Sweet Apples Under A Night Sky

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue

Chapter One

Chapter One

"Bored again." Luna muttered to herself as she gazed out at the night sky.

The night princess had become increasingly bored lately. Something had happened inside her, something that made her hate the royal life she lived even more so than coming back from the moon. She thought back to her latest Nightmare Night and smiled at the memory.

That was her last actual time she'd smiled. Not the false smile she put on for her duties that she'd worn for thousands of years. Genuine happiness.

She sighed and turned back into her room and looked around sadly. "So very bored." she murmured and crawled onto her cold, lonely bed.

She gazed at the ceiling and brought her legs up in a fetal position and sighed again.

She heard a knock at the door and groaned as she got up. What now? she thought bitterly as she opened it.

"Hello Luna." Celestia said cheerfully. "May I come in?" the regal alicorn asked and spread her wings momentarily.

Luna nodded sullenly and let her bigger sister in. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked without looking.

Celestia frowned at her sisters behaviour. "Luna are you alright?"

Luna grunted in response. "I'm fine, 'Tia."

Celestia sighed. Luna was like this sometimes; beyond reason or without any response past 'fine'. "I'll have some water, thanks."

Luna used her magic to pour them both a glass of cold water. As cold as that bed. Luna thought miserably as she dragged her feet back to Celestia and sank into a chair, closing her eyes and downing the water in one gulp.

Celestia, with at least twenty percent more grace then her sister, nestled comfortably in the opposite chair and sipepd her water.

Luna opened one eye and glared at her sister. "What?" she grumbled.

Celestia shook her head, "Why are you like this, Lulu?" she asked, a trace of resent in her voice.

Luna snorted, "Because I hate this. Night after night, I'm forced to smile for those power hungry, backstabbing simpletons called nobility." her voice took on a small amount of the 'Royal Canterlot Voice' when she finished.

Celestia sipped her water again and spoke up. "Then don't. Let them think you're self centred and egotistical." she snorted in contempt.

Luna's eyes flared up at her sisters jab. "Oh, like you aren't?"

Celestia put the drink down calmly and glared at Luna. "I am not. I care about my subjects." she said and immediately wished she could reverse time and change the phrasing of that sentence.

"Your subjects!" Luna shouted "It's you who they love! You who they care about! You who-"

Celestia slapped her across the face. "Control yourself, Luna." she commanded with a voice that could halt entire armies and a cold gaze that would make even Discord shiver with fear.

Luna raised a hoof to the side of her face where she'd been struck and stared at her sister of a good length of time. "I think you should leave now." she whispered.

Celestia nodded curtly and stormed out the door, slamming it on her way out. She immediately regretted eveything she'd done and said and knocked on the door again. "Luna? I'm sorry. Can I please come back in?"

"No. Go away." Luna called back with sniffles.

Celestia hung her head and shed a single tear. "Luna, I'm really sorry, very and truly deeply. Just so you know, I am your big sister and will always love you. Goodnight."

***

Luna quietly cried in tears of rage and sadness. It was true though, all the ponies would remember her and love her. Nopony would remember or care about Luna. Save, maybe, for the few who still celebrate Nightmare Night in Ponyville. She sniffed and allowed a small smile creep onto her face as she remembered her first true friends in over a thousand years: Twilight Sparkle, the pony who'd introduced friendship to her; Applejack the honest farmer and who'd introduced 'fun' to her; and the adorable Pipsqueak in his pirate costume and Trottingham accent.

After a while of sitting doing nothing, she decied she would visit the spells archive. It was her night after all, so the guards would not question her in the slightest. They wouldn't question her at all though would they? She giggled at the thought of the royal guards quaking in their armour at confronting the night empress herself.

Of course she wouldn't even bat an eyelash at them, lest her sister should banish her again. No. That's not fair. she thought. Celestia did that because of Nightmare Moon, who because of the Elements of Harmony has been banished permanently. Luna still felt sad that her own flesh and blood could do something so mean-spirited, even if she was attempting a takeover.

The night princess calmly opened the door, half expecting Celestia to be standing there, ready to apologise and that other sister stuff. To her surprise, Luna found nopony but her own shadow in the moons glow. She smiled contentedly and waltzed off to the archives, searching for... something to raise her spirits.

"Perhaps a good, fake cutie-pox spell?" she mused to herself as she cantered along merrily, unfazed by the former sadness at her new plan. "Or perhaps a laughing spell? For when she needs to have a really, super, serious meeting with the nobles." Luna spat the last word. "Hardly nobility, all brutes and self centred as Celestia herself. Especially that brute of a nephew we have, the non-prince Blueblood." she sneered in contempt.

Allegedly, he had the gall to insult none other than two of the Elements of Harmony: Miss Rarity and Miss Applejack at the last Grand Galloping Gala, where Twilight Sparkle and her friend had successfully trashed the place and driven Celestia furious after months of planning, and sending six tickets at Luna's wish for Twilight's friends.

Luna chuckled at the memory of her sister tearing up her room in frustration at her prize students misbehaviour. She'd told the elder that she should just go and have some fun, like Luna did on a nightly basis, reading some of those Daring Do books and enjoying a few midnight snacks. Eventually Celestia had agreed and went to congratulate the six on making it the most... eventful night ever.

"Ah. Here we are." Luna said to herself as she reached the entrance to the archives. She pushed th e door open using her own hooves, she was a lot more humble than Celestia in not using magic for just about everything, only when it was necessary.

"Now, where is that joke-spell section?" she wondered aloud to herself. It would surely take until the morning to sort through all of them.

***

Surely enough, approximately six hours later, Luna had to lower the moon and let her sister raise the sun, when a certain 'disguise' spell caught her eye.

"For use to any pony who wishes to be another for a time." she read. "Oooh, this sounds fun." In fact, it's exactly what I need to get away from this place... for a time. she thought and grinned to herself as she scampered back to her room before 'Tia found she was gone.

Thankfully, Celestia was still not there and Luna hurriedly ran inside her room and locked the door. Eager to see what this spell did exactly.

"To cast, simply hold down left mouse button and click... Oh... this is the manual for a video game I had a while back. So this is where it went." she chuckled and flicked the instruction manual over her shoulder and read the real scroll. "To cast, simply charge energy into one's horn and imagine thyself as a different pony. No griffons, satyrs, minotaurs, dragons etc. Strictly ponies."

Luna warmed up her horn, feeling the magical energy store up at the base, then spread to her tip. The feeling was not unpleasant. She imagined herself as a dark blue pegasus that resembled her own self, but lighter, and her mane wasn't starry like the sky, it was pale blue and less wavy; and her cutie mark was different: a shining star against the pale, white moon.

She gasped as she began to feel different, the magic's unusual effect taking hold of her. A flash of light made her wince after hurting her eyes. She stood up slowly, intending to use her magic to get hold of the mirror. She sent the usual tingling feeling to her skull, except something was different. Something very important was missing.

She tentatively reached a hoof up and felt around for her horn. Her eyes widened when she felt nothing and she felt a rush of adrenaline and panic.

"This is what you wanted Luna." she told herself and began to calm down and trotted over to the mirror and looked at herself. She looked exactly like she'd pictured herself: a dark blue pegasus with a different cutie mark, only a bit smaller than she had intended, about the same size as Twilight Sparkle.

A sudden dawn of realization hit her: just what did she intend to do like this? She slumped down on her haunches and thought for a minute.

Celestia would definitely disapprove of this form. Luna winced as she thought of her sisters wrath.

Forget her, go out and have some fun. another voice in the back of her mind said reassuringly. She can't control every aspect of your life.

I know she can't. Luna thought, a touch mean-spirited perhaps but it was true. The white alicorn had tried to control every single breath of Luna since she'd come back from the moon. Yes. I will then. She thought back and smiled, then spread her wings and leapt out the window, soaring on the morning wind. "First I'll go to Ponyville..." she murmured as she flew in the direction of the train, hoping to catch the earliest one.

***

A royal guardspony and his marefriend were walking around the royal gardens, enjoying the sunrise and the smell of flowers around them.

"Who's that?" the marefriend asked and pointed up to a dark blue pegasus as she took off out of her window.

The guard looked up and frowned. "I'm not sure. At first I thought it was Princess Luna, but then she doesn't have a horn." he said, quite puzzled.

"Should we tell Princess Celestia?" the marefriend asked, wide eyed.

"Nah. I'm sure it's just one of her friends who stayed for the night." the guard chuckled and kissed his marefriend.

"But she doesn't have any friends." she sniggered.

The guard frowned, "Now that's not very nice." he grinned and gently squeezed her flank, nipping it a bit. "You'll have to be punished for that. C'mon, let's go somewhere a bit more... private."

He led her away, further into the castle labyrinth and enjoyed the sunrise. And more.

After a while the guard decided he really should go tell Celestia about the unknown pegasus.

"Hurry back." the marefriend giggled and batted her eyelashes at her strong guardspony.

He bowed respectively and trotted off.

***

Celestia groggily raised her head and yawned, she closed her eyes and brought a hoof to her head, trying to rub away th hangover after she'd drank herself into a stupor last night.

"Ohhh... I have got to quite drinking whenever we fight." she mumbled and dragged herself out of bed and over to the large vanity mirror, considerably smaller than Luna's and began brushing her light, rainbow coloured mane with a growing sense of dread of facing her sister again.

"It's her own fault." she told herself and regained that steely expression she used whenever confronting her sister after a fight or telling off a young filly or colt disrupting the peace of the palace.

She heard a knock at the door and an urgent voice.

"Princess Celestia?"

Oh, what now? Celestia thought irritably. The large door swung open with a golden glow and a guard stood there, looking quite flushed.

She sniffed the air and smelt hormones. She grinned as the guard detected her sniff and waved him in. "What can I trouble you with?" she said, not giving a single care to be honest.

"Ahem, I was in the gardens before -doing my usual rounds-" the guard said.

I bet you were. Celestia stifled a giggle and waved him to continue.

"When I looked up and saw an unknown pegasus fly out of Luna's tower."

Celestia's ears pricked up. "Are you sure it wasn't just Luna?"

"Quite sure. She was only a pegasus for one, and she was a touch smaller than the princess." the guard replied, fairly sure this was going well.

Celestia bit her lip and thought What have you done now Luna? she turned to the guard again, "Thank you for this information, guardspony. What is your name?"

"Corporal Storm Winters." the guard saluted.

"Well, Corporal Winters, thank you for this information and enjoy the rest of the day off. I suspect somepony is waiting for you." the princess grinned mischievously and turned Corporal Winters scarlet.

"A-a-at once m-m'lady." Winters bowed and hurriedly left, practically skipping on his way to his marefriend.

Celestia sighed and decided she'd better go see Luna. "That stupid young, foalish mare's gone and done it now hasn't she?" she grumbled.

She arrived at Luna's chambers and banged on the door, making the guards down the hall sucrry away. Like rats. Celestia smirked and turned her attention to the door again. "Luna? I know you can here me. Open the door."

No response.

"I'll kick it open if I have to."

Still nothing.

Fine. The white alicorn rose up on her back legs and pressed her full body force on the door, pushing it wide open and sprawling in the middle of her sisters hideous fur rug. "It was open?" she hissed in confusion. "Luna?" she called out realizing she was alone.

She began to feel cold and whistled for the guard. He hurried in and snapped to attention. "Ma'am?"

Celestia waved a hoof at the formalities and leaned forwards. "Tell nopony except the other guards, make them swear to secrecy; but Luna has gone missing." she whispered. "Go out and find her, she probably looks like a dark blue pegasus, not her usual self."

The guards jaw hung slightly open with a tad bit of drool escaping, making Celestia recoil a bit. "Control yourself guardspony."

"Right, yes. Sorry, your highness, I'll notify the captain immediately." the guard saluted and galloped off.

Celestia sighed and turned to the window and looked put at the sunrise. "Where are you, little sister?" she growled and turned back into the room, searching for clues to why she's gone. She walked around the room and stepped on a small scroll sticking out from under the bed. She frowned and picked up the scroll.

"Disguise spell - For use to any pony who wishes to be another for a time." she read. "Oh what have you done?" she whispered as she read the spell's instructions. She trotted to the window and looked out. "Where have you gone?" she murmured at the rising sun.

***

Luna sped through the air as she observed her surroundings and reached the train in no time. She momentarily forgot that she was in a different form to her usual self and was quite surprised when the crowd didn't part for her or grovel. She welcomed this change and embraced her new body.

Smiling like a madpony, she trotted up to the ticket master and asked for a ticket.

"Sure thing, miss. Here ya go." he smiled and turned to the next pony in line.

Luna held her ticket in her mouth, still adjusting to having no horn and thus, no magic, and cantered over to the platform, where she sat and waited for the train. She spied a rather handsome looking, red stallion across from her, loading a crate onto his back. She blushed as he turned to her briefly.

He nodded politely as an orange mare, who looked familiar, loaded another crate on his back. "C'mon big brother, y'all need to get that crate of apples on the train as fast as Dash." the mare chuckled and helped him.

"Eeyup." the crimson stallion said and cantered off.

Luna watched him go and casually walked up to the mare, inspecting her.

The orange pony looked up from her work and eyed the newcomer suspiciously. "Can ah help you, miss...?"

Luna panicked. "Um... Selene." she said, wiping some sweat away.

"Well howdy do Miss Selene. Mah name's Applejack. Pleased to meet ya. You headin' to Ponyville?" Applejack shook 'Selene's' hoof vigourosuly.

Luna smiled and withdrew her aching hoof. "Yes, I suppose I am."

"Well, ah'm sure Pinkie'll wanna throw y'all a surprise 'welcome-to-town party' when you arrive. Ah'll tell her to go easy on you." Applejack grinned.

Luna smiled thoughtfully. Just what was she intending to do in Ponyville anyway?

"I'll be sure to keep a look out for her."

She remembered Pinkie Pie. The pink, permanently hyper pony who was the ring leader of the frightened children at Nightmare Night.

"Hey, would y'all like to bunk with me an' mah brother on the ride? It's a long way to Ponyville and mighty lonely if you got nopony with you." Applejack asked.

Luna panicked again, was her brother that rather dashing stallion from before? If so... "Yes, please." she smiled.

"Woohee. I was hopin' ah wouldn't have ta bunk on mah own like ah did comin' here. 'Cause, you know, Big Mac's a gentlecolt and respects a lady's privacy." Applejack chuckled and put a hoof around Luna. "Selene, ah got a good feelin' about you."

Selene? Who did she mean- Oh, yeah. Me. A moment of sheer terror passed through her in that split second as Applejack withdrew her hoof.

"Y'all wouldn't mind givin' a hoof in help would ya? These crates is mighty heavy for even me an' Big Mac."

"No problem." 'Selene' smiled and began staring at one of the boxes.

"Uhh... Selly?" Applejack queried after a few minutes. "What're ya'll doin'?"

Luna snapped back to what was going on and remembered she didn't have a horn. "Oh... nothing... nevermind." she smiled meekly and braced herself for the load Applejack was about to place on her back. She felt her knees buckle as the crate took it's place between her wings.

"Y'all alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked with a worried tone.

"Hnng... I'm... fine... where do I go?" Luna groaned under the pressure.

"Just over there, if you can manage it." Applejack smiled and pointed to the small hoofcart a few meters from them.

Luna grunted and shifted the boxes weight as she moved slowly to the hoofcart.

"Excuse me, miss? Do y'all need some help?" a warm voice asked.

"No, no, it's quite... hnng... alright." Luna replied without looking up.

"You're gonna hurt yaself if y'all keep that up for much longer. Like this." the owner of the voice sidled up to her and she allowed the weight to fall onto him, taking a sigh of relief.

She looked at the owner of the voice and blushed, turning as red as his coat. He was the stallion from before alright. And every bit as handsome and rugged as she thought from a distance up close too.

"Hi." she breathed and looked into his eyes.

"Hey." he replied. "Name's Big Macintosh, ah see you already met mah sister, AJ." he nodded to Applejack, who trotted over to them with a smile on her face.

"Howdy, big brother, you met Selly too then?"

"Eeyup. Is she comin' with?" Big Mac asked then turned to Luna, "Selly." he bowed respectively.

"Eeyup." AJ grinned in response, mimicking her brothers trademark approval.

Luna blushed at her new nickname and Big Mac's response. "May I say, that I'm rather pleased to be in the company of such fine ponies." she complemented Big Mac and Applejack.

Now it was AJ's turn to blush. "Aww shucks, Selly. Don't go all mushy on me now." she chuckled.

Luna laughed too. "But you are one of the Elements of Harmony are you not?"

Applejack narrowed her eyes for a bit. "How did you know that?" she asked suspiciously.

Luna stopped giggling, "W-well... um..."

Applejack burst into laughter, "You should see the look on your face, Selly. You went whiter than one of Fluttershy's chickens!"

Luna chuckled nervously and Big Mac gave Applejack a friendly shove. "Now, now, you gone and made the poor girl nervous." he mock-scolded her.

"Ah'm sorry, Selly." Applejack said through giggles. "You're an alright pony, solid worker and a strong back." it seemed like a light came on onside her head at this. "Say, how would you like to come visit us at Sweet Apple Acres? We're always lookin' fer a helping hoof, seen as how it's just me an' Big Mac, Applebloom being too young and Granny Smith being to old."

Luna contemplated this or a while. "...Yes... I would like that very much." she said. If not to help, at least to spend time with Big Mac. she thought, dreamily.

"All aboard!" the conductor shouted as the train pulled into the station.

"C'mon, Selly, ah'll show ya the bunk we'll be sharing while Big Mac get's these crates loaded up. That alright, brother?"

"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded and began pushing the heavy hoofcart onto the storage part of the train.

Luna followed Applejack to their caboose, where AJ plopped down and rested her Stetson over her eyes. "Ah'm gonna try an' get some sleep, feel free if you wanna look around, Selly."

Luna nodded and trotted off to have a look around.

Applejack lifted an eyelid and her hat a bit and watched her go. "Nice gal." she murmured and fell asleep.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Luna trotted up and down the train, taking in her surroundings and kept murmuring to herself: "This is really happening. I'm actually free for a time."

She stopped when she reached the other end of the train and smiled to the passengers, who smiled back and carried on their own conversations as she began to walk back, coming to that empty storage caboose. Really she was looking for Big Mac. Just a glimpse, she kept telling herself. Of anything. She giggled to herself.

Such a nice change. she thought to herself. Away from all the busybodies of the palace and, more importantly, my dear sister. she smirked as she thought of what Celestia was doing right now.

She heard a noise behind her and jumped.

"Sorry, Selly. Ah didn't see you there." Big Mac's soft voice said.

"Oh, it's alright, Big Mac." Luna replied. I was actually hoping to see you, you know. "How are you?"

"Could be better, that last crate really put a strain on mah back though." Mac said and rubbed his aching back.

Luna bit her lip, I could give you a massage, would you like that, you hunk of a stallion ,you... "I h-hope you feel better soon." Idiot, just say something to him.

"Ah'll be lookin' forward to be spendin' more time with you." Mac smiled.

Luna felt a lump rise in her throat. "Um..."

Big Mac chuckled. "At the farm. AJ said yer helpin' out aren't ya?"

"Oh yeah, of course you meant that." Luna giggled and blushed. She forced a yawn out. "Well, I'd best be getting back to the bunk, I didn't get much sleep last night." she shuffled towards the end of the carriage.

"By the way, what's yer full name?" Mac asked.

She turned around and smiled sweetly. "Oh that';s right, Applejack never did introduce us properly. I'm Selene."

"Selene." Mac murmured to himself, smiling at the word. "Have a good sleep Miss Selene."

"You too Big Macintosh." Luna blushed furiously and walked as dignified as she could out the door.

Big Mac, being a stallion, couldn't help but watch her flanks sway side to side as she walked away. He grinned to himself and settled down in his own bunk.

***

Celestia paced frantically up and down her extravagant throne room, in front of her overly large throne. "What have your scouts reported, Captain?" she asked the captain in front of her, who was bowing respectively.

"Nothing as of yet, your highness." Shining Armour replied, still looking at the floor.

This made Celestia's pacing increase. Her Captain of the Guard was usually the most -well, second most- organized pony to ever come out of Canterlot's school for gifted unicorns. The first being Twilight Sparkle of course.

The princess stopped her pacing. There's a thought: Twilight Sparkle. "Shining Armour, send word for your sister. I think she may be of importance here. Tell her to keep an eye out for any new arrivals in town. Say no more than that."

"But, princess, surely it would be easier to send a message via Spike, right?" Shining asked, looking up.

Celestia nodded. "But it would take too long to write the damn thing, plus Spike's on holiday if I recall correctly... Take my chariot instead, it's carriers are the fastest flyers in Equestria."

"Your wish m'lady." Shining bowed again and trotted out, rejoining the remainder of his squad outside.

"What's up cap'n?" Fizzer asked as he brushed some of his mane out his eyes..

"You know what's up, idiot." the obsidian black and fire red pony, Brandling, replied. "About PL." he whispered and glanced over his shoulder, much like a conspirator would, which is probably what the ponies walking past them all thought.

"Yeah, yeah I know, but what did the big one want?" Fizzer responded, just as consiprationally.

"Oh shut it you two, Captain? What did she say?" the light blue Jax asked, respectfully.

Shining nodded in approval, Jax was always the most level-headed of the soldiers he commanded, and Shining's Lieutenant. "Celestia wants to get my sister, Twily, to help look for L- the fugitive." he stopped himself from saying Luna. If any of the nobles should learn of her disappearance, it would mean bad news for Celestia alright, which in turn, would bring bad news for himself.

"Really? She thinks the Elements could be helpful here?" Fizzer queried.

"Probably. Although she didn't say Twily and her friends, she just Twilight."

"Ooh, does this mean we get to see those fine flanks again?" Brandling chuckled. "Damn Rarity, you fine."

Shining cuffed him about the head for that. "That's my sister's friend your talking about." he growled.

"But hey, at least it aint Twilight I'm after." Brandling chuckled again and dodged another swipe from Jax's blue hoof.

"You dirty minded beast, you." Fizzer giggled, his wavy, blue hair falling all over the place..

"Alright, enough you lot, let's move." Shining said and they all snapped to attention. "Move out." he said in his 'I'm the boss' voice and clambered into the golden chariot by the gates, taking off as fast as the Wonderbolts.

***

Twilight Sparkle stretched and yawned. "Good morning Owlowicious." she said to the owl sitting by her headrest.

"Hoot." the owl replied and tucked his head under his wing.

Twilight chuckled and sat up. "Now, now, you. We've got lots of work to do and Spike is on holiday remember?" she stroked the top of the owl's head and cooed, making him ruffle his feathers and withdraw his head. "That's better. Now come help me sort out the library." Twilight smiled and hopped off the bed, Owlowicious riding on her back.

This was the third time she'd rearranged the library this week. And it was only Wednesday. Owlowicious hoped she wouldn't rearrange it every day of the week Spike was out. That would suck.

"OK, now: 'Ancient Obscure Unicorn History'? Goes in... Knowledge For The Times. 'Mystical Spells And Their Uses'? Goes in Arcane Knowledge. 'Keeping Track Of Your Deadlines'. Read Later pile." she smiled sheepishly at Owlowicious as she floated the book across to her flank. "Just for good measure."

This continued for quite sometime, and she was just about to put the last book in its shelf when she heard a knocking at the door. "Coming!" she called out and dropped the book.

"Hello Twily." grinned Shining Armour. "Mind if we come in?"

"Sh-shining Armour!" Twilight said, stunned at her brothers sudden arrival. She rushed forwards and hugged him around the neck. "What a pleasant surprise."

"It's not just me, there's Fizzer, Brandling and Jax here with me. We'd thought we'd drop by for a bit of catching up." Shining smiled.

"Of course. Hello guys." she'd met them all before at her brother's wedding last April. The last thing they'd done for a while now actually.

"Hello Miss Sparkle." Jax replied and bowed and lightly kissed her hoof in a respectful manner. "Nice to see you again."

"Eyuk. Gag. Can we get this over with?" laughed Brandling and shoved Jax in a friendly way..

"Nice to see you too Brandy." Twilight laughed and hugged them all. "Please, come in and tell me what brings you all to our cosy little town. And please, just Twilight, Jax." she batted her eyelashes at the pale blue pony, who blushed and laughed nervously. She knew he had a small crush on her ever since the wedding. Brandling had told her -in front of him, making him choke on his drink- and turned both of them scarlet.

They dated for a while but split up before things could get too serious, she liked him but wasn't ready for a relationship yet, and he just being too far away, so they broke up under good terms. She knew he still harboured feelings for her though, which worried Twilight a bit. The real stallion of her dreams was apparently off limits, being a family member of a friend. Or so the rules said.

After a few drinks of coffee Shining sat Twilight down and began to tell her about the fight's Celestia and Luna had been having more and more often. Each increasing in volume and stress and making all the staff, and Canterlotians, extremely nervous.

"The most recent one was the worst." Shining finished with a worried look in his eyes. "Luna's gone missing you see."

Twilight gasped slightly. "B-b-but the princess told you in strictest confidence!" she said, appalled at her brother's taddletaling.

"I know. Which is why it hurts for me to say this..." he took a deep breath. "I think Celestia's gone a bit... overboard."

Twilight dropped her cup and stared at her brother, taking in his scandalous words.

"We should go." Jax murmured to Fizzer and Brandling who nodded and shuffled out the door awkwardly.

"Twilight I-" Shining started, feeling the anger resonate from his little sister and flayed his ears back.

"How dare you..." Twilight said through gritted teeth. "Princess Celestia is the kindest, most endearing ruler in all of Equestrian history. How dare you say something so terrible about her, to me! Your own little sister!" she cried, tears filling her eyes.

"Twilight-" Shining pleaded before Twilight cut him off again.

"Get out." she said sternly and turned away from him. "Just... go."

Shining Armour sighed and turned to leave. "I don't know when I'll see you next, so Celestia said you need to go to her immmediately. Goodbye little sister." he said sadly and walked out the door, closing it gently behind him..

"Tough break, cap'n." Fizzer murmured as they awkwardly comforted their captain.

"It's fine, Fizzer. Let's just go back to Canterlot now." Shining muttered as they climbed back into the carriage again and set off. Shining looked down over the edge as the train from Canterlot arrived in the Ponyville station. "See you soon, Twilight." he murmured as tears blinded him temporarily.

Twilight watched them leave through the window in her bedroom. She slowly began to sob into her pillow as they left, "Oh big brother... how could you say something so terrible?" she whispered in between sobs.

"Hoot." Owlowicious hooted and tilted his head slightly and stretched out a wing to comfort her.

"Oh, you wouldn't understand, Owlowicious. Brother stuff." She sniffed and nuzzled the owl.

Owlowicious hooted again and pointed a wing at the clock.

Twilight looked puzzled for a second then gasped, "Oh, yes! Today's the day Applejack comes back from the fayre!" she cried happily. "Maybe that will take my mind off what Shining said."

