise at Yinfâng as she took in her appearance anew. Grimacing, Yinfâng undid the clasp to her ragged cloak, tugging it off with reluctance. The rough cloth slid off thick silvery fur, revealing the rest of her to Celestia and Luna’s shocked gasps. Eyes roving in dismay, Celestia took in her friend’s drastically altered appearance. A graceful equine neck led to strong shoulders that ended in wicked amalgams of cat and dragon claws. Her torso still seemed feline, but led to haunches that flowed into a kirin’s cloven hooves. Her tail was that of a kirin’s, but thicker and much, much longer; as flexible as a dragon’s near-prehensile tail, the bushy tip twitched in agitation.
Light magenta eyes fell on her silvered flank where a cutie mark rested, looking like a knotted black band. Yanking her eyes to Yinfâng’s face once more, Celestia could feel her gaze boring into Yin's with silent demand. Overwhelmed, the Sun diarch was about to start demanding answers when she caught sight of unshed tears in those striking verdant eyes. Her sharp gaze softened to worry, her anger melted.

“Yin, please… what happened?” she begged, shocking her sister when she nuzzled Yin with hesitant but familiar affection. With hitched breath, the former feline leaned into the touch.

“I’m sorry Tia. I never knew- I wasn’t… I never expected…” her words tumbled over each other as she bowed her head in shame, ears flat against her skull and shoulders hunched. Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she started again. “As you may remember, I had been promoted as the High Empress’ right-hoof guardian before you… left. It was just after that that she began acting strange.
She would sequester herself in her chambers for days, even weeks on end, leaving her youngest sister to rule in her absence." The agitation she struggled to hide in her voice was evident on her face, her pink cat's nose wrinkled as one ear twitched. "When she wasn’t in self-imposed isolation, she kept me close to her side and would not let me leave the palace, even to visit my family.
After a year of this, even Lady Himegami would disappear with her for hours on end. I sent a missive to my- my sisters,” she stuttered thickly, looking up again at Celestia as she sat. “You remember them? Turns out Bâo-Yu and Lien-Hua had been missing for some days. I was too late by then, I just didn’t realize it. When the Empress summoned me to her chambers, I thought nothing of it, and walked right into her trap."

Celestia grew more worried when Yin's voice took on a clinical detachment, eyes hardening to chips of ice. "I was knocked unconscious. When I came to, I was tied on the floor in a great chamber I’d never seen before. What brought me around was… was screaming. Li and Yu’s, as their souls were ripped from their bodies, and placed in a strange receptacle.”
Despite her impassive demeanor, a tear inched down Yinfâng’s face as she reiterated the deaths of her family. “I... saw Lady Himegami there, as the Empress removed her own sister’s soul and… placed it in Lien-Hua’s body. The next thing I know, I have been freed of my bonds but immobilized in a levitation field.”

Yin took a moment to visibly collect herself, swallowing as if to steel her nerves. “After that, everything is a bright light and terrible agony. I-I think I vaguely remember some kind of ceremonial knife...my memories are rather fuzzy at this point. When I awoke again, I was like… this.” Gesturing vaguely to her body with the wave of a claw. Voice turning from subdued to harsh, she looked Celestia square in the eye. “She must have used Bio Alchemy. She broke a royal taboo and made me an Artifice Chimera, with the still living bodies of Bâo-Yu and Lady Himeko.”
Angry tears trickled down her face and dripped silently to the floor, while Celestia and Luna stared at her in horrified dismay. Bio Alchemy had been outlawed for this very reason; the creation of creatures by tearing them apart on a molecular level, and creating one new beast from the combined DNA was inequine and a terrible abuse of magic.

“Oh Yin…” Celestia whispered sorrowfully, tears slipping down her own face as she moved to embrace the chimera in her wings and brush her muzzle through Yin’s mane, taking in the familiar scent of snow, flowers, and the faint tang of iron. At least that hadn't changed. “Why would she do this?” Celestia murmured, not releasing her hold. Lady Hazuki spoke up, to relieve her friend of the emotional burden.

“Himegami-chan was always jealous of Lóngrén; wanting to be one of them…her surrender of her body was voluntary on her part." Everyone present could see the disappointment and anger on her face. "As for Yin…I think my sister was far more attached to her than anyone ever gave her credit for. She feared her…mortality, we think. There is a good chance Yin will not age for thousands of years.” Celestia pulled back enough to eye her figurative cousin with surprise, but figured it must be true. Yinfâng still appeared in her early twenties, and a leopard’s life-span rarely reached seventy.

