Ménage à Liaison

“It’s weird having someone else wash my hair.” Midnight mumbled, staring at the wall while Twilight ran her hands through the soapy locks of her hair.

“Well, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.” Twilight replied. Each bundle of hair was wrung like a sponge, slowly stretching it out. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt, but actually felt nice in a way. Like a massage you’d get at some kind of spa.

“Twilight… Something’s been bothering me.” Midnight began, waiting for Twilight to reply. A gentle nuzzle was given, notifying Midnight that Twilight was listening. The warmth over Twilight’s face even outdid the hot water. Twilight’s hands went from the hair, to the waist, embracing Midnight with her full attention.

“How… are there two of everyone? Who act similarly? I mean, yes, we are technically the same person, but… From what Sunset has told me, Pinkie, Rarity, Dash, AJ, and Fluttershy are nearly identical personality wise as well.” Midnight sighed, “But there has to have been some things that happened differently between our worlds. I didn’t turn out the same way you did, so… Why does it seem that nearly everyone else are the exact same person, or pony, in both worlds?”

“But they’re not the exact same. They may have the same personalities, but they don’t have the same memories, experiences… It’s different. Personality is only a small part of who you are. Especially you… there’s so much more.” Twilight smiled.

“That’s exactly my point.” Midnight said, “There must be something in their past experience that would change who they are. Like… with, you and me. I mean, we’re both really smart, and really like books and reading, but my experiences have changed who I am. How can two sets of completely different experiences create the same personality? Evidently, this doesn’t happen with everyone, you and me, for example. We don’t even come close to how similar Pinkie and the others are to their counterparts. But what’s bothering me is… why? Why are we ‘dimensionally’ different?”

“Well, I grew up and didn’t really care about having friends. I didn’t see a point. I was so enveloped in studying that I didn’t see how amazing friendship was. Then I moved to Ponyville, and met the gang.”

“... But I didn’t.” Midnight hummed thoughtfully, “That’s what I don’t understand. Why didn’t I ever meet them in this world? What made me so special to have such an impactful deviation from this… Dimensional link in everyone’s lives?”

“Well the worlds aren’t the same. There’s no magic in this world, but there is in mine. It was my studies of magic that lead me to trying out for the magic academy in Canterlot. Before that, I wasn’t really anyone special. Then I met Princess Celestia for the first time, and she asked me to be her pupil. Well, I had met her, just not… met her. Maybe you just hit that point where you’re at my start. But regardless, you’re you, and I’m me. We aren’t the same, and we are. We may never know why, but the point is we’re here. That’s all that matters...” Twilight tilted Midnight’s head back so she could look the double in the eyes. “Right?”

“Well… yes, b- but… We’re so radically different when compared to the others.” Midnight muttered, blushing as she gazed back into Twilight’s eyes, “I… I just can’t understand…”

Growing closer to Midnight’s face, Twilight said one final thing. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

With a gentle gasp from Midnight, their lips connected once more, Midnight submitting to her double’s advances, letting Twilight’s tongue lead as a blissful fog filled Midnight’s mind once more. The lips weren’t all Midnight had to deal with. Twilight’s palms were squeezing her waist, slowly tracing her hands up her body and stopping just beneath the breasts. Every sensitive area seems to be read by Twilight like a book, and she was giving it a thorough read.

Suddenly, Midnight pushed Twilight off, “U- Um! I d- don’t really think it’d be a good idea to, um… Ya…”

“Hey, you don’t have to be afraid. I’ll stop if you want, but I want you to see that this part of a, uh, relationship? Life? Is something you don’t have to worry about.” Twilight started, pausing to give her partner a chance to retort.

“I worry when I forget when I last replaced my toothbrush.” Midnight sighed, “Worrying is practically my job.”

“Well, I am your new boss.” Twilight stated, turning Midnight around to face her. “And your boss says that you need a vacation.”

