Child of the night: Twilight of the Night guard
Old friends and New discoveries
Previous ChapterInside Celestia’s chambers a flash of light formed into two ponies above her bed as a smaller white unicorn mare and was deposited roughly with a much larger alicorn mare on top of her. As Celestia straddled Gleaming Shield she bowed her head to reach the mare. Gleaming Shield’s forehooves were curled tightly against her chest, while her ears were pinned backwards, whether it’s from submission or displeasure, it could only be speculated. Her hindquarters squeezed together as a vibrant blush appeared on Gleaming's cheeks, feeling very exposed and embarrassed at being before Celestia like this, whose lips pulled back into a predatory grin as she got closer, Gleaming Shield whimpered.
Celestia’s grin faded replaced with a frown, as she saw the fear and discomfort in Gleaming Shield's eyes. No! I will not be like that bastard son of a whorse! Oh my Faust! What am I doing? Tears formed in her eyes as she pulled back and scooted off the edge of the bed and laid prostrate on the floor, as though doing so might 'punish' her enough that she could eventually pay off her debt of guilt. I was used by him, I know what it’s like, so why am I using Gleaming Shield!? Am I so desperate that I’d force myself on her? Do I really want her to feel the same pain that I feel? To suffer as I do? Does she deserve that? Does anypony? Tears well and truly ran down her face, the salty tears causing her mascara and eyeshadow to run.
She looked back at Gleaming.
“I am so sorry Gleaming, I was hurting, and I wanted to make myself feel better with pleasure! I- I feel so horrid! And filthy!" Celestia managed to say in between choked sobs. "Some example I am to my subjects! If they only knew the real me! A monster who selfishly sought its own pleasure, without regard or consideration to the ponies that it might hurt!”
Gleaming’s blush faded and she frowned as well, tentatively she made her way towards Celestia.
Gleaming nuzzled Celestia’s side drawing her face across her light pink coat. This gesture of compassion drew the sobbing mare’s attention.
“What happened Celestia?” Gleaming asked her softly, as she continued. “I won't pretend that I am not mad, or that I understand why you’re acting like this, so tell me... . Why are you acting like this?”
Celestia’s sobs briefly came to a halt, before she grabbed Gleaming into a rib-crushing hug as the tears resumed.
“This morning, I found out somepony I cared about was nothing but a dirty foalphile using me to further his sick, perverted fetish! He didn’t even care about me, being used was bad enough, but all he saw was this bucking crown! But what hurts the most is that he got me to love him, that he got to know me as a pony, and yet, he continued to play me for a foal as he did sick, horrible things to the foals of my kingdom and didn't spare a second thought about how hurt I would be once I found out, not only because he used and deceived me, but because of the irreparable damage that has been done to the foals of my kingdom. Foals who looked to me to keep them protected from monsters like him!” Celestia took her crown off her head and smashed it into the ground.
“And just a moment ago I was planning on doing the same! I am a monster Gleaming! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I am so sorry Gleaming.”Celestia whispered as she rocked with Gleaming in her arms “I am sick of being alone! I am sick of this infernal crown that which either makes me a pawn for the furtherance of somepony's goals, or feared or placed on a bucking pedestal so that the ponies that might've been my partner, my mate, either never approaches me out of fear, or because they don't feel worthy enough of me! Because of Faust damned sycophants put me on a pedestal as a virginal goddess, I may be a goddess, but that doesn’t mean that I don't bleed the same red blood, or if you say hurtful things to me, that it won't hurt my feelings. Or despite being surrounded by ponies who worship me, that I won't feel lonely when they only say the things that they think I want to hear, or they don't spend time with me, because they don't want to 'interfere' with government operations!” Celestia roared. “And though I tease her, Luna is lucky she found somepony who loves her,” Celestia said wistfully.
Gleaming attempted to wrap her legs around Celestia to provide the mare some measure of comfort.
“Celestia, you’re not a monster, you’re confused right now and hurting inside and to make matters worse you feel alone. I don’t think I will ever know how that feels, but if you need somepony to talk to, I’ll be here to be a shoulder to cry on and ears to listen, okay? As for the other thing.” Gleaming Blushed furiously. ”We can start as friends, Celestia and see where it goes. Quite frankly, I am a tad bit occupied at the moment, what with my sister swapping my sex. Hopefully it’s temporary.”
Gleaming smiled softly up at Celestia, who stared at her with confusion in her eyes.
“The sex swap spell is permanent, it can only be cast on the same pony every 100 years so as to reduce the likelihood of it being used for frivolous uses.” Celestia said as Gleamings eye twitched.
*******
In Luna’s bedroom Twilight and Luna were having a pillow fight, to determine who’d be the little spoon, when a screeching shout of “What!” filled the palace easily rivalling the Royal Canterlot Voice.
Pausing, the two mares blinked.
“Huh, looks like she found out that spell you cast is permanent,” Luna intoned before shrugging and continued whacking her betrothed.
*******
Back in Celestia’s room the tables had turned and it was now Celestia consoling Gleaming Shield.
