Twilight dared to open her eyes, surprised that they didn't sting against the strange fluid around her. Beneath the surface, she could barely tell that she was still in the Everfree Castle; the moonlight from above was all but completely blocked out, the walls obscured by fog - even the frayed carpet beneath her hooves barely registered, compared to the feel of that indescribable stuff that tickled her from every angle. She puffed her cheeks out, steadying herself, trying to hold that breath for as long as possible - and all the while, wondering why.

So I can tell myself I did, she thought. So that I'll know I did all I could... when I lose.

She kept walking, idly noting her surreal stoicism. Ten heartbeats passed, then twenty. She let out a little air to ease the urge to breathe. Before long, she was back at the entrance to the staircase. She stared. Three more heartbeats.

"Go on," came a voice from behind her. She looked around, and saw no further than a few metres behind her was a figure, its outline blurred by the fog but its irises as clear as ever. A light appeared in her peripheral vision, and she turned back to find the archway had filled with an ethereal glow.

"Walk through, and you'll wake up." The voice had lost its malicious edge, leaving a cold, yet hauntingly beautiful tone. "Stay... and we dream together." And still there was no threat to be heard. Twilight's eyes remained fixed on the portal, observing impassively, legs and back perfectly straight.

She emptied her lungs - and then drew in. The light blinked out.

A second later, with a rush of blood in her ears and a shock that rolled over her spine, she keened to the side, only catching herself at the last moment. In an instant, her calm composure was swept away by a tide of mind-numbing need, and she was suddenly aware of the minute, infinitesimal ministrations of the very air around her. The breath which she had taken not a moment ago came out as a rasping groan, only to be replaced with another lungful that set her skin burning anew.

But just as quickly as that sense of the inevitable filled her, it was joined by a sense of indignation. Her groan became a growl. Brow furrowed, ears flattened, nostrils flared, teeth bared. She spun around and crouched, breathing heavily, ready to meet her opponent; and found nothing.

A rumble sounded in Twilight’s throat as she crawled forward, her impatience building with every moment she spent in anticipation. Her fur stood on end, but that only made it easier for her to feel the tickle of the current around her. She turned, pacing backwards, twitching her head from side to side - and felt herself backing into something soft.

She reared up, but in an instant there was a weight on her back and a pair of legs wrapped tight around her barrel. With a roar, she fell to her side. The air was knocked from her lungs, and for an instant she was still, but just as she made to scramble to her hooves, a second set of limbs coiled around her own and forced them asplay, holding her tight against a warm coat. She struggled, but with every kick and flex, the bonds around her tightened, until her legs burned from the effort. Before long, she could only wriggle feebly in the embrace, and her captor curled over her to whisper:

"There is but one rule here, Twilight. If you say 'stop', the game ends. Tap three times, and the game ends. No winners, no losers." Twilight squirmed against the limbs that held her, only to feel them press yet more tightly, leaving her incapable of doing anything but waiting.

"Are you ready?"

Her response was a snarl as the question set her body into yet another spasm of expectation. Cracking open one eye, Twilight could barely make out the face of Nightmare Moon leering out from the darkness. She met the leer with a glare, fear now far surpassed by fervour. For the first time, she looked upon her foe with determination. The alicorn surveyed her with a passion of her own, delighted at the feral display before her.

“I’ve been looking forward to this.” Nightmare pressed her lips onto Twilight’s, meeting the wild movements of her tongue with precise, deft motions of her own, thrilling at how readily she gave in to that passion. They separated for just a moment, for Nightmare to take a breath and tilt her head before moving back in, their teeth knocking together slightly as they connected. She raised her forelegs higher, locking them around Twilight’s head and holding it in place - then drawing back just slightly, her lips just out of reach. Sure enough, the unicorn tried fruitlessly to lunge forward, grunting as she struggled against the metallic shoes gripping her. Nightmare extended her tongue with a prompt of “aah”, and Twilight did the same, but still they could not meet, until Nightmare took the tongue between her lips, supping and chewing gently before moving all the way back to kiss her once more.

She’s not fighting anymore, Luna realised. Has she- And that was when Twilight got a hoof free, and spun herself around to be on top, legs fixed either side of the alicorn’s barrel. Panting, she fixed a stare at her adversary that was equal measures of lust and determination.

“I won’t lose.”