“M- My Boss?” Midnight giggled, “Does that mean you’re going to boss me around?”

“If that’s what you want. It’s your vacation after all.” Twilight winked, giggling as well. “And what you said earlier, about afraid of losing control?”

“Losing control…” Midnight echoed, “I- I remember.”

“This is all about losing control. Which is strange coming from me, because I’m the one that had to get used to this…” Twilight pantomimed toward her crotch. “And not getting it to jump around in public. But we’re not in public. We’re together. We’re alone… and we’re naked.” She spoke with more emphasis as she held Midnight tighter. “And I want you.”

Midnight could only whimper now. Conflicting desires were tearing her mind to shreds as they battled. “I… You want me…?”

“Of course I do, silly.” Twilight laughed, shaking her head slowly. “Why else would I be trying so hard to make you comfortable? Why would I be trying so hard to prove I love you, even though I don’t think that was a problem.”

“I… W- W- Want…” Midnight stammered, her lip trembling.

“Why don’t we step out. The water is getting cold.” Twilight squeezed Midnight’s hand and shook her head in the direction of the bathroom door. Only when Twilight said that did Midnight register how icy the water had really gotten.

“A- Yes.” Midnight responded, quickly turning the water off. “T- Twilight…?”

“Mmhm?” Twilight was already out, slipping a towel around her and beginning to dry herself.

“Um… I want… T- To... with S- Sunset too…?” Midnight squeaked.

Looking back, Twilight nodded. “I hoped so. She might have been waiting for me all this time, but I’ve seen the way she looks at you too.”

Shivering, Midnight looked over her shoulder, before turning and stepping out of the shower. “M- Maybe we can try a few things too…” She blushed, taking a second towel from the towel rack. The door cracked open and the towel clad girls walked out, heading toward the bedroom once more.

Pausing in her stead, Twilight fell into thought. “I feel like we’re missing something.”

“What do you mean?” Midnight inquired, stopping beside her pondering friend. The creak of floorboard snapped their heads about-face. A blank look was on Sunset’s face. Oh yes, Sunset was still there.

“Oh yeah… somehow I completely forgot about that.” Twilight mumbled to herself. Sunset’s eyes were the only thing moving. They were wide, moving in a pattern that would be described as a rectangular motion. Sunset looked at Midnight’s eyes, then her barely covered breasts, then even further down. Once that was finished, she gazed to the left and reversed the order up Twilight’s body, then finally back to Midnight’s eyes.

“Oh. O- Oh god.” Midnight said, her voice quickling filling with dread.

“I… I was looking for you… for over an hour.” Sunset stammered out while trying to maintain eye-contact. “I was um, worried.”

Midnight’s breath was starting to get dangerously short again as she felt Sunset’s words pierce her, and Midnight’s mind immediately jumped to the worst. It was her fault Sunset had spent an hour scared and worried, searching for her. Without a second thought, Midnight flung herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Sunset.

“I- I’m sorry.” Midnight whimpered, “I should’ve just… said. I shouldn’t have made you worry.”

“That’s okay! You don’t have to be sorry Twi-” Sunset paused, looking at her hair, then looking at the other. Both were wet and hanging down, making the two indiscernible from each other. “Midnight?”

Twilight nodded, giving Sunset a breath of relief. “Midnight, I’m just glad you’re safe. I get to worry about Twilight every day because the only thing I hear about her is from that book. I don’t get to be with her every day, like you.”

Twilight slowly started to ball her fists, eyes fluttering slightly. “You… never said you worried about me.” Twilight drew her words out for a moment.

“I worry about both of you. It’s just that I have to worry about you more, Twilight. But if something happened to Midnight, that would be even worse…” Looking from Twilight to Midnight, Sunset continued. “I don’t get to keep an eye on Twilight as much as I do you, so it would be that much worse if I wasn’t there to save you if you needed me.” Sunset found her shoulders slumping as her hands finally wrapped around the nerdy bundle of velvet.