“Gleaming, it’s okay. At least you make a pretty mare, I could teach you the ins and outs of marehood, if you wish.” Celestia said in soft voice as she used her wing to stroke Gleaming’s back.
Gleaming Shield awkward fidgeted Oh why did Twily have to cast that spell, It’s making me feel strange. I should be running out the nearest door, yet here I remain. he thought before he smiled back ruefully “Thanks Celestia, I just hope I don’t end up the laughingstock of the day guard, or that my friend Ca—”
In through the doors burst a pink alicorn with a pink, yellow and purple mane and tail and shouted “Auntie Celestia! Are you okay!? I heard a scream comi—” She stopped midsentence as her eyes tracing the form of the mare in front of her
“—Doesn’t find out,” Gleaming Shield groaned
”Shining is that you!?” Cadance asked with an incredulous tone seeping into her voice.
“It’s Gleaming Shield now, Cadance.”
“Who did this to you?” Cadance asked cautiously.
“Well you remember my little sister—”
“Well of course! How could I forget that adorable little filly I loved to foal sit for! Oh the tall tales of how she was going to marry Auntie Luna and how she’d be her knight in shining armor.” Cadance stated with a smirk, “as if Auntie Luna would do that! I mean I would have atleast been notified and despite Twilight’s love for her getting me dizzy. Auntie Luna is a princess—”
Celestia chuckled, “Cadance, it is true Twilight is marrying my sister.”
Cadance’s jaw dropped so hard and fast that it may have beaten the land speed record.
“I guess I owe Twilight an apology, but what does she have to do with your situation?”
Gleaming Shield motioned from her horn to hoof.
“Oooh, that filly is in so much trouble. I told her not to use permanent magic on friends and family without their permission after that last fiasco. She usually means well, but what she does isn’t necessarily what we want.”Cadance threatened.
“What did she do?” Celestia asked curious about Twilight past antics.
“You know that love sensing ability ponies complain about, well it isn’t a natural ability I got with my cutie mark. A certain little filly thought it would be a great idea if I could sense love to help with me being the princess of love. As punishment I made her listen to poorly written fanfics from the My Little Human fandom.”
“I don’t get how mares can like that show?” Gleaming Shield stated.
With a predatory grin Cadance replied “Well now that you are a mare maybe you'll find out for yourself what makes it so fascinating for us mares!”
Gleaming Shield gulped and turned to Celestia for some support, but instead found a matching grin on her face. and then Cadance began bouncing on the spot, clapping her hooves together “ I know we can have a sleepover, and we can show Gleaming how to do makeup, flirt, the puppy dog pout among other things about being a mare!”
“Oh! Oh! I was going to do that, but we can always start with something like this! Why don’t we ask Twilight and Luna to join us?”
“But I don’t have any sleepwear?” Gleaming whined before she caught onto what she had said Celestia replied “I have a few spare negligees you can borrow Gleaming though they might be a bit big for you.”
“Why Faust!? What did I ever do to you?” Gleaming grumbled under her breath.
“Oh now you’re just being a drama queen Gleaming.” Celestia playfully admonished.
“Fine! I’ll stay! Just don’t bring any—”
Cadance trotted in, within her magic she carried a box of various sex toys. “Er Cadance what are you going to do with those!? You never did these kind of things with me as a stallion. This is a side of you that I'm seeing for the first time and it's kind of scaring me. Plus, my emotions are all over the place and it just feels weird, a stallion stuck in a mare's body! It just feels ... wrong to me! Why are you all so eager to teach me all about being a mare, anyways? What about how I feel!? What about being there for somepony going through a rough time in their life? Because right now, I feel like a bloody piece of meat in shark infested waters!!”
“What do you mean Gleaming this is normal amongst mare friends, and seeing as we are friends and you are now a mare, it is something you’re going to have to get used to. Plus it would be very truly cruel of us to just let you fumble about blindly, trying to find your way in what is essentially a permanent change, What you think is just a game to us is us trying to help you through the rough time you are having. Because let me tell you, being left to fend for yourself you’ll meet the real ‘Sharks’ the ones who will use you, who will take advantage of your naivete. And while we are also trying to inject some levity into the situation by a little good natured ribbing, this is ultimately for your own good and while you may still be holding out hope for a ‘cure’ it just won't be happening and we have to be realistic here Gleaming, you’ll be eaten alive by other mares and stallions if we don’t do this.”
Gleaming Shield face hoofed.
“I don’t know why I even bother saying anything,” she lamented.
“Anyway I brought the party favors!” Cadance announced with an impish grin on her face as she noticed Gleamings reaction. Meanwhile Celestia had gotten to her hooves and started rummaging through her trot in wardrobe, no doubt looking for a negligee for herself and Gleaming.
*******
A wisp of flame entered into Luna’s bedroom interrupting Twilight and Luna’s play.
As a scroll materialised in front of Luna she grabbed it in her magic.
“To my adorkable sister and her fiance,
We invite you to attend, in scenic my bedroom
Gleaming Shields first ever sleepover party as a mare.
Wear appropriate attire and bring some alcohol, you know the one I mean Luna.