“Why did you stay?” Luna interrupted, causing Celestia to release her hold with a slightly flushed face. Luna did not miss the very slight blush on Yinfâng’s cheeks, either. “Why come to us with this now, eighty years later?” she questioned, as Yin once again attempted to hide her gaze beneath her mane.

“I didn’t stay of my own volition,” she hissed, affronted. “Blood Covenant or not! She betrayed the oath I made, and I am--was, was not without my... honor. She-- she collared me.” The last coming out a whisper of shame. Luna nodded in pitied understanding, but Celestia exploded.

“SHE WHAT?!” The alicorn ranted as she leapt to her hooves indignantly, her volume making all but Luna wince. “Yin, the Empress only collars slaves, and she personally banned slavery from Qiling THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO!” She roared, the sharp crack of her hooves on stone punctuating her anger while poor Yin could only nod in miserable assent.

“I was to be the face of her new regime, in her quest to absorb our neighbors into the New Qiling Empire. She knew I’d never assist her willingly, not with Lóngzhùzhái so close,” Yin looked at Luna to avoid glancing at the Lunar Princess’ pacing sister, who was still muttering angrily. Stepping in, Hazuki continued the explanation in an attempt to take some pressure off of Yin.

“I had been on sabbatical for several decades to renew the Wards deep in Lóngzhùzhái, and when I finally returned it was a good sixty-five years after the isolation edict. I was shocked to find my sister amassing dark armies led by my youngest sister, who was inhabiting the stolen body of a Lóngrén-hime.” She glanced over at a still fuming Celestia. “And appalled when I discovered Hoshimi had forced forbidden magics upon one of my dear friends. Over the course of the next decade or so I tried to get Yin by herself, but my sister would not let her out of her sight. She even, ah, required they share the same quarters.” Hazuki nervously caught Celestia’s offended expression.
“I managed to catch her alone after some delicate misinformation was spread to my sister, during which I succeeded in releasing Yin from her collar. We then hightailed it out of the palace as fast as we could. I took her to Tiangong, and we managed to hide there for a short while. But a few days later, the Empress came blazing in asking if they had seen her cons-- retainer." She cast a furtive glance between the royal sisters to see if either caught her slip-up to find Luna giving her a rather uncomfortable stare.
"The Sovereign Emperor and Empress lied to cover for us, but we couldn’t stay. While the High Empress was there she also asked for their help should she decide to invade Equestria. Yin’s father passed the news to her and helped us leave their borders undetected. We’ve since been traveling incognito amongst the gypsies to avoid detection. It has taken us this long to circle around to Equestria without being seen.” As Hazuki finished, Yin edged closer to lean on her shoulder in a show of comfort. Celestia felt a flash of irritation at the gesture, but quashed it when she noticed Yinfâng trembling ever so lightly. 'Get yourself together,' Celestia scolded herself. Her friend did not need bouts of misplaced jealousy on her part, she needed support.

“Very well,” Luna declared, shaking Celestia out of her reverie. “We shall grant thee asylum the nights you remain here.”

“And I shall grant you asylum through the days.” Celestia finished, meeting Hazuki’s eyes while carefully avoiding the sight of Yin still leaning on her shoulder. She tried to ignore any spikes of resentment she felt, it was unbecoming of a Princess of Equestria. “I greatly wish to sit with you both for a while longer, though I imagine Luna must get back to her Night Court. Would the two of you care to join me for some tea?” She asked, meeting Yin’s eyes with a genuine smile as she straightened up and nodded shyly.

"I would love to, Celestia.” Yin affirmed, gathering her cloak and clasping it about her once more.

“I’m afraid I must beg off, dear cousin,” Hazuki politely declined, smirking privately at Yin’s sudden flustered expression. “I am rather tired; the nap I took earlier did not quite restore me as I’d hoped.”

“Oh, that’s quite alright Hazuki,” Celestia demurred sweetly, trying to keep the joy out of her voice. “You are always welcome to join us for breakfast tomorrow morning,” she invited. She did enjoy Hazuki’s company, but… more than anything else right now, she wanted to be alone with Yinfâng to talk. She had missed her terribly.

