As Celestia stared into her student's watery and blue speckled eyes filled with so much regret and fear, she took in a deep shaky breath. In the space of one day, Nightmare Moon had returned and trapped her in a world of nightmares constructed in her own mind. She had then gotten her sister back in her true and pure form and found out that her long lost student had been under the influence of a deranged sociopath for the past decade. And now she had to deal with Sunset Shimmer, who had broken a very solemn vow she had made. It was becoming too much for Celestia.

“Aren’t you going to do something other than just stare at me?” Sunset asked in a uneven, nervous voice.

Not hesitating for a single moment, Celestia sat down next to Sunset Shimmer and softly pulled her distraught student into a soft, protective hug with one of her wings. Sunset Shimmer’s whole body stiffened at the unexpected, caring contact Princess Celestia was giving her and she gave her mentor a confused look, not understanding why she wasn’t being punished for using dark magic, as had been promised.

Celestia thoughts drifted to Twilight, who was no longer the innocent filly she had come to care for, but now a fully grown mare corrupted by one of the evilest and darkest stallions to have ever been born. She held Sunset Shimmer lovingly under her wing, not willing to let the unicorn leave her protective embrace ever again.

Sunset Shimmer was still looking at Celestia with confusion and the princess lowered her lips to Sunset’s forehead to give her student a loving kiss.

“Over the many years I’ve been alive in this world, I’ve come to learn that some special circumstances require love and care, in place of anger and retribution. Being angry with you now would only serve to create a possibly unrepairable rift between us. Make no mistake, Sunset Shimmer, we’ll be having a very long talk about your actions in the near future, but for now I’m just glad to be able hold my dear student and friend.”

Celestia nuzzled Sunset’s cheek and pulled her tighter into her embrace. Goddess, it felt good to have something so familiar to latch onto while she worked her way through this current whirlwind of craziness. Sunset Shimmer gave a little sniffle and nuzzled against Celestia’s neck.

Her next words were so faint, Celestia could barely hear them.

“Thank you, for not abandoning or hating me, Tia.”

Celestia squeezed her Sunset a bit tighter. “I could never bring myself to do that to you, Shimmers.”

Over time Celestia had come to appreciate and even embrace these little moments. They were a rare respite from life’s turmoils and struggles, a safe harbour where she could take refuge at and regroup, before continuing on her journey through the next rough patch. But no matter how much she wanted to stay in these harbors forever and not worry about anything else, she had to continue on her journey.

So it was with great reluctance, Celestia pulled away from Sunset Shimmer and made her way back to her other student, Twilight Sparkle, who was still in her unconscious state.

“Those objects you have, Sunset Shimmer, they’re from this pony, aren’t they?”

Celestia already knew the answer to her question, but she had to hear it being spoken out loud. She had to have her suspicions confirmed before she could do anything else to help Twilight find her way back to the light. And even though she was expecting the answer she got, it still wasn’t easy for her to hear.

“Yes they are” Sunset Shimmer said. “She had fallen unconscious after being critically wounded by some kind of animal I’ve never seen, or studied before. I could tell she was wielding extremely powerful dark magic, so I used my own knowledge and experience of dark magic to remove the armor she was channeling her powers through. I couldn’t risk her being loose in Equestria with that much power.”

Celestia held her hand out for the bundle. “They’ll need to be put someplace safe where they won’t be a danger to other ponies.”

Once Sunset had handed her everything, Celestia used her magic to send the objects to the vaults beneath Canterlot castle. Once the objects were gone, there was a noticeable change in the atmosphere of the room. The shadows no longer seemed so dark and dense, and the temperature became several degrees warmer.

Sunset Shimmer gave a tired yawn and was swaying unsteadily on her feet looking as though she was about to drop from fatigue at any moment. Celestia placed a steadying hand on Sunset’s shoulder, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

“Get some rest, Sunset. You’ve gone above and beyond in your duties towards Equestria and I. You deserve several days of rest and relaxation, without worrying about anything.” Sunset went to protest, but Celestia pressed a firm finger to her lips, effectively silencing her.

“This is an order, Sunset Shimmer. Once I’ve taken this pony to Canterlot castle’s secure medical center, I’ll be coming back for Luna. While I’m gone, have one of the doctors give you a checkup.” Once Celestia was sure her student was-albeit grudgingly-follow her orders and get some rest, she placed a hand on Twilight’s gurney and disappeared in a flash of golden light.

When Celestia reappeared in Canterlot castle, it was to a scene of chaos. Alarms were ringing on every floor and runes were flashing with red light, signaling for every pony to evacuate the castle. Ponies were rushing to the closest exit they could find and guards dressed in full body armor and equipped with swords, spears and daggers were lining through the halls and setting sentries on every corner. Through all the chaos, Celestia spotted the Wonderbolts doing their part by helping directing the flow of evacuating ponies.

Each of the pegasi was dressed in their blue flight outfits, but unlike their original flight suits for performing shows, these were their battle suits. Their battle suits were equipped with visored helmets. They also had thick combat boots meant to endure through all conditions and terrains. A metal gauntlet was strapped to each of their arms, which could be used as a shield to block swords and projectiles, such as arrows. Each of the Wonderbolts also carried their own preferred types of weapons and was extremely deadly in their combat effectiveness.

Spitfire flew over the crowd of evacuating ponies, landing beside Celestia.

“Your majesty, excuse my language, but what the buck is going on? Why are we on level Defcon one. Is the southern griffon kingdom invading?”

“No Spitfire, something has come out of Tartarus and until I can assess it properly I’m not taking any chances if it manages to escape. I need you to relocate your team and two dozen guards of the royal regent to the triple max security medical wing.”