Yours sincerely,
Princess Celestia ‘Sol Invictus’ Everfree,”
As Luna finished reading both she and Twilight wore matching impish grins as they started getting ready. Luna going to her moonshine collection and Twilight getting her negligee.
*******
Twenty minutes later, Luna and Twilight stood at the door to Celestia’s room as the air was filled with muffled giggles. Twilight pushed open the door and was met with the sight of Gleaming Shield in a black lace negligee with sheer bunched up shoulders and silk panels breaking the sheer material of the skirt another observation was that it was way too big for him.
Luna piped up, “Isn’t that your negligee ‘Tia?”
“I am just lending it to poor Gleaming.” Bringing her leg up to feign feeling faint at the scandalousness of Gleaming not having her own. She further hammed it up swaying to and fro. “Oh I could not let the poor dear make such a social faux pas at her first sleepover.”
“Well wasn’t that charitable of you ‘Tia” Luna said a large grin on her face as Gleaming groaned. As Twilight looked around she and Cadance locked eyes on each other and Twilight went to bolt out of the room as Cadance tackled the filly.
“Where do you think you’re going in such a hurry little missy! I heard that you’ve been naughty and casting permanent spells again without permission.”
“B-ut he wanted- I thought it’d-” Twilight sputtered before relaxing in defeat as the princess of love and lust used her considerable strength to hold Twilight down despite her petite frame.
“Now what do you say to Gleaming, young lady.” Cadance put on her best authoritative tone.
Twilight looked down and scuffed her right hoof on the floor, “I am sorry Gleaming.” She pouted and mumbled barely coherently, before repeating herself much clearer after Cadance leveled a stern glare at her.
Cadance stood up getting off Twilight.
“Now that, that is cleared up, I want to apologize to you for not believing you, even though you showed me Auntie Luna's claimant mark. It, well it just didn't really fit with what I know about Auntie Luna.” While Cadance was distracted with apologising to Twilight, Luna attempted to make a swift getaway, before a light blue nimbus encapsulated her body and dragged her backwards unceremoniously.
“And Auntie, are you going to tell me why I had to find out you were getting married to Twilight from her? You don’t think that would have been something to tell me when you sent me to be her foal sitter, hmmm?”
“My apologies Cadance it must have slipped my mind.” she said sheepishly grinning.
“Really?“
Cadance levelled a flat look at her aunt that darkened slightly.
Luna looked around furtively for any aid that might help her, turning to Twilight she asked, “A little help here, Twilight?”
Twilight smirked and trotted up to Luna and gave her a passionate and sloppy kiss on the lips as she held onto her before pulling back from their kiss, Luna making a good impression of Twilight from back when they were in the mess hall yesterday. Twilight giggled and said huskily “I love you Luna.” Though she couldn’t see it, she heard Cadance collapse, turning around Twilight spotted a blissfully unconscious Cadance on her back legs splayed out like a starfish and with a large grin on her face.
Gleaming Shield interjected “ That was really mean Twilight.”
The night went on the girls all sat or lounged in a circle gossiping and talking about—oddly enough mares, ranking how each celebrity looked on a scale of 1-10, Twilight and Luna abstained from ranking any higher than a two. “Um, Twilight why do you keep rating those celebrities so low?” Luna asked Twilight raised an eyebrow in response
“Because I don’t think any celebrity could compare to you Luna, why do you do it though Luna. Surely there are ponies better looking than I?”
“‘Tis a lie, ops I mean it is a lie Twilight you are beautiful, graceful and not to mention a strong mare! No pony compares to you Twilight and don’t you ever forget that!” Luna stated resolutely Twilight and Luna stared at each other for a few moments before both simultaneously diving into each other's embrace and passionately made out with each other. Much to Gleaming Shield’s obvious discomfort.
However, Luna's and Twilight's antics amused Cadance and Celestia greatly. Their amusement grew even more, seeing Gleaming's discomfort. They also taught Gleaming about how to look after her mane and tail, how to do makeup and Gleaming even seemed to be enjoying herself, well that is until the conversation turned into how to please your marefriend and the use of sex toys. During which the girls demonstrated on each other and on themselves to an awkward Gleaming who was rubbing her foreleg with the other and turning away blushing though still watching out the corner of her eye. Gleaming cringed as Luna showed her the usage of dildos on Twilight by encasing one in her magic and using the head of the dildo to tease apart Twilight’s virgin folds causing her to moan before the toy slid gently further and further inside Twilight’s marehood as Twilight lay on her back exposed to her sister.
In between moans a soft giggle from Luna could be heard as she quietly purred something along the lines of “Well, well, well looks like you might just fit all of me in after all.”
Celestia looked hungrily and with half lidded eyes at Gleaming Shield who meeped at the attention. Which caused Celestia to remember herself and wiped the leer from her face smiling sheepishly and feeling more than a bit embarrassed at herself.
Hmm she’s trying, maybe I should reward her? I mean I never had a problem with the idea of dating her, but being messed up as I am, I’d rather play it safe. Also I kinda wondered what it’s like to kiss from a mare’s point of view. Gleaming thought as she stood up so she could kiss Celestia rearing up and draping her forelegs over her shoulders Gleaming kissed Celestia on the lips. The reaction was immediate as Celestia’s pupils shrunk to the size of dots as her face and her ears flushed a light crimson in adorable embarrassment, her wings flared out in surprise and arousal.