***

As the train pulled into the station, Applejack and Luna woke up and stretched. "Afternoon Selly." AJ smiled to her new friend.

"Hello." Luna smiled back.

"C'mon an' get yer stuff ready, we got a big day ahead of us." AJ said as she readjusted her hat and helped Luna to her feet.

Luna's face fell momentarily. "We start work immediately?"

"Of course." Applejack nodded. "Folks like us gotta get up early an' harvest the best apples."

"Oh." Luna had no idea that the earth ponies worked so hard. She assumed they woke up the same time as everypony else. Apparently not.

"Here's an idea: ah'll go look fer Big Mac and you can get out on the platform and stretch yer wings, ah'm sure mah friend'll show you around." Applejack smiled, eager for her friends to meet her new friend.

Luna nodded and thought about Big Mac. her dream about him -them- had been... nice, to say the least. She blushed lightly as she recalled it, his powerful forelegs cradling her and he lightly kissing her forehead... except... it was different. It wasn't Luna Luna. It was Selene Luna he fell in love with. She suddenly felt as if this whole idea was a horrible waste of time and feared losing her friends and felt sick to her stomach.

"Selly? You alright, sugarcube?" AJ asked and patted her on the back at seeing her face turn a slightly pale green.

Luna shook her head, clearing her thoughts and smiled, "I'm fine AJ, just a bad dream." Lies, all of it. Oh how I wish I could stay here. With them. With him.

"Well, as soon as yer ready, we'll head up to the farm an' ah'll show you around. Deal?" the earth pony stuck a hoof out.

Luna took it and shook gratefully. "Alright, see you on the platform then."

They went their separate ways on the train, Luna to the left and out the door to the platform, where many ponies were meeting each other and being reunited. She felt a pang of guilt as she saw two ponies, one filly and one mare hug each other as sisters would and thought of her own sister, still up there in the palace, far behind now.

She spotted a familiar group of ponies on the edge of the platform: one all pink, one butter yellow with a pink mane, one cyan blue with a rainbow mane, one white as a fluffy cloud with an indigo mane and the final one: a lavender mare with a purple mane and a pink stripe going through it.

"Hey girls look over there! There's a new pony. *Gasp* Oh. My. Gosh you guys, a new pony! You know what the means?" the pink one exclaimed and pointed to Luna.

Oh dear. she thought.

"Oh dear." the ponies accompaning the pink one said.

"A party!" the pink pony shouted gleefully and bounced up to Luna. "Hi. I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name?"

Luna looked stunned at the pink pony invading her personal space. "I'm L- Selene. Nice to meet you Pinkie Pie."

"L-Selene huh? Great name. Wanna meet my friends? Although Applejack isn't here yet..."

"Actually I've already met Applejack, she'd said that there were some ponies waiting for her." Luna replied. She knew she had to keep her cool and stop herself from revealing that it was really Luna the princess talking to them, not Selene the commoner.

Pinkie waved the other ponies over and Luna could name all of them: Rainbow Dash the loyal, Fluttershy the kind, Rarity the generous, Pinkie the... laughter? And Twilight Sparkle, the magic of friendship itself.

"Howdy, pardners." a voice called from behind Luna.

"AJ!" Pinkie cried and dove on her friend hugging her into Tartarus.

"Easy there, Pinkie, ah missed you too." Applejack laughed as Pinkie released her and the other swarmed around her. "Ah see y'all met Selly here."

"Well, only Pinkie has so far." Rarity said and smiled at Luna. "My name's Rarity, this is Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Twilight. So tell us, Selene, which, if I may say so is a lovely name, how do you know Applejack?"

Luna felt flushed at having to answer their questions. All asked a few except Twilight, who just looks suspiciously at her.

"Now, now, ah'm sure Selene here has had enough of your questions, an' we'd best be gettin' along. She's coming to help out at the farm for a while, aren't you Sell?" Applejack nudged her.

"Yes, I am." Luna smiled back. It felt good to have friends. If that's what they were. Just regular ponies who didn't know about her royalty, nor did they care she wasn't for the time being.

Twilight continued to say nothing until the others had left, leaving only the two mares and Big Mac struggling with a heavy crate.

"So... come from Canterlot huh?" Twilight asked.

Luna nodded, matching Twilight's gaze with her own.

"I used to live in Canterlot. Where are you from?"

"I um... used to live near the palace." Luna replied with a slightly shaky voice.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at the quivering voice. "Oh, really?"

"Yes." Luna nodded her head stiffly.

Twilight continued to eye her then smiled. "Alright, sorry about being a bit standoffish, I just received some news from my brother, Shining Armour."

Luna's ears went back momentarily as they walked away from the platform together. "Oh?"

"Yeah, something about a certain somepony going missing. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?" Twilight asked.

"No. I don't pay much attention to the princesses affairs." Luna lied through her smiling teeth.

"Hmm. I thought all ponies in Canterlot did." Twilight said absent mindedly.

"There you two are!" Rainbow cried from overhead and landed in front of them both. "C'mon slowpokes, we're gonna be late for Pinkie's welcoming party for Selly."

Luna rushed off after Rainbow as she sped off, unfurling her own wings and taking off into the air after her, leaving Twilight and her guilty mind alone on the ground. Why did I do that? Twilight thought, furious with herself, her brother and life at the minute. I should apologise when I see her next. Yes. I will.

She galloped off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner, the usual site of Pinkie's welcoming parties and saw Selene just disappear inside with Rainbow, seemingly enjoying herself. Twilight reached the door and hesitated, "Would I just say 'sorry for being an ass'? Or something more endearing?"

She didn't have time to think of anything more as a certain pink hoof dragged her inside and her pupils dilated at the sudden change in light.

***

Meanwhile, back at the train station, Big Mac met up with his friend Caramel.

"Sup, BM, good to see you back. Those trees are hard to buck by your lonesome." Caramel chuckled and clapped his friend on the back.

"Eeyup." Big Mac replied and grinned. "You see that new mare come out the train? The dark blue one?"

"Yeah. Who was she?" Caramel asked with hungry eyes, very much like adolescent boys would.

"A friend of AJ's come to work at the farm for a while." Big Mac said.

Caramel's eyes went wide, "You dog." he grinned.

Mac raised a hoof in protest. "Ah don't know what yer talkin' about."

Caramel didn't stop smiling. "Alright, alright, lover boy. Keep your member hidden, I know how your mind works."

Mac turned an even deeper shade of red. "Ah shut up, help me get these crates to the farm."

Caramel didn't stop teasing his friend the whole way there.

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

"Ahh! Pinkie! What's with the bright light?" Twilight asked and shielded her eyes.

Pinkie bounced over to her with an extremely bright spotlight on her head. "Hi Twilight, just in time too, we're about to test my 'Party Lighter Upper Spotlight Light'." she smiled and tilted her head slightly. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Trying not to go blind." Twilight grumbled and blinked a few times.

Pinkie giggled, "Silly Twilight, you don't look in the spotlight light." and bounced away.

"So Selly, where you from in Canterlot?" Rainbow Dash's voice asked.

Twilight turned to see Selene and Rainbow standing by the punch bowl, still blinking and seeing spots, she trotted over with a nervous smile.

"Oh, around. I used to live near the palace." Selene said and smiled at Twilight.

That's terrifying. Twilight thought and smiled back.

"No kidding? Twilight used to live there too." Rainbow smirked.

"I know, she already told me. It must have been wonderful being Celestia's main student." Selene said.

"It was, and still is." Twilight replied, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up with tension. "Listen, Selene, I just wanted to apologise for being an ass back there. It was rude and I'm sorry."

Selene waved a hoof and smiled. "It's alright. You're forgiven." Until I figure out what you were after. she thought darkly.

"Well, let's get off to a fresh start. I'm Twilight Sparkle. Pleasure to meet you Selene." Twilight smiled again and extended a hoof gingerly.

Selene grinned and gasped the hoof in her own. "Pleasure's all mine, Miss Sparkle."

Rainbow watched the transaction with a confused expression as the unicorn and pegasus hugged like old friends. She shook her head and flapped off to talk to Pinkie.

"Does Pinkie always have things like that?" Selene asked.

"Usually." Twilight nodded to the pink pony with the spotlight light thing still attached to her head.

Selene giggled and shook her head. "And that cake... by my night it's big." she gestured to the giant cake in the centre of the room.

Twilight laughed, "That's not even the starter cake. That's the 'welcome to our town' cake. The real cake is probably hidden somewhere upstairs."

Selene's jaw dropped. "How can there be a bigger one?"

Twilight leaned in, "There's always a bigger one." she whispered and leaned back with a smug grin on her face.

Selene turned bright red as she understood the innuendo. Then a small smile spread across her lips, soon covering her whole face in a fit of giggles.

Twilight joined in and the two laughed for some time.

"Well, Pinks, another great party as usual, but me an' Selly had best be movin' if we wanna catch the last apples. Ah'm sure Big Mac's got them crates up there by now. See y'all soon girls." Applejack said and trotted out the door, not noticing the vacant expression on Selene and Twilight's faces.

Selene felt her heart flutter at the mention of the red stallion.

Twilight did too.

They looked at each other and blushed. Selene nodded curtly and followed Applejack, waving goodbye to the other ponies.

***

Applejack and Luna trotted down the road and up to the semi-famous farm, Sweet Apple Acres.

"There she is, Selly. The only place I would rather be other than with mah friends." Applejack said proudly.

Luna gasped as she saw the farm, it looked so peaceful. Such a contrast to the palace's marble walls and golden framed paintings and servants scurrying everywhere.

Source

"It's so peaceful." she murmured.

"Ah know, right? C'mon, ah'll introduce you to mah sister Applebloom and Granny Smith, and mah dog Winona." Appleajck set off at a steady pace, Luna trying to keep up.

"Slow down AJ, you're going too fast."

Applejack flashed a grin and stomped her hooves.

Luna saw the gesture and it dawned on her. "Oh, you want a race?" she grinned back and broke into a full gallop, just barely keeping ahead of the farmpony.

Being the empress oft he night and having the speed of darkness was useful in times like this, even if she wasn't in her real form.

They reached the barn and stood panting. "Alright, you win." Luna said as she gasped for air.

Applejack rose on her back legs and whinnied in triumph. "Ha! Don't you worry about that, ah'll soon whip you into shape." she nudged the disguised princess in the ribs, making her giggle.

"Oh please don't do that, I'm very ticklish there. My sister would always get me when I wasn't expecting it."

Applejack had an evil look in her eyes. "You don't say..."

She nudged Luna again, prompting a stifled laugh. "Don't you dare." she said as menacingly as possible. The effect was lost on Applejack, having a giggling pony try and be menacing when being tickled, was a rather funny sight.

Applejack chuckled, "Alright, alright, let's go inside now."

She ushered Luna past her and up to the farmhouse. "Applebloom! Granny! We're back!"

"Applejack!" a happy young voice sounded through the house as a yellow filly with a large pink bow in her mane ran upt o and hugged Applejack.

"Eeehh. What's that now?" a wheezing voice asked form the other room.

"Granny! AJ's back!" the filly cried and danced around her sister.

Luna smiled as she saw them together. I wish my sister was ever that happy to see me. she thought sadly.

"Hi everypony. I want y'all to meet mah friend here, Selene. She's gonna help out on the farm for a while." Applejack gently pushed Luna forwards.

Luna smiled a bit awkwardly as Applebloom hugged her. "Any friend of Applejack's is a friend of mine!" she cried happily and danced around the two. "Hey, wait a minute." she stopped and turned to AJ. "Where's Big Mac?"

Applejack smacked her forehead with her hoof. "By Celestia! I clean forgot about him." she ran back outside and Luna and Applebloom followed closely.

She gave a great sigh of relief as she saw Big Mac and Caramel dragging the heavy hoofcart towards them.

"Well howdy gals." Caramel grinned at them, his eyes lighting up as he saw Luna. Mac and Caramel unhitched themselves from the hoofcart and trotted over to the girls and bowed. "Well howdy do, little lady." he said to Luna and kissed her hoof in a gentlecolt's manner. "What's your name?"

Luna blushed and withdrew her hoof. "Selene." she smiled and curtseyed.

"Lovely name." Caramel smiled and bowed again, then straightened up and did the same to Applejack and Applebloom. "Howdy ladies."

"Oh shut her apple pie hole." Applejack laughed and gave him a playful punch.

Applebloom just giggled and his shyly behind her sister.

Luna grinned at the filly, then nodded to Big Mac. "Hello Big Mac. Sorry we left you behind."

"It's alright." he said in his monotone voice. "Ah'm just happy to be back."

"Howdy Big Mac!" Applebloom cried and jumped on her brothers back, giving him a great big hug.

"Howdy Applebloom. How's the CMC work goin' on?"

"CMC?" Luna whispered to Applejack.

"Heh, that's our sister's name fer her and her friends. The-"

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" Applebloom blurted out.

The four adult ponies laughed at the fillies sudden shyness.

"Ah, uh... gotta go..." Applebloom muttered and ran off to find her friends, leaving the embarrassing situation behind.

"So, Selene." Caramel purred at Luna, "Where are you staying while you work at the farm?"

Luna blinked. "I hadn't really thought about that." she murmured. It was true, what was she going to do?

"You can stay with us." Big Mac piped up and turned a slightly brighter shade of red.

Caramel eyed his friend while Applejack laughed. "Sure thing. You can bunk in Big Mac's room. he won't mind, will you BM?"

Big Mac chuckled nervously, "Ah, um..."

Luna splayed her ears back in protest. "Oh it's alright, I'll sleep in the barn or something."

Applejack shook her head. "Psh'aww. You're our guest an' guests always have priority. And ah wouldn't even suggest going to sleep in Caramel's house." she smirked at the orange pony opposite her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Caramel asked with a hurt, puppy dog look in his eyes.

Applejack shoved him, "You know full well what ah mean." she laughed. "We don't need another 'Daisy' incident."

Caramel turned as red as the apples on Applejack's cutie mark. "I thought we agreed, never to speak of that again?"

Luna tilted her head. "What happened?" she asked curiously.

Big Mac laughed, "You don't wanna know Selly."

This only made Caramel turn even redder as Applejack whispered in her ear the dirty secret.

"Oh." Luna said and giggled.

"Well... nice seeing you... I should go..." Caramel mumbled and began shuffling away.

"Oh ah'm just teasin' ya, ya big lummox." AJ laughed and patted him on the back. "Wanna come get somethin' to eat?"

"Nah I'm good, I just ate anyways. Besides, I got stuff to do tomorrow." Caramel said and waved them goodbye. "See y'all tomorrow!" he called, mimicking AJ and BM's accents.

"So, sleeping arrangements." Applejack stomped her hooves. "Ah'll sleep in mah bed, an' Selly'll sleep in Big Mac's bed. That alright big brother?"

"Eeyup." Mac decided she couldn't do any harm, as long as he got his Playmares out from under his bed first. Neither of his sisters, nor his granny knew about them. And for good reason: they were Caramel's.

"Well, if your'e sure." Luna smiled at the stallion.

He felt a lump rise in his throat, "Eeyup. No problem." he murmured as he looked into her eyes.

Applejack must have seen this and quietly giggled. "C'mon then, let's get somethin' ta eat." she smiled as she put both front hooves around them and steered them towards the house again.

***

Twilight sat and thought about the newcomer. "What is she hiding?" she mumbled to herself, Owlowicious was off hunting or something. "Well, I'm not going to sit here and think bad things about her just because she's new in town and Celestia said to-"

What was she doing? Disobeying Celestia's orders? The nerve she had. Spike! Take a latter." she called.

No response.

"Oh, yeah. Holiday." she murmured and chuckled nervously. "I'll just do it myself then. Good thing Spike left me a bottle of his dragon's breath in case I needed to send a letter." she'd have to remember to thank the little dragon for the wonderful idea he had.

She sat down on her haunches and began writing the letter.

Dear Princess Celestia,

My brother told me of your troubles with Luna and thought I could help-

"No." she grunted and started over.

Dear Princess Celestia,

How are you? I'm fine. Shining Armour dropped by earlier and told me about Princess Luna. I hope everything gets better soon-

"No." she grunted again.

Yo C-Dawg-

"Definitely no." she threw her hooves in the air in frustration and thought for a while. She used her magic to grasp the quill one more time and began writing.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I received word of your orders from my brother, Shining Armour, as soon as he arrived, and began making note of all the ponies who got off the train at the station. One in particular caught my eye: the dark blue (similarly blue to Princess Luna) pegasus called Selene. or 'Selly' as my friends started calling her. She is currently working at Sweet Apple Acres. I'll keep you updated in case any new developments show up.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

She re-read the letter several times, making sure this was the one she wanted to send. "'Faithful student'? or 'Spy?" she mumbled sadly. She didn't particularly want to do this, but she knew better to cross the princess, or mention what Shining had said about the two sisters fighting a lot recently. "perhaps I should send that C-Dawg one." she groaned and reached over to the small, purple jar of light green gas Spike had left behind.

She uncorked it and sniffed suspiciously. "Eugh. Spike really needs to brush his teeth more often." she said as she pinched her nose and dipped the end of the letter in it, making it flame up as if Spike had sent it away.

She sighed contently and went back to her bed and lay down. "Ohhh, why does this have to be so hard? Oh I know, I'll go see him. He always makes me feel better." she giggled with glee at his memory.

She locked the door on her way out and trotted off to Sweet Apple Acres.

***

Celestia sat in her room ,brooding over her sister's disappearance. Her ears pricked up as a small green shoot of flame appeared in front of her. She grabbed in in her mouth and unfurled it immediately. "Ah, a letter from Twilight. This should be good." she muttered and scanned her eyes over it, resting momentarily on 'Selene'.

She finished reading and looked up. "I'll have to thank Shining Armour when I can." she murmured thoughtfully and smiled. "And Twilight, for giving me this information, I'll be sure to put it to good use." she walked over to the door and stuck her head out. "Guard?" she called.

"Yes ma'am?" a guard hurried up to her disembodied head and saluted.

"Ah, good. I need you to go down to the barracks and print out wanted posters for a pegasus by the name of Selene. She may hold information about my sister's sudden disappearance." Celestia ordered.

That may be a bit too harsh. What if she's just a simple mare from Canterlot who happens to look like Luna? a small voice in her mind said quietly.

"I can't take that chance." Celestia said sternly, earning a wary glance from the guard remaining outside her door. "Oh, um..." she blushed and slammed the door before he could say anything. "Besides, you don't exist, you're just a part of my imagination." she told the voice.

That may be so, but you should still listen to me. the voice said softly.

"Ugh. Go away." she snapped and turned to face the world out her window. "But I do miss you, little sister. Oh please come home soon." she murmured as tears filled her eyes again. "Please..."

***

Twilight trotted down to Sweet Apple Acres, just in time to pass Caramel on the way back, who winked at her and let out a wolf whistle.

"Lookin' good, Twilight." he called to her, making her blush and blow a raspberry at him.

"Go buck yourself, Melly." she called back.

"Ah, you're no fun Twilight Sparkle." Caramel chuckled and waved goodbye.

Twilight reached the entrance to the farm and took a deep breath of air. She loved that smell of fragrant apples. Especially the fragrant apples of Sweet Apple Acres. Mainly because of AJ's brother. "Ahh, Big Macintosh, ever since I bumped into you during that disaster of the Smarty Pants doll, I could never get you out of my head." she monologued for a bit. "And before that, when Discord made you act like a dog and you licked me. That gave me the shivers all over. The good kind." she added with a sultry tone, still talking to herself.

She shook her head and trotted up to the farmhouse door. "Applejack?" she called out.

"Could somepony please get that?" she heard AJ's voice shout from behind the door. "Ah'm tryin' ta cook dinner!"

She heard the scrabbling of unlocking the door behind it and put on a smile to see whoever opened the door.

"Hello, Twilight, what brings you here?" Selene asked as the door swung open.

Twilight's mind blanked. "I um... just wanted to apologise again?" she said and began shuffling on her hooves. Oh I am so not ready for this. she thought and squirmed under Selly's gaze.

Selene looked at her with cold eyes, then wrapped her forelegs around Twilight.

"Hey! What are you-"

"Shh. I forgive you, Twilight Sparkle. All is forgiven." Selene said as she released Twilight and smiled sweetly.

Too sweetly. Twilight's subconscious told her. She forced a smile back and curtseyed slightly, "Well, I um... should be going back now. I'm glad we got this over with." she said and bit her lip at her words, hoping Selene wouldn't notice.

She simply chuckled and waved goodbye, then closed the door again as the purple unicorn turned and began to walk away.

"Damn, I completely forgot she was there. Why is she so keen to stay at Sweet Apple Acres anyway? Unless..." Twilight murmured to herself. "No. They only just met, she wouldn't be trying to-"

"Howdy, Twilight, can ah help y'all with anythin'?" Big Mac asked, interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, hi Big Mac." she said and attempted to slow her breathing. "I just came to say sorry to Selene for before. I may have been a bit frontier-ish when we first met and I feel horrible about it." she cooed, trying for affection from the strong stallion.

Big Mac stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, you could stay for dinner." he said after a while.

Twilight started. "B-but I'm sure it's just one other mouth to feed a-and I wouldn't want to intrude on anypony's hospitality." she stammered.

Mac waved a hoof and silenced her. "Now hush. Ah'm sure AJ would be more than happy to feed one of her best friends. Besides, Applebloom's gone to play with her friends, so we got the place to ourselves." he said.

Twilight's ears pricked up hopefully. "Oh?"

"You know, for dinner?" Mac replied and chewed on his token wheat stalk.

"Oh." Twilight murmured and let her ears drop normally. Her heart with them. "Well, if your sure AJ won't mind. She sounded awfully busy in there."

"Phs'aw. You're one of Applejack's best friends, like ah already said, c'mon." he trotted over to the door and swung it open. The smell of cooking hit Twilight's nostrils immediately.

"Smells delightful." she said as Big Mac closed the door behind her and showed her to the dining room.

"Oh, hello again Twilight." Selene said as she sat in her spot at the table, breaking away from Granny Smith's riveting tale about apples, apples... and apples. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"It seems so, yes." Twilight said as she smiled a fake smile at Selene. Oh don't put me next to her, oh don't put me next to her-

"Twilight why don't y'all sit opposite Selly? On t'other side of Granny." Mac smiled as he drew the seat away for her to sit on, like a gentlecolt.

She sat down, gracefully and thanked him. She looked up to see Selene watching her before turning back to Granny Smith.

"Howdy, Twilight!" Applejack said as she bustled in, carrying a steaming hit plate of what appeared to be apple soup. "Pleasure to have you. Big Macintosh already told me you were stayin' so ah made you up some special apple soup of yer own. Dig in!" she cried happily and wandered back to the kitchen.

Mac sat down at the head of the table, he being the sole male family member of Sweet Apple Acres and following his father's wish:

"Son. If ah go any time soon, ah want you to be the head of the family." Big, Big Macintosh had said to him.

"Sure, pa." Big Mac, when he was Little Mac had replied.

"Lead on mah boy. Find a nice mare an' have kids an' all that."

"Ah will, pa."

"Good. Now me an' your mother are goin' out for a stroll tonight. Be good for your granny ya hear?" Big Macintosh srumpled his son's mane.

"Sure, pa." Little Mac smiled at his pa.

That was the last time they spoke. Mac wiped a tear away from his eye, not letting the three mares in the room see, and pushed that painful memory back.

"Soups on everypony!" Applejack cried as she brought in another bowl of soup and began ladling it out for the ponies gathered around the table.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

An awkward silence fell upon the dinner table.

Granny Smith's jibber jabber had died off after the first half an hour as tensions were so thick you could cough at them and they would break.

Applejack glanced between her friends; the unicorn versus the pegasus. "So..." she murmured, making Selene and Twilight break away their mini-staring contest. "What do y'all wanna do this weekend?"

Twilight shook her head "I'm afraid I can't do anything, AJ. Spike's still on holiday and I need to reorganize the library again, I think I've lost a book or something." she mumbled and turned back to her now cold soup. "Soup's great by the way."

Applejack swelled with pride. "Thanks Twi. What do you think Selly? Got any plans fer the weekend?"

Selene shook her head, "Not that I'm aware of. And the soup's lovely." she smiled and ate some more. There had been a moment of confusion as Selene had fumbled over the spoon, not having magic anymore, and nearly spilt the bowl. She blushed furiously as Big Mac watched her with a small grin and went back into his own little world of thought process.

"Big Mac?" Twilight called.

The red stallion looked up in surprise, a bit of food clinging to his lower lip. "Eeyup?" he asked.

"Could you pass me the salt please?"

"Eeyup." he stood up and hoofed the salt shaker to Twilight. She felt his warm breath as he did so and smiled warmly. Mac smiled back and sat down again.

Another half-hour of silence, broken only by the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock the Apple's had in the hall.

They all jumped as they heard the door slam shut.

"Hi guys. Oh hi Twilight." Applebloom said cheerily as she bounced further into the house.

"And where have you been?" Applejack asked in her 'I'm the big sister so you do what I say' voice.

The filly rolled her eyes. "Ah told you, ah'm always out with Scoots an' Sweetie tryin' ta earn our cutie marks."

Big Mac chuckled. "Still no luck then?"

Applebloom shook her head, "Nope. We'll try again tomorrow though."

"Well ah'd best clean this mess up. Selly could y'all pass me Granny's bowl? Ah'm sure she don't need it no more." Applejack said and began a precarious balancing act as Applebloom and Big Mac lifted the plates onto er back and she slowly moved towards the other end of the table.

"Oh, of course." Selene smiled and hopped out her chair and grasped Granny's bowl in her mouth. Twilight stifled a giggle as she almost fumbled it, sending some soup over the edge.

"Ah sho shorry A'ahjack." she mumbled through the bowl.

"Aw it's alright, this carpet's filthy as it is." the orange farmpony laughed as Selene flapped up and placed the bowl on the top of the towering pillar of precariously balanced platter.

Big Mac smiled. Ah'd better clear mah room out now before it's too late. He excused himself after Applejack had come back into the dining room and trotted upstairs.

Applejack turned back to her friends, who were now looking down at the table with guilty expressions. "Now what's been bothering you two?" she asked and placed her front legs on the table.

Twilight glanced up at Selene, who glared back. "...Friendly disagreement." she said after a while of studying the pegasus's face. Why had tensions been high? What did we do to become frienemies? Twilight wondered to herself.

"Just a small disagreement between myself and Twilight." Selene said calmly, still watching Twilight like a hawk.

"Well, if it's behind you now, ah reckon ah should show yer yer room Selly." Applejack smiled, concealing her thoughts. Now what in the hay is up with these two? she thought.

"That would be splendid." Selene murmured and shifted her gaze from Twilight to Applejack as a big red stallion trotted back in the room.

"Done all ah needed to do, AJ. Room's yer's Selly." he smiled at Selene.

"Thank you Big Mac."

"C'mon, this way." Aj turned to go, signalling Selene to do the same.

"Ooh, ooh! Is Selly staying for the night? Like a sleepover?" Applebloom piped up.