Even in character, Luna barely avoided the temptation to squee. Twilight leaned in, lowering her barrel and pushing Luna’s head back onto the floor as their lips met again. They separated after just a moment, the unicorn’s face betraying the slightest hint of glee as she revelled in her new position. She hesitated for just a moment, unsure of what to do next but not wanting to break the pace she had established, then moved down to nip at the fur beneath Nightmare’s jaw - where she found her head locked between two forehooves.

“You will if you keep copying my moves,” the alicorn crooned. Twilight barely had time to realise her mistake when a set of black, smouldering chains whipped around her lower legs, holding her completely in place between them and Nightmare’s grip. Just as she tried to fathom what was coming next, her train of thought was derailed by the sensation of a mouth planting itself on her horn. She was so surprised that she couldn’t even stifle the gasp that came when Nightmare began to suck gently on the appendage, nor the moans that followed every shallow breath as the alicorn began to build up her ministrations. Her legs began to quiver as that tongue slowly rolled around her tip, the constant changes in pressure scrambling her thoughts completely.

With a wet smack of her lips, Nightmare moved back, chuckling softly. “Bet you didn’t know that could feel good...”

Twilight grunted as she tried to steady her breathing. If she keeps that up, it’ll be all over. Eyes closed, she could only feel the body beneath her moving. Panicking, she flared up her horn.

“Ah-ah-ah,” Nightmare tutted. Swiftly, she lunged forward and flicked her tongue over Twilight’s horn in a series of rapid side-to-side motions. The effect was immediate: whatever spell Twilight had been preparing simply blinked away as her concentration was completely shattered. This time her breath came out as a cry that soon faded into a whining moan. Nightmare relented just long enough to let out a mirthful laugh before resuming in earnest.

Twilight’s legs were by now ready to buckle, her back writhing at each new sensation, groans of defeat escaping as each fresh wave of pleasure crashed over her. All too soon, the burning had reached a peak, and Twilight felt the pressure in her threatening to overflow. Closing her eyes and clenching her teeth, she tried desperately to keep it in - desperately tried to hold back the inevitable fall. Nightmare must have noticed her sounds of effort, because she relented, for just long enough that Twilight opened an eye, before flashing a wicked grin, locking onto the horn one last time and sucking her cheeks in hard. As she did so, she let out a low, descending hum of contentment - and just like that, the dam burst.

Twilight screamed her defeat as her orgasm overtook her; knees buckling, she fell onto Nightmare’s chest, forcing the alicorn to relinquish the hold on her mouth. Twilight’s horn came free with a wet schlurp, emitting arcs of uncontrolled magic as the mare continued to writhe feebly, gasping once more for air, feeling her every movement become lethargic.

It was some time before either of them moved again. Luna was content to wait, feeling Twilight’s heart beat through her chest, and listening to her heavy breathing gradually begin to slow down. Eventually, Twilight lifted her head and looked at the alicorn with an expression that caught her by surprise.

The alicorn lifted an eyebrow, and chose her next words carefully. “You’re not finished yet, are you?”

Twilight’s breath caught in her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to avert her gaze. She opened her lips and, with a ragged, quivering voice, whispered:

"Please..."

Slowly and simply, Nightmare raised a single hoof to Twilight - then leaned up and curled around, throwing her to her side and lifting her legs to the sky as she straddled her. With the unicorn pinned beneath her, Nightmare moved her mouth down to Twilight’s neck… and began planting soft, gentle kisses.

Twilight craned her head skyward - whether recoiling from the touch or allowing easier access, she wasn’t sure. Luna felt a low moan rumble in her throat as she drew her tongue gently over the skin, taking in the taste and scent of sweat. She moved down to Twilight’s barrel, softly washing each new patch of fur she came to, before finally reaching the pair of already-pert teats.

A creaking, whooshing sound filled the chamber. As Nightmare hovered, Twilight realised that the fog above her was clearing; the room was draining. Her head broke the surface and she gasped for fresh air, watching her breath come out as a dark cloud that twisted and curled as it faded into the air.

“The miasma…” she croaked, tilting her head back down. “Why did you-?”

It was no longer Nightmare Moon before her; the glinting armour had disappeared and her coat had lightened. Princess Luna looked up at her for just a moment with a gentle smile. “You don’t need it anymore,” she replied, before setting her tongue to Twilight’s nipple.

All she could manage was a low moan as the feeling washed over her. It wasn’t like the previous time; where once the stimulation had been a frenzied assault, now it was a tender caress, each lick a steady stroke that sent tingles throughout her body.