Everypony else in the room froze, Twilight’s jaw hung loose, and Luna wore an impish grin while poor Cadance was drunk on lust and love, or that could have just been her drinking a lot of the moonshine.
“Gleaming w-w-what was that f-f-for I—” Celestia stuttered as Gleaming Shield placed a hoof over Celestia’s mouth to silence her.
“A reward for your self control and perhaps a little curiosity on my part.” Gleaming admitted as her blush mirrored Celestia’s
Celestia smiled and hugged Gleaming Shield, “Thank you, Gleaming. I know you're not particularly ready for, or comfortable with a relationship with me. Considering your predicament you don’t have to worry about me taking it the wrong way, though thank you for being considerate.”
Gleaming shook her head ruefully “Celestia I was never uncomfortable with the idea of dating you, yes this predicament of mine has me confused and all over the place, but it wasn’t because of you that I refused your advances. I want you and myself to be in our right minds and stable before we do anything like that. We owe that to each other to do so before getting involved with each other. If we do this, I want our relationship to last.”
Celestia held a hoof to her mouth as tears of joy started to fall down her cheeks as her smile wavered due to the emotions she was feeling before she hugged Gleaming closer and tighter.
“Celestia, can’t breathe! Mortal remember!?” Gleaming squeaked out before Celestia sheepishly let go. As Gleaming sucked in precious air a wry smile graced her lips “I’m sensing a pattern here ‘Tia.” She giggled froze covered her mouth as she realized what she had done.
The rest of the night was largely uneventful, save for Gleaming getting another makeover and the pillow fight that Celestia won for obvious reasons (she cheated). They then all climbed into bed Luna snuggling up with Twilight and Celestia pulling Gleaming into her embrace though slightly restrained so as to not kill the poor filly, meanwhile a golden yellow nimbus opened a drawer and took one of her many pillows and sheets and tucked Cadance in.
*******
Twilight awoke at 3 A.M., she was late for her hit on a noble that was currently embezzling from the crown. As gently as she could, she teleported out of Luna’s grip, causing Luna to shift and mumble something about Twilight eating a banana split sundae. Giggling slightly, Twilight conjured a black shirt with a white pony skull painted on it but slightly faded, since the shirt was long enough that it covered her flanks, She then used an illusion to change her mane and tail to pure black as she went out to the balcony, missing that Celestia had an eye open. Twilight without much ceremony leapt off the balcony and landing in the castle gardens she was about to sprint away, but was surprised by a voice
“So you’re the Ponysher?” Celestia said, with a stern look upon her face.
Twilight crouched down defensively her back arched and her fur bristling as she took in the princess. It was so fast that Twilight barely had time to react as she was scooped up and hugged by Celestia. Confusion spread on her face as she looked at Celestia.
“Thank you, Twilight. I would still be backed into a corner and being taken advantage of by those vile nobles if it weren’t for you.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Of course not, you’re doing us all a favor Twilight. you have my full support. I’ll even make it an official royal order. The guard will ignore your actions against the nobles. However, I can not and will not publically reveal that I have any hoof in this beyond sending them to court for the crimes they commit. Right now, the nobles are off guard, they think you’re some commoner with an axe to grind and not an agent of the crown. This should enable me to take back the power ripped from me and my sister’s hooves and once the corrupt nobles are ousted, I can grant noble titles to those who have earned or have them democratically elected rather than some silly idea that nobility is hereditary. But there is one condition, however, I need proof of crimes committed first and I need you to not kill them, drain them if you must, defend yourself if you must. Knocking them out so that let’s us take them to prison to await trial is preferable. If they have committed truly heinous crimes like murder, rape, foal abuse and treason you have full authority to end them in the most painful and creative ways possible. (irregardless of the perpetrator's gender.)” Celestia explained.
“So do you have information on your next target?” Celestia asked.
Twilight conjured a manilla folder labelled ‘Treasured Secret’ “He has been embezzling from the crown’s treasury,” Twilight replied evenly. “I’ll agree to your plans, sister. Just aim me at the nobles you suspect of under hooved tactics/crimes. It takes so much out of the random picks and research I have had to do.”
Twilight smirked at Celestia’s shocked face as her eyes glowed red before jumping back up to the balcony that was easily four stories high returning to the room and the warm embrace of her wife-to-be. Celestia shook her head and flew up to her room and Gleaming Shield.
*******
Blueblood’s mansion 2 hours later
In the reception room, a large room of the marble mansion that the Blueblood family own, the room had 6 velvet lounge chairs all arranged in a semi circle around the wood fireplace.
In the chair closest to the fire on the right sat Prince Blueblood. In the chairs on his opposite side sat Jet Set and Upper Crust. On their right sat Treasured Secret on his right sat Maledictum Sum. On Blueblood’s right sat Lord Merciful Distraction and his wife Lady Cruel Attention.