“Very well then, we shall see thee on the morrow,” Luna bade them all a good night as they left through a side exit, so as to avoid the mob of growing petitioners outside the great doors to the Throne Room. When they reached the hallway, Princess Celestia beckoned a guard over to their little group.

Yes, you’re Highness?” he inquired, sketching a bow while trying hard not to stare rudely at either Hazuki or Yinfâng.

“Please escort Lady Hazuki to her room in the Royal Guest Wing. Assign a unit for protection, and make sure she has a staff member to attend her needs. That will be all,” she intoned, waving a hoof to dismiss him.

“As you wish, your Highness,” he saluted, then turned to Lady Hazuki and bowed politely. “If your Grace will follow me, please?” He gestured with a hoof.
“Certainly, good sir,” Hazuki smiled politely, before turning and sketching a brief bow to Celestia. “I shall see you tomorrow, cousin. A pleasant night to you.” She then turned to Yinfâng, pinning her with a worried frown. “Good night, Yin-chan,” she said with an affectionate hug, and then whispered gently, “do not push yourself too hard.” At Yin’s tiny nod of affirmation, Hazuki turned to leave, but paused with a backward glance at her cloaked friend. "You no longer have need of this, I shall take it with me." She declared as her horn lit up with a bright copper glow and relieved the chimera of her tattered covering. Yin seemed to shrink in on herself, one ear flicking in annoyance as the priestess left without giving her a chance to protest.
"If you insist, Hazuki-dono." brows furrowed at the ill-disguised nervousness and slight irritation in the chimera's voice, Celestia turned to look at Yin and noticed she was still trembling. When she turned to look at Celestia with a tenuously joyful smile though, the princess quickly smoothed her features into a grin.

“Well, shall we go? I know a nice little nook where we can enjoy some tea with little disturbance.” Nudging her playfully, Celestia hid a grin at the little blush that bloomed on Yin’s cheeks at the gesture. Inside, Celestia was bursting with happiness, and more than a little hope. Perhaps Yin still liked her, after all these years. And now, they might even have a real chance at a…relationship.

There had certainly been feelings between them during her stay in Qiling; but too many factors kept them from anything more than sweet words and heated kisses in the shadows. They had both hoped Yin might be sent as an envoy to Equestria in the years following the peace talks, but then the edict had been established instead. Celestia had been heartbroken at the thought of never seeing Yinfâng again, and over the course of the following six or so decades attempted to drown out her sorrows with excuses. She desperately tried to justify in her mind why it would have never worked in the first place: species, nationality, longevity, and even gender had all crossed her mind as reasons they could never have been anyway.

The last, especially, had led to a minor tryst in which she tried to prove to herself she was straight. She had not been particularly proud of herself for her indiscretion that night, and had cried bitterly at her imagined unfaithfulness to a love that had never quite bloomed, and a sweetheart who had surely passed of old age by now. This in turn led to more bitter tears as she finally acknowledged the death of one who had been a close friend, at the very least.
But, that was all in the past, and she hoped she might have a bright future to look ahead to. 'Dear Faust, may she still hold the same sentiments as before.'

As they both walked in companionable silence, Celestia kept sneaking glances at her old friend. Despite her change, the former leopard looked rather amazing. She still had that predatory grace in her step that had drawn Celestia the first time she’d laid eyes on her. Her plush fur was still the same silvery white color, and where there had once been beautiful black rosettes spotting her fur she now sported a shimmering, dappled scale pattern across her shoulders and back. A curious mix of the two different markings, the glimmering center of each pattern was drastically offset by the dark matte stippling surrounding them. Her claws looked well-trimmed and clicked almost inaudibly against the polished stone floor of the hallway. Even her cloven hooves barely made any sound, though they looked sturdy enough. 'And I do believe I will enjoy playing with her mane, now that she has one' the princess smiled to herself. Glancing at her face again, Celestia noticed the tightness around her pale green eyes and lowered ears, giving her a rather worn expression.

“If you are… tired, Yin, we can always-”she started hesitantly before Yin cut her off, startled out of her silence.