“S- Save me…?” Midnight asked in a trembling voice, “You would come save me i- if I was in danger?”

“And I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I couldn’t.” Sunset shrugged.

“That… means so much…” Midnight whispered, sniffling. A third person joined the hug, now all three of them entwined together.

“You really know how to swoon someone, Sunset.” Twilight was absolutely beaming. Sunset went from smiling, to gazing blankly at the two girls attached to her.

“Uhh, what?” Sunset blinked.

Midnight blushed subtly, glancing at Twilight and frowning. Twilight tilted her head to Midnight and shrugged. “Sorry…” Twilight whispered.

“I wasn’t trying to, I mean… swoon.” Sunset swallowed slowly along with a short pause. “But is it working?”

“Yes…” Midnight whispered, her arms tightening around Sunset.

“Most definitely.” Twilight nodded. Sunset started smiling again, returning her limp hug to full strength and nearly crushing the two. At least, that’s what would have happened if they were at all aware of anything besides clinging to Sunset like a tick.

“I thought that I needed to really, you know, think? Think about what I wanted. But I can’t really choose between you two. So I’ll just… stay between.” Sunset chuckled as the sandwich grew tighter, this time from the other two violet girls. Sunset couldn’t help but become a little weirded out. Something wasn’t quite right, and she hadn’t noticed til this point. Her hands slowly slid down, touching their backs and searching for something. Something she did not find. Once it clicked in her head Sunset found the feel of their bodies to be much warmer than it should be. And that was what confirmed her suspicion. “Hhhhuhhhhh…” Sunset shuddered, her hands detaching from their backs and hovering above the skin. “You, you ah, uh…”

Midnight and Twilight tilted their heads, before casting her gaze down and shrieking. She and Twilight had let go of their towels when they had hugged Sunset, and they now sat in two rumpled piles on the floor. Faster than anyone could speak, Midnight had already pounced, grabbing her towel and rushing back to Sunset’s room, slamming the door behind her. Twilight, however, hadn’t moved an inch. Well, except for her hips that were desperately trying their hardest to stay as far away from Sunset’s. Looking back at her towel, Twilight bit her tongue and teethed on it. “That’s very, very unfortunate.”

“Shhuuure. Yeah. That.” Sunset’s face was lit up like a Hearth’s Warming Tree.

“Was this part of your planned week with me?”

Sunset took a longer pause than expected before simply saying, “No.”

“You worry about me a lot don’t you.”

“Yeah…” Sunset nodded.

“You think about me a lot, don’t you?”

Sunset continued to nod, albeit slower this time.

“I’ve been really busy lately, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about you too.” Twilight loosened the hug and sighed. “This is an awful first day.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh?” Twilight hummed, perking up at her friend’s words. “What makes you say that?”

“I just… don’t.” Sunset shrugged. “All I ever wanted was for you to come back. Anything after is just… a bonus.”

“Aw, that’s sweet of you to say.” Twilight smiled, “But you did write to me about something you needed help with, and from what you described from your transformation during the Friendship Games, it was rather simple to figure out what that something was.”

“What? How is it that simple?” This time it was Sunset’s grip that started to loosen.

“Well, I wasn’t sure, but…” Twilight’s subtly gestured downwards, pulling Sunset’s gaze to the slight bulge in her jeans.

“I suppose I wasn’t very subtle with how I hid it. Maybe something ba- bag… baggier.” Sunset trailed off, her eyes gazing a little bit north.

“I went through a transformation similar when I became an alicorn.” Twilight’s cheeks grew redder by the second.

“I can tell.” Sunset mumbled.

A long pause dominated the hallway, before Twilight broke the silence, “But do you realize what this potentially means?”

“That magic is weird.” Sunset couldn’t stop staring down at Twilight’s anything-but-little friend. “Really… really fricken weird.”