“That’s right,” Luna whispered. “Relax. Allow yourself to feel.”

And Twilight did. Just the idea in her mind, without any evaluation, was enough for her to notice the slight roughness of the tongue on her skin, or the coolness of the saliva left when Luna swapped one teat for the other. Gradually, her body relaxed, her limbs lying lazily at her side.

“I- I don’t understand,” she said - perhaps to Luna, perhaps to herself.

Luna raised an eyebrow at her. As if answering her question, she placed her lips on Twilight’s and gently pecked at her. Twilight’s mouth obligingly opened, and they shared a soft, tender kiss, through which Twilight could taste her own sweat on her partner’s tongue.

“You don’t understand why you are not fighting?” asked Luna, her voice soft and warm. “Maybe you simply do not wish to fight anymore.” Twilight could only stare as she pondered the question. “Pleasure takes many forms, Twilight, and they change as readily as the tides. Where one night may find…” her voice dropped momentarily, “a conqueror, the next might find a lover. A protector. An equal. Maybe even a servant...” Her eyes searched Twilight’s for any response to her suggestion, but the unicorn’s expression remained that of bewilderment.

“At times, we feel we are so strong that we can hurt those around us without meaning to,” she pressed on, slowly creeping back once again. “Then, it is a pleasure to be made weak. Other times, we find ourselves in a world that lurches and tilts with us caught helplessly in its grasp. Then, we might delight in having total control. One day, a teacher may yearn for instruction; others, a hero may wish to be vile.”

And with that, she had assumed the position that Twilight had recalled so frequently throughout the week - that sent a shiver down her spine to behold: stretched in front of her prone form as though ready to pounce, eyes locked on to hers with a stare that rooted her to the spot and drew her in with equal measure. Luna moved forwards, and Twilight flinched at what was to come - only to feel the lightest of touches on her nethers. Once, twice, then three times. There was no frenzy, no overwhelming rush; just a slow series of tiny nips.

Twilight looked back, and saw that Luna’s gaze hadn’t strayed - she was watching; gauging for any reaction.

She let her head fall back, resting it on the ground beneath her. Almost unconsciously, her rear legs moved further apart. Luna took the cue, and opened her mouth to lap softly at the juices that had come forth, each lick steady and rhythmic. Immediately, Twilight had to stop herself from moaning - with every touch, something stirred in her; a need that had her every fibre yearning for more. Before she knew it, Twilight’s rear hooves had planted themselves, and she was pushing up to meet the movements of Luna’s tongue. But the princess simply pushed forwards, and in one swift motion she was knocked flat again. Their eyes met, and she saw a stare that brooked no defiance; that dared her to make another move. An involuntary tremble shot through her at the sight, and Luna resumed her work.

She groaned against the sensation - the feeling of Luna’s tongue against her nethers, coaxing out each stilted sigh and suppressed gasp, gradually stoking the fire within her. The unicorn squirmed, silently begging her partner to push forwards, to give her more of that tiny sliver of relief; but for what seemed like minutes on end, there was nothing but the barest hint; an unbearably tiny, white-hot flare in the pit of her stomach. Before long, she couldn’t hold in the tension, and gave out a loud, brazen cry that echoed throughout the chamber.

That sound seemed a clarion call to Luna, who suddenly increased the speed of her movements, making swift, staccato flicks with her tongue, each of which brought forth a yip or gasp from Twilight. With a sense of glee, she moved up to the nub of her clitoris and focused her efforts there, causing each yelp to become higher and higher. Twilight could feel herself nearing the edge once more, but now there came no thoughts of prolonging her resistance - she could only think of that release.

And sure enough, that release came; just as Luna began alternating between suckling on her nub and tending to her folds, Twilight felt that familiar rush of warmth sweep through her. It was no longer oppressive or overbearing, but instead a sweet, disarming glow that had her in a drunken stupour, unwilling to focus on anything but the sensation of the alicorn before her, drawing her orgasm out with her ministrations.

Everything was warmth; a great blanket that did not diminish when Luna removed herself, but only seemed to increase when she joined Twilight’s side and held her within a pair of velvet wings.

Neither of them bothered to count the time they spent thereafter.

⁂

“Twilight?”

The name came soft but firm; and how wonderful that voice was. In that state, she could have listened to that simple chime forever-

“Twilight, wake up. ‘Tis almost dawn.”

The urgency of time roused Twilight from her state of half-sleep, enough to straighten herself and see the princess sitting before her.

“I… believe we should talk before the night is over,” Luna stated, somewhat methodically. "T’was an oversight on my past last time.”

“...Yeah,” Twilight responded, for want of a better insight. She nearly chided herself for having nothing better to say, but realised that ‘negative’ still wasn’t quite on the agenda. She glanced at the sea of blue around them - back to its original state, but lighter, as though trying to stifle the impending day for its inhabitants.

“I believe I have- well, let’s not start there. How are you feeling?” Luna probed.

Again with the necessity for words. “Good, I guess. I- that was… something, alright.”

Luna’s brow flicked upwards and she tilted her head momentarily, as though silently saying ‘that was the point’. “Well, I am glad to hear it.” A sigh. “This isn’t the easiest conversation to have; especially not now...”

“But it needs to happen,” Twilight concluded. “We’ll just put it off otherwise.”

Luna was quick to nod and hum in response. “I was going to say that I… my approach to this whole affair was, I suspect, not entirely founded in rationality. I sought to kill two birds with one stone… one merely so I could excuse myself for the other.” The sentence earned her a curious tilt of the head. “I… mean to say that I made mistakes.”

A silence fell. Twilight searched for a reply; and finding one, had to avert her eyes.

“Well," she chanced, "they were fun mistakes.”

A nervous glance towards Luna found her eyes wide in surprise. Then, almost at the same time, the two of them broke into relieved giggles.

“Dancing around the issue, terrified of getting something wrong," Luna murmured. "Truly, I should practise what I preach.”

A grin came to Twilight’s face. “Hmm,” she mused, twirling a hoof in the air for emphasis. “‘Dear Princess Celestia; last night I learned a very important lesson about friendship.’”

That earned her a heartier laugh. “Strewth,” Luna exclaimed, “to see her read that one…!”

The realm seemed to pulse, and though she had not moved, Luna was suddenly somehow further from Twilight than before.

“Ah; our time is up, it seems. Twilight… shall we-?”

“We’ll talk,” Twilight said, gradually raising her voice for fear that she wouldn’t be heard. “I know we need to talk about this... about everything." The barest hint of the princess remained. "I’ll write to you. Soon!”

And with that, they were parted.

⁂

“It seems my dear nephew has seen fit to give his blessing to the fundraiser,” Celestia concluded, lowering the newspaper. “Fancy Pants will be very pleased.”

Luna was content merely to smile in response, as she took a sip from her goblet, before the bit dropped.

“Why did you have to read the newspaper to learn that? I would have thought the day’s dealings would have told you of it.”

“Ah, yes,” Celestia agreed, “but I’m afraid most of my day was taken in correspondence with Ponyville.”

Not for the first time, Luna rued her decision to listen to the response with a drink to her lips. “Sh- she didn’t!” she spluttered, after clearing her airways.

It was only after seeing the grin on her sister’s face that she realised how readily she had walked into the trap.

“Why, I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about, Luna,” she practically sang. “We were merely discussing the possibility of entertaining the delegates from Saddle Arabia in Ponyville.”

“I… see.” Luna composed herself, attempting to extinguish the heat that had sprung to her cheeks.

“Still,” Celestia continued. “Our concerns regarding the upper crust of Canterlot seem to have resolved themselves, dear sister. I imagine this was no dealings of yours?”

“Oh, none whatsoever,” Luna chimed. “I imagine they simply had a sudden change of heart.” Then, more softly: “...And financial advisor.”

“Well, that is all well. And, dare I ask…?”

“Oh, the woes of the beloved, everyday subject? I believe I have found a rather unique solution.” Luna positively revelled in the shoe being on the other hoof, as her sister’s facade slipped just a little into curiosity. “If you’ll look towards the adverts in the middle…”

There followed none but the crackle of the nearby fire and the movement of pages, as Celestia scoured the newspaper for her clue.

An eyebrow raised. She lowered the paper with parted lips. Then:

“...’The Jeremy Colt Show’?”

Author's Note

Wow, when was I going to finish this? Most of this chapter has been in the wings for a good long while, but I really struggled to get it finished.

Many thanks to all those who've been patient thus far, and to everyone for the fantastic reception the story has received. It's definitely rough around the edges, but I hope you've enjoyed it nonetheless. If you're feeling so inclined, I would be much obliged to have your comments and opinions.