“Oh, no Tia I’m fine really.” She smiled reassuringly. “It’s just… been a long day, you know?” She sighed before meeting Celestia’s gaze with a grin. “I would love to chat with you, and the tea will be a nice bonus. You will hold to your promise of tea I trust?” She smirked, winking. “Been at least four years since I had a cup of good tea, that swill the gypsies drink is terrible.” The flirty gesture combined with her husky voice sent tiny shivers of hope and longing down Celestia’s spine.

“Very well then, we have arrived,” she gestured grandly, sweeping a hoof toward the balcony she had been leading them to. It was a grand balcony, with glass doors to ensure no one overheard their conversation and plenty of potted and vining plants to give it a serene ambiance. As they took seats across from each other at the lone table made for two, a teal unicorn with a tea pot Cutie mark walked up to them.

“Your Highness, what may I prepare for you this evening?” she inquired, levitating a tea service on the table.

“I think just a jasmine green tea for me please, Assam. What would you like, Yin?” she asked, pointedly looking at her guest and forcing the unicorn to acknowledge the strange creature sitting with her princess.

“May I have some oolong tea, please?” she asked shyly as their waitress huffed slightly but nodded in polite acquiesce before trotting off with her muzzle held high in the air. Yinfâng only watched in amused puzzlement before leaning toward Celestia conspiratorially and whispered “How does she see where she’s going with her nose in the air like that?” Glad their waitress was out of ear shot, Celestia chuckled heartily, thankful to have her friend with her once again. Yin had always seen her as just another princess among the powerful many that graced both Qiling and Lóngzhùzhái, not 'the Sun Goddess'. A welcome relief from the stifling awe of her little ponies, and one of the things that drew her to the warrior.

“I think it’s some sort of ego-location,” she snickered. “Their arrogance radiates off them in waves that bounce off inanimate objects and other important ponies so they don’t all crash into each other. Or the furniture. Or the walls. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work on anypony else.” Giggling like a pair of school fillies, they each tried their best to keep straight faces when Assam returned with their tea.

“May I fetch anything else for you, you’re Highness?” She asked in a rather snobbish tone, deliberately ignoring Yinfâng’s presence at the table.

“No thank you Assam, that will be all,” Celestia politely declined as she turned back to her conversation with Yin. When Assam only nodded and took a few steps back, Celestia looked at her quizzically. “Is there something you need?” she asked, Celestia’s tone implying the mare was interrupting them.

“Ah, no your Highness!” Assam hastily assured, shooting glances at Yinfâng. “Um, if you need anything else, anything at all…! Just ring the bell. Er, good night Highness!” she stuttered, backing out of the balcony in an awkward half-bow. Just as she turned and crossed the threshold, Celestia politely but firmly shut the doors behind her; nearly catching her tail and earning a tiny yip from the flustered mare. Chuckling, Yinfâng turned and smirked at Celestia.

“What bell?” she joked, to which Celestia gravely produced a tiny silver bell with a cherry wood handle. Chuckling, Yin shook her head in mock disbelief. “You’ve certainly got the ponies here wrapped around your hoof,” she teased. Celestia playfully glared and stuck her tongue at the chimera before daintily sipping her tea. “So Yin, I couldn’t help but notice you sport a Cutie mark now,” Celestia glanced pointedly and nodded in its general direction, receiving a blush and grin in affirmation.

“Father always thought I was an exceptional fighter. Turns out whatever magic grants these things agreed. Perhaps it is due to my having earned the ranking of Shodan,” Yin surmised proudly, flicking her left ear. Startled, Celestia drew her attention to said ear and finally noticed the three loops pierced there, replacing the plain gold, silver, and copper studs she remembered there last. They sparkled faintly in the dim lighting, three solid gem hoops of varying color and size.
“Congratulations!” she smiled gleefully, leaning over to get a better look at them. “I know you were training so hard for those…” she trailed off, flicking them gently with her hoof. The lowest piercing appeared to be made of ruby, which she knew stood for strength of body, but the other two she did not recognize. “What do the orange and yellow rings represent?” She inquired, sipping at her tea once again. Gleefully, Yinfâng began explaining the garnet and citrine rings and their symbolisms. The two sat together long into the evening, chatting amicably and laughing merrily until they bade each other a good night.

_ . . . . . . : * : . . . . . . _

After a cheerful breakfast, Celestia approached Yinfâng as the servants were clearing the dish ware from the great table.