Selene chuckled softly, "I'll be working at the farm for a while, so we'll have to catch up some time." she said to the excited filly.

"Maybe you could tell us how you got your cutie mark?" Applebloom asked hopefully and began bouncing up and down, very excitedly.

"What is your cutie mark anyway?" Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh it's..." she stopped. It's different to what I imagined back in the palace. she panicked for a minute. "Oh it means I tended the gardens of Princess Luna." she said. The new cutie mark was a flower with the moon as it's background. Rather beautiful really.

"i thought you said you didn't pay attention to the princesses affairs?" Twilight continued suspiciously.

"I didn't, I merely took care of the night gardens." Selene replied with another cold gaze. She was beginning to feel irritated at the unicorn's incessant questioning.

Twilight glared at her then fake yawned. "Well, I should really be going now. Nice seeing you all, good night." she said, with added emphasis on the 'night'.

Selene nodded curly and followed Applejack upstairs to Big Mac's room.

Big Mac stayed downstairs and retrieved his mags from under his harness. "Sorry, sorry." he mumbled to them as he stuffed them back down after looking at one in particular. "Ah'm goin' out fer a bit, ah think Mel left somethin' of his last time he was here!" he called upstairs.

"Alrighty then." Applejack's voice floated downstairs.

Mac quickly left the house and locked the door behind him. He galloped all the way to Caramel's house and banged on the door with his face, and shouted out his friend's name. "Caramel! Open up, ah need to speak to you!"

A bleary eyed Caramel opened the door. "Whassup buddy?" he asked. "I was just sleeping. But it's always nice to see my best-" he stopped when Mac withdrew the dirty mags again. His eyebrows raised and he smirked as Mac fumbled them around. "Had enough have you?" he grinned as he took them from his red friend.

"Selene's stayin' in mah room for now, so ah gotta hide these here." Mac blushed.

This only increased 'Mel's grin. "You sly dog, you."

Mac blushed furiously. "Ah don't know what yer talkin' about. Can you hide these?"

"Pfft. Hide? Please. Just toss 'em on the pile." Caramel laughed and gestured to the small pile of 'Caramel' stuff in the corner.

Big Mac threw the mags and thanked Caramel. He was about to say something else when a stifled yawn could be heard in the other room. "Melly? Who's at the door that is more important than your Trixie?" the voice called.

Now it was Mac's turn to embarrass Mel. "Sleeping huh?"

"Shut up. Trixie's lovely. Now if you don't mind, I have business to attend to." 'Mel turned as red as Mac then.

Big Mac chuckled again and waved goodbye to his friend and began the slow trot home.

Caramel made sure he was leaving, then turned back into his house and locked the door. "Now. Trixie. Your Great and Powerful Caramel's right here." he grinned and went back into the bedroom.

***

Back at the farm house, Applejack was showing Luna around the house. "An' this here's mah room, wake me if you need anythin' an' ah'll be more than happy to oblige a guest. That there's Applebloom's room, speaking of which, shouldn't you be doin' yer homework Cheerilee gave you?" she turned to the small yellow filly.

Applebloom's ears splayed back and her bow drooped a bit. "Oh yeah..." she mumbled and dragged herself to her room.

Applejack watched her go with a stern gaze, then softened up a bit as she pulled Applebloom towards her and hugged her. "There." she said after a few minutes of hugging and Luna 'd'awwing' behind them. "Now, clean your teeth then get that homework done."

"Yesum." Applebloom smiled and trotted off to the bathroom.

"Kids." chuckled Applejack as she continued the tour. "You got any brothers or sisters, Selly?"

Luna choked back a whimper. "Yes. One sister. We're not on very good terms at the minute though."

Applejack nodded. "That why you came to Ponyville? To get away for a while?"

Luna nodded. "Yes, actually." That's a wonderful idea. Thanks AJ.

Applejack sighed, "You shouldn't just run from your problems ya know. You should talk to her."

"She doesn't listen." Luna snorted. "She's the bigger sister, so she thinks I have to do everything she says."

"Ah'm sure he's just lookin' out fer ya." Applejack said and patted her on the back comfortingly.

"THanks AJ, but she really is a royal pain." she giggled at her little joke and earned a questioning look from Applejack. "I'll explain later, maybe."

"Alright. Here's Big Mac's room. And just a heads up: don't look under his bed." she grinned and winked. "Boy stuff."

Luna blushed "Alright, I won't then. Thanks again by the way." she added as Applejack turned to go.

"For what?"

"Letting me stay here. It's been a while since somepony considered me a friend." Luna smiled.

Applejack blushed and pulled her hat down, "Aw shucks, Selly. Don't go all mushy on me now. Ah'm always pleased to make new friends." she smiled back, "Now, get some rest, ah'll take care of stuff downstairs."

"Alright. Good night Applejack." Luna murmured and looked out the window at the falling sun. She felt a lump rise in her throat. Would Celestia be able to lift the moon while Luna was still on this plane? She groaned as she realized she had no choice but to ignore it and settle down.

She tossed and turned for a few minutes before sitting up again and getting out of the comfy bed.

Luna walked around Big Mac's room, and smirked at the posters he had of a few rather beautiful mares: Fleur De Lis, Spitfire from the Wonderbolts without her suit, one with her suit, and a few other unknown model mares. She felt her hoof gently grze something at the foot of the bed. She looked down and saw the corner of a magazine hidden under the bed. She bit her lip and remembered what AJ had said:

'Boy stuff'.

She reached down and picked it up, laying it out on the bed. Her cheeks turned bright red as she saw the cover.

"'Playmare: Nightly Secrets Edition'." she murmured and flicked open a few of the pages. Her cheeks turned scarlet as did her whole face as she saw the erotic positions the mares in the magazine were stitting in, or splaying out across the beds. Or sitting in a pile of hay.

She nealy died when she turned the page and saw herself, her Luna form, staring back at her. "Oh... my..." she whispered as she read the article printed next to her: 'The next set of photos was taken from an unnamed source as none other than Princess Luna poses for this week's edition. Turn the page and see her royal majesty of the night reveal her darket secrets'.

Did she dare turn the page? She remembered that night quite well:

The young, eager looking stallion with a large camera had met her in the Cantertlot Library, when it was the deadest of nights and Celestia was fast sleep.

"Shh. Not here. My chambers." she had whispered to him and swished her tail at him.

"Sure thing, you highness."

"Please. Just Luna tonight."

"OK, Luna." he grinned cheekily.

She had led him up to her chambers and darkened the room even more so, then, as he set up his camera, she had taken the opportunity to get herself... ready so to speak. She climbed onto the bed as he said it was 'A-OK' and began posing. She turned so red, she could have matched Big Mac's shade of red with her own now.

"Big Mac!" she cried and fumbled the magazine, eyes poruing over the dirty images again until they rested on her own. "Oh..." she murmured as she remembered all the exotic things she'd done for the camera. "He wouldn't have. He's a gentlecolt." she said, furious with herself for finding this dirty thing. "So I shall relieve it from him." she smiled bitterly and tucked it under her pillow for the time being.

"Hello, what's this?" she murmured and pulled out a small doll. "Heh. Big Mac has his own little secret does he?" she giggled as she turned the doll over, observing it and looking for anything... boyish. Thankfully she found nothing and put it back.

A knocking at the door caught her full attention. She hurriedly stuffed the doll and the edge of the magazine under the pillow once more as the door opened.

"Oh... sorry, Selly, ah thought you were asleep." Big Mac turned the colour of blood as Luna frowned. "Ah- ah mean that ah just wanted to get somethin' ah think ah left behind and ah didn't want to disturb you." he added hastily.

"It's alright, Mac." Luna cooed, making him feel even more nervous, beads of sweat visibly dripping down his face. "What was it you were looking for? Perhaps I could help."

Big Mac blushed furiously "No!" he shouted and made her flinch a bit. "Ah mean... it's alright, it was just a... book ah had earlier. Ah can get it tomorrow though. Sorry to disturb you." he mumbled and shuffled out the door, gently closing it on his way out.

Luna giggled at his behaviour and deduced he was looking for the magazine and or the doll. She lay down on the bed, still smiling, and drifted off to sleep.

A few minutes later she woke and heard voices downstairs. She decided to investigate and snuck out, using the 'late night toilet' as her excuse should she get caught.

***

Big Mac sat on the other side of the door, head buried in his hooves. "Oh ah'm in fer it now. What if she finds it?" he moaned to himself as he dragged his sorry hooves downstairs and lay down on the sofa. "Well, not much ah can do now except hope she doesn't find it." he mumbled as he lay his head back and rested on the comfy cushion.

he bolted upright when he remembered Smarty Pants underneath the pillow. He groaned again and brought the cushion over his face and smothered himself. "Oh for..." he muttered and got up, contemplating going up again. "What if she's asleep now? And those stairs... ah have ta remember ta fix 'em when ah can." he murmured.

He groaned a third time and wandered over to the kitchen and pulled out his own recipe of mass destruction. He grinned as he recalled the time he'd first made it: a combination of cider, moonshine, a few dozen cupcakes and half a sugar block, that had levelled his sister in ten seconds flat it was that strong.

"Ah'll have to let Selly try some sometime." he mumbled as he took a big swig from it. He sloshed it around in his mouth for a few seconds then gulped it down. "Oh boy..." he murmured as he staggered back over to the sofa, the drink already taking it's toll on him. He, Big Macintosh, formerly Little Macintosh, couldn't hold his liquor in the slightest; one drink and he was gone. Caramel teased him immensely for this whenever they went to the pub or something.

"Hey guys! Big Macky here can't hold his drink!" he remembered Caramel shouting at their graduation. A few larger stallions had held him down and forced him to drink their nasty tasting booze then.

"Ah'll get you for this, Mel!" he growled playfully and stumbled after his friend, taking four steps then collapsing in a stupor.

Granny facehoofed so many times that day. "Now, come on big brother!" Applejack's voice shouted at him and brought him out that memory.

He looked up into his sisters glaring face. "Hey, AJ." he slurred.

"Don't you 'hey, AJ' me. You've been at that drink again haven't you?" she demanded and took the cushion away, making him fall off the sofa and onto the wooden floor with a muffled crash.

"Whoa, whoa... what's *hic* goin' on baby sister?" he mumbled as he rose, unsteadily to his feet.

"Ah smelt it all the way from the bathroom. Celestia knows what Granny'll say if she finds you drunk like this. And you onl get like this when you got a lot on your mind. What's up?" she asked and rubbed his back.

"It's the sixth today." he mumbled sadly.

Applejack tilted her head in confusion. "What's that got to do with anythin'?"

Big Mac looked at his sister, his big eyes filling with tears. "Twelve years ago." he said plainly.

A dawn of realization spread across her face as she sat down next to him. "You remember every year." she murmured and nuzzled against him.

"Eeyup." Mac muttered and sniffed. "It's mah fault you know."

Applejack shushed him. "How could you say somethin' like that? Of course it's not your fault, none of us knew how bad the storm was gonna be that night."

"Ah still could've gone with them." Mac mumbled and nuzzled his sister back.

She pulled away from him and looked at him. "Now what good would that have done?"

Mac shrugged. "Maybe ah could've been in their stead."

"Shhh." Applejack comforted him. "Just forget about it, we'll pay our respects tomorrow. It's all fine, see? Now hush or you'll wake Applebloom." she cooed as he laid his head back down on the sofa.

"Ah suppose yer right. G'night Applejack." he mumbled and began snoring.

All of this happened while Luna sat at the top of the stairs and listened. She choked back her own tears as she heard Applejack move to the stairs and began climbing them. Luna hurried back to her room and dove into the bed, pulling out the doll again and cuddling it. "I'll keep you safe, Big Mac. Tomorrow..." she whispered and drifted back off to sleep.

***

Celesta watched the sunset with a growing sense of dread. "Oh if she doesn't show up soon I'll have to do it again." she groaned then scolded herself for being selfish. She spread her wings and flew to the top of Luna's tower, perching on the top as she brought the sun down.

She took a deep breath and summoned the moon once more. "When you get back you're gonna get it Luna." she grunted as the sudden weight of the moon hit her and nearly made her slip.

It took all her strength to raise the moon like this, her sister's slender yet smaller form had much more success with lifting the moon in the night sky, whereas her own tall figure was more suited to the sun, so this strain of lifting both took it's toll on her greatly.

She sighed, content with her work, as she finished lifting the moon. She groaned as she realized she had forgotten the stars again. "Mother give me strength." she grunted and flew down to the observatory, looking for all the star charts she had made during Luna's imprisonment.

She slowly got to work as she drew the stars in the sky, occasionally hiding secret messages in them, things like: 'Luna come home', or 'I'm sorry Luna. Please come back'.

She gave a final grunt of exhaustion as sleep overtook her, and she collapsed into the desk in the office, snoring quite loudly and un-princess like.

***

Little did she know that one of the guards was selling bits of information for money.

"Now I can't say much, so it'll have to cost extra." he told the small crowd gathered in the alleyway.

The crowd gave a small groan of protest as they pulled out their own bags of money and he whispered into their ears. "Celestia's done away with her sister." and things like: "Celestia's thrown her own flesh and blood into the dungeons. Watch out, or it'll be you nobles next."

"I say, make way for the prince." a voice commanded as a tall unicorn pushed the crowd aside. The guard's face drooped when he saw who it was.

"Hello, Blueblood." he grumbled.

"Hello, Brandling." Blueblood grunted back. "I hear you have been selling information." he said and pulled out a very large sack, overflowing with money.

Brandling's eyes lit up as he took the bag in his wing. "This way, kind sir." he smirked and led the prince into the tavern they were outside.

"So what do you wish to know?" he asked the stuck up unicorn noble.

Blueblood leaned in. "Everything. Start with how you know this information."

Brandling whistled and gestured for more bits. "That's personal and costs extra." he grinned.

Blueblood fumed but gestured for his company to bring out another bag of golden bits. "There. Now talk."

"Well..." Brandling whistled as he began his story, starting with Shining Armour telling them what he knew, then adding his own liberties into the story.

Blueblood nodded at times and agreed with what Brandling said, all the while forming his own schemes and forming his own dastardly plans.

"That's just about it for now." Brandling finished and downed a drink.

Blueblood turned his head, disgusted by this common vulgarity he called a source. "I trust you will contact me when you have more information?"

Brandling nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir." he stood up and saluted mockingly and sat back down. "Now run along prince. This is a bad neighbourhood for those unlike me." he flashed a grin at Blueblood as he left, taking his entourage with him.

He chuckled and began counting his bits, making a small 'this is for drink' pile and 'this is for girls' pile.

"Fools, all of them." he chuckled to himself as he ordered another drink.

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

As Twilight walked back from the farm, she couldn't help but feel on edge. Anxious about something. Frankly... she was scared. Scared of what she didn't know, but she felt a strange sense of worry whenever she was around Selene.

"I'll have to send another letter to the princess. I'm sure this 'Selene' has got something to do with Luna's disappearance." she murmured to herself as she reached the library.

She was greeted by Owlowicious as he flapped about her head and hooted joyfully. She stoked his feathers and nuzzled his wing, pleased to see a friendly face. She tilted her head slightly as he motioned over to the desk where a latter was waiting for her.

She hurried over to it and began reading:

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

Thank you for the news regarding the newcomer Selene. I have ordered my guards and half the royal army to apprehend the fugitive. I have a strong suspicion she is most certainly connected to my sister's disappearance. If you have any news of where she is, I advise you to report it to the guards immediately. Contact me soon for any new developments.

Princess Celestia

Twilight stood with her mouth agape as she read and re-read the letter over and over again. "Apprehend? Fugitive? Oh Celestia what have I done? I only wanted to tell her about any new arrivals like she said, not attempt to arrest an innocent pony!" she wailed and broke down into sobs.

The owl on his perch turned and watched the purple mare cry her eyes out. What now? he wondered and flapped over to her, landing beside her sobbing head and stroked her mane with a wing.

She looked up and sniffed, eyes red and puffy from crying. "Oh Owlowicious, I think I've done something terrible." she waield and flung her hooves around the stunned owl.

Even if it was for Luna's benefit, who was she to- she began to think as tears threatened to over take her again when all of a sudden...

"Twilight Sparkle." a regal voice commanded from the window.

Twilight shirked in terror and jumped back from her desk and spun around to face the speaker. "P-p-princess Celestia!" she stammered and dropped to her knees and grovelled.

Celestia rolled her eyes at her student's behaviour. She forced a smile out and touched the young mare's shoulder. "Shhh. You know you don't have to grovel around me, come. Tell me what's been troubling you." she brought Twilight's chin up and wiped her tears away like a mother would.

Twilight sniffed and stood up shakily. "I um... about Selene..."

"She's Luna in disguise." Celestia said bluntly.

Twilight's jaw dropped. "Huh?"

"She used an ancient disguise spell after we had an... argument." the princess winced. "She has been missing since Tuesday, I found the scroll in her bedroom the night she disappeared. I assume you read my letter?"

Twilight shrunk back and felt two inches tall. "B-b-but you c-called her a fugitive! A wanted pony! Why?" she asked, feeling braver at defending the now unmasked princess of the night.

Celestia stomped a hoof. "It is because she acted against my orders. That spell was in the restricted section of the library for a reason. If she's not turned back to normal by the next full moon, she will stay a permanent pegasus, no longer my little sister, whom I love with all my heart, but instead the imposter 'Selene', whom I have no connection to whatsoever." she aid bitterly and lowered her voice. "I am truly sorry for using you Twilight, but it is of utmost importance. Do you know where she is?"

"The next full moon is the third of July, that's a three weeks away." Twilight murmured and drew out a star chart, ignoring the princesses question and mumbled something inaudible to herself as she poured her eyes over the moon cycles and other various night-based activities.

Celestia took her student by the shoulder and made her face the large alicorn. "Have. You. Seen. Her?" she asked slowly, her patience growing thin.

Twilight suddenly felt extremely cold at her mentor's stern voice and gaze that could turn Discord to stone all over again. She shook her head. Yes you have, why are you lying? a small voice questioned her.

She shook her head again. "No, I don't know where she's staying. I'll have a look around tomorrow, but if she sees the royal guards patrolling the streets, she may move further away from Canterlot."

Celestia released her and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Twilight, but I care so much about her that I'll do anything it takes to get her back. I'm sorry if I hurt you or scared you." she nuzzled her student in a motherly way.

"It's alright princess." Twilight mumbled and patted the alicorn on the back awkwardly. "If I do see anything, I'll send you a letter. Spike should be coming back soon." she smiled weakly.

"Alright, but only if you really want to." You'd better.

Twilight nodded again and said nothing.

Celestia nodded curtly, "Now I must return to Canterlot. Tell Spike I said hello." and she trotted out the door and climbed into her luxurious carriage, taking off for the capital.

Twilight Sparkle sat in her room and thought about everything. "Why did I lie?" she murmured to Owlowicious.

The owl tilted his head and hooted in questioning tone.

"Why? Why lie to the princess - the one pony I feel i could tell everything to, barring Shining Armour of course." she facehoofed as she remembered her brother and their departure since he'd seen her last. "Ohh I'm such an idiot. I'll have to apologise to him too next time..." she trailed off as an overwhelming sadness took her. "Ohhh when's next time?" he muttered and her tail drooped to the floor.

She dragged herself up to her bedroom and threw herself on the bed. She closed her eyes and quickly dropped into the sweet embrace of a deep sleep.

***

As Celestia rode back to Canterlot, she couldn't help but feel as if Twilight was keeping something from her. "Twilight wouldn't do such a thing though." she reasoned to herself. "So why do I feel like this? Maybe it's because this whole Luna situation has got me on edge?" she muttered as her two pegasi chariot pullers sped towards the castle.

She nodded to them as they saluted as some servants unharnessed them.

The princess trotted up to her room and collapsed onto her bed. She groaned as she remembered about getting up in a few hours to raise the sun and lower the moon.

She sat up when she realized she wasn't going to sleep this night. Sick with sorry and patience wearing thin, she wandered outside her room and up to her sister's room, where she looked around sadly and grazed a hoof on her sisters manticore skin rug. As hideous as it was, Celestia couldn't help but feel safe when standing on it, as if her sister was right there with her.

She smiled a genuine smile since Luna had disappeared and turned and left the room, retreating to her office and started reading Twilight's friendship reports. As annoyed and irritated by the nobles she got, the old alicorn always felt good when reading the reports.

A golden glow consumed the nearest one and unfurled it as she began to read:

Dear Princess Celestia...

***

Blueblood sat in his room and brooded over the information Brandling had given him, working on his mad schemes for revenge against his aunts and that foalish, selfish, and rather brutish mare Rarity, who humiliated him at the last Gala.

He turned his head as he heard a knock at the door.

"Enter." he commanded coldly.

"Um... p-prince B-B-Blueblood?" one of the servants stammered, a young, beautiful mare with a name he had long forgotten. "Um... I was w-wondering... c-c-an I g-g-go home n-now?" she asked hopefully.

Blueblood stood up and walked over to her. He reached out and stroked her mane with a glint in his eye. "First, I think it's time for your... treatment." he grinned and sniffed her hair.

She cringed and stood up straight, awaiting what comes next.

"Good girl." he whispered in her ear.

She cringed again and winced as he rang his tongue along her neck. She hated this. She hated him, but she knew that if it wasn't for him, she would have been roped into her family's politics. She was technically a noble, yet she lived in servant's conditions and... his 'conditions' in exchange for him keeping her away from her family and the nasty business of inter-house politics.

After he finished toying with her he moved down her body, ignoring her whimpers and light flow of tears as he reached her cutie mark. He smiled as she quivered under his touch and he gently grazed his teeth along her flank. "What's your name?" he asked as he began fondling her flanks.

"Corellia." she murmured and sniffed.

"Well, Corellia. What's my name?" Blueblood asked and kissed her neck after he had finished with her behind.

"Blueblood." Corellia replied and reeled as he struck her across her face.

"What, Blueblood?" he growled.

"Pr-prince-" he struck her again. "Master!" she cried and began crying from fear and pain.

Blueblood's expression softened and he felt a tingling in his groin at her pain. "Good girl." he murmured again and grabbed her muzzle, forcing her face into his as he rang his tongue along her face.

Corellia gave another whimper as his tongue ran along her teeth.

"Let me in, little piggy." he hissed.

Corellia closed her eyes and opened her mouth, allowing Blueblood's slimy tongue to invade her mouth. This is better than what's coming next. she reminded herself as tears streamed down her face.

Blueblood withdrew his tongue and licked his lips, then he moved around behind her and planted his hooves on her back.

Corellia started shaking with fear and waited for what comes next.

Blueblood took a deep breath and smelt her fear, licking his lips as he thrust forwards.

She gave a loud scream and felt her legs buckle from his weight, and passed out as he got to work.

***

Corellia held her tail between her legs and shuffled to her small home after Blueblood had finally let her go. She despised him even more than her abusive father, who had killed her mother and made her terrified of him.

She remembered the day she ran away as if it was etched onto the back of her hoof...

"You're a waste of space, Corellia!" her father, Duke Admantium, roared in her face. "What sort of unicorn are you if you can't do the simplest of spells?! Let alone want nothing to do with our family's affairs!"

Corellia whimpered at her father's wrath as a mare rushed over to her and protected her. "Leave her alone, Addy!" her mother, the Duchess Spring Mist shouted back.

Admantium's rage boiled over as he struck his wife across the face, sending her sprawling across the floor. "Do not talk to me, wench! Nor do you call me 'Addy'!" he roared at the crying duchess as she staggered to her feet and held a hoof to her nose, drawing away a strain of blood.

All the while, little Corellia cried at her father's anger and tried to run over to her mother, "Mama!" she shouted.

"Run, Corry!" her mother screamed and her father glared at her.

Corellia stopped mid-run and stared as her father moved towards her, jaw clenching and unclenching.

"Corellia. You disobey your father... you know what'll happen." he warned.

He was almost upon her, the young filly frozen with terror, when her mother charged him and knocked him over. "Corry. Listen to me, run. Just run and leave all this behind." she told her sternly.

"But mama!" Corellia cried as tears filed her eyes, understanding what her mother had said.

"Just go. I love you. Now run." Spring Mist whispered and kissed her daughter and turned back to face the raging duke.

Corellia took off and hard a scream from behind her. She didn't stop until she reached the edge of the estate, and even then, she still heard her mother's scream in her skull. She wandered for a while through Canterlot, living off the streets and finding whatever she could to survive.

Eventually, she had been scavenging out of a dust bin when she heard a noise and spun around. There stood a rather old, wheezing pegasus as he smiled sadly at her.

She gave a small 'Eep' and tried to run away. The pegasus was faster than he looked though, and soon caught up to her and held her back, just as a carriage that would have crushed the little filly rumbled out from the darkness.

The old pegasus's face took on a surprised one as she hugged him and wept into his long, silver mane. "Shhh." he cooed and patted her on the back. "Why don't we go inside my dear?"

She nodded as he guided her back to the small house. He smiled as he introduced himself, "My name is Gepetto. What's your name?"

"Corellia." she mumbled and looked around the room, she started back when she noticed the many toys and dolls lined on the walls.

Gepetto chuckled as he saw her gazing around the room. "They're wonderful aren't they? My own little family." he smiled sadly.

Corellia jumped up and began inspecting all of them. "They all look so lifelike." she murmured and turned back to the old pegasus, smiling while she did it. "Did you make all these?"

"Yes." Gepetto nodded, "I'm a toymaker. This is what I do for a living." she smiled as she looked around in awe.

"They all look amazing." she murmured.

"Now, why was a lovely young filly such as yourself scavenging in the bins outside?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I um..." she gulped and told him her story. Of her horrible father and how she ran away a few days ago.

"A few days?" Gepetto asked incredulously. "And you've been scavenging out of other ponies garbage since?"

Corellia nodded guiltily.

"Well we can't have that. Wait here and I'll get some real food for you." the kind old pegasus said as he stood up and trotted over to the kitchen, ignoring her protests of 'he didn't have to' and 'I'm not really hungry'.

Soon he came back in with a tray of delicious looking food. "Tuck in, my dear." he said.

Corellia looked into his warm eyes and did as he said.

Since then, she had lived with him, helping make the toys and cook some food now and then.

He was the father she had always wanted, he never raised his voice, even when she had accidentally spilled a mug of coffee and ruined the sketch he had drawn for the latest toy.

"I'm so sorry Mr Gepetto." she cried before he had lifted up a hoof. She winced and awaited the blow but he merely took the broken shards of the mug from her and swiped them into the bin.

"Think nothing of it my dear, these things happen." he chuckled and ruffled her mane.

Corellia stood, stunned at his gesture. "B-b-but your design! It's ruined!"

"P'shaw. Drawings can be re-drawn, that's the beauty of the mind, child: anything is possible as long as you have imagination... and breadcrumbs in your hair." he laughed as he looked more closely at her mane.

Corellia blushed and tried to brush them out...

She smiled at the memories of her time with him. Sadly he had died a few years after she had gotten the job at Blueblood's. She mourned his passing for years, wishing she had been with him when he died a frail and old pony, near blind and slightly deaf.