“No!” Twilight said, shaking her head as her voice grew rather excited, “It means that, quite possibly, you ascended to alicornhood! I mean, I got it right after I became an alicorn, and you, um, noticed it the night after the Friendship Games!” Twilight was now bouncing on the balls of her feet, “There’s the possibility that you gained the power of an alicorn without the use of pony magic!”

“Uh, well… I wouldn’t say that.” Sunset coughed lightly.

“What do you mean?” Twilight cocked her head.

“I sorta, kinda, maybe took in all the elements of harmony into my body at once.” Sunset stretched each word out as slow as possible, as if embarrassed about the fact she neglected to tell her friend that part of the transformation.

“Wait…” Twilight stopped, her eyes widening, “You… Took all of the elements’ magic into your body. Singularly, your body. Alone.”

Pressing the tip of her index fingers together, Sunset nodded.

“And… The magic flowed into you of its own accord. You didn’t call upon it?” Twilight continued, nodding slowly at her own words.

“I gathered it with this device Twil- Midnight made. And then released it, and just… sank into it.”

“But there is a major difference between what happened to you, and what happened to Midnight.” Twilight said excitedly, “She was swallowed by the magic she released, while the magic you released flowed into you.” With every word, Twilight’s grin grew wider.

“Well, it was kind of forced when it happened to her. She was pulled into it. But I had purpose… I just kind of wanted it. I wanted to show Midnight there was another way, and it was almost like breathing.” Sunset shrugged, her gaze falling low to the ground. “I did the same thing she did, only… I wanted it more. I needed it more. I had a reason to have it, other than just to have it.”

At this, Twilight ceased bouncing, and began pacing, “Did it… feel like it was calling out to you?”

“No, not really. I thought she had taken the magic, but then I looked back at my friends. I saw something… like it wasn’t entirely gone. It was all me, I think.”

Twilight stopped pacing, “Did it feel like the magic… Guided you in any way? Did you experience anything…” She snapped her fingers as she thought for an appropriate phrase, “Anything ethereal?”

“Well, now that you mention it.” Sunset blinked, almost like she was hit by a memory the size of a brick. “I… I felt something. It was probably nothing, but I can’t help but think it was more. I felt like someone was tapping me on the shoulder. But when I turned around, there was no one there. And that’s when I saw it…”

Twilight couldn’t keep still, awaiting the answer eagerly.

“You.” Sunset finally looked up at Twilight. She could obviously see the confusion in the princess’ eyes. “I don’t know what I saw. It was just an image. I was scared, I didn’t know what to do. The portal was gone, and… and I thought that I’d never see you again. I was looking up at Midnight, then there was this sound.”

“A s-sound?” Twilight grew quiet, her eyes flickering momentarily.

“I heard someone crying. I just thought it was one of the many girls witnessing what was happening. But it was different. It sounded like… it just sounded different.”

“What do you mean different? Like she was in pain?” Twilight started to breath a little heavier.

“It wasn’t the kind of crying like when you’re afraid. It was worse than that. It was the kind of crying someone does when they realize…” Sunset’s stomach twisted into knots as two voices finished the sentence.

“They’re all alone.” They both mumbled. Sunset put a hand to her chest and stared at Twilight. She was as surprised as she’s ever been. Both their hearts were racing at a thousand miles per hour.

“I… I don’t understand.” Sunset stepped forward, approaching the disgruntled girl. Twilight stepped back, making Sunset pause in her stead. Twilight was starting to shake, and her heart was going so fast it hurt. Sunset could see that something was desperately wrong about her friend, and she didn’t know what to do. “Twilight, what’s going on?”

Twilight twisted around and bolted for Sunset’s room. Sunset was in quick pursuit, nearly tripping on the wet towel Twilight had left in a heap. As soon as the door flew open, Midnight, who was listening through the door, was sent back to the floor. A squeal was made as she hit the ground, gazing in shock up at Twilight. Twilight shut the door and locked it. She had never been happier to see a lock than at that moment. A series of bangs startled Midnight, who squealed again.

