~ : --- : ~

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.

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