“Welcome noble lords and ladies, I have gathered you here tonight to discuss a most persistent thorn in our side. The Ponysher.“Blueblood explained as murmurs erupted from the gathered nobles.
“Now Lord Solaire of Astora can not be with us tonight as he was the latest in this vindictive commoner’s so called ‘Justice’ and before that Thrifty Bits. This Ponysher, this commoner, is gathering incriminating evidence on us as we speak and killing us for it. This miscreant must be stopped before he wipes out all the council member noble families.This monster doesn’t even leave the blood of his victims, I do not want to know how he plans on using it and for what purpose he would even need it or how not a drop is spilt, but we must stop it for the good of Equestria! We nobles keep this country running and this Ponysher is out for our blood!” Blueblood said rambling through his rehearsed speech.
Jet Set let out a snooty laugh as as he started speaking “You mean what should we do to protect our purses, this Ponysher takes our money, our valuable possessions.”
Lady Cruel Attention spoke up “ Only those with something to hide or who are woefully unable to bury such evidence deserves everything the foals get! Come along Merciful we are leaving.” As they left they missed the sneer that came from Blueblood.
“Maledictum, you have been uncharacteristically silent through this meeting care to share your perspective on this crisis?” Blueblood asked Maledictum grunted and spoke up
“No, because I have got nothing to hide.”
“And if this Ponysher finds something?” Blueblood countered.
“When he does I’ll deal with him then, until then I don’t care.” he replied gruffly as he too raised himself to his hooves, Jetset and Uppercrust left shortly after.
Treasured Secret fidgeted
“Ugh! Just go Treasured Secret! I can see you are itching to leaving.” Blueblood sighed
“I seem to be the only pony taking this seriously,” Blueblood whined as Treasured Secret beat a hasty retreat.
Blueblood looked around his room before standing up and dragging himself towards his door, when he heard a scream from Lord Treasured Secret. He rushed to the door to see a load of guards and a paddy wagon, waiting outside. With Treasured Secret being cuffed and dragged away.
Loudly and clearly the guard announced “Treasured Secret you are under arrest for the suspicion of embezzling from the crown treasury. You have the right to remain silent, however anything you do say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you can not afford one, the courts will provide one. Do you understand your rights? nod once for yes shake your head for no.”
Treasured Secret nodded but otherwise stayed silent. Blueblood watched in horror as Treasured Secret was hauled off and shoved into the paddy wagon.”
Blueblood grimaced This must be the work of that blasted Ponysher, I’ll get him if it’s the last thing I do!
*******
Meanwhile in Griffon Stone, the king’s castle.
“General Bloodwing, how are your soldiers training doing?” King Iron Claw asked as he studied a map of Equestria, a single claw held under his beak in a thoughtful pose.
“They should be ready by the end of the two years, your Highness! Those soft Equestrian ponies will not know what hit them. They have gotten fat and weak on freedom and peace for too long while our country starves and fights for survival, I look forward to the day I may sink my teeth into pony flesh as we rape, pillage them and despoil their so called paradise.”
The two Griffons laughed as they continued to scheme. Unbeknownst to either, was a yellow pegasus with a flame-like mane and tail. She had a flaming lightning bolt as her cutie mark. She had been hovering outside and had heard everything, this newfound knowledge causing her to make a dash for the Griffonstone rail station as fast as her wings could take her.
*******
Twilight flew on large black feathered wings through the night sky, soon she would join The Night Guard. But first she had one loose end to tie, Thrifty Bit, a miserly stallion who lived on his own in his estate, far away from the other noble properties which huddled around close to Canterlot palace, like a litter of puppies sucking at the teats of Equestria. A veritable gaggle of parasites draining the country of resources. The night cast the world in darkness despite that Twilight’s night vision enabled her to zero in on her prize, she had traced a lot of missing foal reports in the area to this pony, and now was determined to destroy this Thrifty Bit. As she neared his mansion, she prepared to land on his roof, rearing up slightly and angling her wings so that her wing beats slowed her down as she alighted onto the roof. Twilight then closed her eyes. As she sent out a 360 degree magic pulse she opened her highly tuned magic senses and in front of her she saw a stark white world as her crimson magic pulse spread throughout the world. Soon the stark white was joined by grey silhouettes of objects and ponies. Below her was the master bedroom, the floor below that held a reception room, a kitchen, an office and a lounge. On the final floor were three rooms; one that held 13 little ponies and beds, another that held what seemed to be an assembly line and finally a wine cellar. Twilight grimaced and opened her eyes. Hopping off the roof, Twilight glided down with grace and poise before going to knock on the door, as her right hoof connected with the door it flew into the reception where 30 mercenaries let fly with a hail of bullets from their rifles. Holes riddled Twilight's body as she fell to the floor blood all of the place.
Thrifty Bit, an old and graying unicorn stallion with a golden bit for a cutie mark and a top hat that Scrooge McDuck would be proud of. He bounced up in the air in celebration. “Ha! ha! ha! I killed the Ponysher, I killed her! Whoo hoo!”