Corellia reached the old home where she had lived most of her life and pushed the door open, smiling at all the toys still lined on the walls. "Hello everypony." she murmured to them as she sank into her chair and wept. Wept for her mother, her kindly Gepetto, and all the times Blueblood had taken advantage of her.

She got up when she felt dirty and went to take a bath, scrubbing the places he had touched her with increased vigour. She winced as she lifted up her tail and gently scrubbed that sensitive area, never feeling entirely clean since he had taken her... pride from her. One week after she had taken the job.

She sighed miserably as she trotted back into the chair in the living room and watched the fire place, it's flames mocking her and laughing at her. "Blueblood's whore!" they taunted and she curled up into a fetal position and dozed off, trying to forget about the prince and his ways.

***

Blueblood smiled as he finished with Corellia. "Normally I wouldn't please myself with such common rabble, but she claims she used to be a noble." he sneered with glee and trotted to his office room. "And after some digging up I found that her story matches that of the good Duke Admantium, who is still in mourning after all these years after his wife died and his daughter -the murderer- ran away... although myself and the duke have taken certain 'liberties' with changing the story slightly." he giggled and stroked a large bag of money the duke had sent him to keep his daughter away from him.

So good for business. he thought with a sly smile. Money and a beautiful little slave. he giggled again as he remembered her soft skin. "So easily broken." he whispered, eyes lighting up again and he felt himself getting hard just thinking about her.

He shook his head and turned to the real matter at hoof, before being interrupted, thought not disappointed, by Corellia: deposing the twin sisters. He didn't care much for the throne himself, he just wished to see his 'beloved-by-all aunts' cower in front of him, begging for their lives.

What happened next, he simple couldn't give a buck about. "Perhaps Discord will be set free." he murmured. "Now there's an idea: Prince Blueblood, Deposer Of Celestia And Freer Of Chaos." he grinned at his self-proclaimed title as he began writing the letters to the other nobles as ambitious as he: detailing his plan.

Shortly after he'd hired a courier to deliver the letters, he received one back:

We accept your plan. we await your word and further details.

- House Carim

"Excellent, the house with the strongest forces at my side already. Delightful." Blueblood chuckled with added glee as he began writing more letters to the different houses he knew resented the regal sisters.

***

Luna tossed and turned in her sleep. Her dreams tormented by visions of her friends and sister. "Go home. Nopony likes you here." Twilight sneered as she kissed Big Mac.

"No." Luna murmured, both in her dream and in reality.

"Luna. Come home this instant. I need you to clean the diapers of a thousand baby foals." Celestia commanded.

"No!" Luna cried, a bit more loudly.

"Luna. Why did you lie to me? Why did you lie to us?" Big Mac and Applejack asked.

"I didn't mean to!" Luna cried, tears filling her eyes.

"Liar, liar, mane's on fire." Twilight giggled and danced around Big Mac, kissing and licking him with glee.

"Please just leave me alone!" Luna begged the spectral ponies. Twilight stuck her long, dragon-like tongue out in response and wrapped it around Big Mac's head, drawing him in close.

"Luna, your horn is broken. I hear-by cast you out of Equestria. Live as the foolish pegasus you are." Celestia said coldly as Luna's horn shattered with mind numbing intensity.

"No, please... Celestia... no... no! NO!" Luna screamed and woke herself up.

Evidently she woke some other ponies up as a loud rumble could be heard outside her door as it burst open. "Selly! What's up?" Applejack asked, wild eyed and night-cap askew. "What happened?"

Luna mumbled something inaudibly.

"Come again?" Applejack asked as Applebloom yawned next to her.

"What's all the ruckus?" she asked as she yawned.

"Nothing. Just a bad dream." Luna muttered and wiped a few tears away from her cheeks.

"Applebloom. Leave, go downstairs and wake Big Mac for the mornin'." Applejack commanded.

Applebloom nodded and trotted downstairs, still rubbing her eyes.

Applejack turned to Luna with a serious look in her eyes. "You alright sugarcube?" she asked cautiously.

Luna nodded her head stiffly. "Fine."

"You sure? Work starts in an hour or so." AJ nudged her friend. "An' ah'm here if you need a shoulder."

Luna sniffed and smiled "Thank you for the offer Applejack, but I'm fine, really."

Applejack patted her on the back, "Well if you're sure. C'mon then, let's get some breakfast before Mac eats it all." she chuckled.

Luna smiled and hopped out the bed, stretching her wings and wincing at the morning sun.

"By the way. What was your dream about? Ah thought ah heard Celestia's name is all." AJ asked.

Luna froze. "Um... I don't know - I mean... I'm not sure..." she mumbled.

Applejack nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, take yer time. When you decide to tell me ah'll be here for you." she smiled ad led Luna downstairs and to the living room, where Big Mac had rolled off the sofa and was face first in a bowl of leftover soup.

"Look at that." Applejack tutted and shook her head. "Get up ya big oaf!" she laughed and nudged him awake.

"Ugh." Mac grunted as he sat up and tipped an imaginary hat to Luna. "Sleep well?" he asked politely to the three females around him: Applebloom sitting on the sofa enjoying some oatmeal, Applejack grinning at him and Luna smiling with a smile of a goddess at him.

"Not really, bad dreams." Luna replied, "The bed was lovely though." she smiled and Mac nodded.

"Eeyup. It sure is isn't it?" he felt his ears turning warm again. "How ah suppose ah can get that thing ah was lookin' fer last night, now yer awake and all." he mumbled and shuffled upstairs, suddenly feeling his morning wood gently graze against his inner thigh. He hurried upstairs as quick as possible and entered his room. He reached under the pillow and smiled as he found the thing he was looking for. He frowned however, when he felt something else.

He drew his hoof out and his eyes widened as he saw the magazine. "Oh no." he mumbled as he stuffed Smart Pants in the closet and threw the magazine underneath the cupboard too. "Oh she must have seen it. Oh what am ah goin' ta do now?" he muttered and trotted on the spot nervously.

"Ahem. Big Mac?" a heavenly voice said behind him, making him jump a bit. he spun around and faced Luna.

"Eeyup?" he replied, his inner body freezing.

"I um... just wanted to thank you again for the room." she murmured and pawed at the ground shyly.

So adorable. Mac thought. "No problem, Selly. Tell me by any chance did you-"

She cut him off with a quick kiss on the lips.

She pulled away almost immediately and blushed furiously. "I'm s-sorry. I-I-I-I don't know w-why I d-d-did that." she mumbled and turned to leave, breaking into a canter as she hurried downstairs and outside.

Big Mac frowned and touched his lips. Dis she just... his eyes widened. She did! his voice screamed at him from the inside. What are you doing, you big fool? Go after her before you lose her! the voice commanded.

He couldn't move. His joints were frozen in place as he longed for that moment to replay itself, but he knew it wouldn't. He slowly moved and winced as his bones cracked a bit after standing so long so tensely, and picked up the pace as he trotted downstairs and out the door, the sun shining down on him.

"Hey, BM!" a familiar voice called out. he turned and saw Caramel walking towards him. "Geez, what happened to you buddy? You look like you've just been kissed by Princess Luna." he joked and prodded his friend.

Big Mac froze up again. That's why her eyes looked familiar. He felt sick as his legs buckled again. "Did you see Selene pass by here?" he asked.

"Sure, she ran off that way." Caramel pointed to the orchard. "What did you do?" he grinned and nudged Mac.

"No time. Ah gotta go see her, go help AJ with those cider barrels." Big Mac told him and galloped off.

Caramel stood, terribly confused. "Alright, whatever." he muttered and trotted over to where Applejack was, giving her a small pat on the flank with his tail.

She spun around and socked him in the jaw. "Ah told you. Don't sneak up on ponies like that!" she said, rather ticked off and helped him to his feet.

"Sorry, AJ." Caramel mumbled and rubbed his jaw.

Applejack's eyes softened. "What happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it. Bedroom stuff." he muttered and got to work.

Applejack's eyes rolled back in surprise. "Caramel? Bedroom trouble? Oh Celestia, is this the end of Equestria as we know it?" she giggled.

"Oh shut up." Caramel grumbled, trying to hide a grin of his own. "Help me move this thing."

"Sure." Applejack smirked and smacked her own tail on his flank, making him bolt upright. "Oh get that thought out yer head, ah'm just gettin' revenge." she said and rolled her eyes again.

Caramel just smirked as they lifted the barrels from their resting place and rolled them to the storage cellar.

***

Big Mac bounded through the apple trees, looking for that gorgeous, dark blue pegasus.

He stopped when he heard a sniffle, just barely audible. "Selly?" he called out.

The sniffle increased in volume as he rounded another tree and saw her huddled up against it.

"Selly." he said, and relaxed a bit, having feared she'd ran off for good.

"Why are you here?" she asked and sniffed again.

"Ah was worried about you. And ah wanted to talk to you." he said and hunkered down next to her.

"Why?" Selene sniffed again.

"Because your eyes. They looked so familiar and ah couldn't place them where from. But thanks to Caramel an' a certain magazine ah own... ah recognized you." he smiled and looked in her eyes, she looking into his.

She sniffed again and curled away from him, "H-h-how do you know who I am?"

Mach shushed her by placing a hoof on her lips. "Trust me. Ah know. Princess Luna." he murmured quietly.

Luna frzoe and she locked her eyes with his. He knows. How does he know? "...How?" she whispered.

Mac scratched his head and chuckled nervously. "Ah um... had a magazine..." he trailed off as Luna smirked and blushed again.

"I know. I saw it." she murmured and stretched her body out, the same way she had done those many years ago, although not as raunchy.

Big Mac ran his eyes along her body and grinned. "Eeyup. That's the one."

Luna blushed again and sat back down next to him.

They looked into each other's eyes.

"Big Mac..." Luna murmured.

"Eeyup." Big Mac murmured back and leaned in a bit more closely, so close their noses were almost touching.

"I..."

Big Mac didn't need another hint. He pressed forwards, letting his lips touch hers.

Her eyes widened in surprise and then closed slowly, kissing him back.

They shared that kiss for a good solid four minutes. The best four minutes of either of their lives. They finally broke away, leaving only a small strand of saliva connecting them.

"Ah want you, Luna." Big Mac said quietly. "Ever since ah saw you in that magazine when ah was younger, ah couldn't stop thinkin' of you." he mumbled.

Luna frowned and grinned. "Very romantic: you saw me in a dirty mag." she laughed and kissed him again.

He eagerly kissed back and chuckled nervously.

She pulled away. "What?" she asked.

"Ah've uh... never..." he mumbled shyly.

Luna's face spread into a great big grin as she nuzzled him. "I'll show you." she whispered into his ear and nibbled the end of it gently.

"First." he pulled away and laughed softly. "Explain why you're a pegasus an' not an alicorn."

Luna sighed and leaned back. "Fine. I'll tell you."

Big Mac nodded approvingly and leaned back with her.

"It's because Celestia..." Luna began to tell him why. He listened with a stern gaze on his face and nodded at times when it was necessary.

Little did they know they were being watched by jealous eyes.

Chapter Six

Warning: This chapter contains clop. Skip to 'XXX' twice if you wish to not view it.

Chapter Six

Ten Minutes before Luna and Big Mac kiss

Twilight decided to wake up at the crack of dawn and go see Selene - or should she call her Luna? And warn her about Celestia making her a wanted pony. She wondered what had happened between the two sister that had driven Luna to extreme measures to just run away.

She shook her head and cleared her thoughts. "I need to have a non-biased opinion if I'm going to get to the bottom of this." she muttered as she got her saddlebag ready. "Be good, Owlowicious, remember; no mice in the house." she sternly told the owl dozing in the corner on his perch.

He hooted in response and nestled back down to sleep.

Twilight smiled and closed the door on her way out, making sure to avoid any crowds of ponies should they ask her where she was going.

She quietly trotted to Sweet Apple Acres, fortunately just avoiding Caramel as she saw him go up to Big Mac and say something, Big Mac said something then Caramel pointed to the orchard. She held back as she saw Mac go galloping off towards where 'Mel had pointed and trotted after him, keeping a steady distance.

She followed Mac as quietly as possible and jumped a bit when he suddenly shouted 'Selly?'

Twilight dove behind a tree and heard a sniff. "Luna." she breathed. She watched from the bushes as Mac walked around a tree and see a crying, dark blue pegasus.

She watched as he comforted Luna and felt her jaw clench. She blushed as the princess stretched out in a seductive manner and shook her head, letting the feeling drop. Why am I jealous? she thought and watched the two as they talked to each other, their heads growing closer and closer together. She saw their mouths move but was too far away to hear what they said.

She gasped quietly as Mac leaned in and kissed the princess.

Her violet eyes filled with jealousy as she watched them kiss for a while.

Luna nuzzled Mac and whispered into his ear, she seemed to nibble it too. Twilight's face felt flushed and her ears felt like they were on fire with jealousy. This was her stallion. Not the princess's. This was the stallion she'd had a crush on for all those months, was kissing another mare - and they only just met!

She choked back a loud sob and took off, eyes streaming with tears. She passed where she had last seen Caramel and Applejack but they weren't in sight. Good. I don't want anypony to see me like this. she thought bitterly and ran all the way home, bursting through the door and waking poor Owlowicious from his sleep.

Up to her bed she ran, throwing off her saddle bag and buried herself under her pillow and covers, weeping quietly as she did so.

"Why her?" she muttered to herself after a while. "Why not me?"

Because she's a princess. a voice told her.

"That shouldn't matter!" Twilight said and raised her voice a bit.

He only likes princesses. He'll never love you. the voice taunted.

"Shut up!" Twilight shouted as fresh tears began pouring down her face.

You know it's true.

"Shut. Up!" she shouted at the imaginary voice.

She fell back into her bed and wept loudly and long.

She finally stopped when she heard a noise at the door. She brushed her mane and wiped her face and muttered, "Go away."

"Hello? Twilight? Anypony home?" Rarity's voice called from outside. "We're going to be late for our get together with Fluttershy at the spa!" she shouted and pressed her ear against the door.

Twilight heaved her body out the bed and went downstairs, opening the door just as Rarity was about to walk away.

"Oh there you are Twilight, oh my... what happened to your face?" the fashionista asked and fussed over Twilight's mane. The lavender unicorn waved her away.

"Please Rarity, let's just go." she muttered and forced a smile out.

Rarity frowned. "Twilight? What ever's the matter dear?" she asked, clearly worried about her friend.

Twilight shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it yet. Is Fluttershy already there?"

"Now, now don't go changing the subject Miss Sparkle. Tell me what's troubling you." Rarity scolded and put a hoof on her friend shoulder.

Twilight felt fresh tears on there way and fought furiously to keep them at bay. "Fine. Come inside, and you mustn't tell anypony else."

"OK, Twilight. Oh wait, here comes Fluttershy. Fluttershy?" she called out to the meek yellow pegasus.

Fluttershy waved to the and trotted over. "Hi girls, I'm sorry if I was interrupting anything, but I just wanted to make sure our spa date was today... I mean... if that's alright with you two." she smiled shyly at Twilight and Rarity.

Rarity facehoofed at Fluttershy's constant apologising. "Darling i told you, it's alright. You don't have to apologise for every. Single. Thing." she smiled at the pegasus and nuzzled her, kissing her on the nose.

Fluttershy blushed and kissed rarity on the cheek.

Twilight smiled. These two had been hopelessly in love with each other for a few months now. She wished she could have that with somepony. Her thoughts turned to darkness again as she thought about Luna. f friendship is magic... what's hate? the voice from before asked her.

I do not hate the princess. Twilight argued back. Her face must have changed monetarily because Fluttershy stared at her with a look of fear.

Rarity noticed her marefriend's look and turned to Twilight. "Twilight. Tell us what's happened. Now." she demanded and stepped forwards.

"Oh... girls please don't fight." Fluttershy whimpered.

Rarity glared at her and turned back to Twilight, who stood in the doorway and sighed.

"Come inside then. But swear to tell nopony." Twilight beckoned them inside and closed the door, glancing around to make sure nopony was listening.

"Twilight? You're frightening us." Rarity said as Fluttershy whimpered behind her, not disliking the view she had of Rarity's flank.

"Alright, I'll start at the beginning: when Shining Armour visited."

"Shining Armour came to our little town?" Rarity asked.

"Yes. Now-"

"How is he?" Fluttershy asked, feeling slightly braver as Rarity stroked her mane and Twilight became the Twilight they knew and loved.

"I don't know. Fine I guess, but-"

"What do you mean you don't know? Didn't you ask?" Rarity interrupted again.

Twilight clenched her jaw. She was determined not to lose her friends as well as her crush today. "Of course I did, Rarity. Now st-"

"Then do you not remember?" Fluttershy questioned.

"Girls!" Twilight shouted and made them both jump. "Please! Stop. Interrupting." she said, exasperated.

"S-sorry, Twilight." Fluttershy whispered and splayed her ears back and winced.

"Now see here, Twilight." Rarity started, flaring up at seeing Fluttershy reduced to bits. "We only want to know how your brother is doing. is that too much to-" she stopped when Twilight broke down into tears before them.

"I'm so sorry girls. I just don't know what came over me!" she wailed and flung her hooves around her friends and sobbed into them.

"Oh Twilight... what's happened to you?" Rarity murmured and stroked her friend mane. "Fluttershy, be a dear and put the kettle on. I'll stay and comfort Twilight."

Fluttershy nodded and felt a pang of jealousy at watching Twilight get her mane stroked by Rarity. She shook it off and put the kettle on while Rarity guided Twilight to her chair and sat her down.

The kettle whistled shortly after Rarity had succeeded in calming the wailing unicorn down.

Fluttershy bustled in with three cups of tea and set two down on the table and held out the third to Twilight.

"Thank you." Twilight sniffed and took the cup of tea from the pegasus.

"Now. Tell us." Rarity said and sat down, huddling Fluttershy close.

Twilight took a deep breath and told them the story, including everything from Shining Armour to seeing the two kiss.

Rarity and Fluttershy exchanged worried glances between themselves at regular intervals as Twilight went off on a tangent.

***

Big Mac held Luna in his forelegs when she had finished her own story. "And that's everything that's happened in the past few days." Luna finished.

Big Mac stroked his chin as he listened to their synchronised heartbeats. "An' you don't wanna talk to yer sister?" he asked.

Luna shivered, "No. Not yet anyway." she mumbled.

Big Mac lifted her chin up and looked into her eyes. "Ah reckon you should. Do you know how long this spell will last?" he asked, kissing the top of her head where her horn should be.

"No." Luna said, she had actually forgotten to see how long it would last. I bet Celestia knows and is just waiting for me to come crawling back. she sneered in her head. "But when I'm with you, nothing else matters." she sighed and gazed into his attractive, green eyes.

Big Mac smiled, stood up and helped her to her feet. "C'mon, you're cold. Let's get inside." he took her by the leg and used his own body warmth to keep her from shivering anymore.

They reached the edge of the orchard and saw Caramel and Applejack spring out the cider cellar, AJ's hat askew and 'Mel's hair all frizzed up.

Big Mac walked past them, Luna walking on the other side of him, wing draped around his back and grinned at the two earth ponies. "Go easy on each other." he chuckled to them and made them both blush furiously and turn blood red.

Caramel mumbled something and tried to trot off, but Applejack pulled his tail back and whispered something to him, making him giggle. "Alright, alright. I'll stay for dinner." he laughed as she gently kicked him on the shin.

Applejack turned to Luna and Mac and smiled. "About time too." she whistled.

"What's that supposed ta mean?" Big Mac piped up defensively.

Applejack snorted, "Boy, you two have been gazin' into each other's eyes ever since you first met. Ah'd have wagered good bits on you two gettin' together. Nice catch, Selly." she grinned at the pegasus, who giggled and buried her face in Mac's mane.

"Oh and you an' 'Mel over there? How long have you two been goin' at it?" Big Mac grinned.

"Oh I don't know... about ten minutes?." Caramel grinned cheekily and dodged a swipe from Applejack.

All four of them just laughed as they nuzzled their respective partners. "Y'all ready fer some good eatin'?" Applejack asked heartily.

"Eeyup." the three replied and broke into laughter again as they trotted inside, single file. Big Mac helped Luna in and she immediately felt the warmth on her coat.

"Applebloom! You owe me twelve bits!" Applejack called out.

"Applebloom! You owe me fifteen bits!" Big Mac called out, imitating his sister.

Applebloom looked at them from the top of the stairs, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle behind her. "Did y'all get hitched at once or somethin'?" she asked, rather irritated it was her pocket money lost, but a bet's a bet.

Applejack turned to Big Mac. "You bet ah would get with 'Mel?" she asked slowly.

Mac looked down at her and grinned. "You know what ah'm gonna say."

Applejack continued to glare at him. "...Eeyup?"

"Eeyup."

Caramel and Luna exchanged glances and stifled another laughing fit.

"Alright you two." Applejack blushed as Caramel sidled up to her and nuzzled her. "Easy tiger. Let me go get the food ready."

"I'll help." Luna said and hey waved goodbye to the two stallions left in the hallway.

Caramel looked at Big Mac and Big Mac looked at Caramel.

*Hoof-bump*

"Damn straight. Now let's go watch some T.V. or something." 'Mel chuckled as they walked into the living room and collapsed on the sofa. "Ohhh Celestia, is this thing made of pure comfortableness or what?" moaned Caramel as he sank, lower and lower into the cushions.

Big Mac chuckled and slumped down on his own cushion. "They are pretty comfy." he admitted, smiling.

"Enough chit-chat. Time is girls. And girls are hot." Caramel grinned and leaned in. "So what's she like?"

Mac eyed his friend suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

"You know..." Caramel left the ambiguous question hang in the air for a few minutes. When Mac still didn't get it he sighed and shrugged. "Sex."

"Ohhhhh." Big Mac said and chuckled nervously. "We uh... haven't yet."

Caramel'e eys lit up at a new opportunity to tease his friend. "Way hey, hey. When you do, tell me everything." he grinned. "Me an' AJ were just-"

"That's my sister." Mac growled menacingly and 'Mel quickly clamped a hoof over his mouth.

"Sorry." he mumbled and batted his eyelashes at the red stallion. "Fwiends?" he asked with puppy dog eyes.

Big Mac shoved his friend away with a laugh. "Yeah right, next thing you know they'll both be pregnant."

A look of sheer terror spread across Caramel's face and Big Mac quickly retorted on his joke. "Ah mean... eventually... not now.

"...Why would you say something so mean?" 'Mel asked and began to look normal, the fear leaving as quickly as it came.

Big Mac shrugged awkwardly. "Ah don't know, sorry 'Mel."

They resumed their normal conversations as they watched the television and waited for the food to be made.

***

Luna followed Applejack into the kitchen and stood in the doorway, looking a bit awkward.

"Well come in then, don't be shy." Applejack chuckled and dragged Luna further into the kitchen. "You can get scrubbin' those plates, while ah put the oven on an' start makin' the food."

Luna nodded and attached the brush thing onto her left hoof. She wobbled on her back legs as she attempted to find a good balance.

"Why don't you just use yer wings?" Applejack asked as she watched her friend.

"Oh, um..." Luna blinked and smiled weakly. "Sure." she flapped her wings and rose a few feet of the ground, into the air. She reached over to the plates and began scrubbing them, cleaning every inch of dirt off.

"So..." Applejack murmured. "You an' mah big brother huh?"

Luna looked over at her and saw the huge grin on her face. "I, um... yes. I suppose." she giggled.

"Well ah'm happy for ya both. Ah have a feeling Twi liked him in that way too, but ah'm not sure, so don't go flouncin' yerself around her." she warned.

Luna nodded. So that's why she wanted to come around. Not for me. For him. It all makes sense now. "I won't." she continued scrubbing for a further few minutes and asked causally, "So uh... what's Caramel like?"

Applejack gave a hoot of laughter and turned to her. "Selly, ah didn't have you pegged as one for gossip."

"Oh it's hardly gossip is it?" Luna asked somewhat defensively. "I just wanted to know..." she looked around and made sure neither of the stallions were in the room. "How?"

"Whadda ya mean 'how'?" Applejack asked suspiciously.

"As in... how?" Luna whispered and glanced down momentarily.

There stood the dawn of realization on Applejack's face as she grinned like a crescent moon on her side. "Ohhh. That. You tellin' me you've never done it before?" she teased and nudged the pegasus, making her giggle slightly.

Luna regained her composure as she finished scrubbing and turned to the earth pony. "Well... no. Not per say, for a - time." She was about to say a few thousand years, then remembered Applejack still thought she was just Selene the poor but honest farmer/gardener.

Applejack whistled. "Girl, you got some patience with a figure like yours. Heck, ah wouldn't be surprised if you were in one of those Playmares that Big Mac has." she giggled.

Luna turned scarlet and turned away.

Applejack's jaw dropped. "You are?!" she said, almost shouting.

"Sort of. I'll explain later." Luna replied and avoided her accusing gaze. Much later.

Applejack chuckled lightly. "Well, take good care of him ya hear? If his heart got broken by anypony, me an' Applebloom would have to do something to the mare that broke him. Something... drastic." she said.

Luna shuddered as she thought of what that could mean. "I... I will, AJ. You have my word as a pr- pony friend!" she cried . She'd almost blown her cover again. The sooner she can tell everypony that she's Luna, the better.

Applejack raised an eyebrow questioningly and turned back to the stove. "Ahhh! It's burnin' up!" she cried and hopped around, trying to cool down the pie she'd made and slipped on some oven mitts that fit snugly over her hooves..

"When did you make that?" Luna asked and eyed the slightly burnt pie.

"Ah always had a celebratory pie in case Caramel finally made his move." she grinned cheekily.

Luna raised her eyebrows and laughed. "Is it alright?"

"Yes. Thankfully ah got it out in time and saved it." AJ sighed and waved the smoke away. "C'mon. Grab those candles an' lets get ready." she grinned.

"Candles?" Luna asked and tilted her head slightly.

"It's yer first date. Ah wanna show you how it's done, then me an' 'Mel'll get out yer way and leave you two alone." AJ grinned again and nudged her forwards.

Luna folded her wings and removed the scrub from her hoof and grabbed the candles in her mouth. Thankfully the wrappings were still on them so she didn't taste the wax.

The two girls trotted into the dining room and set everything up.

Luna frowned as she only saw two spaces. "Applejack? There's only two seats."

"Eeyup. Me an' caramel are gonna be in the living room, giving you two yer privacy." Applejack smiled.

"Well that's very thoughtful of you. Thank you." Luna smiled back and curtseyed.

Applejack waved a hoof and brought her hat over her eyes. "Aw shucks, Selly."

They walked into the living room and waved the boys over. "Nope. Not you 'Melly. We're gonna be eatin' in here. They're gonna be eatin' in there."

Caramel's eyes lit up as he sat back down, spreading himself over the sofa where Big Mac had been sitting. "Go get 'em bud." he said and winked to his friend.