“Twilight!” Sunset shouted. The banging continued.

“What happened? Did something go wrong?” Midnight tracked the scurrying purple copy as she bounded for the closet and started to dress. “Are we going somewhere?”

“I’m just getting dressed, that’s all.” Twilight shot back. Midnight was leaning away, still in a prone position. She stood up and started for the closet.

“I heard everything. I’m sorry I ran away, I’m just not used to being naked in front of people. Besides you of course. Or, is it me?” Midnight smiled running a hand up Twilight’s shoulder gently. Her caress was shrugged off, literally. Taking a step back and gathering her hands up to her chest, Midnight stared awkwardly at Twilight, like she did something wrong. “Ah, sorry… I just thought…”

“It’s fine, I just need time to think.” Twilight sounded distant. This was unlike her in every way that was possible. She was usually the most friendly girl they knew, and now she was acting like a complete stranger.

“Oh, okay. Should I get dressed to?” Midnight asked. Glancing back, Twilight saw that Midnight still hadn’t redressed. She took in the thought before uttering, “Fine.”

Eyes fluttering, Midnight seemed to shrink, sitting at the edge of the bed and folding her hands into her lap. She knew when she should shut up, and this was one of those times. There was something wrong with her better half, and she wasn’t going to know anything unless Twilight wanted to tell her. It still didn’t stop her from worrying.

“I just need some air. I’ll be back in a little bit okay?” Twilight was on route to the window already as the second sleeve of the shirt slipped into place. Opening it and stretching a leg out, she paused, sitting on the windowsill and leaving the room in silence. Even the banging had stopped. Midnight was looking, but didn’t utter a word. “I’ll tell you two later. Just, please… let me think for a little while.” Twilight forced a smile and waved. Hopping the rest of the way out the window, Midnight’s attention slowly turned back to the bedroom door. She saw the shadow of someone under the door. The shadow folded as the figure slid down the door and to the ground, leaning on back against it. Sunset brought her knees toward her chin, hugging her legs tightly. All either of them could do was think. What happened? What was said that offended Twilight so much?

“Did you want to come in now?”

Sunset sighed and tilted her head, pressing her cheek to the door almost lazily. “If you feel like it. Doesn’t really matter.”

Silence once again flooded their ears. Midnight had stood up and was prepared to unlock the door, but didn’t. She had nothing to respond with, nothing to say at all. Both of them were going through something, and she didn’t even know if she wanted to get involved. What right did she have? All she could utter, were the simple words,

“I’m sorry…”

Sunset found her mind being dragged back to reality. “Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry if I did something wrong to either of you. You’re both acting weird, and it’s because of me isn’t it?”

Quickly putting her hand up to the door, Sunset interjected, “No! Of course it’s not. You’re welcome here more than anyone else.”

“People keep telling me that, but each time it gets harder and harder to believe.” Midnight sank back onto the bed from her feet. “You’re not from here, I get it. Neither is Twilight. That’s why you love her. You love her because she’s not me. She’s the only piece of Equestria you have left, and you don’t want to let it go. I was there that day, of course I was. I was the cause of everything that went wrong. I saw you on the ground in the scattered mess of panicked people. I saw the look in your eyes. You’re so stoic, so brave, but… you were scared. You were afraid, and you were sad.”

Sunset grew silent. Now it was her time to listen, because she had nothing to say again.

“You were worried about Twilight because she wasn’t responding. But after I took the portal away, you weren’t worried anymore. You could care less about Twilight’s safety, because you knew that thread that kept you two linked had been cut. That wasn’t worry in your eyes I saw… it was horror.” Midnight choked on those last words, feeling her eyes burn suddenly. “You want Twilight because she’s the woman you love. And I almost took her away. You forgave me because that’s who you are, but you will never love me like her. I’ll be here on the sidelines, a flawed product while you enjoy the full priced diamond sparkling in the sun. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Midnight wheezed for a split second as the pain in her eyes started to sink down her cheeks and drip onto the bed.