During his pre-mature celebration he had not noticed the blood on the walls slowly running back towards Twilight’s body and her body rapidly repairing holes. His guard had noticed as the looks on their faces attested, Twilight’s body finished repairing as she sunk into the shadows of the room.
“Er, Boss? I think we should leave. Like right now!” The guards panicked as they looked around for the for a body that should have been there, riddled with bullet holes and leaking blood all over the place, but the body was no longer there. Aside from the bullet holes in the walls and bullet shells and casings, there was no indication that a pony had been slaughtered.
Twilight watched with amusement from the shadows, those poor foolish morsels, and with a thought and her will the guards were rooted in place causing them to scream out as they were sucked into the shadows, blood spurting all over the room. Thrifty Bit started to shake in fear as that blood too was drawn inexorably into the shadows.
Twilight chuckled at the look of pure horror on her prey’s face. Thrifty Bit nearly gave himself whiplash as he spun his head all around the room as he backed away.
Twilight burst from the floor and said, “Hey kid! Wanna see a dead body!?”
Thrifty Bit Screamed as Twilight sunk her teeth into his neck and dragged him back into the shadows with her. The room was deathly silent as the rays of the moon slightly illuminated the room. The silence was interrupted by the corpse of Thrifty Bit bursting out of the shadows pale and totally drained of all blood as Twilight emerged from the shadows with a napkin in her magic wiping away the blood before incinerating it in arcane fire. She burped daintily, “Ops.” Twilight said giggling and covering her mouth with a hoof as a light blush covered her cheeks in embarrassment.
She stalked down the hallway until she found the door down to the cellar and ripped it off it’s hinges. Going down the stairs she drifted through the cellar and through the assembly room that now that she had a clear view was filled with griffon weapons. A snort of disgust emanated from her as she proceeded to where the foals were being held, ripping off the door. The foals who were awake from the noise upstairs stared up at her with awe and fear as they huddle together never taking their eyes off the mare before them.
Twilight tilted her head in contemplation before she smiled warmly at the foals and filled her words with power, “Sleep little foals, sleep. Forget that you saw me and sleep.”
Twilight, once the foals were asleep, enveloped them in her shadow-magic as she transported them to the nearest guard station. As the foals were rushed to safety Twilight sent out a wave of shadow that enveloped the house scouring the place of valuables and wine, sending them to her castle in her pocket dimension. She had built the thing as she had started gathering materials from all her previous conquests as a place away from home should she need it. It is also where she stored spare blood for a rainy day. She wasn't worried about running out though, because 'donations' were always generous, especially this latest round of ... 'donations.'
As Twilight’s shadow receded, a stylised pony skull marked the side of the building in blue arcane flames. She too, also sunk back into the shadows. She was going to be late for her last concert at the Sanctuary, a lounge for those who trotted the night, whether mundane or supernatural. It also has a reputation for attracting Gamers, ponies who play those new fandangled contraptions called video games. She always got game music, so she played a lot of them as research but soon found herself enthralled by it as well.
As she arrived she noted that the proprietress Concordia was waiting for her, She was an old friend she had met shortly after Luna had saved her. Her pure white coat, silver mane and tail and an almost crystalline looking pair of pale blue eyes. Oddly enough, her cutie mark had six jewels, five of them surrounding the sixth that almost matched Twilight’s own cutie mark colorwise.“Twilight, you ready to show our patron’s a good time?”
Twilight replied “I would Concordia, but I am saving myself for a very special pony.”
Concordia raised an eyebrow in a manner indicative of inquisitiveness but shrugged her shoulders dismissively.
“Come along Twilight, the stage awaits.”
As they enter the door to the lounge they met the bouncer who nodded them through, Twilight noted he looked new.
“Is that a new bouncer Concordia?” Twilight asked, Concordia shrugged again, her aloofness shining through.
“Yeah, he kinda took it hard when you rejected him,” Concordia remarked as she smirked back at Twilight.
“Your such a stallion killer Twilight, this mare of yours must be the most beautiful and greatest pony in Equestria, if you keep turning down any suitors wanting to court you. I even hear tell that quite a few mares have been left pining after you too.” she continued.
“Well she is very special to me, Concordia. I’d do anything for her,” Twilight replied resolutely, gaining a chuckle from Concordia.
“Oh Twilight, whomever she is, she is lucky to have you.” Concordia grimaced. “If only I could find somepony as loyal as you, Twilight.” She sighed wistfully as they reached the main room.
“You will Concordia, I am sure of it!” Twilight exclaimed happily. Her optimistic remark earned herself another chuckle from Concordia.
“Thank you, Twilight, at least I know I can count on you to root for me.” Concordia shook her head wryly.
The Sanctuary’s main room was a rather simple affair, each round table had four chairs and a candle in a glass vase in the center of it and each table was covered with a tablecloth of white lace, with a smaller square crimson cloth with its corners pointing to each chair, which were a dark stained mahogany with soft cream colored velvet cushions. The stage floor reached just above the tables in height, and there were 20 tables surrounded it in a semi-circle. behind the tables sat a curved bar surrounded by stools, the back filled with all sorts of drinks, next to the bar. Cocktail waitresses were standing by in matching black waist coats with white sleeveless undershirts, red bowties, short skirts that hugged their flanks and high heels with sheer stockings tight against their legs so as to draw the eyes.