With a quick salute, Spitfire took off and began redirecting her team and the two dozen guards of the royal regent to their newest post.

The triple max security medical center was located several floors below ground, each of the cells were surrounded by a steel cage with magically reinforced bars, six inches in diameter, and covering the outsides of the cage were sheets of thick glass, covered in runes, which neutralized all the powers of all magical things contained within them.

There were no doors, only an enchantment that allowed a pony to walk through the glass sheets and steel bars, if they had the proper key for the cell they were entering. The keys were nothing more than flat metal discs, each one branded with a different rune, to match a rune on each of the secure cells.

Celetia took one such key from the guard’s quarters and pressed it against the wall of the furthest cell to the exit. The surface of the glass rippled like water, and Celestia pushed Twilight’s gurney through the rippling glass, emerging safely on the other side.

The inside of the cell looked just like any other medical room. There was a bed which contained a lattice work of criss crossing thick leather restraints designed to keep a pony’s entire body immobile. Beside the bed was an IV stand, which Celestia began transferring Twilight’s saline and blood bags to, before placing Twilight in her new bed and restraining her properly.

Once she had triple checked that everything was in perfect order, Celestia pressed the metal disc against the glass once more, and walked through it to the other side, where the royal regent had just finished setting up at their posts.

Celestia took a deep breath and began giving her guards their instructions. “If the prisoner somehow escapes, your orders are to subdue her, lethal force should only be used as a last resort.” Celestia turned to Spitfire and her team. “That goes for you too. No lethal force unless absolutely necessary. I’ll be going back to Ponyville now, once the doctors and nurses get here, give them the key so they can perform a full checkup on the prisoner.”

Placing the key back in its proper place, Celestia once more teleported back to Luna’s room just as her sister was slipping out of her hospital gown.

It had been so long since Celestia had seen her sister’s naked body and for several moments she was taken completely off guard as she stared at Luna’s still perfect physique. Her sister’s breasts were large, firm and perky, her nipples becoming hard in the cold air they were suddenly exposed to. Luna’s entire body was still toned and developed to physical perfection from a lifetime of fighting demons and monsters and her hard muscles were covered by a thick layer of silky soft, dark blue fur.

The sight of her sister’s naked body caused long forgotten memories of lust and love filled nights spent in her sister’s embrace to rush through her mind and blood rushed to Celestia’s cheeks as she realized she was staring at her sister’s naked body for far too long.

“I’m sorry, Luna. I just came to take you to our new castle in Canterlot. I didn’t think you would be changing.”

Luna merely raised an eyebrow at Celestia’s reaction to seeing her naked. “Thou have changed, dear sister. Normally during times of peace, the sight of our naked form would entice thee into a night of passionate love making.”

Celestia swallowed nervously as she felt her wings twitching to flare open in a massive wingboner. Goddess help her, Luna was right, she was still so beautifully and sexually enticing, and a thousand years of being away from her sister did nothing to help calm the heat building between her legs.

Celestia shook her head to clear it from thoughts of taking and ravishing her sister then and there.

“We notice thou has gotten soft in our absence, dear sister.” Luna’s eyes lidded in a look of lust that Celestia only knew too well. “Not that we are complaining, the extra flesh on thine body is quite attractive and pleasing.”

Luna’s horn glowed and thin strands of weak magical energy began flowing around her body, forming a plain blue dress that flowed gracefully over her body, accentuating her curves perfectly.

“Doest thou approve?” Luna asked, turning around in a slow circle.

As Luna turned around, Celestia’s gaze was drawn to her sister’s flank, covered in skin tight blue silk and the princess knew she was going to have to take a cold shower as soon as possible.

“It is certainly much more comfortable against our body that that infernal itchy rag we were wearing before.”

“You look perfect, Luna.” Celestia shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to proceed into this new stage of her life.

“What bothers thee, sister?”

Celestia let out a long breath and sat down on the hospital bed, gesturing for Luna to do the same. Luna did so, unfurling and draping a wing around Celestia’s back. The sensation of being back under the protective embrace of her sister’s wing was so strange to Celestia, but after a few moments she relaxed into the warmth of Luna’s wing.

“I’m just worried about what the future will hold for us. So many things have happened today...”

Luna made a hushing noise and ran her fingers through her sister’s feathers. Celestia hummed quietly in pleasure, feeling her stress and worries melt away at Luna’s experienced touch.

“Whatever the future holds, dear sister, we will face it with thee. We will never again leave thine side.”

“You haven’t changed much, Luna.” Celestia ran a hand over her sister’s firm abdomen. “Everything feels so familiar...” Celestia’s hand stopped just before it reached Luna’s right breast.

Luna turned to face her. “Why do thou hesitate?”

Luna’s fingers found a particularly sensitive spot on Celestia’s wing, causing her to moan a bit louder as pleasure spiked through her body, stroking the strong fire building in her marehood.

“It has been too long since we have felt thine touch, sister. We have greatly missed being with thee.”

Celestia looked into Luna’s eyes and moaned as her sister found yet another pleasure point on her wing. Goddess, she missed those fingers.

“I didn’t want you to feel as though I was taking advantage of you.”

Luna moved closer to her sister so their muzzles were just barely touching. Celestia shivered as she felt Luna’s warm breath caress her face as she talked in a soft husky whisper.

“We have not experienced any kind of pleasure for a thousand years, dear sister. We will not wait a moment longer.”

Author's Note

This chapter is just a bit of calm before the storm. All the emotional drama you've been waiting for will be in the next chapter. As always, tell me what you think. And remember non constructive criticism will not be tolerated