“Yin, what are your plans for the day?” She inquired, hoping she might convince the chimera to join her for Day Court.

“Actually, I would like to visit your library, if I may?” She inquired hopefully, her expression silently begging for Celestia to say yes.

“Weeell…” Celestia drawled, pretending to look away in contemplation as she tapped her hoof to her chin. “I don-” she stopped, eyes widening in dismay. Yin was using The Face. Her pupils were expanded to give her a ‘sad kitten’ expression that none could resist, while her lower lip had the tiniest pout to it. Inside, Celestia’s heart was doing flip-flops. Really, making that face should be illegal! “Now, that’s cheating. You know I can’t resist that face,” she admonished as Yin broke character and her wistful mien split into a smug one. “Aright, have a guard show you the way.” Acquiescing grumpily, Celestia brightened when Yin rewarded her with a grateful hug. “Will you join me for lunch, at least?” she requested, placated when Yin nodded in agreement cheerfully and trotted merrily off, her re-donned cloak fluttering like a cape behind her. ‘Really, what am I going to do with that cub?’ Celestia asked herself amusedly as she exited the dining hall.

Calling to her assistant, she asked what her schedule was for the day. Perplexed, her assistant reminded her that she had canceled Day Court to receive her daughters and their friends as she handed Celestia a large stack of papers. Temporarily stunned, Celestia barely kept her composure as she thanked her assistant and dismissed her for the day. How could she have forgotten, even momentarily, about her daughters’ visit which she had penned just yesterday? Celestia felt her eyes widen in alarm. 'How am I going to explain them to Yin? Would… would she think I had moved on? Forgotten what we had together before?'

Taking a moment, Celestia ducked into a little used corridor to think. Surely, Yin wouldn’t… but then, they had never affirmed anything. They had fallen into an easy companionship, but was that all? Yin had given no hints of…No, surely there was still a spark there. She would just have to explain, is all. About the despair and denial she went through trying to protect herself from a broken heart. Sighing dejectedly, Celestia once again entered the hallway proper and headed to her study where she might at least get some paperwork done before Twilight and company arrived. A glowing stack of papers trailed behind her.

When she realized she was nervously pacing the Throne Room, Celestia forced herself to stop and perform some breathing exercises before sitting calmly and smiling serenely just as the guard announced the arrival of Twilight, Dawn, and the Elements of Harmony.

“Welcome, my little ponies!” She greeted them, smiling genuinely now as the Element Bearers bowed and her daughters ran up to hug her. Once the greetings were out of the way, she bid them sit so she could address them as a group, which was a little easier said than done when it came to Pinkie—and Rainbow Dash too, apparently.

“Why did you invite us here today, Princ-mom?” Twilight queried with a happy smile, she was always glad to see her mother. She dutifully ignored her sister snickering 'Prince Mom' under her breath.

“The reason I invited you all here today was to introduce some very good friends of mine, who hail all the way from Qiling,” Celestia announced, smiling inwardly at Twilight’s excited squeal.

“Wow, from Qiling?! But what about the isolation edict they instigated eighty-two years ago?” She questioned.

“The iso-what now?” interrupted a puzzled Rainbow who was fluttering just off the floor.

“Basically it means no one in, no one out,” Dawn explained snidely, sneering slightly in Rainbow’s direction. "Usually on pain of death."

“Well then how’n tarnation did yer friends get here, Princess?” Applejack questioned looking at her quizzically.

“That’s what we’d all like to know, darling,” Rarity intercepted with a toss of her mane. “It’s been about eighty years since anyone has heard a peep from the Qilinese Empire. Oh, do you think they have some silk with them?” she exclaimed, tapping her hooves together excitedly. “No one does silk as fabulously as the Qilinese!”

“Oh my, eighty years?” Fluttershy murmured. “That’s a very long time.”

“Indeed it is my little pony. Which is why I was so surprised when my good friends Lady Hazuki, Empress and High Priestess of Qiling, and Yinfâng turned up yesterday. The news behind their arrival is very unfortunate, but I will go into detail with you all later. For now, I would like you all to meet-” Just then the doors opened and a regal voice joined the group.