Big Mac winked back and smiled at Luna, who led him to his spot and sat down in hers.

"And here's the pie." Applejack proclaimed, proudly as she brought the semi-burnt pie through and cut it into two pieces; one for her and 'Mel. One for Luna and Mac. "Ah'll leave you two alone." she grinned and closed the door to the living room.

Big Mac looked at Luna and smiled. He got up, as a gentlecolt should, and cut her a piece of the pie. "Anything else m'lady?" he asked.

She blushed, "No thank you, Sir Mac." she giggled in response as he bowed respectfully and trotted back to his seat opposite her. She noticed the unopened bottle of wine near her, so she decided to open it and pour herself a glass, then floated over to 'Sir Mac' and poured him a glass. "IS that enough, Sir knight?" she asked in a princess manner.

Mac bowed in his chair, "Eeyup, my princess." he chuckled.

She batted her eyelashes at him and sat back down in her own chair, where she lifted up the knife and fork elegantly and began to eat her pie. "Mmm. This is delicious, wouldn't you say so, Big Macintosh?"

"Eeyup." Mac replied, staring down at his food, wishing nothing more than to cut the chit-chat and just take her upstairs. "It sure is."

Luna put down her fork and gazed at him, giggling softly has she watched him try to be a gentlecolt. "Oh you poor dear." she murmured and got up to wipe a bit of pie away from his cheek. "I have an idea." she whispered to him.

"Oh?" he murmured, thinking more or less with his 'head' right now.

"Shh. We might disturb the two next door." she giggled and gestured to the door leading into the living room. "Plus... I'm not very hungry for food now."

"Oh." Big Mac grinned, all thought process running through his crotch before his brain.

She led him by the hoof up the stairs, swishing her tail in his face as she did so. She heard him breath it in and kiss it lightly, making her giggle again.

Big Mac took the lead and put a hoof around her and steered her towards his open door.

She allowed herself to be taken by him as they flopped onto the bed and kissed, she wrapping her tail around him. She pulled away momentarily and giggled as he still had his lips pursed for a minute. "We had better be quiet, else we'll disturb Applebloom and her friends." she whispered.

Mac sighed and closed the door by reaching out a hoof and kicking it shut. He groaned as he would have to get up and lock it too.

XXX

Luna giggled as he gently moved her aside and went to lock the door. She gave him a small pinch on the flank, making him lose his stride momentarily.

He turned back to her and bowed. "What does m'lady wish of her brave knight?" he asked, putting on a fancy accent that contrasted so much with his regular southern accent.

Luna silently beckoned him over and moved her tail aside. "Enter the dungeon and retrieve the prize, Sir Mac." she said with a sultry tone that just put Big Mac on the map.

He swaggered over to her and pressed his front hooves on either side of her head, then leaned down ans kissed her neck, making her moan slightly.

"Take my my knight in red armour." she whispered and braced herself. Over a thousand years since the last time anypony ever oooooh...

He slowly began to toy with her as he pressed his rock hard member against her most private of areas, gently grazing the surface and began slowly entering.

Luna moaned quite audibly as she stroked his mane and kissed his nuzzle. He grinned and pushed a little bit further in. She gasped as she felt the width of him. "By the moon, how..." she trailed off as he pulled out and showed her his vast member.

"They don't call me Big Mac for nothin'" he grinned and re assumed his vantage point.

"Wait." Luna gasped and rolled him off her and onto his back, so she was on top.

Mac looked up at her very confused, then grinned as he saw her plan.

She slowly worked her way down from his face, kissing his neck, his muscular torso and finally she reached her prize. Oh my word! That will split me in half! Especially in this form. she thought and licked her lips and began toying with him.

Mac gasped as she slipped her lips over his tip and worked her tongue around the end.

Luna pulled away, leaving a trail of saliva behind. She smiled as she began to run her tongue along it's length. This is my Hooverest...

She glanced up and saw Mac panting like a dog as he urged her to continue. Willing her to let her do what she wanted. So she did. She stroked the base of the shaft and cradled his testicles gently, taking great care with them; then she moved her mouth up to it's top and allowed more of it to enter her mouth. She smiled as Mac gave a long moan of pleasure.

"Would you like me to stop?" she giggled, mouth full of Mac.

"Don't you bucking dare." Mac moaned and pounded at the bed, commanding her to continue.

"Your wish is my command my knight." the princess chuckled and took the full shaft in her mouth. She swore she felt it reaching down her oesophagus.

She gagged involuntary and Mac looked up, a hurt look on his face.

"Mmmph ." Luna grunted and moved up and down on his shaft. OK let's not go that far again. she told herself and licked the top of it.

She finally stopped with a loud *plop* noise and smacked her lips together.

Now it was his turn. "Are you ready to be ravished m'lady?" he grinned as she hovered over him.

"Are you, my knight?" she grinned back and lowered herself, feeling the warm tip of him touch her lips. She moaned softly, then loudly as he slipped further and further into her.

She felt like she really was going to split in two when she finally felt the base of his groin against her. She slowly rocked backwards and forwards, letting him get accustomed to her.

Mac was stunned. He'd never experienced ecstasy like this before. Not from anypony, or anything. And he hung around with Caramel most of the time.

When Luna had decided he'd had enough of a massage of her walls, she moved up and down with powerful beats of her wings. This drove Mac crazy. She could feel him tensing and pulses through his stallionhood inside her.

Big Mac gave a long moan and gasped as he felt something stir inside him. He felt the warmth spreading through his groin and up into Luna.

Luna felt it too. A surging rush of him running through her. She decided to pull up a bit, lest he reach her vital organs and felt it deposit mainly in her desired area. As she lifted up, she decided to lick the moist tip of him, just for a taste.

"Sweet apples." she murmured and wiped some away with her tongue.

"Under a night sky." Mac added as he panted for air, as did she. Their last few moans surely woke the whole of Ponyville the way they were going at it.

Luna rolled off him finally, herself dripping wet, with moist droplets dripping onto the bed spread.

XXX

"My heroic stallion, claimed his prize from the dungeons of Nightmare Moon..." she whispered and kissed him again.

"Eeyup." Mac replied and kissed her back, eager to go at it again.

She smiled and stroked his mane, "Shhh. That nearly destroyed me, I need some time to recover." she chuckled.

"Alright." Mac sighed, disheartened but still held her close. He kissed the top of her head and felt her heavier breathing indicating she had fallen asleep. He wrapped his legs around her and breathed in her corporeal mane again. He sighed sadly and drifted off to sleep.

***

Blueblood was reading the letters of his fellow business colts over the back of Corellia. He always enjoyed his special time with her before she left for home again, even when much bigger things were on the horizon. All the letters sounded the same:

Blueblood

House Aurelius supports you whole heartedly.

Duke Aurelius III

And another:

House Thrace supports thee in thy plan.

Count Thrace VI

The most recent had piqued his interest the most though. "Corellia..." he purred her name and stopped bucking momentarily.

The mare sniffed underneath him and whimpered, "Does it please you m-m-master?"

"Yes, very much so, good girl, there's a good slave. I want you to read this aloud." he said and used his magic to hold it in front of her face, so she could clearly see it and he had both hooves free as he swayed her hips side to side and resumed bucking.

Corellia closed her eyes for a sceond, took a deep breath and read the letter:

Dear Prince Blueblood,

The courier delivering this message is a close friend of mine, he may not be a noble as you wished, but he is still a capable member of this family. he whole heartedly supports your decision and I place my utmost faith in him, as shady as he may appear.

I myself also wish to congratulate you on your plan, I assume other other houses joined as well - hating the royals as much as you or I, and will be joining you at your estate on the following Sunday: the tenth to be precise, I trust all arrangements will be made accordingly.

You will understand.

Sincerely, Lord Duke Admantium I

Corellia gasped as she red her father's name in her father's writing. "My f-father is coming here?" she mumbled and Blueblood promptly smacked the back of her neck for speaking out of term.

"Yes. he is. I trust you will make yourself scarce for the night?" Blueblood said to her coldly.

She nodded her head, terrified of her father more than Blueblood and his vile ways.

"Good girl." Blueblood said as he puled out of her and slapped her flank, just above the cutie mark. "Now get yourself cleaned up and go home." he commanded and turned to his desk again.

Corellia bowed and walked out the door with as much pride as she could muster. She lost it though after a few seconds of leaving the office with it's stains on the floor from past servants.

The butler sneered at her as she walked past. "Nothing but a cheap whore for the master." he wheezed.

"Stuff it, Twelve Trees." she growled at him on her way past, holding her bedraggled tail between her legs again.

Mr Twelve Trees tutted in disgust at her and strutted away, not bothering to get the door for her.

Corellia left the vile mansion and began her journey home, reeking of Blueblood's stench. On the way pas the gate she saw a group of thugs gathered around an obsidian coloured pony, demanding bits from him and roughing him up.

"Here! This fings got some money for us! Get 'im lads!" the largest pony, a great brute of a beast, at least the size of Celestia, commanded the other ponies around him.

"Now, now gentlecolts. I'm sure we can settle this peacefully." the obsidian pony chuckled and dodged a swipe from the thug on his left. "Tut, tut boys. Missed me." he taunted and danced around them, dodging their blows as easy as dodging flies.

"What're ya doing! Get. Him." the leader brute growled and made a swipe of his own. Unfortunately, his gigantic hooves were too much for the pony defending himself as he just barely managed to dodge it and immediately get smacked by another brute to his right.

"Ohh." he groaned and doubled over as they gathered around him and kicked him while he was down.

Corellia sat and watched from the street with a growing sense of dread and fear. She silently wished the beating would stop as she saw the pony on the floor look at her, his fire red mane draping over his blood stained face and busted up nose.

By some small miracle, the leader thug decided they'd had enough and removed his coin purse from him.

"That's mine..." the black pony mumbled through a mouth full of broken teeth.

The leader turned back to him and savagely stomped on his face for good measure.

Once they had left, Corellia rushed over to him and cradled his head in her forelegs. "Shhh. They're gone now." she whispered to him.

"Brandling." the obsidian pony, clearly a pony of great skill, murmured and collapsed in her legs.

Corellia looked around for help and saw a few shuffling past, having witnessed the fight and doing nothing. "Bunch of selfish buckheads is what they are." she grumbled and lifted Brandling onto her back and carried him to her small house, where she prayed to any god that would listen he would get better.

She just barely managed to get him inside before the rain started and the heavens opened.

She filled a bucket with warm water and dipped a sponge in it, squeezing it and letting the warm water cascade down her hoof and onto some of Brandling's wounds.

She took a few bandages that Gepetto had taught her how to use, (being a toymaker one's hooves would occasionally get splinters, big ones) and wrapped them around his middle and forehead, taking care not to graze his horn. She knew that an injured unicorn's horn was as sensitive as having your virginity taken from you. Something she remembered quite well:

The servants had watched her with scowling expressions as she made her way to the office of the master.

She knocked on the door nervously and he opened the door. Back then she had thought he was a gentlecolt, a kind pony. And very handsome, so when she got a special summons directly from im, she felt overjoyed he'd noticed her and made sure to look her best for him.

She shuddered as she remembered what came next.

What comes next.

Those words will haunt her for the rest of her life.

She shivered again and went to take another bath, and try and clean herself from Blueblood's stink. She gently scrubbed that area again, this time massaging it slightly. He's been rougher than usual and had split her a bit evidently, as she brought her hoof away and saw a bit of blood on the sponge.

She choked a sob and trotted back into the living room, where she sank into Gepetto's old chair and watched her guest with intrigue.

He stirred slightly and she hoped he would wake up at that time, hoping for some company other than the flames of the fire mocking her and taunting her.

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Celestia awoke to a frantic knocking at her door. She grumbled and threw off the covers and braced herself for whoever was at the door. Anypony except...

"Princess Celestia!" his stuck up voice called from behind the door. "I demand you let me go at once! I am the royal nephew of the princesses, damn you!"

"Blueblood." Celestia growled and opened the door to see two guards trying to wrangle him away from the door.

"Princess. This intruder was caught-" one of the guards began.

"I am not an intruder! I am the royal nephew of the princesses and I wish an audience with them. So release me, you vile ruffians." Blueblood demanded.

Celestia sighed and motioned for the guards to release him.

He nodded in approval and glared at the two. "Well?" he demanded from them.

"That will be all, good sirs." Celestia smiled at the guards. They bowed and trotted off. Celestia turned to her adopted nephew. "Why are you here, Blueblood?"

Blueblood stiffened as he controlled his temper. "Dear Celestia, is it too much to ask to come visit the pony who raised me and took care of me?" he smiled.

Celestia shuddered slightly at his smile, his teeth far too white to be normal. She nodded her head and motioned for him to take a seat. "Won't you join me for a spot of tea, dear nephew?" she said through gritted teeth.

Blueblood bowed. "Of course, dear auntie." he replied mockingly.

The princess scowled as he brushed past her rudely and she closed the door behind him.

"Truth be told, auntie, I've been hearing... rumours floating around Canterlot lately." Blueblood said quietly. he'd have to be careful not to drop any names while exchanging this conversation with the princess. He wouldn't want his, so far only, source of information to be strung up now would he?

Celestia began to feel cold. "What kind of rumours?" she asked without a trace of emotion.

"Rumours about Princess Luna." he said, covering his mouth to hide the smile which had been brought on by Celestia's pale expression.

"I'm sure i have no idea what you are talking about." Celestia said afer a few moments contemplating what he had said. Oh mother and father, what has been going on in Canterlot lately? she wondered.

Blueblood sniggered. "I'm sure you don't, however I feel it would be in the best interests of everypony if you would kindly help me clear a few rumours up. Give the common rabble something else to talk about perhaps?"

Celestia stiffened at her nephew's proposal. "Hrrrrm." she grumbled.

Blueblood raised a hoof in protest. "I can understand if you wish not to, surely your humble nephew is too little for your big dealings." he muttered and stood up.

Celestia rolled her eyes. "Wait, Blueblood." she said resignedly.

Blueblood grinned to himself as he turned back to her, wiping the smile off in a mask of pity. "Yes?"

"Have I ever told you the story of your mother?" the princess asked quietly and matched his gaze.

Now this is different. Blueblood thought. "No. Enlighten me."

"Well, I'm sure you've been wondering just how exactly you are myself and Luna's nephew, we having no other brothers or sisters and thus no other blood relatives." Celestia responded, pulling out a large tome from the bookshelf.

Blueblood's eyes widened slightly. "Go on." he whispered and sat back down in the chair.

Got him now. Celestia smirked and carried on telling him. "Well, your mother was nothing but a simple servant in the lower halls of the palace."

Blueblood stood up in protest. "My mother would surely not be such common trash-"

"Sit. Down. Blueblood." Celestia growled.

The prince sat down, feeling cold at her glare and tone in her voice.

"She was. Do not interrupt or I shan't tell you." she warned as he opened his mouth again.

He shut it immediately and listened with an eager look on his face.

"That's better. Now your mother was a servant, working in the kitchens, when one day, she showed up for work heavily pregnant after a few months holiday. I told her to go home immediately but she would have none of it. Eventually myself and Luna took her up to Luna's chambers for some relaxation. Little did we know she would go into labour that night." she shook her head, having the mind of a god, she had an immense memory and remembered every single thing in vivid detail.

Blueblood watched with a gnawing sense of guilt at plotting his aunties downfall. He shook his head. Too late to go back now. he told himself as Celestia continued.

"We rushed the doctors and nurses up to Luna's tower, where the poor mare was in heavy pains." Celestia winced. "The doctor told us that her baby was premature and would likely have a bad case of something. Thnakfully he didn't. You didn't." she told him and touched his shoulder gently.

Blueblood shivered and recoiled. "And what happened to my... mother?"

Celestia shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, the stress of a premature birth was too great for her and she passed away shortly after giving birth. So myself and my sister took it upon ourselves to raise you as we saw fit."

Blueblood stood up again. "I... I have to go now..." he mumbled and shuffled out the door.

Celestia watched him go with a sad look on her face, that changed immediately as soon as he closed the door on his way out. "Good. Maybe that will give you some humility, you ungrateful brat." she hissed and turned back to the tome she pulled out. A photo album of her and her sister. She smiled sadly as she saw how they had changed over the millennia they'd spent together, barring the recent thousand years of course.

"Oh I remember this one." she cried happily as she raised one of the photos up: a remarkable likeness between the two, except Luna had been darker and slightly smaller. Their mother had dressed them up in adorable costumes she had made, embarrassing the living daylights out of them.

She remembered the day this picture had been taken almost as if it was yesterday...

"But moooom." Luna groaned. "I hate this frilly stuff, 'Tia loves it, can't you just dress her up?"

"Hush little filly." their mother chuckled. "You look positively adorable."

"I know. That's why I hate it." Luna grumbled and pulled at the dress.

"Aw c'mon, Lulu. It looks lovely." Celestia laughed as she spun around in her white dress. "I feel like a princess."

"You are a princess, dear." their father chuckled and ruffled her mane. "Now come on, we've got lots of work to do, making the world habitable for ponies."

"Yes father." Luna and Celestia said together.

"Oh no not the camera." Luna hid behind her sister as her mother pulled out a large camera.

"Now, now Lulu, we want to put this in the photo album for all those happy memories you two will have. Say cheese." Mother grinned and began snapping away at them.

Luna turned a deep shade of red while Celestia flounced herself about and nudged her little sister. "Come on, baby sister, this is fun!" she laughed.

"Well I don't think so." Luna scowled.

Father frowned. "I think somepony needs... the treatment." he chuckled.

Luna backed up from them. "Oh no. Please no-"

Celestia pounced, tickling her sister in all her ticklish places. "Give up yet?" she demanded.

"Never!" Luna laughed as she gasped for air.

Mother and Father watched and laughed as their two fillies rolled about on the floor. His corporeal form wiping a tear away from his eye as he nudged his wife.

She looked back and wiped a few tears of her own away. "Girls? Come on, we're going to be late." she called to the two sisters.

Finally Celestia released her sister and helped her up. Luna's cheeks turning red from laughing so much. "I hate you you know that?" she giggled as Celestia used her wing to tickle her again one last time.

"I wuv you too wittle sister." Celestia grinned and nuzzled her baby sister.

Luna turned an even deeper shade of red as their mother snapped another photo of them being affectionate. "So adorable." she murmured and took Celestia's wing in her own.

Father extended his own and took Luna's.

The two sisters grasped each other's wings as all four of them walked across the landscape, Father occasionally making a mountain for their amusement...

Celestia realised she was crying when she finished remembering that happy time. She wiped the tears away from her eyes and turned back to her window. "Oh Luna... please come back." she murmured and threw herself on the balcony, draping herself over the banisters and watched the world go by.

***

Blueblood fought hard to keep his composure after leaving Celestia. She had sprung that whole situation on him completely out the blue, wounding his pride as he tried not to break down in tears in front of everypony as they parted for him. "Just a servant girl?" he whispered to himself as he reached the palace gates. "Impossible. My own mother would not have been such a common vermin." he hissed through gritted teeth, forgetting the guilt from before as he stormed home.

"Good day, master. I trust you got what you wished from the princess." the butler asked as he dusted off the prince's shoulders.

"Hardly. The dear princess sidetracked me." Blueblood muttered to him.

"Well, if it pleases sir, your wh- entertainment is already waiting for you." Twelve Trees chuckled.

Blueblood shot him a look of malice. "Thank you Twelve Trees, but I fear it shan't be necessary today. Tell her to go home before I change my mind."

Twelve Tree's jaw fell agape. "A-at once master." he turned to go and find Corellia.

"The master says you are to go when you wish." he sneered at her.

Corellia looked up miserably and her ears pricked up. "What do you mean?"

"I mean go home idiot girl. Unless you wish to enjoy his company some more." Twelve Trees said harshly to her.

Corellia nodded stiffly and picked up her things, making sure to take a small loaf of bread with her.

Twelve Tree's expression softened a bit as he watched her shuffle off. "Poor girl." he muttered and began dusting the room absent mindedly.

Corellia hurried home as quick as she dared, taking extra care not to disturb the master, lest he should change his mind and take her tonight. She smiled happily as she broke free of the dark house and hurried home, thinking only of her guest.

She burst open the door and lay shook her bag off. "I'm home!" she called out to the darkness.

"Finally. I'm starved." a friendly voice chuckled.

She skipped merrily into her living room and smiled at Brandling, his wounds healing nicely and enjoying a small cup of tea.

"By Celestia, you're home early." he smiled.

Corellia giggled, giddily and gleefully. "The master didn't wish for me today, so I get to come home early."

Brandling's eyes darkened. "What do you mean, 'wished for you'?"

Corellia sank her ears back under his gaze. "I um..." she trailed off and brought out the loaf of bread she'd taken.

Brandling walked over to her and put a wing around her, "Alright, OK. Tell me in your own time." he cooed. "Now, what's for dinner?" he asked and clapped his hooves together.

Corellia smiled warmly and took the bread into the kitchen.

Brandling watched her go with a guilty feeling and look on his face. Just what has that stuck up pig been doing to her? he thought. I'll have to ask him next time I get some info for him. He groaned as his concious gnawed at him again. It's good pay for somepony like me. Shut up. He told the voice inside his head that protested he stop betraying the princess. It's good, dishonest work, that' easy and not dangerous. He chuckled to the voice of reason.

"Dinner's out." Corellia's sweet voice called out from the kitchen.

Brandling cracked his neck, wincing at the sharp pain that followed. "Great idea." he muttered to himself and trotted into the kitchen. He took a big sniff of the air and smiled at the mare opposite him. "It smells wonderful, Corry."

"Glad you think so Brandy." she giggled and poured some dandelion wine for them.

Why are you doing this? You'll just break her heart. And by the looks of it, that would probably push her over the edge. the voice of reason told him quietly.

I know. So why can't I leave? he thought back, silencing the voice for a time.

***

After dinner, they settled down in their chairs as she asked him more questions about living as a soldier in the royal army.

"Well, I'm more of a special operative, my Captain, Shining Armour, would kill me if I told you any of our secret missions and stuff." Brandling grinned.

Corellia sat with her mouth slightly open, the wine from before taking it's toll on her as she felt her eyelids drooping. And he looked devilishly attractive.

"Plus, all that business with Luna disappearing-" he clamped a hoof over his mouth as she took in what he'd said.

"Princess Luna's disappeared?" she asked, barely managing to control the volume of her voice.

Brandling walked over to her and took her by the shoulders. "You can't tell anypony, I'll be court-martialed. Or worse." he told her sternly.

She gazed into his orange eyes with a growing sense of... something.

Before he realized what had happened, she kissed him.

Brandling stood there for a moment, letting her kiss him before she gave a breath of wine-filled air and passed out.

He shook his head and laid her down. "Well, now what?" he asked the empty room.

Go see Blueblood. the voice told him.

"Why? What will that achieve? Besides, I don't want to ago anywhere near that stuck up little brat." he replied bitterly.

Then stay. Stay and wait for her to wake up and break her heart.

"That's not fair. I might decided to stay here with her." Brandling said defensively as he stroked Corellia's mane.

Third option: give up everything for her.

"You're no help, If I stay here, without a job, Blueblood can carry on doing whatever he wants to her as he pays her. And if I leave the army, I'll probably have my mind wiped by Celestia for the knowledge it contains. And if I go see Blueblood... I may end up doing something I regret." he muttered and paced about the room.

Go see your 'friend'.

Brandling stopped pacing. "There's an idea. The duke's always been a good friend and I'm sure he could help with my predicament." he smiled to himself as he gently kissed Corellia on the cheek before setting off. Down towards the Admantium estate. Only knowing a small fragment of Corellia's past.

***

Twilight sat huddled on her chair, while Rarity cuddled a sleeping Fluttershy on their own chair.

"Darling, you've got to tell the princess before it's tool ate." Rarity told the purple unicorn.

"I know, but I just can't face her, I've been such an idiot lately. And my stupid jealousy will probably get in the way." Twilight replied bitterly.

Rarity shook her head and gently moved Fluttershy aside. She leaned in closer to Twilight. "You must. Don't let any feelings get in the way if she may never return to the throne again. Think of Celestia." she said comfortingly.

Twilight chuckled dryly. "She may not even want to go back, the way I saw those two going at it." little did she know they'd already consummated their love for one another.

"Well, it is your duty to both princesses to tell her the truth." Rarity pouted as Fluttershy yawned.

"Did I fall asleep, oh I'm so sorry Twilight, this chair was just so comfy..."

"You were sleeping on me." Rarity chuckled, making Twilight giggle as well.

Fluttershy's cheeks turned a rosy red. "Oh. That's why it smelt so nice."

"Hush. Twilight, think about what I said, I've got to get this tired dear home." Rarity blushed and nuzzled Fluttershy as the pegasus lifted herself off and floated towards the door.

Rarity turned to Twilight. "Just think about it. I don't want you to do anything you'd regret, but at least think of the princess."

Twilight nodded her stiff neck. "I will Rarity. Thanks for the pep talk." she smiled and waked her to the door.

"Come on, Fluttershy, let's get you home." the white unicorn told the pegasus, who was drifting off to sleep standing up.

Twilight turned back into her house after she waved her two friends goodbye and looked at the time. "Wow, only six thirty?" she asked and yawned. "I'd better get some sleep before I do anything today." she mumbled and teleported herself up to her bed, groaning at the sudden use of magic after so little sleep.

She laid back and closed her eyelids for a few seconds. Then she was fast asleep, Owlowicious nestled atop her headrest and watched her like a silent guardian.

***

Big Mac woke up at the first light of dawn. he withdrew his leg from around Luna, who stirred slightly as he moved, but didn't wake. He quietly slipped out the bed and was about to go downstairs when he heard a creak from in front of him.

"That you, Mac?" Caramel's voice floated out from the shadowed hall.

"Eeyup." Big Mac grinned into the darkness. "Come into the light, 'Mel."

Caramel shuffled forwards, holding an ice pack over his left eye.

Mac's face fell. "What happened?" he asked and covered his mouth to stifle a grin.

"We uh... *cough* we got a bit... feisty last night." he smiled sheepishly. "How'd yours go?"

Mac grinned and patted his friend on the back "I think I was just knighted." he chuckled.

Caramel frowned at him, his one good eye looked suspiciously at the red stallion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Remember when you said ah looked like ah'd just been kissed by Princess Luna yesterday?" Mac said smugly as they quietly crept downstairs, taking care not to wake the girls.

"Yeah?" Caramel asked as he sank into the sofa again.

"Eeyup." Mac grinned and laid back.

Caramel's jaw dropped and he dropped the ice pack. "Wha... how... but.... how?!" he stammered.

Big Mac shrugged. "Somethin' ta do with magic ah guess. Ah'm not complainin' though." he grinned again.

Caramel sat in stunned silence and slowly clapped his hooves together in a quiet round of applause. "Well done, Big Macintosh. You successfully banged a goddess. Lucky git." he chuckled.

Mac blushed and shoved his friend.

"Heh. So what's next for you two?" 'Mel asked.

"Ah'm not sure. Ah suppose ah've gotta get her to go back to Celestia an' get the whole not alicorn thing sorted out. Maybe ah'll go see Twilight today, ah'm sure she knows something' being the princess's student and all."

"Mmhmm." Caramel nodded thoughtfully.

They sat in silence for a while before Luna trotted downstairs followed by Applejack.

"Mornin' boys." Applejack grinned as she nestled down to Caramel and rested her head on his chest.

Luna did the same to Big Mac. "Hello." she whispered and kissed his cheek.

"Mornin'." Mac chuckled.

Caramel squirmed as Applejack tended his eye. "Sorry again, ah don't know what came over me."

"I do." Caramel grinned and AJ cuffed him over the head.

"Oh shut it." she said and kissed him on his black eye.

"Get a room." Big Mac laughed as Luna rested on his body, gently reaching up and stroking his mane.

"We did. It was awesome." Caramel laughed again and caught AJ's hoof. They wrestled for a bit as Luna and mac sat and laughed at them.

"How do they have so much energy?" Luna murmured and lifted her leg up as Caramel rolled under it.

"Beats me." Mac chuckled and held her close.

"Hmmph." Luna snorted and laughed, welcoming his warm breath on her neck.

"Listen, ah had an idea for today." Mac whispered to her.

"Oh?" Luna replied and looked up at him, batting her eyelashes.

"About yer ah... problem." he whispered.

Luna pulled away from him and sighed. "I know, I know. What's your idea then?"

"Ah'm gonna go see if Twilight knows anything. If she does ah'll ask her ta come an' see what we can do." Mac said.

Luna froze up and remembered what Applejack had said the night before: Ah have a feeling Twi liked him in that way too... "I..." she paused, not knowing what to say. Well, Twilight didn't know they'd spent the night together right? So she didn't know they were together now, right? "I think that's a great idea." she said finally.

You'll regret it later. a small voice told her.

She leaned up and kissed Mac on his chin, hearing a soft moaning from under the coffee table. She turned her astounded gaze towards it. "Are they..."

"Eeyup. Knock it off you two, Applebloom and her friends are comin'" Mac banged on the table, making the two love stricken ponies scurry out from underneath it.

"Applebloom! Ah was just..." Applejack looked around and only saw her brother and Luna curled up on the sofa. "Why you... sneaky evil. C'mon Caramel, let's go upstairs." she glared at Mac and dragged Caramel up the stairs by his tail.

Mac shrugged at his friend as if to say. "You'll thank me later."

When they had gone (with the accompaniment of bed springs), Luna turned to Big Mac and kissed him on the lips.

Mac sighed and pressed his own back. "Now ah should get goin'." he said when they broke off from one another.

Luna's heart deflated. "Oh... alright then." she murmured and hung her head.

Mac lifted her chin up and looked into her teal eyes. "Ah'll be back, don't you fret none."

She looked into his green, kind eyes and felt herself wanting him again. "Go, then. Hurry back." she whispered in a heavenly voice that made his hairs stand on end.

He pulled the door too, wishing he could just take her and go somewhere, but he knew that if he did, the fate of Equestria would be in peril. Probably.

Mac set off at a steady pace, through Ponyville and up to the library. He stood on the doorstep and knocked three times.

***

*Knock*

"Twilight? Ah need to talk to you about somethin'." Big Macintosh's voice called out.

Twilight felt her eyes flutter open and she yawned. She looked at the time and gasped. "Twelve thirty? Oh I overslept."

"Twilight Sparkle?" Big Mac's voice called again, making her spring out of bed. What's he doing here? she panicked and brushed her mane furiously.

Another knock.

"Just a second!" she called down, hoping he heard her.

She finished brushing her mane and fled down the stairs, gathering herself before opening the door with a smile. "Oh, Big Mac. What a pleasant surprise."

"Howdy, Twilight. Listen, ah need to talk to y'all about somethin' important." he said and glanced over his shoulder suspiciously.

"Actually I needed to talk to you too." Twilight said and ushered him in.

They sat down on the chairs that had been occupied by herself, Rarity and Fluttershy a few hours ago.

Mac took a deep breath as Twilight watched him like Rainbow Dash watched Soarin'.

"Selene's not who she seems." he finally said.

Twilight already knew this f course, but decided to play along with him. "Oh really? How so?" she asked, putting on a puzzled expression.

"She's um... Princess Luna in disguise."

"Worked that out by yourself did you?" Twilight said, and winced at the harshness of her tone, but thankfully didn't notice.

Mac nodded. "Eeyup. Problem is, she doesn't know a way of turning back to normal. An' she doesn't know how long she'll stay like that."

Twilight sighed and put her tea down. "I know, Big Mac. Celestia told me a few days ago."

Mac's jaw opened slightly as he worked on what to say next.

Twilight quickly put a hoof over his mouth and shushed him. "I also saw you two yesterday." she said quietly and looked into his eyes.

Mac's green emeralds widened in small horror. "D-d-did y-y-you n-now?" he stammered.

Twilight nodded silently, longing for her lips on his.

"And um... you didn't tell anypony did you?" he asked and gulped nervously as Twilight's front hoof grazed his leg.

"Just Rarity and Fluttershy." she whispered and leaned in. Then reeled herself back and shook her head. "I... I'm sorry B-big Mac, I d-don't know what came over me just then." she stammered and turned away from him.

Realization spread all over Mac's face like butter on toast. "You... like me?" he asked.

Twilight nodded her head stiffly and sniffed.

Mac sat back in surprise. Two mares in two days? Geez Macintosh, slow down. his fathers voice told him in his head. He reached out and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Ah'm sorry Twilight, but ah'm-"

She cut him off as she planted her lips on his.

"In love... with... Luna..." he whispered and finished the sentence. Immediately wondering if what he just said was a lie.

"Sorry. Sorry, I'm so sorry." Twilight murmured over and over again and retreated far away from him, to the other side of the library tree house.

Big Mac sat for a few moments in stunned silence. He eventually got up and walked over to the small, weeping unicorn in the corner. "Hey... c'mere." he said kindly and sat down next to her.

She cringed as he put his forelegs around her and hugged her. "Listen, ah like you Twilight, but ah also like Luna. So we can't be together as long as ah'm with her." he told her.

Twilight sniffed and hugged him back. "I understand. I'm happy for you both, really." she murmured and just lay there for a while, listening to his heartbeat.

After a few minutes of silent rocking backwards and forwards, Mac released her and stood up. "SO, back to what ah came her fer in the first place." he smiled and helped her up.

Twilight sniffed again and tilter head slightly. "Why were you here in the first place?"

"Ah came to see if there was anythin' you knew about the disguise spell."

"Oh yeah. Oh yeah!" she cried and rushed past a bewildered Big Mac. She came back, holding a couple of letters above her head with her magic. "Celestia wrote these letters, they basically say that 'Selene' is a wanted pony now. But, I managed to convince the princess not to send any soldiers down here to arrest her."

Mac's face went deathly pale. "Why would she say Luna's wanted?" he whispered with a voice filled with fear.

Twilight shrugged aplogetically. "I think she's just worrying about her sister. Heck, I know Shining Armour would go down into Tartarus for me if i disappeared one day, and you and Applejack would go anywhere for Applebloom wouldn't you?"

Mac nodded. "Yes. Ah suppose ah would. Dis the princess say anything else?"

"Yes. If Luna isn't changed back to her regular form by the next full moon, she'll be stuck like a pegasus forever." Twilight sighed and hung her head. "I know I should've come sooner, but I kept getting... distracted." she blushed.

Mac blushed too and touched her shoulder. "It's alright. Ah know how you feel." he murmured, then coughed, trying to cover up what he said.

Twilight's ears pricked up at that. She looked at him questioningly but didn't say anything.

"Ah should get back to her now. Thanks fer yer help, Twilight." he smiled.

She smiled back and they shared an awkward moment of silence. Big mac nodded and walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Twilight sighed and crawled back to her bed. Her first kiss with the stallion of her dreams had happened alright, she just didn't know if she should be happy about it or not.

***

Gotta choose one, son. Macintosh Sr told his son as he walked the road back to Sweet Apple Acres.

"Ah know, ah know." Macintosh Jr mumbled to the voice in his head.

Ah'm just sayin' before somethin' bad happens. Ah hope you understand what yer gettin' into. Ah'll leave now. Goodbye.

Mac sighed as his father said goodbye a second time and felt a tear trickle down his face.

As he arrived back at the farm he felt incredibly cold, as if somepony had just walked over his grave.

He pushed the door open and trotted into the living room, where Luna had fallen asleep on the sofa. He smiled and stroked her long, thick mane. Wondering if he would still lover her as much when she was back to normal.

"Of course ah would." he told himself, but something doubted him. Something purple. With a pink stripe. He shook his head as he leaned down and kissed Luna.

Her eyelids fluttered open and widened when she saw her crimson stallion. "Hello." she smiled as he kissed her again.

"Hey. I found somethin' out from Twilight." he said.

Luna sat up, eager to hear what she'd said.

Mac took a deep breath. "She said that Celestia visited her, making you a wanted pony. Thankfully, Twi managed to convince her not to come down here and arrest you." he paused for a breath and let his words sink in.

Luna's eyes swelled with tears at this news. "She w-wants me... arrested? For running away?" she whispered and felt faint.

Mac quickly put a hoof behind her and stopped her from falling over, "There's more." he said calmly, hating seeing her like this.

"More?" Luna whispered and huddled into him.

He nodded and carried on. "Twilight also said that Celestia said that if you don't get changed back to normal by the next full moon, you'll stay like this forever."

Luna gasped. That wasn't part of the plan. Her plan was to simply spend a few days as a pegasus, away from the worries of royal life. Now she was going to be stuck like this forever? She began hyperventilating as Mac brought a bag for her, fearing she was going to be sick.

She was a bit.

Mac winced as he heard her wretch and patted her on he back. "You alright?" he asked when she had finished.

Luna nodded and stood up shakily. "I need to go back." she whispered and gazed into his eyes, the moved for the door.

Mac started, fearing he'd lose her forever if she went back. He moved in between her and the door and blocked her path. She stared at him worriedly. "Big Mac?" she murmured and went to move past him. "I have to go back."

"No." Mac murmured, fear gripping his heart. "Ah don't know if ah'll lose you or not if you go back."

Luna stroked his face with a silky hoof. "I have to, my love." she whispered and kissed him.

Suddenly, a light shone in Big Mac's head. "Here's an idea!" he cried happily and kissed her back. "How about we have a going away party? So you can say goodbye to your friends. And me. Properly."

Luna saw how much this meant to him and hung her head resignedly. "Alright. For you." she whispered again and planted her face on his, tongues and all.

From the top of the stairs, Caramel sat and watched the two below. He smiled softly and trotted back to Applejack's room, where she was sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes.

"They still at it downstairs?"

Caramel nodded as he climbed into the bed and put a hoof on her soft belly..

Applejack giggled softly as he tickled her. "What's that fer?"

Caramel gazed into her emerald green eyes with a look that said everything.

She gasped and tried to pull away form him gently. "You're really thinkin' about... us?"

"Yes. is that so bad?" Caramel murmured and kissed her neck.

"Well... no... ah just never pegged you as the type for... that." AJ confessed and kissed him back.

Caramel sighed. "Nopony does. That's why all my relationships have failed lately." he murmured sadly. "But when I'm with you..." he let the sentence hang in the air.

"Shhh." Applejack murmured and held him close.

They held each other in their forelegs for a while and gazed out her window at the sunrise. Contemplating baby names. Arguing. Laughing.

***

Blueblood sighed at the bickering nobles gathered around his conference table.

"I say we should strike when Celestia is least expecting it!" the Count Thrace VI shouted over the clatter of noise from the other houses.

"And let her think we are plotting! Nay! I say we attack immediately!" Duke Aurelius III shouted back.

"Without a plan of attack? Oh genius idea your grace." shouted the Duke Carim II.

"You dare mock me?" Aurelius demanded.

"I don't dare. I do!" Carim replied with a smirk as one of Aurelius soldiers leapt across the table at him, one of his own leaping to his lord's defence.

"Gentlecolts please." Count Obscurus said and raised his hooves. "If we are so drawn by fighting each other, can we not focus on the fake-princess?"

"I agree with the count. Down with Celestia! Up with the houses!" Thrace bellowed and stomped his hooves.

Blueblood tapped his own hoof impatiently. The only one I care about arriving isn't here yet, and I have to suffer these fools on my own until he does. He was of course, waiting for the Lord Duke Admantium I. He held the most sway in Canterlot besides the prince of course. If he agreed to Blueblood's plan, the other houses would fall into place.

A loud thumping sound could be heard in the hall outside the door.

Mr Twelve Trees opened the door and cleared his throat. "Lord Duke Admantium, The First." he called out and the other house leaders stood up respectfully.

Blueblood rose out of his seat and went to shake the Lord Duke by his hoof. "I am humbled by your presence sir." he said through gritted teeth. This old pony may have been the most powerful and influential in the underground market and organized crime around Canterlot, but here he was as common as his daughter. Speaking of which. Shouldn't she be here by now with food and drink? then he remembered: he'd sent her home early. Stupid. Now I'll have to find another way to entertain myself tonight.

He guided the wheezing old pony to his seat as the other nobles watched in awed silence.

"What are you all staring at?" Admantium growled.

The nobles hurriedly shifted their gazes from him to Blueblood.

"Happy with their full attention, he drew out his plans for the castle. "I have studied it time and time again, so I shall lead the inside assault, while you." he pointed to Duke Carim. "You lead the attack on the outside. Counts Thrace and Obscurus, your soldiers will assist Carim's. Duke Aurelius, your pegasi legions shall descend from the sky as the attack starts."

Aurelius nodded in approval, flexing his own wings.

Blueblood turned to the Lord Duke. "Sir, with your permission, I request that you gather the forces of the shadows under the houses banner."

Admantium nodded and swallowed. A large scar on his neck pulsed as he did so. "My finest friend and associate informs me that you plan for one of us to claim the throne when we are through." he asked, his voice like gravel.

Blueblood smile and leaned back, not caring how one of the Lord Duke's forces knows of his intentions. "That is true. I have no desire for the throne, merely to see Celestia bow at my feet." he dared not tell them of his plans involving Discord. They might not even work after all.

The other nobles murmured amongst themselves in surprise. "But, Prince Blueblood, surely only you would be suited for the throne?" Count Thrace asked.

Blueblood chuckled. "I'm selfish, careless, and reckless. I would make a terrible king. I leave it to one of your honourable souls to claim power when the princesses fall." he smirked.

The other nobles all looked rather flattered and pleased with his decision. Excellent. Appeal to their greedy nature, then swipe the rug from under their feet when they least expect it. "Now go forth and gather your soldiers, we attack in three days."

"We are ready for your word, good prince." Aurelius bowed respectfully and left the room, Thrace, Obscurus and Carim following behind him.

Admantium stayed behind. "My associate also tells me you have word of my... daughter." he growled, his soldiers behind him raised their weapons and surrounded their lord.

Blueblood froze and turned around. "Who?"

"My daughter. Corellia. Where is she?" Admantium growled and rose out his chair.

Blueblood took a step back. "I can assure you, I have no idea what you are talking about." he sputtered nervously as the soldiers moved towards him, one of them a big brute of a pony, easily Celestia's size.

"Boss, you want me to rough 'im up a bit?" the brute grunted in a thick Trottingham accent.

Admantium patted him on the side, "That won't be necessary, the prince obviously is telling the truth. I take my leave of you, Prince Blueblood." he smiled a crooked, yellow smile and left the room.

Blueblood sat and listened to his fast heartbeat as he watched the old pony walk away. He started breathing again after realizing he was holding it in.

He shook himself calm and turned to the map and began studying it some more. "Soon." he muttered quietly.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

A day before Brandling met Corellia

Lord Duke Admantium paced about in his office as Brandling sat and told him of Blueblood's letter.

"And that stuck up pig wants my help?" Admantium growled.

"Yeah. He thinks having you will put him on the map." Brandling chuckled and poured another glass of his namesake: brandy.

Admantium stopped pacing and eyed Brandling. "And where's the letter?"

"Right here boss." Brandling said and flicked a letter towards the old unicorn. He knew that screwing with this pony meant bad news for everypony involved.

Admantium scanned his eyes over the letter and grunted. "Take a latter, Brandling."

Brandling put down his drink and grabbed the quill and sat, waiting for his boss to dictate.

"Dear Prince Blueblood..." he began and Brandling matched his pace for speaking with that of writing, the quill furiously scribbling along to the duke's words. "Signed: Lord Duke Admantium I."

"Done." Brandling said and punctuated the ending line with a sharp stab of the quill.

"Excellent. Now I can begin my search for my daughter again." the duke murmured sadly.

Brandling got up and placed a hoof on his old friend's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm sure she's fine."

"Last time I saw her, I..." he trailed off, deciding not to tell this pony who he considered a second son, what exactly he had done. "I shouted at her and her mother, making her run off. Then an assassin came for me, even as my wife cowered on the floor from my anger, she still leapt to take the knife for me. I held her in my forelegs as she slowly bled to death, giving a terrible scream as the knife reached her vital organs." he said and felt tears forming in his eyes. "Then Corellia ran away, probably abducted by some sick buck with too much free time on his hooves." he growled. "If anything's happened to my Corellia..."

"Wait a minute." Brandling murmured.

The duke turned to him. "Yes?"

"I thought you hated the 'prince'." the obsidian pony asked and tilted his head.

Admantium chuckled. "Oh I do. I despise him more than anything."

"So why help him?"

"I'm not. I want to see him fail. Which he will. Celestia will never surrender the throne to anypony. I don't know why this crazy devil thinks he stands a chance against her." the old duke chuckled and broke into a coughing fit.

Brandling walked over to his friend and patted him on the back again. "Easy, old timer." he chuckled.

Admantium waved him away and chuckled back. "Don't you 'old timer' me, sonny." he growled and shook his hoof in a mocking way. "I'll still go ten rounds with ya."

"Sure, boss. Whatever you say." Brandling laughed.

The duke's face took on a serious edge to it. "Brandling, I've known you for some years now, and you've been like a son to me. I'd be honoured if you would accept the position of my heir."

Brandling stopped laughing and looked at the old pony in front of him. "You're kidding. You're kidding right?"

Admantium shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I have contemplated this idea for a while now. And I feel you are the only one I trust to fulfil my wishes the way I want them fulfilled. Will you be my heir?"

Brandling blinked at his proposition. "Um... I guess. Although, shouldn't Corellia be your heir?"

Admantium coughed again. "She is most likely dead by now. Or as far away from me as possible. I was a monster to her and her poor mother, rest her soul, and I suspect she wishes to have no more to do with me." he said sadly.

"...Then I'll find her for you." Brandling said as he thought about this.

Admantium looked up surprised. "You'd really do that? Even if she wants to kill me - which I could completely understand."

Brandling nodded. "Of course. I know what it's like to lose family." he muttered.

The duke smiled approvingly. "Alright then. If you wish, look for my daughter, then she take care of her." he told the obsidian pony.

Brandling nodded again. "I will. Until my last breath."

"Good. Now deliver that message. Make sure he doesn't see you. I've got some 'business' to take care of, capiche?"

Brandling nodded a third time and trotted out the door, leaving the crime-boss to his own dealings.

The Lord Duke clapped his hooves together and turned to the hulking pony behind him. "Follow him, Pepé. Make sure she finds him. You may have to rough him up a bit." he added darkly.

Pepé nodded and dragged himself out the door. "Alright lads, follow Brandling. Stay close." he warned the group of thugs as he went outside.

"He, heh. Sure boss." the nearest thug chuckled.

***

The day after Brandling met Corellia

"Your damn goons nearly beat the living crap outta me." Brandling said angrily as he faced the duke again after their last encounter.

"It worked didn't it? My daughter found you, yes?"

Brandling hesitated. "Yes." he whispered.

"And? How is she?"

"I think Blueblood's doing something to her." Brandling muttered and averted his eyes from the duke's wrath.

"What?!" Admantium hissed and grabbed Brandling by the throat, wrapping his magic around the pegasus's neck and hoisted him up into the air for a few moments.. "I'll murder than son of a whore." he growled and released Brandling.

"Well, don't try and kill me while you're at it." Brandling grumbled and rubbed his throat where the magic had grabbed him. "Anyways. She seems fine, just badly shaken at whatever Blueblood does with her every night."

"Every night?" Admantium asked, his eyes full of fear for his estranged daughter.

"It seems so yes, although he let her go early today. She didn't say why."

Admantium fell silent for a few moments. "It must be to do with his mad plan." he murmured.

"So you're actually going then are you?"

"I'll take Pepé with me."

"Hmmph." Brandling snorted. "That brute can barely count to five, let alone is suitable for an important political meeting."

"He's a good bodyguard. And trusting the other nobles, I'm sure I'll need one." Admantium replied, wearily of Brandling's jealousy of the larger pony.

"Hey, I'm a great bodyguard, I was in the army for five years.. I've been in wars you know." Brandling grunted.

This made the duke chuckle. "You've only ever been on scouting missions, never any actual wars."

Brandling scowled "It could've been a war." he muttered.

"Nevertheless. I'm grateful you found my daughter. Now keep her safe - and far away from Blueblood as possible during this whole debacle." Admantium smiled and touched Brandling's shoulder. "And your comrades dropped by before, knowing you spend time with me. They're looking for you. The white unicorn seemed a bit ticked off."

Brandling felt his face fill with dread. "Oh no. Did the cap'n say anything?"

"No, no. He just looked like thunder is all." Admantium grinned.

Brandling groaned. "I have been missing a few training sessions lately. I hope he hasn't heard of my betrayal to Celestia."

The duke's eyes narrowed. "So it was you who told him about Luna's disappearance." he said quietly.

Brandling hung his head ashamedly. "Yes. I got drunk and he had money. If I could turn back time, I'd go and stop myself from drowning myself in all that drink." he lied. Truth is he'd just been feeling greedy that day and wanted some money, for which he could then get drunk.

Admantium sighed. "Alright. Now I must go and attend this infernal meeting of Blueblood's." he said. "Go back to Corellia. Keep her safe."

Brandling saluted and nodded his head once. "I will. Have fun."

"Yeah, yeah." the duke chuckled.

Brandling trotted out and back to Corellia's small home where he had woken up after Pepé and his thugs had beaten him up and left him in the gutter for her to find. Such was the life of a crime-boss's 'guy'.

***

He trotted back to her home and smiled as she opened the door. His smile faltered however as he told her about his meeting with the duke.

"You... help... that monster? Both of them?" she murmured and backed away from him, fear and anger rising in her voice.

"Now, Corry. Please listen-" he started.

She threw a glass at him. "Get out!" she yelled, tears overtaking her as she threw him out. "And never come back, as long as you assist that monster, you are dead to me!" she bawled and slammed the door on him.

Brandling winced as he pleaded wit her, trying to get her to see reason. Eventually he gave up and turned back to the palace barracks, where the remainder of his squad was waiting for him.

Shining glared at him as he smiled sheepish and joined their ranks. "And where have you been?" he growled.

Brandling shrugged. "Oh... around."

Shining grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. "Explain why you've missed training three times this week. Now."

Fizzer nudged his captain as Brandling's face turned purple. "Captain, let him go - else he'll choke."

Shining grunted and released him. He was still upset about Twilight reacting the way she did. More at him for being less blunt than her.

"Sorry, cap'n. I had some stuff that's really important to take care of. I think it's over now." Brandling murmured miserably.

Shining sighed and touched his shoulder. "You're a good soldier, Brand. It's just it makes us look bad when one of us is off doing something else. I didn't mean to snap at you."

Brandling waved his hoof. "It's fine. Seriously. Can we just drop it already?" he grumbled and turned to his bowl of soldier gruel.

Jax nudged the captain and nodded to Brandling as he brooded over his food.

Shining nodded and the two other ponies made a space for them. "What's up, Brand?"

Brandling mumbled something.

"Sorry, didn't catch that." Shining smiled, trying to be friendly, yet a sense of dread was overcoming him.

Brandling looked up, his eyes red and bloodshot. "I've betrayed Celestia." he muttered.

Shining stood up and motioned for Fizzer and Jax to clear the other ponies in the room to leave. He turned back to the obsidian solider. "Care to elaborate?" he asked cautiously.

"Alright, I've been thinking. I did something stupid and told some ponies Luna had disappeared." Brandling said, staring at the captain level headedly. He held up a hoof as Shining Armour opened his mouth. "I did it for money, captain." he muttered bitterly. "And a fat lot of good that's done me."

"That wasn't as bad as you made it sound though." Jax said quietly.

"Yeah, well. I may have told Blueblood. Who now plans to dethrone Celestia. He's gathering a few of the other nobles and prepares for an attack." Brandling whimpered and awaited his captain's harsh words and court-martial.

Nothing came.

Shining stood up and murmured something to Jax. Then he turned to Fizzer and murmured something else.

Brandling glanced up at the three above him. Shining looked down and smiled.

"It's good you told us, Brand." Shining said and tapped his shoulder. "Now come and explain to the princess." he turned to leave and trotted off in the direction of the stairs.

Brandling looked stunned.

Jax and Fizzer had to forcefully move him off the bench and follow Shining he was so stunned.

"Alright, I'm going." he murmured and shook them off, coming to his senses and cantered after the captain.

***

Celestia was furious at the pony who had betrayed her trust. She had bellowed at both Brandling and Shining Armour for about five minuets now after they came to see her.

"Why has he not been arrested yet, captain?" she growled at Shining, who looked just as terrified as Brandling by this point.

"I um... he warned us of the attack by Blueblood, ma'am. Surely he doesn't deserve to be punished yet?" Shining asked hopefully. He had been expecting less of a verbal assault by the princess than this.

"Why in Equestria would you presume that?" Celestia glared at the two ponies cowering before her. Her stress had risen as the media had bombarded her with questions about Luna's sudden disappearance. Now she finds it was one of the ponies she specifically told not to tell anypony, other than Twilight, who had been spreading the rumours around!

"Well, he's a friend and-"

"Silence!" Celestia bellowed.

Shining shook on the spot with visible fear. Brandling was no better. In fact he was far worse, due to her wrath being directed at him.

"Enough. Shining Armour. Arrest that pony immediately. No excuses. He will be trialled after Blueblood's attack. Actually, on second thought." she paused and glared down at Brandling, somewhat admiring his courage for not fleeing when he had the chance. "Who else is involved in the attack Brandling?"

Brandling swallowed nervously and glanced at Shining, who nodded urgently. "Well. I know that Counts Thrace and Obscurus are involved. And Dukes Carim and Aurelius. Oh yeah, and Lord Duke Admantium. Except he-"

Celestia raised a hoof and widened her eyes. "Admantium is against me?" she hissed.

"No, no. He wants to see Blueblood fail and humiliated. I'm not sure why, he claims to have no qualms with you, your highness." Brandling stammered and grovelled again.

Celestia gave a sigh of relief. That's the last thing I need right now: a whole damn army of criminals and organized crime breathing down my neck. I wonder what the good duke has against my treasonous nephew... she thought and shook her head. "I congratulate you for showing true bravery when lesser ponies would have simply fled. Commendable, but you still must face trial." she said and smiled a bit at Brandling.

Brandling looked up and saw her smile. He straightened up and bowed again. "I understand, your majesty. " he turned to his captain. "Take me to the dungeons then cap'n." he smiled sadly, feeling he was not long for this world anymore.

Shining glanced up at Celestia, who nodded and turned to go. He looked back at Brand, the pony whom he'd been friend with for years. The pony who'd single-hoofededly prevented a griffon invasion using only his wits and keen eye. And now the traitor to the throne and himself. "Come on then." the captain sighed and placed a hoof on Brand's shoulder, guiding him out the door and down to the dungeons.

Celestia glanced over her shoulder and smiled at their bravery again. Brandling for coming to her and revealing his traitourous ways, and Shining for arresting his friend without question. Perhaps that's a bad thing though, sister? Luna's voice whispered.

I know. Are you coming home yet? Celestia thought back, hoping for the voice to be real. Of course it wasn't and gave no response.

The princess of the sun dragged herself up to her room again and waited for Blueblood to strike. If Admantium hates him as much as I, then I have no fears about his ridiculous plan. The other nobles however, will need severe punishment. Perhaps shipping to the edges of the griffon colonies will teach them a few manners and discipline. she chuckled and collapsed onto the bed, picking up the photo album again and flicking through some old photos: one of Luna's eleventh birthday party. One of Celestia creating her first lifeforms, (a small group of insect creatures who thrived on pollen from flowers. More commonly known as bees). This one made Celestia laugh out loud: for it was a picture of her and her sister together, overlooking the world their father had created, their mother by their side, smiling at them.

She missed them both so much and wondered how they could have helped ponies in the world had they still been around. She avoided the word 'alive' for she knew gods do not simply die. Eventually her and her sister's time would come, and their own children would take over perhaps. But, for now, she worried about finding Luna again.

As if an oven light came on inside her head, Celestia picked up the quill on her bedside and began writing a letter to Twilight, detailing her Blueblood's plan and urging her to warn 'Selene' to come home immediately.

She flared the letter up in a green flame and sent it shooting off towards Ponyville.

"Mother guide you, Luna." she murmured and rested her head on the pillow, drifting off to sleep almost instantly.

***

Twilight shook her head in disbelief as she felt something hit her on the shoulder. She glanced around and saw nothing, expecting the recent lack of sleep to be getting to her. Then she looked down and, in the shadow of the dim light, saw the letter with Celestia's royal seal on it. She unfurled it immediately and began to read:

Twilight,

A problem has arisen in Canterlot. I know you are aware of where Luna is and respect your decision to not inform me - I have not been myself recently and cmpletely understand. In fact, I commend your honour and sense of duty to your friends. But now Luna absolutely *must** come home, it is a matter of utmost urgency.*

- Celestia

Twilight blinked in confusion. "Utmost urgency?" she murmured as she re-read the letter, wondering more and more about the informality of the letter. "She must be in danger. I'd better take this to Luna immediately." she made for the door, then stopped. "But she's still with Big Mac." she groaned, feeling sick at seeing him again.

She wondered if he'd told her they kissed. The lavender unicorn whinnied with a mixture of anxiety and an urgency of royal levels. Literally.

After a few moments of worrying and arguing mentally with herself, Twilight finally pushed herself out the library and galloped to Sweet Apple Acres. Only half way did she remember that it was three in the morning. "Maybe a bit too early." she giggled nervously and trotted back home, hoping nopony saw her.

As she reached the door she heard the flapping of heavy wings beating down behind her.

"Twilight Sparkle." a voice called through the night.

Twilight froze. Oh Celestia, what's she doing here? she panicked.

Luna's hoof touched her shoulder and turned her around. "Twilight? Can you not even look at me?"

Twilight's knees wobbled as she looked into the princess's eyes. "I... I..." she stammered, stuck for words.

"I have a... 'proposition' for you." Luna smiled, a tad sadly. "But we should go inside for it." she gestured to the door of the library.

"Oh, of course, p-princess." Twilight murmured, finding her voice again and opening the door, letting the princess in first, then closing and locking it behind her.

"Lovely home. Filled with such knowledge." Luna murmured as she gazed at all the books.

Twilight blushed, "Would you like some tea?"

Luna nodded. "Yes please." she smiled weakly at the unicorn, who trotted off and poured two cups of tea.

"So..." Twilight said, conversationally. "What did you want to speak with me about?"

Luna took a deep breath and rubbed where her horn should be. "I have decided to go back to Canterlot. I feel, seen as how I am immortal, it would not be fair on Big Mac. To see him whither and die while I remain prime and young." she murmured sadly.

Twilight's jaw opened and closed rhythmically

Luna paused and waited to see if Twilight would say anything. She didn't. "So... I would like you to take care of him."

"Princess... are you asking me to... date him?" Twilight whispered.

Luna nodded. "And more. Love him, Twilight Sparkle. Grow old together. Have children. Live a life of love and happiness." she said and embraced Twilight like a sister.

Twilight didn't know what to say. "I... I'm speechless, princess." she murmured as she hugged Luna back.

"You don't need to say anything. Just promise me you will look after him." Luna said and looked into Twilight's eyes, tears brimming her own.

"Of course I will princess. But I thought you two were-" Twilight started. She felt warm tears running down her cheeks. Was this really happening? she wondered.

"Exactly. We were." Luna said and wiped her muzzle. She sniffed and straightened her neck.

"But what does Big Mac think of this?"

"It was his idea. Sort of." Luna replied and smiled softly.

Twilight gasped. "But... but..." she stammered.

Luna hung her head and the smile faded. "We have been talking for a few hours now, trying to find a solution to this problem. This... 'curse' of immortality." she whispered bitterly and looked away. "Eventually we decided that he and you should be together, regardless of my feelings." she smiled and turned back to Twilight. "You are my sister's best student and closest friend. Even if she doesn't show it, she still loves you like another baby sister and I would be honoured to call you as such." she nuzzled the stunned unicorn affectionately.

Twilight fell silent for lack of words again. She sniffed and listened to what the princess had to say.

"Twilight Sparkle." Luna stood up, and flexed her wings. "Will you do as I have asked?"

Twilight also stood up and bowed. "I would be honoured princess."

"Good. I expect an invitation to the wedding." Luna giggled and made poor Twilight blush furiously.

"Of course, Luna." Twilight giggled in response.

They laughed and talked a bit, Luna giving her a few 'pointers' in private areas. She looked up when she felt the first rays of warmth on her cheek from the golden sun. "Now I must go back to my sister and become who I am again. Goodbye Twilight Sparkle. See you in a while." she smiled sweetly and took off towards the train station.

Twilight waved her goodbye, then turned back inside the house and tended her now cold cup of tea. It finally dawned on her what had just happened and she let out a loud laugh and danced happily around for a few minutes.

Owlowicious shook his head at the crazy mare that had disturbed him, and went back to sleep.

***

A few hours earlier

Big Mac gently stroked Luna's mane. She stirred slightly and opened one eye. "Can't sleep?" she asked him when she saw the large black rings under his eyes.

Mac shook his head and leaned down and kissed her. "Ah've been thinking." he murmured as he pulled away and gazed out the window in the direction of Canterlot.

"A dangerous past time." Luna giggled.

Mac scowled jokingly and withdrew his forelegs, allowing her to sit up next to him. "About us."

Luna's ears drooped and she sighed. "I knew this was coming. What do you propose?"

Mac took a deep breath and twitched his ears. "While ah was at Twilight's... we um... kissed." he said quietly.

Luna sighed. "I thought so. You're a terrible liar, Big Macintosh." she said.

Big Mac's eyes darted up and into hers. "You... know?" he whispered and attempted to draw away from her.

She hushed him and pulled him towards her. "Yes."

Mac gulped as he watched him. "Well um... ah kind of have feelings... for her..." he murmured and cringed, awaiting the blows.

Luna sighed again. "Then you should be with her." she said sadly.

"No, no. Ah want to be with you." Mac protested.

"Shhh. You deserve somepony better than me, Big Macintosh. Somepony your own age, who will grow old with you. Unlike me who will watch as you whither and die, feeling my own heart being broken." Luna whispered and kissed him again.

"Ah..." Mac stammered. "Ah don't want to lose you."

"You never will. I'll always hold you in my heart, my love." she whispered and pressed her nose against his. "So it's agreed then: you and Twilight Sparkle shall be together, while I return to my royal duties at Canterlot."

Mac pressed his lip onto hers and silenced her. "Don't be so formal." he scolded her jokingly.

Luna smiled and kissed him back. "Sorry. Anyway, I say you should settle down with her."

Big Mac turned a deeper shade of red. "Well, um... that's interestin'." he murmured.

Luna chuckled at his embarrassment. "I'll go and speak to her, you appearing and claiming the two of you should be wed might push her over the edge, the poor dear."

Mac nodded stiffly and wiped a few tears from his eyes. "Alright."

They looked into each other's eyes and threw themselves at one another. Their tongues intertwined in one last night together, before the princess returned.

Mac picked her up and gently dropped her on the sofa, kissing her neck lovingly.

Luna could feel herself getting ready for their final act of intimacy and gladly welcomed it. Who knows now long the next time love would play a part in her life would be? she thought as he took her, rocking backwards and forwards.

When they had finished, Luna straightened her mane and slipped out the door, leaving mac resting on the sofa with a large grin on his face.

"Goodbye, Big Macintosh." she whispered as she closed the door and left the farm behind her.

She sped off towards Ponyville and to Twilight's library where she saw the unicorn trotting back to her home.

"Twilight Sparkle." she called as she landed behind her.

She noticed that the unicorn had frozen. She gently touched her shoulder and turned her around, her eyes bearing into Twilight's as she avoided her gaze. "Twilight? Can you not even look at me?"

Twilight's gaze shifted from around Luna to Luna. "I... I..." she mumbled.

"I have a... 'proposition' for you." Luna said quietly and gestured to the door, "But we should go inside first." We'll most likely need seats for what we are about to discuss. she thought worriedly.

Twilight hurried to the door and opened it wide, letting the princess in first.

Luna nodded her head respectively and began to explain her and Mac's idea.

***

As Luna took off towards the train station, tears took her mid-flight. She expected this, after leaving her friends and her recent life behind to rejoin her sister's side. What she didn't expect, however, was the small army gathered at the train station.

"There she is!" one of the guards shouted and pointed to Luna. "There's the fugitive! Arrest her!"

Luna flapped down and stood before the pony who'd called out to her as the other guards surrounded her. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, her voice resonating in the small stations space.

The guard cleared his throat and took out a scroll. "By order of her majesty, Princess Celestia - Co-Ruler of Equestria and Benefactor Of All Ponies-"

"Yes, yes, I know my sister's title. Why are you here guardspony?" Luna demanded, fear rising in her voice.

The guard looked at her stunned. "S-sister?" he stammered.

Luna rolled her eyes. "I'll explain on the way to Canterlot. I am returning after my long absence."

The guard motioned for the ponies surrounding her to step back. "Alright, princess. Start explaining." he growled and gestured to the golden chariot next to him.

She nodded and climbed in.

"Hyah!" the guard cried as he climbed in after her to the two pegasi chariot runners. The contingent of guard took formation alongside the chariot as it sped towards the capital.

***

As they arrived outside the palace doors, Luna gracefully floated out the chariot and strode up to the large door, kicking it open with a forceful push of her front hooves, making the guards cower in fear.

She stormed up to Celestia's room, putting on a face of fake anger, secretly relieved to be home after so long. The night princess banged on the door as loudly as possible. The door swung open and a face popped out.

And there she was: the picture of grumpiness. "What is it?" Celestia growled at the small pegasus below her.

Luna looked up at her. "Don't you recognize me, sister?" she smiled.

Celestia's face softened as she picked up Luna and hugged her. "Oh, Lulu! I've missed you so much!" she cried, tears flowing down her cheeks.

Luna struggled for air under her big sister's crushing hug. She tapped her sister's shoulder and the big princess dropepd her, then ushered her inside.

Inside the sleeping chambers, Celestia scolded her sister. "You had me worried sick!"

"I know. I'm sorry-"

"Sorry? Oh sorry makes everything better!" Celestia shouted.

Luna felt her knees buckle. "Listen-"

"No! You listen! Thanks to you I've had little to no sleep these past few days!" Celestia raged. "Do you have any idea how stressful raising the moon, while it's current owner still isn't banished, is? As well as the sun?!"

"'Tia, please stop." Luna whimpered.

Celestia noticed her sister's fear and hugged her again, her wings enclosing around the pegasus before her. "Sorry. I've missed you so much. Let's never fight like that again." she said and smiled.

"Agreed." Luna said, flustered.

"Now. First thing's first. Let's get you back to your original, alicorn self before you stay like that forever." Celestia said and brought a wing around Luna.

The alicorn guided her to a large bookshelf. "This one should do it." she murmured and pulled out a large book. "'Counter Spells For Dummies'." she said proudly.

Luna rolled her eyes. "Really?"

Celestia scowled, then laughed. "Hey, it's been useful before. Now hold still." she told her sister and began reading the spells off, one by one. "'Reversal Petrification Spell', no... 'Reverse Purple Boil Spell', no... aha! Here it is: 'Returning One's Little Sister Into Her Rightful self'." she chuckled.

"Does it really say that?" Luna asked and tried to look at the book, but Celestia moved it away and up to the top of the shelf.

"Ah, ah. Here." Celestia grinned and cast the spell on her little sister, bringing up to her full height and wincing at her screams of pain as her horn grew back and her wings elongated.

There was a flash of light and Celestia shielded her eyes. When she uncovered them, there sat a small huddle of dark blue and starry mane. She smiled and gingerly walked forwards. "Lulu?" she murmured, her smile faltering with each stride.

Luna sat up and shook her head. "Am I normal?" she whispered and glanced around her body. Indeed she was the Princess Luna she knew. She smiled sadly.

"What's wrong, Luna?" Celestia asked as her smile grew back and she nuzzled her sister.

"Oh, I'll tell you later- ahh!" she cried and doubled over, clutching her belly.

"Luna!" Celestia screamed and rushed to her sister's aid. "What is it?"

"I... don't know..." Luna whispered as another stroke of blinding pain took her again.

Celestia's horn lit up and enveloped Luna, carrying her out the room and down to the palace infirmary. "Make way!" she bellowed at the small crowd of ponies that swarmed around the infirmary. "Make way!"

All ponies in the room parted and pressed themselves as far up against the walls as possible as Celestia, carrying Luna, stormed through them.

She placed her sister on a bed and stepped back, glaring at the doctor. "What has happened to my sister?" she growled at him.

"I um...." the doctor gulped and placed a stethoscope on her chest. "I'm not sure, but it seems that she is-"

"Princess Celestia!" Shining Armour called out.

Celestia shifted her gaze from her unconcious sister and turned ot Shining. She gasped when she saw him. "Where have you been captain?"

Shining was covered, head to hoof, in sewage like substances. "No time to explain. Blueblood is attacking!"

Celestia froze. "I thought your friend said three days?" she said slowly.

"He did, but Blueblood had gotten wind that you know of his plans and moves against you now!" Shining said to the princess.

Celestia sighed and heaved herself away from her sister and stormed out the palace, onto the balcony. Sure enough, down below, was a small army of ponies, pushing against the gates of the palace.

She growled and swooped down, signalling several pegasi to join her. "Gather the guards, Shining Armour." she commanded him as she hovered in the air for a few moments. "Do not let them in the palace." she warned him, then dived into the fray.

Shining saluted and galloped off to the barracks.

The doctors and nurses around Princess Luna exchanged worried glances and began fussing over her.

***

Blueblood sneered as his informant told him Brandling had revealed his plans. "I knew he was a good for nothing criminal." he growled. "Inform the nobles: we attack today."

The servant bowed and scurried away, fearing to incur his master's wrath any further.

Blueblood turned back to his previous engagement. "Now, where were we?" he grinned and stroked her feathers again. A different servant girl to Corellia. A griffon this time. This was new. "What is your name, my dear?" he whispered in her ear, smiling at her moans of pleassure as he kissed her.

"Your slave, my lord." she moaned.

He recoiled from her as if struck by some invisible blow. "Excuse me?"

"I am yours to do with as you please, my master." she grinned and pressed her rear against him, swishing her lion-like tail against him.

Blueblood smiled and regained his composure. "Finally, somepony who understands something." he gently began nibbling her back and in between her wings.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and there stood Pepé, with Mr Twelve Trees at his side, grinning like a mad pony. "You're dead meat, boy." the hulking brute growled at the prince.

Seeing her opportunity, the griffon next to him swiped viciously at his leg, slicing it open with one of her sharp talons. "That's for Corellia, you sick buck." she growled and spat on his face as he rolled on the floor, clutching his leg. "And all females everywhere, be they griffon or pony."

"What? But... I..." he stammered as Twelve Trees walked over to him.

"Lord Duke Admantium The First sends his regards." he grinned and savagely struck Blueblood across the face, knocking him out cold.

The three ponies dragged his unconscious body to the location their boss had told them.

Oh they were going to have fun in the next few hours.

***

The servant pony relayed the message to Counts Thrace and Obscurus, informing them of the change in plans.

The two counts' hurried to their work, going to and fro, busying themselves with readying their armies. Dukes Aurelius and Carim readied their own solider and, forgoing the prince's plan, attacked the palace head on.

A few of Carim's soldiers had stolen into the sewers, intending to come up out the dungeons. What they didn't count on, however, was an angry guard captain and three of his best soldiers at his side.

"What?" Shining muttered when he heard a noise coming from the sewer grate in the middle of the floor.

Brandling looked out miserably from his cell at the shaking grate.

Fizzer and Jax exchanged glances and readied their weapons.

A group of several ponies, clad in the regalia of House Carim and wielding savage looking weapons burst forth from the sewer grate.

The three un caged ponies back away from them while Brandling watched with mild amusement. He quietly hung back and waited for the closest one to him to come just a bit further closer.

He struck, grabbing the pony by his neck and twisting it, grimacing at the loud crack.

The other invaders glanced around at their fallen comrade.

Shining whistled and he, Jax, and Fizzer leapt forwards, engaging the enemy with their own weapons. Shining lit up his horn and disabled the magical lock around Brandling's cell door.

Brandling nodded and picked up one of the invader's sword, driving it through another of the invaders.

The two groups clashed with the dreary light of the dungeons, steel on steel. The loyalists' golden armour glinting when the light hit it.

Soon, the traitors fled, and Shining jumped after them, down the sewer hole, cutting down a few with his sword made of dark pink magic.

Jax and Fizzer charged after them, while Shining crawled back up and looked at Brandling.

"I'll go with them. Go warn Celestia." he told his captain and dove after his friends.

Shining grinned at his friends bravery, both bouts of it today, and galloped up the stairs and towards Celestia's chambers, where he hard her voice bellowing on the way to the infirmary. Oh no, what's happened? he thought with dread. He charged in the direction of her voice.

"Princess Celestia!" he cried when he saw the back of her head and her royal form huddled over something on the bed.

She turned to him and gasped when she saw the sewage on him. "Where have you been captain?" she asked, perplexed at his appearance.

Shining glanced around him and noticed he was indeed covered in some gooey substance from the small time he was in the sewers. How in Equestria did this much grime get on me? he wondered then shook his head. "No time to explain. Blueblood is attacking!"

***

One hour prior to the attack

Lord Duke Admantium stood before a ramshackle little house in the slums of Canterlot, where Brandling had given him the directions for. "I hope I'm wrong about this." he murmured and knocked on the door gently.

It creaked open, and there stood a young mare, who'd clearly been crying. "Can I help you?" she sniffed at him.

"Is this the address of one: Miss Corellia?" he asked cautiously.

She straightened her neck. "It might be. Why?" she eyed him suspiciously.

"My colleagues and I are investigating prince Blueblood, for reasons to his behaviour around certain mares. Would you mind if I asked a series of questions?" he asked calmly and smiled, hoping his feeling was wrong and the prince hadn't been doing what he thought to his daughter.

Corellia began trembling uncontrollably and started to hyperventilate.

"There, there, my dear. If you have any information, I would advise you to elaborate." the duke murmured gently.

Corellia nodded. "Alright, please, come in." she opened the door wide enough for him to enter. "What's your name, sir?" she asked as she led him to the two chairs in front of the fire place.

"Professor Arcanium, of her majesty's official noble investigation segment." Admantium lied. It felt refreshing to get out and do his own dirty work for a change. Plus he wouldn't have dared ask Pepé to come see her.

"Oh. That's an impressive title." Corellia smiled softly.

He noticed the shards of broken glass on the floor, "May I ask, what happened here?" he asked.

"Oh... a friend. We had a bit of a disagreement and I'd had a bit too much to drink." she murmured sadly. "Oh, Brandling... I'm sorry."

The duke's ears pricked up at his friends mention. "Brandling eh?"

Corellia blushed. "Yes. That was his name."

"I know a Brandling. I'll have to talk to him and convince him to come back." Admantium smiled again, worrying what they had been arguing about. Probably you, you old goat. his inner voice told him.

"First thing's first though, my dear. Tell me about Blueblood, in your own time, of course." he said and flipped out a notebook.

Corellia shuddered and began to tell him about all his... 'activities'. Before and after she started working for him.

The duke's rage boiled inside him. i knew he was sick, but so many mares? He will be punished. He stood up slowly. "Thank you for all the information, miss. Now I shall take my leave of you. Long days and pleasant nights to you, ma'am." he nodded and bowed respectively. I'll have to send her some money to get out this awful place. Maybe to Seaddle or Fillydelphia.

Corellia nodded and showed him out. She turned back to her chair and sank lower, faintly recognizing that smell. She bolted up when she finally remembered where she'd seen his grizzled face before.

The young mare bolted to the door and flung it open, "Father?" she called out to the dark. No response. She slowly went back inside and wept. "Why had he come? How did he know about Blueblood? Unless..." she trailed off. "Brandling." she breathed. "Perhaps he was telling the truth after all, and my father has changed." she murmured and curled up by the fire.

***

The duke's rage had reached a boiling point. He stormed through his house and up to his office, where Pepé, Twelve Trees and Lady Grayfeather were waiting for him.

"So glad you could join us, Lady." he bowed respectively to the griffon.

Grayfeather nodded in approval. "I've heard of this foul brute called Blueblood. My current assistant's sister worked for him. She hung herself shortly after accepting the job. Now we know why." she growled.

"Indeed. Twelve Trees, take Pepé and wait for the word from Lady Grayfeather." The duke commanded.

Twelve Trees bowed. "Of course sir."

Pepé grunted in acknowledgement.

"Good. Once you have him, knock him out and take him to this address." he scribbled down an address of an old warehouse on the edges of the city. "Have him strung up like the pig he is, but do nothing until i arrive. Understand?" he warned them all.

Grayfeather raised a claw. "And how, do you propose, that I infiltrate his estate?"

Admantium chuckled. "Yourself of course. We know he likes females. That's why I brought you, my dear."

Grayfeather ruffled her feathers. "This is outrageous. I like it." she grinned at the duke.

"Excellent." the duke clapped his hooves and sat down in his large chair. "Now go, make sure he believes you are willing to bend to his every wish. Then bend his every wish." he grinned manically.

Grayfeather giggled when she realized what he meant. "At once, my lord." she said with a sultry tone.

Pepé chuckled like a goon. "Hurr hurr. Good one boss."

Twelve Trees tutted in disapproval. "So crude. Yet so deliciously fitting."

"Now go, perform the foul deed I have planned for you. Remember: no funny business until I get there." he waved a hoof at them as they bowed and left.

After they left, the duke began his work to defeat the other noble's armies, surely they had gotten wind of good Brandling's betrayal to them and moved against Celestia early. "Ahhh Brandling, you old fool." he sighed and sat back in his chair. "I told you to look after my daughter, not start a petty argument about me." he sighed and began filling out release papers for his friend. "I'm sure Celestia will understand." he wheezed.

Chapter Nine

Warning: This chapter contains explicit gore and torture scenes. Skip to 'Snuff' twice if you wish to not view it.

Chapter Nine

Blueblood opened on eye and looked around the room. The very upside down room.

"Where am I?" he asked, his voice dry and throaty.

"Oh, he's awake." a voice chuckled. "Hello, Blueblood. I wonder if your blood really is blue." an upside down griffon floated in front of him and prodded him, making him spin on whatever contraption he was being held up by.

"Boss said not to do anyfing wif 'im." Pepé grunted.

Grayfeather chuckled. "Oh lighten up, big boy. This isn't 'anyfing wif 'im'." she said simply, mocking the hulking pony's accent.

"Release me at once, you vile ruffians. I am Prince Blueblood, royal nephew of the princesses Celestia and Luna-" Blueblood began, sweat dripping down his face and onto the cold floor below.

"And you're a bag full of lies." Twelve Trees said and strode up to him. "A rapist and a selfish, arrogant brat of a child. Just wait until the lord duke arrives."

Blueblood's eyes widened when he saw the table behind his former butler: hacksaws, large spikes, sickles, wickedly sharp looking serrated knives, and a manner of other horrible implements to be sued on him.

"What are you going to do to me?" he whispered and felt a small bit of urine trickle down his torso. Being held upside down, one had a tendency to wee on oneself after all.

Grayfeather and Pepé roared with laughter when the trail of urine hit his face and made him sputter. "Oh wook at dat. The wittle baby pwince has gone numbuh one on himself!" Grayfeather cackled.

"Want me to change his diaper?" Pepé laughed.

"Ugh." Twelve Trees tutted and turned away from the prince.

The laughter died down as they tormented Blueblood further. "When's the boss gonna get here?" Pepé asked.

"He'll get here when he does. Glad thing too. The stink of piss is irritating my nose." Grayfeather said and pinched her beak.

Blueblood wept quietly as he waited for his punishment.

The two more energetic members of the party huddled around him, teasing and taunting him unrelentingly.

Twelve Trees sighed and counted the seconds until the lord duke walked in and they could continue their foul business.

***

Celestia landed in front of the army at her gates and glared at them. They all halted immediately. "Surrender now, lest you all face the gallows for your insolence." she calmly told them.

Those in the front line scrambled to climb over the backs of their comrades and away from the white alicorn.

Those behind pushed forwards, towards the furious princess. What they didn't see, was the army gathering around them. The army that vastly out numbered them, made up of Admantium's soldiers and members of the Royal Army.

The princess smiled contentedly as a griffon bearing he lord duke's banner. He bowed respectively and cleared his throat. "Your majesty, Lord Duke Admantium I sends his deepest apologies for preventing this absurd attack on yourself. He wishes that an audience will be held afterwards with yourself and or princess Luna as well." the message bringer finished.

Celestia nodded her head in approval. "It is most agreeable that the lord duke visits once this whole debacle is done with, for now, however, tell him to have his soldiers round up those responsible for this 'uprising' and have them brought to the dungeons."

The griffon bowed a final time and flapped off, squawking commands at a group of large, thuggish looking pegasi.

Celestia turned to the crowd, who had been renewed with fervour and started pushing against the golden clad guards of the palace again, crying out to her "Down with Celestia! Up with Carim!" or "Up with the count, down with the princess!"

She sighed and turned to leave, then something struck her left shoulder. She slowly turned around and stared at the unicorn who had flung something at her. She brought a hoof up and touched where it had impacted. Her eyes widened as she saw a bit of blood.

Several guards surrounded the unicorn immediately and pinned him to the ground, barking commands at him as he pleaded and said it was an accident.

Celestia stumbled as the wounds pain suddenly came for her. "You." she said to the crying unicorn. "Name."

The unicorn sniffed. "Leo."

Celestia nodded and stumbled towards him, cupping his face in her left hoof. "Why would you strike your princess?" she said, the calmness in her voice silencing the routed army as Admantium's forces began driving them towards the barracks and dungeons.

"B-b-because the nobles-" Leo started.

He never finished. With one quick stroke, Celestia brought him closer to her and stared into his eyes. "You will immediately go home, pack your things, and leave Canterlot." she told him.

"Yes, yes, your highness." he whimpered and she released him. "Thank you kind majesty, thank you so much for not having me executed."

The princess watched young Leo scamper back to the crowd as she reached up and touched her wound again. She winced in surprise at so much blood from such a little wound. She's forgotten the sight of her own blood and it made her queasy. Scared, even.

"Princess? Would you like assistance?" Shining Armour asked and extended a hoof for her.

She took it gratefully and hobbled back to the palace, where she sat down on her throne.

"I'll go get a doctor." Shining told her, his voice faint and slurred.

"Mmhmm." Celestia mumbled as her vision became hazy the longer she looked at her blood. She felt herself slipping into a slumber the longer she looked at it and shook her head, clearing the hazy thoughts away and started counting sheep.

"One, two, three, four..." she murmured to herself.

***

Shining hurried back to the infirmary where Luna was sitting up and looking around, dazed and confused. "Greetings princess." he said as he bowed to her.

"Greetings guard captain Shining Armour." she bowed back and rubbed her horn, wincing at the tenderness of the skin around it. "Where is my sister?" she asked and blinked at Shining.

"Ahh." Shining murmured and turned to the doctor. "The princess has been... problem." he murmured and glanced at Luna.

She tilted her head questioningly. So did the doctor. "Problem?" the doctor asked.

"She was... hit... by something." Shining said, being very careful with his words as Luna watched him. "And... she's... bleeding."

"How badly?" the doctor asked, feeling full of dread and worry.

"Only a minor wound on her shoulder, but still bleeding."

Both Shining and the doctor jumped when Luna laughed. "Oh that's all?"

Shining nodded.

Luna laughed again. "Hah. My sister has a fear of blood, you know. What were the symptoms she was experiencing?"

Shining Armour gave a sigh of relief. "She stumbled for a bit after looking at her own blood. She requested a doctor be sent immediately though."

"I'll go." the doctor said and he turned to the nurse. "Nurse Joy? Stay here with the princess while I tend to the other princess."

"Yes doctor." Nurse Joy replied and smiled at Luna. "Now you just sit and rest, princess. You'll need to lie down for a while."

Shining smiled at the princess. "Good to see you back, Princess Celestia hasn't been herself lately."

"I heard." Luna replied as she placed a hoof on her silky belly. "Shining Armour, how is our niece, Princess Cadence?"

Shining smiled warmly, "Oh, she's wonderful, princess. The triplets kept us both up at first, but now they've settled down and we've gotten ourselves in a routine: whenever I can I'll take over watching them and let her rest, and when I'm at work, she takes them to her cousin who lives right here in Canterlot."

Luna allowed a small smile to creep across her face. "I'm glad you are both happy." she said quietly. Her smile faltered, however, when she remembered Big Mac was staying in Ponyville with Twilight Sparkle. She sniffed and fel a tear run down her cheek.

Shining noticed it too and held a tissue for her. "Blow, your highness."

Luna did as he said and blew her nose on the tissue. She muttered thanks to him and turned away. Pain spread across her face as something happened in her belly, like the same pain that had come before.

Thank Mother and Father for the captain's keen eye. she thought as he called the nurse over and she injected Luna with a small sedative.

The night princess lay her head down and let the sedative get to work.

Shining Armour, being a gentlecolt and happily married, brought the covers over her and let her sleep. He trotted through to the throne room and saw Celestia looking rather sheepish as the doctor bandaged her wound.

"Greetings Shining Armour, how is my sister?" she asked and winced as the doctor wiped some blood on a tissue right in front of her.

"She's sleeping now, your highness. It seems the rebelling nobles' forces have fully retreated. Those that haven't surrendered anyway."

She waved a hoof. "I don't care about them right now. Ow." she grumbled as the doctor poked her with the needle.

"Sorry, princess." he mumbled and began stitching up her wound.

She glared at him then turned back to Shining, who was biting his lip from trying not to laugh. "I'm worried about Luna. Did the doctors say anything about her?"

Shining shook his head. "No, your highness. Just that she needs a sedative every now and then for pains ricocheting up and down her body."

Celestia frowned. "Hmmm."

Shining coughed nervously. "Uhh... your highness?"

"Yes?" she looked up at him, scratching at the bandage around her shoulder.

"About Brandling..."

Celestia sighed. "He did betray my orders, captain. I will personally oversee him be given a free trial. He will most likely escape with nothing more than an official discharge from the army." she smiled.

"Thank you princess." Shining bowed and let out a sigh of relief. "With your permission, ma'am?"

Celestia nodded, smiling at the captains insistence for formalities.

"Well, myself and my two other friends, Fizzer and Jax, would like to testify with him."

Celestia raised her eyebrows. "You are aware of course, that if he fails the trial, you and your comrades will be discharged as well?"

Shining nodded his head stiffly. "Yes. I am aware of this. As are they."

"Then I will allow it. Although i highly doubt you will need to." she grinned at him.

"Princess?" Shining tilted his head slightly.

"If you and your friends are willing to risk their way of life just for one pony, then I see he is loved by his friends as much as Twilight is by hers."

Shining broke into a big grin. "Yes. I suppose he is. Thank you again, princess." he bowed and turned to leave, trotting down to the dungeons.

Celestia smiled as she watched him go.

"Princess Celestia." a wheezing voice said.

her smile increased as she saw the Lord Duke Admantium before her, bowing one one knobbly knee. "Hello, Admantium. How are you?"

He grinned a rather toothy grin for one as old as he. "Oh, could be better. Sorry I didn't prevent the stupid noble uprising." he said, really and truly sorry he couldn't stop them all. But at least we got Blueblood. he thought and increased the smile a bit.

Celestia waved a hoof. "It's quite alright, good duke. But tell me, why go through all this trouble merely to see my nephew's ego wounded as my shoulder?"

Admantium's smile faded as he told her of Blueblood's exploits. "And his most recent game... my daughter." he growled.

Celestia gasped. "I'm... so sorry... if I had known... I had him in my hooves just a few days earlier. If only... oh I'm terribly sorry." she murmured.

Admantium waved a hoof. "It's alright, none of us knew, your majesty." he said bitterly.

"Yes, well. I'll have the police search for him immediately and have him sent to the most punishing of prisons: 'The Glue Factory'." she shuddered as she said the name of that awful place. It was only where the absolute worst ponies went, ones who were beyond any hope of redemption, like that murder many, many years ago: 'Ripper'. He'd refused to give his real name, so the police had started calling him Ripper on account of his method of murder. I'll leave the details out.

Admantium raised his eyebrows, surprised that she would send her own nephew to the Glue Factory of all places. "That won't be necessary, princess. My men have already searched his house and found he fled to the griffon colonies up north. If he has indeed done so, it will be impossible to find him."

Celestia grunted in acknowledgement. "The best we can do then, is send a message to the griffon colonists and warn them of his... behaviour."

"I'll take care of it personally, princess." Admantium bowed and left, a large, sadistic grin on his face as he did so.

***

Blueblood hung upside down and eyed the sharp things on the table by Twelve Trees.

"Knock, knock." a voice growled and a sudden ray of light poured in from the warehouse door. "Sorry I'm late." the Lord Duke Admantium chuckled as he strode up to Blueblood. "Pissed himself has he?"

"Yep." Grayfeather chuckled with glee, eager to get her talons into him.

"What happened to his leg?" Admantium asked and pointed to his bandaged leg.

"Miss Grayfeather got a bit carried away when we acquired him." Twelve Trees chuckled.

"Tsk, tsk, Lady." Admantium waved a hoof at Grayfeather. "Now you won't get to take part. None of you will." he smiled around at Pepé and Twelve Trees. "Move. Make sure we're not interrupted." he growled at them.

Grayfeather ruffled her feathers in indignation, having to withstand the stench of both the pig and his piss for hours on end, only to be cast out like a common rat.

Once Pepé had drought the door shut and slammed it for good measure, the duke looked up at the prince.

Snuff

"Now. About my daughter." the duke growled.

"I swear I had nothing to do with her! She came to me, begging for it! Please, please don't hurt me." Blueblood pleaded.

Admantium toyed with the smallest of the knives, twisting it around on his hoof and throwing it at Blueblood, embedding itself in the wood next to him.

Blueblood's heart raced. "P-p-please..." he whispered.

"OK, for that. Your tongues going first, then I won't have to listen to you moan all day." the duke snapped and used his magic to bring Blueblood down to eye level.

Blueblood's eyes watered in the duke's grip.

He watched as Admantium slowly brought the knife closer and closer to him.

Then the duke laughed and pulled away.

"You really think I'm going to cut out your tongue first?" he laughed manically. "No. I want to hear you suffer." he growled menacingly and took the knife to Blueblood's mane instead.

Blueblood watched with fear filled eyes as he saw his beloved mane fall away from his face, a small river of urine trickling down his body now.

"Oh for Celestia's sake, prince. Get a grip on yourself." Admantium snapped again, then roared with laughter as he cut Blueblood's tail off and waved it in his face. "So... how old was my daughter when you met her?" he asked and began sharpening an unknown instrument as he moved from Blueblood's vision, his words dripping with contempt.

Blueblood mumbled something.

"I didn't catch that sorry." the duke chuckled as he stuck a small pin in Blueblood's torso.

The prince screamed. "Seventeen!"

"Only seventeen? So that's..." the duke did some quick math. "eighteen years you've had her in your employ?"

Blueblood nodded and whimpered.

"So that's eighteen body parts you owe me. We'd better get started then." the duke clapped his hooves together and revealed a large crowbar. "This is Derek. Derek's an old friend of mine. I'd like the two of you to get acquainted." he cackled wildly and struck Blueblood across the face with it.

The prince went sprawling as Admantium chased him around the floor, beating him with 'Derek'.

"Tell me, Blueblood. Do you like the front swing?"

*Smack*

"Or the back swing?"

*Smack*

"Before?"

*Smack*

"Or after?"

*Smack*

"Hmm?" the duke asked the bloodied pulp that was Blueblood.

Blueblood whispered something.

Admantium grabbed his ear and hoisted him up. "Come again?"

"I said. You're a sick pony, Admantium. You'll be caught for this. They'll string you up and hang you like the dog you are!" he spat in the duke's face defiantly.

Admantium wiped the spit away from his cheek and smacked the prince again. "That's no way to treat the host of the party. Now stand up."

Blueblood moved his legs and tried to stand up.

Admantium beat him with the crowbar, smiling as he saw the bone of Blueblood's left leg break the skin. "Oh, that's lovely." he cackled madly again. "Looks just like strawberry jam." he giggled at the flecks of blood scattered around them. He stroked 'Derek' lovingly and licked the blood away. "It's a shame it's not blue, like your namesake. I like blue. It's my favourite colour.

Blueblood opened his one good eye at the duke and prayed to Celestia somepony would find him.

"Now I've gotta go, boy. Be good, do your homework and be in bed before nightfall. No wait, I don't have to go anywhere. AHAHAHAHHAHAHA!" Admantium howled with loud laughter that echoed around the warehouse.

The duke walked over to the table and picked up a knife. "Now, hold still. I'd hate to mess up your new cutie mark." he grinned sadistically as he moved back to Blueblood.

Blueblood screamed as the knife carved into him, around his cite mark and along his side.

"Done." Admantium said and stood up, admiring his handiwork.

He started humming to himself as he placed the knife on the table again.

"Why... won't... you... just... let... me... die?" Blueblood whispered as he coughed blood.

"Because, my boy, that wouldn't be fun, now would it?" Admantium said then turned around and leaned down, "When Canterlot lies in ruin and ash, and Celestia dead, you have my permission to die, you sick buck." he hissed and slammed Blueblood's head against the floor.

He walked back over to the table and dropped the knife. He hummed for a while as he decided on his next tool. "Ah. This one. This should be fun." he chuckled and turned back around; a large branding iron in his hooves.

Blueblood had his eyes tight shut, so when he felt the searing hotness of the iron spike against his eyelid he screamed louder than before, more in shock than pain.

The crazy duke saw his opportunity and used his magic to force the prince's eyelid open and keep it open. "Say 'AAAAAAAAH'!" he giggled as he moved the white hot spike closer to Blueblood's eye.

The prince gave an otherworldly scream as he went blind in one eye in that minute.

Admantium pulled the boiling spike out from Blueblood's eye socket, the prince's eye attached to the end of it. The duke savagely scraped it off on the floor, then put the iron in a barrel of water Pepé rolled in.

"Thank you Pepé. We wouldn't want the scum bag to get hold of that now would we?" he chuckled and patted a very frightened Pepé on the back.

"N-no, b-boss." the hulking brute murmured and quickly left the duke to his fun.

"Pepé's a good kid. He's all brawn though, no brains. Well, more so than you." Admantium chuckled at Blueblood. "Well, I suppose I'd better leave now. Same time tomorrow?"

Blueblood was silent, save for his heavy breathing and loud, pitiful sobs.

"I'll take that as a yes then. See you soon, while I go get your muck off me. Be a good kid, brush your teeth and get your homework done. Toodles." the duke grinned as he left the weeping mess of a pony once called Blueblood, still tied up, on the floor of the abandoned warehouse.

"Pepé. Twelve Trees. Clear the stuff away, we wouldn't want him escaping or hurting himself would we?" Admantium chuckled to the two henchponies, who jumped to their feet and began work.

"And what about me?" asked Grayfeather.

Admantium turned to her. "You can leave whenever you wish, my dear." he smiled and trotted off, towards the wash room to clean himself up.

Grayfeather baulked. "All this way? And I don't even get to avenge my servant's sister?"

"Oh, by all means, just leave him for now. I accidentally went a bit overboard for our first chat. So give him a while to recover." Admantium grinned manically.

Grayfeather glared at him. "What did you do?"

"I poked his eye out." the duke replied bluntly.

Lady Grayfeather laughed out loud. "Really? Wow. I was just gonna cut his balls off and sell them to some griffon collectors." she giggled. "But now I'll have to one up you."

"By all means. We'll take turns, my dear. I owe him for eighteen years of my daughter's life. Take as long as you wish."

Grayfeather's tongue ran around the outside of her beak as she anticipated meeting the prince again.

Snuff

***

Big Mac looked at the tree house library and breathed slowly. He'd missed Luna immensely since she'd left the night before. But, he knew she was right. And he did have a recent outbreak of feelings for Twilight. He'd explained to Applejack and Caramel about her decision and her final wish. Caramel understood, sort of. Applejack was less than forgiving:

"She's Princess *Who now*?!" Applejack bellowed.

"Luna. You really should get your ears cleaned out sometime, AJ." Caramel chuckled and nudged her.

"And she said to do *what** with Twilight?"*

"Settle down. Live my life with her. Truth be told AJ, ah see her point. No sense in chasin' somethin' ah couldn't possibly understand." Big Mac said sadly.

"But... but..." Applejack stammered.

Big Mac shushed her and hugged her like a brother would. "Shhh. Ah'll go an' see Twi today. Now in fact." he told her.

Applejack was silent after that, thinkin about... well everything really.

Before he knew it, he was at the door, hanging his head with a mixture of anxiety, fear, betrayal... and lust.

*Knock*

"Just one should do it." he mumbled.

Sure enough, Twilight Sparkle opened the door, a small rose in her mane, just above the ear. "Hello, Big Mac. Come in, please."

Mac obliged her and held a chair out for her. "Ah suppose Luna told you her idea?" Mac asked casually

Twilight blushed. "I have considered it extensively. Yes." she said, then back-peddled furiously. "I mean... if you think it's a good idea, or if you need time."

"Give me a week." Mac replied. "Then ah'll come talk to ya." he leaned across and kissed her cheek, nodded politely, then escorted himself out.

Twilight gently touched her cheek. You are not following Spike's example, wash that cheek when you next need to. a small voice told her. She giggled and danced giddily up the stairs, where she watched the world go by out her window.

Mac trotted home with a small smile on his face. "One week's all ah need." he murmured happily to himself. He was more or less just having a week of respect for Luna, while she was certainly all for the idea of Twilight and Mac together, he felt as though it would still be considered cheating, even though they'd technically broken up.

Twilight must have felt the same, yet a bit disappointed by his decision evidently. He suddenly felt extremely guilty. "Ah pony feathers." he muttered. "Sorry, Luna, my first love. Ah'll always hold you close. But ah gotta have Twilight now." he said and looked up at the sky.

He rushed back to the library just as the heavens opened up and drenched him in seconds.

He banged on the door urgently.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming, keep your feathers on." twilight's grumpy voice called from behind the large wooden door. "Oh, hi again Big Mac, what bring you-"

He stepped forwards and wrapped his hooves around her, planting his lips firmly on hers.

She wrapped her own hooves around him and lifted her hind leg. "Ohhh, Big Mac..." she murmured.

"Shhh." he placed a hoof on her lips and kissed her again. "Ah don't need a week. My answer's yes." he whispered and carried her to her bed.

He gently dropped her and stood over her, kissing her neck and listening to her moan with pleasure.

"Big Macintosh..." Twilight murmured and brought a hoof to his face. "I've never..." her eyes flickered downwards.

Mac's eyes lit up. "Ah'll be gentle then." he giggled and kissed her again.

When they were finished, they embraced each other and fell asleep with their hearts beating in rhythm

***

Up in Canterlot, Luna was out of the infirmary bed and in her sister's chambers. She used Celestia's scrying ball and saw Big Mac hug and kiss Twilight and smiled softly. "Hold onto him Twilight Sparkle." she murmured. "Never let him go." she decided to draw away before

She turned to go back downstairs and into her bed, where Celestia had fallen asleep on the opposite bed.

She giggled at her sleeping sister. "Scared of a tiny bit of blood. You big pansy." she murmured and crawled up next to her sister, nuzzling her and putting a wing around her.

"I am not a pansy, and it was more than a 'little bit of blood'" Celestia whispered and extended her own wing around her baby sister.

Luna giggled and closed her eyes. "Goodnight, big sister."

"Goodnight, little sister."

The two sisters fell asleep in each other's embrace.

Luna dreamt about the three of them: Luna, Celestia... and her baby.

The End.

Epilogue

Three years later

Twilight Sparkle sat with a smile as she watched her two children run and play with their father.

"Autumn Gold! Star Apple! Come get your food!" Auntie Applejack's voice called.

"But auntie..." the twins groaned.

Big Macintosh chuckled and hoisted them up on his back. "Hush, you two. Do as your auntie says."

"Is mama coming too?" Autumn asked, his golden mane flowing in the slight breeze.

"Sure am, big guy." Twilight chuckled as Mac helped her out the chair. Heavily pregnant with their third was no easy task it seemed.

"You OK, sugarcube?" Applejack asked from the doorway, little Golden Stick bounding past her and going to play with his friends.

"Hey guys!" Golden cried as he bounced up to Autumn and Star.

"Hey Sticky." Star giggled.

"Har har, very funny. Wanna go play?"

"Now, hold just a cottonpickin' minute, ah've just made yer food all ready." Applejack scolded.

"But mama." Golden groaned.

"Golden! Do as your mother says." Caramel chuckled as he came into view. "here let me help." he said as he helped Big Mac move Twilight into the house.

"Allow us to assist as well." a regal voice called down from the sky.

"Luna! So glad you could make it." Twilight said happily and hugged the princess like an old friend.

"And howdy do little partner." Mac smiled down at the little Midnight Bloom as she huddled behind his mother's legs.

"Hi." Midnight blushed and she scampered off to say hello to the three other foals.

"She's grown." Twilight said and smiled.

"She has hasn't she?" Luna smiled proudly. She put a wing around Twilight and walked her to the door, Big mac and Caramel there for sideways assistance.

"Bymy stars, is everypony comin' to eat today?" Applejack laughed as Caramel took his place at her side again and nuzzled her affectionately.

"Mama! Midnight Bloom got her cutie mark already!" Autumn cried as he danced around his mother.

Midnight cringed away from their applauses and hid behind her mother again.

"It's alright, little on, show them." Luna smiled and nuzzled the little foal.

Midnight stepped forwards again and lifted up her wing, showing her cutie mark: a pale moon with a large flower blooming in the centre of it.

"It's beautiful, dear." Twilight smiled.

"Eeyup. Sure is." Mac grinned down at the little foal. "Who wants a ride?"

"I do, I do!" the cried went up, all little foals eager to climb on Big Mac's big back and hitch a ride.

"Alrighty then, y'all hold on now." Mac grinned as he whinnied and charged in the house.

Luna and Twilight laughed at him as they heard a crash and Applejack came chasing him out, waving a frying pan in the air like a weapon.

"Sorry, sis!" Mac laughed as AJ chased him.

"So how've you been, princess?" Twilight asked Luna.

Luna shrugged. "It's been difficult raising a baby by oneself, but 'Tia's been a big help." she smiled. "How long 'till you're due?"

"Two weeks now. We're all very nervous." Twilight said sheepishly and stroked the large bump in her belly.

"Well, I hope you are both happy. That's all that matters." the empress of the night smiled and started trotting into the house.

"Princess, wait." Twilight murmured.

Luna stopped and turned to her friend. "Hmm?"

"I know it's hard... seeing Mac and me like this... but-"

"Twilight Sparkle. I am truly very happy for you both. No better colt could I ask for you, and no better mare for he." Luna smiled and nuzzled Twilight, "Now come, let's get something to eat before I have to go back. I'm sure Midnight would like some time to play."

"Of course, princess. Thank you again. For everything." Twilight smiled and hobbled in the door, sitting down at the large table and next to her husband.

"Now then, everypony ready?"

"Yes." everypony gathered around the table murmured together.

"Alright then, dig in."

They talked, they laughed, they sang a few songs. Caramel and Mac got up and danced a bit, much to the embarrassment of Applejack and Twilight.

When the clock struck nine thirty, Luna gathered Midnight and said goodbye to everypony. Then the two as dark as night alicorns flew off towards their home in Canterlot.

When Twilight yawned, Mac decided he should take her and the twins home. "See y'all tomorrow, guys." he said and they waved goodbye to Caramel and Applejack, the foals asleep on his back.

"C'mon then Caramel ,we've got lots of tidyin' up ta do." Applejack said as she turned to the table and threw her hooves in the air, went to the sofa and collapsed, exhausted.

"Lazy bones." Caramel chuckled as he began tidying up all the dishes.

"Ah, leave it. Applebloom'll get it tomorrow. She's stayin at Sweetie Belle's tonight isn't she?"

"I thought it was Scootaloo's tonight." Caramel replied and sank down next to her.

She laid her head on his lap and yawned. "Either way, they'll have a lot to clean tomorrow." she grinned and dfited off to sleep.

***

Twilight tucked the twins in and climbed into her own bed. "Spike? Could you get the light please?"

Spike yawned, stretched, grumbled something about magic, then nestled back down in his basket, which was now too small for him. "Goodnight everypony." he rumbled.

"Nighty night, Spike." the twins replied and giggled as he sent up a smoke ring in one of his snores.

Mac kissed his wife's forehead. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Twilight breathed into his mane and fell asleep.

***

Brandling nuzzled his wife Corellia. After his trial he had proposed to her then and there, she being the only mare to ever have feelings for him, so shown by her appearance at his trial.

She smiled as they sat down and opened the mysterious package they had found on their doorstep.

"House keys?" Corellia asked and held them up.

Brandling picked up the note that was with them in the box.

Dear Brandling and Corellia,

I heard about your wedding. Congratulations. I humbly wish that you accept this small house just outside Appleloosa - I heard from a reliable source that you were considering leaving Canterlot. My sincerest apologies if it is not to your liking.

Yours faithfully.

Admantium

Brandling smiled and nuzzled his wife. "Pack your things dear, we're moving to Appleloosa."

"Wha-" she started before he kissed her on the lips and silenced her.

She glanced over his shoulder and saw the letter, she smiled softly when she read the signature. He has changed. It's only taken twenty one years, but he has. I forgive you father. she thought and went into their bedroom and began to pack their cases.

***

Meanwhile, on the lesser cheery side of the world.

Blueblood sat in his cell and waited for his weekly punishment. Who was it this time?

"Blueblood..." a voice clucked from the darkness.

Oh. Her.

"Blueblood, my little plaything... ready for tonight?" Grayfeather chuckled evilly.

"Just get it over with you vile bird creature." Blueblood snapped and scrunched his face up as her talons slashed across his back.

"That's no way to speak to a lady." she tutted and stroked his face, digging her claws in just below the eye-patch. She gave a squawk of delight as he tried to pull away, his chains clanking as he did so. "Oh I will enjoy this, you insolent bastard!" she hissed and raised her talon high in the air.

This is it. Everything you've planned in the past week has been for this moment.

As she brought her cruel claw down, he moved his head just in time - so instead of slicing his face as she intended, she hit his jugular, sending him reeling in pain.

As he lay there, bleeding out, he couldn't help but smile at his small victory.

Grayfeather shrieked in anger and began slicing him up beyond the point of recognisability.

Darkness took his vision and he died with a smile on his lips.

***

Luna and Midnight Bloom arrived at the palace and were greeted by none other than Princess Celestia herself.

"How was the dinner?" she asked and nuzzled her niece, who bounded off to bounce on her bed.

"Difficult. It pains me greatly to see Twilight and Mac so happy together." Luna replied as she flexed her wings, bracing herself for the rise of the moon.

"Well, you know it's for the best, Lulu." Celestia chuckled.

Midnight Bloom watched the whole thing with awed eyes, then she yawned and nestled in between her aunts wings.

"I'll take this one to bed. Are you going to be OK, Luna?" the white alicorn asked the darker one.

Luna nodded and stepped out onto the balcony. She used her powerful magic to bring the mighty moon around to view, creating the stars at the same time.

She smiled softly as she wondered if Celestia knew about her little message in the stars.

My fall will be for you, my love will be in you.

Goodnight Big Macintosh and Twilight Sparkle. Long days and pleasant nights to you both.