“Wha- I…” Sunset’s voice quaked as she tried her hardest to dismiss the sadness in her own tone. What was rippling through her voice wasn’t even sadness, it was confusion. Confusion, dread, fear, pain. She wouldn’t even know where to start if she wanted to hide any of it. “Why? I don’t understand.”

“Because I love you. I love you more than anything in this world or yours, and I want you to be happy. If that means being second best, then I’d like that. So long as I get to go along for the ride.” Midnight spoke those final words and fumbled off into a mix of wheezes and choked sobs.

Sunset’s mouth was open, whether it was to speak was unknown to her. The salty taste of her own tears filled her mouth. She didn’t know what to think. Was everything Midnight said correct? All those smiles, all those laughs, all the butterflies in her stomach. Was it only a phantom limb, flexing its’ fingers joyfully, when the truth is you’ve been cut off?

Sunset gasped, only able to whimper in response. Something was wrong, horribly wrong. Of all the emotions spilling from her, something stuck out. It wasn’t fear, it wasn’t anger, pity, sadness. It was out of place, something that shouldn’t be there. It was happiness… But why? What right did she have to be happy if Midnight wasn’t? Midnight’s cries made her happy, but that was disgusting… what was wrong with her? No, it wasn’t her sadness that brought joy, it was the sound itself. A familiar image flashed through Sunset’s mind, she remembered, but she didn’t. She could remember the image, but she couldn’t think of why she saw it.

What she thought previously was wrong. She thought she saw Twilight because she was desperate. Hope had all but flickered out. The world was dark, and she treaded through it with those she called friends. Dim fireflies lighting each step and guiding her. But she was empty, missing something. A gear that wasn’t working, that had been stolen, stolen from her. She’d never work properly again. Yet some part of her kept trudging along. A whisper in the back of her mind asking for help, and she wanted to answer it. She was a broken machine barreling down a hill with no breaks.

Again, she saw her face. Twilight Sparkle, on the ground. She was crying. Why was she seeing this? She didn’t remember this at all… but it was so vivid. There her friend wept, painfully so.

"Why...?"

Sunset’s heart skipped a beat as the ghostly memory spoke.

”It’s not fair… why did she send me away?”

Send her away? What does she mean by that? Sunset reached out, she wanted to help. She had to help. But she was too far away. “Twilight!” Sunset shrieked, not even knowing the tears bleeding down her face.

Then, it stopped…

The sobbing lavender woman had frozen. When their eyes met, it was like time stopped. But now Sunset could see she wasn’t looking at Twilight anymore. She was looking at Rarity. Then Pinkie, then Applejack, and the rest. They were all gathered around, helping other students get away from the portal leading to the world below. But as she stared, she didn’t just see her friends. She saw a light. A glow flicker from each friend, seeming to radiate life. Gasping, the path lit beyond her. Gears were grinding again, the world wasn’t dark after all. The sun had just set… and now it was rising again.

Looking up, she spoke clearly, “This isn’t the way…”

“W-what?” Midnight’s mumble was heard through the door.

“I’ve been wrong the whole time. And so are you.” Sunset stood up, wiping the tears from her face. “You’re not flawed, you’re you. You’re the most precious thing this world has, and I’ve been neglecting it just because it’s different than the one from mine. But you are perfect. You’re not on the sidelines, and you’re not some mirage that I can just ignore. I will always love Twilight more, I know… but when I say I love you, Midnight… there is not another man, woman, or child in this world, that will ever hear those words from me. They belong to you forever...”

Curling against the door as the prolonged silence became deafening, Sunset felt her heart clench. Being broken from the numb soundless house, footsteps were heard. Sunset looked up as the lock to the room clicked, and a familiar glimmer of glasses was seen peeking through.

“Would you like to come in?”