“Oh! My apologies, it seems I am late. Greetings, everypony. I am Empress Hazuki.” As everyone turned to look at their new guest, they all gasped as one in awe. As they all tried to bow without breaking their line of vision, Hazuki waved them off with a chuckle. “Please everypony, no need for formalities. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I’m sure you all have a few questions for me, as it has been many years since any of my kind have been seen." she started, before Dawn interrupted.

“You’re a kirin, aren’t you?” She asked rather bluntly, trying to hide the traces of awe in her voice. Smiling, Lady Hazuki nodded in agreement.

“Indeed I am. I see you have read your history. It is an honor to meet you all. Even we in Qiling have legends of the Elements of Harmony, and my traveling companion and I heard tale of your exploits on our journey here.” Turning to Princess Celestia she frowned slightly in consternation. “Speaking of, have you seen Yinfâng?” Celestia avoided eye contact with a nervous shuffle.

“I sent her with an escort to the library this morning, she should be back soon for lunch…” Suddenly Pinkie gasped. One of her ‘I just had a world-shattering revelation’ gasps.

“Guys, I just realized Empress Lady High Priestess Hazuki--wow, that's a mouthful-- hasn’t been to Equestria in at least eighty years! Do you know what this means?!” Everyone just groaned in resignation. “We need to throw her a ‘Welcome Back to Equestria’ Party!” she shouted joyously, jumping in the air along with a mysterious flurry of confetti. Twilight face-hoofed, while Dawn muttered darkly about ‘stupid party hats’ and ‘hot-sauce punch’. Before anyone could stop her, Lady Hazuki happily gave the idea her seal of approval.

“I’ll get started on the invitations then!” Pinkie exclaimed happily. “Everyone here is cordially invited, of course!”

“Invited to what?” A smoky-smooth voice suddenly interrupted from close behind the group, causing everyone to whirl in surprise, Rainbow leaping to the ceiling so fast she left a rainbow contrail behind her. Once the group of friends got a good look at who had startled them, they all fell into a strained silence. Except for Pinkie, who had a disturbingly large grin forming on her face. ‘Well, here’s the big moment’, Celestia swallowed with apprehension. Stepping in to grab everyone’s attention, Celestia cleared her voice.

“Everyone, I’d like you all to meet Yinfâng. She once saved my life, and is a very dear friend of mine.” The Princess declared, smiling warmly at Yin to her consternation. “Yin, I’d like you to meet Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkamena Diane Pie, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony.” Smiling shyly, Yin sketched a polite bow in their direction, which startled the rest into bowing clumsily back. "And these two are…my daughters, Twilight Sparkle and Dawn,” She nodded in the direction the sisters were standing.

Her smile a strained mockery of her usual expression, she desperately wanted Yinfâng to accept them; her heart was palpitating almost audibly in her ears, and she had to fight back the urge to swallow. Yin seemed to go impossibly still for one agonizing moment, her ears twitching almost flat for a brief moment. Just as Celestia thought she felt her heart drop into her stomach, Yin broke into a friendly smile, and she breathed a silent sigh of relief. Perhaps things would turn out alright, after all.

“It is an honor, and pleasure, to meet you all,” the chimera murmured. She seemed relaxed, but Celestia tensed slightly when she noticed her posture. She was still nervous around these ponies. And she was trembling ever so slightly again.

“It has been wonderful meeting you all,” Lady Hazuki suddenly interjected, “But I shall take my leave and let you all catch up. Yinfâng, would you care to join me for noonday meal in our chambers?” she invited politely turning to pin Yin with a look Celestia noted, but couldn’t place.

“Certainly, Hazuki-sama,” Yin smoothly accepted, turning to bow toward Princess Celestia. “I hope you do not mind, but I shall decline your earlier offer of lunch in favor of letting you visit with your…daughters, and their friends. Good day everypony.” Bowing their heads politely, the duo exited the throne room before Celestia could even twitch at the rejection. The sight of them walking rather close together left the Princess with the disconcerting feeling of being detached; floating in some in-between space. The voices of the others around her sounded far away, as if through running water. Celestia realized it was the sound of her blood roaring in her ears. What was between those two?

Author's Note

~~And it begins.~~ :rainbowderp:
~~This is my first fanfiction ever, so any positive criticism and feedback is appreciated. I also welcome questions. Thanks for giving my first attempt a try!~~

~~Once again, big thanks to Wanderer D. You rock!~~ :pinkiehappy: