Who Rules?: The Ascended

Who Rules?: The Ascended

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Five

Twilight groaned, shaking her head as she came to. Luna looked at her instantly. “Wh-what happened?” Twilight asked.

“Twilight Sparkle!” Luna roused her, grabbing her shoulders and forcing the attention on her directly. “Listen to me. You must go and gather your friends. Collect the Elements of Harmony and return here as fast as you can. The fate of Equestria depends upon it! I will hold her as long as I can.”

“Huh?” Twilight tried to keep up, lost in the conversation. “You need me to get the Elements? Are you going to be safe around Trixie?”

“Twilight Sparkle,” Luna began, raising up to her full height, “I have told you twice already: do not be concerned with Trixie.”

A darkness fell over Luna, surrounding her, and then slowly it began to recede into her, staining her coat from deep blue to black. Her chest piece transformed, shifting to a shining silver armor, and a helmet seemed to grow onto her head, covering it in that same reflective metal. A smile spread across Luna’s face, showing a row of sharp teeth. And when her eyes opened, they were no longer those of a pony, but the long-pupiled scrutiny of a predator.

Nightmare Moon was returned.

“AT LAST!!” The voice was far too familiar to Twilight. “Celestia, you coward! Turn and face me if you dare!”

The flame-covered version of the princess turned and saw her rival standing mere yards away. “YOU!” Her yell seemed capable of shattering the walls by itself. “I should have destroyed you a millennia ago!”

The air bristled with unrestrained power.

“Eeek,” Twilight let out as she teleported away in an instant.

“For a thousand years I dreamt of this moment,” Nightmare Moon said as she moved towards Celestia slowly. “Thought of what I would say and what I would do. And then, when I did return, you hid yourself from me, making me realize that there was no reason for me to have spent any time thinking about you at all, because you are that far beneath me. That frightened of me.”

Celestia moved forward as well, and the two goddesses began to circle each other, sizing each other up in a stalking manner. “And you are a greater fool now than you were a millennia ago. I did not hide, and you should feel lucky. The magic that I used to lock you away came at a price, and I was trapped by your own return. If I had been there you would not have faired as kindly as you did.”

“Really? I don’t remember things going that way,” Nightmare Moon said. “When we last met face-to-face it was on this very site. In this very room, in fact. Don’t you remember, Celestia? Or do I still call you that? You appear to be somewhat different at the moment.”

“I am Celestia! Princess of Equestria and Goddess of the Sun!” she announced.

“Of course you are.” Nightmare Moon’s smile was piercing. “Well, when last we met you were being beaten--rather badly in fact--until you harnessed the Elements of Harmony and banished me. How long did it take you to recover? A day? A week? A month?”

“And you were gone for a thousand years. It was a fair trade,” she replied.

“Yes, I’m sure you think so. But I can’t help but notice one thing rather clearly right now: you don’t have the Elements any more.” Nightmare Moon stopped pacing and stared across at Celestia, the smile on the dark mare fading into an expression of pure anger.

Celestia stopped and faced her evenly, the flame that had replaced her eyes burning white hot. “And that is because I no longer need them.”

“I will give you this one chance, sister,” the word fell like venom from her tongue, “fall to your knees. Kiss my hoof and swear a vow of eternal loyalty to me and I will let you live.”

“You are not my sister. You are the usurper to my throne and the monster that threatens to destroy all of Equestria. I shall enjoy watching you burn!” Celestia spat.

“Very bold statement coming from a flame-covered mare,” Nightmare Moon growled back. “You are far more of a threat to this land than I am. You just don’t realize it yet. Fortunately, you are also far too weak to stop me from destroying you.”

“You will never destroy me. I shall burn eternally, bringing light to Equestria and all of my subjects. You’re darkness shall be incinerated.”

“Incinerate me? But what about Luna? Or has your passion blinded you to the fact that we are one and the same?” Nightmare Moon’s voice was acidic.

“If you are back, then Luna is lost to me. I will not allow her memory to be besmirched by you!” she shouted in reply.

“We’re the same, she and I, you blind foal!” Nightmare Moon reared back, looking down her muzzle. “You have kissed our hooves many times already, whorse, and you will do so again. You will bow before me, Celestia!”