“So Twi you gonna get ready or gawk at the waitresses?” Concordia asked barely holding onto her humour.
As Twilight coughed down her embarrassment, she let shadows form over her body and turn into a black sequined strapless dress leaving little to the imagination, the ensemble completed with white stockings and black shoes. She smirked at Concordia, her face now accentuated by her makeup along with the dress as the shadows sunk back. A light pastel lavender eyeshadow, just sparingly applied, drew attention to her sparkling amethyst eyes. A touch of gloss for her eyelashes made her eyelashes take on a silken sheen, also drawing attention to her eyes. Some blush was lightly powdered on, so that the lights of the stage wouldn't appear to bleach her unmercifully. And for a final touch, some lip gloss was applied to moisturize and highlight her alluring and full-looking lips.
“Okay that’s just cheating. You bloody vampires and your easy lives, what about us poor earth ponies who don’t even have magic?” Concordia pouted.
With a deadpan look Twilight replied “You and I both know you're the furthest thing from an earth pony, Concordia. You just like that form because it makes you unassuming.”
Concordia huffed indignantly at the accusation before a large inequine grin grew on her face, with teeth too sharp to belong to a pony. It quickly disappeared as if it had never been there at all. Twilight shook her head in amusement as she trotted up to the stage via the stairs in the back, near the fire exit. Up on the stage stood a grand piano and a violin. Twilight pulled out the stool and picked up the violin and bow in her magic. As Twilight turned the tuning knobs to ensure that the instrument was properly tuned, occasionally playing a brief tune to check and make sure that she had made the proper adjustments, she also rosined her bow while ponies filed in and took seats. Smiling she moved the mic down towards herself and began playing. Magic flicked across keys and as the glow of Twilight’s horn intensified, shadows ponies extended from the floor filling out the rest of the orchestral seats as they took up the instruments, which had been sitting there and began to play in accompaniment to the main ‘voice’ of the piece that Twilight was playing.
As she finished the first tune her audience stomped their hooves in appreciation before slowly stopping to allow Twilight to begin the next piece. Twilight smiled as she began.
“Okay guys let’s play a little something happier!” Twilight tickled the keys of her piano before playing her next piece.
As Twilight finished her third song she noted the relaxed nature of the patrons and decided to play an appropriate piece. She cleared her throat as she began to sing.
Let’s get emotional. Twilight thought to herself as she starting playing her next song
Okay time for the finale, all but 3 shadows remained as the room darkened and a spot light fell over Twilight and the remaining shadow ponies. The shadows started to sing as Twilight played her piano and violin.
As the final song faded the ponies in the audience applauded Twilight as the lights returned and the shadows all faded.
“Thank you everypony, my time here has been a happy one, and I thank you all for your support and donations. Maybe one day we’ll meet again here and by then I hope to introduce my fiance to you. You guys have been so welcoming to me and I am very grateful to you and to Concordia for even signing me to the Sanctuary. Enjoy the rest of your night and good night!”
Twilight bowed before she made her way to the stairs, Concordia trotted over to her.
“Great final Twilight, I am honestly surprised no one has thought to sign you to a record, although knowing you. you probably beguiled them so they wouldn’t.”
Twilight fidgeted her right hoof rubbing her left foreleg, “Concordia, don’t get me wrong if there was a way to have my cake and eat it too (heheh eat it too) I’d be all over it. But I can’t so yes I drove them away. It would just get in the way while I sort out my new life. Plus I was never one for the attention of the masses. I’d much rather just play here or in my castle or just lay or sit by the fireplace and read.”
Concordia shook her head in bemusement, “Come ‘ere you crazy monstrosity.” Concordia hugged Twilight tightly.
“Et tu kettle.” Twilight smirked and returned the hug.
“I’m gonna miss you Twilight, I really am. So are you going to tell me who the lucky mare is?” Concordia asked
“Princess Luna, if you must know.” Twilight begrudgingly answered.
“Eee! Really!? Little Lulu!? D’aaww that’s so cute! About time miss stoic got herself a proper marefriend!”
Twilight raised an eyebrow at Concordia, who just waved it off.
“Luna’s my niece silly!” Concordia exclaimed, smiling at the face on Twilight as she processed the information that’d she’d end up as Concordia’s niece-in-law.
Buck me sideways, Oh Faust that is just too much. Concordia is okay in small doses but when she parties, she parties.
“Oh Faust!” Twilight facehoofed.
“Hehehe, my sister can’t save you Twilight. In fact as protective of Celly and Lulu as she is, you’re going to have your work cut out for yah!” Concordia giggled.
*******
Twilight laid there re-ensconced in Luna’s somehow tighter embrace. As sunlight broke her reminiscence. Shortly after the door to Celestia’s room opened and in trotted Raven with a fresh flask of coffee in her magic and a giant war mug/slash beer stein hybrid abomination of drinkware, filled with coffee. Raven was otherwise distracted by Celestia’s schedule so she hadn’t noticed the pile of princesses and their guests as she neared the bed she almost tripped over Cadance who had moved her pillow between her legs to hug it in her sleep. Luckily for Raven she had a lot of practice keeping balanced and so the coffee mug abomination didn’t spill on her or Cadance.
As Raven’s eyes stopped spinning from the bout of dizziness caused by nearly tripping, she took note of the scene and the state of the room and left the mug and flask on Celestia’s side and proceeded to leave mumbling, “Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. It’s too early for this shit.” Twilight wore a bemused smile as Raven retreated muttering obscenities that would make a sailor blush. Only for a golden yellow nimbus to envelop Raven’s body dragging her back. Raven slumped and gave up trying to escape, while the owner of the magic holding her wore an amused smirk.
“Good morning Raven.” Celestia greeted the floating mare.
“Morning Princess.” Raven responded in a defeated tone. Eying the other occupants of the room. “Did you have fun last night?”
Celestia smirked and then threw her head back and released a throaty groan of pleasure. Messing with Ravens perception of what actually happened. Before the mare could make any faulty assumptions Twilight interjected “Nothing happened, we just shared a bed Raven.” Thinking for a moment Twilight tilted her head in contemplation, “Scratch that me and Luna spooned and Celestia didn’t do anything.”
“Party pooper!” Celestia said indignantly as she stuck her tongue out at Twilight.
Who promptly snickered at Celestia’s reaction. Raven visible relaxed and gave Celestia her schedule. Celestia began reading it, “Huh Captain Spitfire is requesting a priority audience? I wonder what that could be about?” Celestia took her drinkware abomination and proceeded to drain about half its contents. letting out a gasp as she stopped.
“Ah that hit the spot! The best part of waking up, is Colt-lumbian in your cup!” Celestia exclaimed rousing Cadance from her alcohol and love/lust induced sleep. Twilight attempted to nuzzle Luna awake but was met with a whine and Luna mumbling a bit.
“5 more minutes mom,” Luna moaned drowsily before falling back asleep. Twilight kissed Luna on the lips.
“Okay, okay I am up mom! But why in tartarus are you tongue kissing me!?” she whined, upon opening her eyes she noted it wasn’t mom, but Twilight and she had the rest of the room staring at her incredulously. Luna’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Luna, never tell your aunt Concordia that this ever transpired, I will never hear the end of it.”
This time the whole room looked at Twilight. “What? I used to work with her at her bar and I also happen to be friends with her. Although she can be a pain in the flank, this will just make it worse!”
At hearing this Celestia’s had a large grin on her face.
“No ‘Tia, don’t tell her, I won't hear the end of it either!” Luna whined crossing her forelegs over each other and her face to cover the blush and her embarrassment.
“Fine I won’t talk, but you owe me your half of the cake allowance for the next week for my silence.” Celestia said haughtily. As Luna glared at her.
“You fiend! Fine you’ll have your cake. I hope it goes straight to your flanks” Luna grumbled.
*******
During day court, that same day
Celestia trotted in with her cake in tow in her magic, which was also followed by Gleaming Shield, who was also in her magic. Gleaming Shield wore a disgruntled expression on her face. As Celestia sat on her throne, Raven stood and cleared her throat and called from the dais on which Celestia’s and Luna’s throne sat upon.
“Announcing: Captain Spitfire” Spitfire burst through the doors as fast as she could her mane ruffled and her uniform a mess from where she had hurriedly put it on.
“Princess Celestia, in two years time the Griffon kingdom mean to invade Equestria!”
Gasps were heard from the courtiers and other petitioners as the news was announced.
Princess Celestia stood her expression stern and stoic. “Thank you for your diligence Captain Spitfire, meet me in the war room for a debrief, you have performed heroically. Is there anything I can do to reward you?” Celestia stated sincerely
Spitfire spotted the mare in Celestia’s magic and decided. “I want her.” Spitfire motioned to the mare that Celestia only just noticed she was dragging along, she frowned and dragged Gleaming into her forelegs and defensively tightened around the mare. “Sorry, she’s already taken. Please pick another reward.” Gleaming Shield gave Celestia a wary look as she looked into her face. Celestia whispered in her ear and she relaxed, though still watched both mares who seemed to be ready to fight each other over her. A part of Gleaming, a very small part felt very flattered and pretty, because of her new hormones as a mare and how it made her feel to be thought of as beautiful and desirable, and then how her body reacted at the predatory look in Captain Spitfire's eyes. Maybe she should talk to Twilight about all she'd been struggling with lately. Not only might she provide some insight into what was going on with her, but hopefully she'd gain a greater understanding of the impact that permanently changing a pony's gender can have. Especially one that was cast without permission, and even more so, without doing the proper amount of research to ensure that the spell would be temporary, rather than permanent!
“Eh, then I’ll just have a bit reward, then.” Gleaming gave a sigh of relief as did Celestia. Although for slightly different reasons.
Celestia called out “Day court is cancelled from this day forward, for an indeterminate amount of time! The Crowns shall notify her loyal subjects through herald and notices, when Day Court will resume.”