“NEVER!” Flame encircled the alicorn’s horn, just as a sheathe of midnight surrounded Nightmare Moon. The air sizzled as a gout of fire shot out, only to be lost in a void that split the room with the night sky.

“You will never be able to fill the night sky, Celestia. You cannot touch me,” Nightmare Moon said.

“The moon is nothing more than a pale reflection of the sun. I will burn so brightly that you will turn to ash,” she countered.

A brilliant white light left the horn of one alicorn, so bright that it would blind anypony looking directly at it, while a void of nothingness, so black that to stare into it was to lose oneself, left to counter it. Both were met with an unexpected barrier.

The stones of the floor flew up, dancing into place to create a glowing blue wall of stone and magic that shattered into a thousand shards of rock and debris, raining down on the two feuding sisters. The shrapnel fell harmlessly off of both goddesses, but it was enough to get their attention.

“I’m afraid that you mares have forgotten one thing,” the blue unicorn said as she stepped towards them both, “me.”

From the sidelines, Trixie had been tempted to wait it out and see what the two of them would do to each other. If they were so willing to fight to the death, it would eliminate one of them and weaken the other, leaving them much easier prey. But that wasn’t a sign of being all-powerful. She was here to prove to both of these self-important mares that she was every bit their equal, and if that meant stepping into the middle of a fight, so be it.

“Ah yes, Trixie,” Nightmare Moon smiled. “I was hoping that we would be able to spend some quality time together, sister.”

“I’m not your sister,” Trixie stated proudly, standing apart from the two alicorns. “I am Trixie.”

“Of course you are, but you are also bound to me. The power that you have--the power that you so craved--was granted to you by me. It was my gift to a kindred spirit. To another that wanted to see Celestia’s reign struck down.” Nightmare Moon moved slowly, keeping her distance from both ponies. “A gift to my sister.”

“She is nothing more than a pest,” Celestia said. “A delusion of power that dared to strike at me through those I care about.”

“What a nice thing to say about me,” Nightmare Moon smiled.

“I wasn’t speaking of you! She struck out against Luna.”

“Trixie acted in self-defense!” the blue unicorn announced. “If Luna had not attacked me, I would have done nothing.”

“Then why act now, Trixie?” Nightmare Moon asked. “Shouldn’t you be somewhere else? This is an old battle. This has nothing to do with you.”

“No. This is The All-Powerful Trixie’s castle now. Her home. The place from which I shall bring new guidance to the ponies of Equestria.” Trixie’s head pulled back in pride, showing no fear of the two goddesses. “And I want the two of you gone from here. Now.”

“I will destroy you quickly, and then get back to this atrocity of the night,” Celestia’s horn blazed to life once more and fire burst around Trixie, igniting the very air that surrounded her. An inferno of flame engulfed Trixie, hiding her from sight and creating enough heat that Nightmare Moon turned her head slightly away in response. It was over in a flash, and when the fire subdued, there was nothing left but a burnt mark on the stone.

“Now,” Celestia turned towards Nightmare Moon, “once you are gone, love can reign down on all the land.”

“Yes, I’m sure. That was so very compassionate of you. Such a symbol of your love,” Nightmare Moon said. “If another pony opposes you, are they turned to ash as well?”

“No pony shall oppose me. I am beloved. There will be no resist--wait,” Celestia cut herself short, turning to look at the scorch mark on the stone. “Turned to ash. There is no ash.”

A glow of blue light burst up from the stone in the ground. A huge circle, intricately detailed with what appeared to be mystic runes came to life on the ground, large enough to surround both the sisters of day and night.

Nightmare Moon glanced up and saw Trixie, standing on a balcony overlooking the room. She smiled down, her teleportation taking her to safety before the flame did any harm. “Clever girl,” Nightmare Moon said, smiling back at her.

The circle erupted. Beams of power rose up, breaking through what remained of the roof of this chamber, large chunks of stone falling down into the room. The screams of both sisters were overshadowed by the sound of destruction. Tons of stone fell, the blue energy held both Celestia and Nightmare Moon in check for only a moment, but it was long enough for the collapsed roof to fall and bury them beneath tons of stone. The deluge of rock and debris continued, creating a mound half the former height of the room. It was over in seconds, but the echo of the event sounded off the surrounding hillside even as Trixie spoke.

“That was almost too easy,” she said.

“Oh yes, it was,” Nightmare Moon’s voice stated from behind Trixie. The startled mare spun around, and was immediately met by a swirl of star-laden purple energy that surrounded her muzzle and clamped her mouth shut. “Don’t talk. It would ruin the moment.”

Moving up beside the gagged unicorn, Nightmare Moon looked down at the devastation. “I’m impressed. A circle of hegemony constructed on the fly, I’m assuming. That takes no small degree of talent. It’s a shame you never showed that discipline when you were Luna’s student.”

Trixie glared at the black mare.

“Oh, don’t be so upset. Luna always thought you had great potential. Of course, she also thought that you were a bit of a clown that kept her amused with your bumbling antics. So, it was a fair trade off for her.”

Trixie’s horn came to life, the blue glow appearing and dislodging the gag that kept her silent. “You should have stayed hidden. Trixie has dispatched Celestia, and now will deal with you!”

“Really?” Nightmare Moon was calm. “I think you underestimate my sister. Make no mistake, she is by far the most powerful thing in all of Equestria. That’s why I lured you to my power. Why I tempted you with the shoes you are wearing. Together we will be able to destroy her.”

“Ha! Trixie has already done that!”

A heavy sigh came from the black alicorn. “Of course you have. Why don’t we watch the rubble for a moment together.” Her eyes guided Trixie towards tons of stone that lay in front of them. They stared at it for a moment before Trixie spoke again.

“And what am I supposed to see? Other than the tomb for the tyrant who ruled over us before Trixie took power?”

“Wait. Just wait,” Nightmare Moon calmly stated.

It only took a few more moments before the first sign came to pass. A rock slid from the top of the mound, tumbling to the broken ground beneath it. Followed by another as the rocks visibly shifted.

“It--it’s not possible,” Trixie muttered. “No pony could survive that.”

“She can,” Nightmare Moon answered. “And she did. I rather imagine that she will burst forth in a minute or so with a rather bad attitude in tow. I would hate to be you at the moment.”

Trixie turned an angry eye towards her companion. “I should crush you right now, then.”

“Yes, that’s a wonderful idea. Kill her sister. I’m sure that will make her so much happier,” she explained. “Of course, I’m not much easier to kill than she is, or hadn’t you noticed?”

Nightmare Moon paced around the unicorn, whispering in her ear while the sound of shifting rock filled the background. “Our only chance is to combine our power. Attack her as one. After she has been dealt with we can turn our attentions to each other. Personally, I don’t see why we couldn’t rule in tandem. You and I would be wise and just in our guidance of these ponies, not like Celestia.” The grinding of stone against stone became louder. “But you have to choose now. We are out of time.”

Brilliant white light filled the air, causing Nightmare Moon to hiss and shrink back away from the light. As the glow faded, Celestia, her form now fully aflame, stood strong in the space that was once the throne room, scanning for her enemies.

“You cannot hide! The sun sees all!” she shouted with a voice that could pierce the heavens.

“Oh, I’m not trying to hide, Celestia,” Nightmare Moon took to the air, flying above the white alicorn to look down upon her. “I was just waiting for you come out of hiding again.”

“Trixie is here!” A flash of blue light indicated the arrival of the unicorn’s teleportation spell.

“Excellent! Then I can deal with both of you at once,” Celestia said, the flame around her glowing white hot.

“We were thinking the same thing,” Nightmare Moon smiled as tendrils of eldritch night wormed their way down from her towards the burning figure.

“You will fall!” There was nothing subtle about Trixie’s attack. A beam of blue energy shot from the tip of her horn, aimed straight at Celestia. In return, a bolt of white wreathed in flame shot back, meeting the assaulting beam. For a moment they locked, and then the blue light started to fade, receding from the white flame that burned past it. Trixie felt herself thrown through the air, the stench of singed hair surrounding her, as Celestia’s attack overpowered her own effort.

And at that moment the tendrils reached Celestia.

Writhing about her like snakes released on a hot floor, the tendrils slithered about, wrapping themselves around the extremities of the goddess, trapping her wings to her side and the surrounding her legs before seeking the coolness of the stone below, diving into the rock while still surrounding Celestia, trapping her in place.

“Excellent distraction, Trixie. I will remember your action when this is over,” Nightmare Moon stated. The tendrils began to squeeze Celestia, trying to crush the life from her. Instead, all they were able to force out was a smile and a laugh.

“That’s a surprising sound for being at my mercy,” Nightmare Moon said.

A ball of pure white slid from Celestia, coming to rest just past her head. It pulsed there, hanging in the air patiently for the moment.

“What is that?” Nightmare Moon’s voice was cautious.

“You don’t recognize it?” Celestia said. “I’m suprised. You see it every morning.”

“Celestia...surely you aren’t that mad,” Nightmare Moon said slowly. “A fragment of the sun? Here in Equestria. What do you plan to do with it?”

“Destroy the two of you, obviously,” she answered.

“And lay waste to miles of the land,” Nightmare Moon stated.

“Yes, but the cost is worth it.”

“You cannot be serious,” Trixie said.

There was no reply, save for the increased pulsing of the orb and a wide smile on Celestia’s face. Nightmare Moon turned to Trixie with a smile of her own.

“It was good knowing you, Trixie,” she said as she faded into a purple mist.

“Where are you go--” Trixie’s voice was cut off by the deafening sound of solar oblivion.

The world went completely white.

* * * * *

“Twilight,” Rarity asked softly, “what happened here?”

“I--I don’t know,” she answered.

“Well, whatever it was, it sure did it,” Applejack said, slowly looking in a circle.

“You can almost see Ponyville now!” Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up and down, trying to get a better look.

“What about all of the poor creatures that were living in these woods?” Fluttershy voiced her own concern.

“Focus, everypony! We’re still here for a single purpose, and that is to find Nightmare Moon, Trixie, and Princess Celestia,” Twilight stated.

“Yeah, sugarcube, but where in tarnation do we look? I’m pretty sure they ain’t around here,” Applejack said, scanning the horizon.

The other ponies followed suit, looking around once more. No other living being could be seen for miles.

“Well...maybe we just can’t see them,” Twilight said, uneasily. “There are plenty of places that a pony could hide. Lots of dips and breaks in the land that we can’t really see from here.”

“I can,” Rainbow Dash said from high above, “and I can’t see no sign of no pony.”

“You can’t see everything, Dash. It’s not possible,” Twilight said. “Besides, I would know if something happened to the princess.”

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked.

“I--I don’t know, but I know. I mean, I know that I would know. I know that I know that she’s okay. That nothing happened to her,” Twilight tried to explain to herself and her friends.

“Uh, ya lost me there. That don’t make much sense ta me, Twi,” Applejack stated what most of the ponies were thinking. Most of them.

“Sure it does!” Pinkie Pie chirped in. “She knows that she knows that she would know, and that makes her sure. So we know Celestia is okay!”

“That hurt my head,” Rainbow Dash said.

“And you aren’t entirely right, Pinkie,” Twilight stated. “Celestia hasn’t been hurt, but I’m not sure that she’s okay. She’s gone dark, and I think she might be as bad as Nightmare Moon. We need to be careful with her and with Trixie when we find them. Does everypony understand?”

“Yep,” Applejack answered.

“Got it!” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Oh, that sound bad,” Fluttershy said.

“Nope!” Pinkie Pie said with smile.

The other ponies turned to look at the pink mare.

“Uh, Pinkie, ah’m not sure you understand. If the princess and Trixie have both gone bad, we gotta act when we see them,” Applejack explained.

“No,” Pinkie said, her voice taking a serious tone, “I don’t think YOU understand, AJ. This is Princess Celestia we’re talking about. This isn’t Nightmare Moon--who we TOTALLY need to zap when we see her--this is our princess. We at least need to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

“You didn’t see her, Pinkie.” Twilight’s face scrunched up with the memory of the brightly burning goddess.

“Did you talk to her? Find out if she had really gone loco-in-the-coco?” Pinkie asked, her face looking worried. “She’s our friend, Twilight, and I won’t hurt a friend.”

“Ah hate to say it, Twi, but she’s got a point.” Applejack walked over to Twilight, a supportive expression on her face.

“I--I guess so,” Twilight agreed reluctantly. “But we still need to be careful around her. And I know that Trixie’s gone off the deep end, so both her and Nightmare Moon have to be zapped at first sight.”

All of the ponies nodded in agreement, even Pinkie. Fluttershy walked over to Rarity, a look of concern on her face.

“Rarity, are you okay? You’re being very quiet,” she asked.

“I assure you that I am far from okay, darling,” Rarity answered calmly. “I am a bundle of fear and concern, wrought with pain over what has happened to my marefriend. But I have to carry on if I hope to find her and save her.”

“Oh, wow, well, I’m rather impressed. I thought you might be a nervous wreck with everything that is happening,” Fluttershy said.

“Histrionics have their time and place, and this is, without a doubt, very much neither of those things. This is a serious matter, and I will handle it with the attentiveness that it deserves.”

“Let’s get moving, girls,” Twilight said. “I don’t want to wait too long. We don’t know what has happened here yet, and I’m worried about what happened here and the safety of the princess.”

“There is no need to be concerned over me, Twilight Sparkle. I am victorious.” The six friends spun around to see a light descending from the night sky. An orb of brilliant white fell, growing in size and intensity until it was no longer comfortable to look at directly. A flash of light was followed by what seemed to be complete darkness as the ponies’ eyes adjusted, until they saw the image of the flaming princess of the sun.

“Princess?” Twilight’s voice was broken, seemingly unable to carry its own weight.

“Of course, our faithful student.” Celestia smiled and looked across the face of the ponies around her. Fear and confusion stared back at her. “Where is your reverence, my little ponies? Do you no longer hold your princess in high esteem?”

“You...do look very different, princess,” Twilight said slowly. “What happened?”

“That is a sad story, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia sighed. “There were ponies that sought to usurp our power in Equestria. Who thought that they would rule more justly than us, which we both know is not true. So, to protect our precious ponies, we were forced to destroy them.”

“Trixie?” Rarity said softly.

“Yes, she was one of the offenders. The abomination known as Nightmare Moon the other.”

“D--did you do all of this, princess? Did you destroy the castle and this much of the Everfree Forest?” Twilight was trying to be brave.

“We did. It was an unfortunate necessity. Sometimes there must be sacrifices made for the good of everypony.”

“Did you even wonder if there were ponies in the forest? You might have destroyed Zecora’s hut. If she wasn’t staying with me, you would have killed her.” Twilight was trying to talk sense into the figure that was and wasn’t her princess.

“Acceptable losses,” she answered. “We must protect those that we love, and if they truly love us they would understand. If they don’t love us...well, then they deserved their fate.”

Silence filled the air for two moments.

“I take it back, Twilight,” Pinkie said in a solemn and stunned tone. “I take it all back. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Ah’m with Pinkie,” Applejack said in shock.

“Oh yeah! Let’s do this!” Rainbow Dash urged.

“Do what?” Celestia asked, casting a wary glance in the ponies direction.

“Formation, girls,” Twilight said as everypony moved into position. “We’re going to help you, princess, I promise.”

Celestia scanned the ponies, and her eyes grew wide. The Elements of Harmony were present, and they were being directed towards her. “Twilight? You would betray us? YOU?!”

A light grew around the Element Bearers, their forms illuminating in the magic they channeled from the most powerful artifacts in the world. Celestia looked upon them and scowled. Raising a single hoof, the goddess slammed it down onto the broken white earth, sending a ripple through the ground and a brilliant course of light cascading above it.

The light struck the ponies a fraction of a second before the earth moved beneath them. Five figures were sent flying, repelled from the presence of their goddess princess. They barreled through the air and across the ground, the impact of the attack landing them hundreds of feet away from their starting location. When they stopped their fall, they lay on the ground unconscious.

The sixth pony never moved. The light passed through her harmlessly and the ground bent around her, leaving her standing on her hooves. Twilight spun around, seeing her friends flight and condition, letting a gasp escape her lips. A heat at her back caused her to turn around.

Celestia stood there, the flames of her body stretching up into the night and her eyes bright with fire burning down into Twilight’s body.

The unicorn gulped in fear. “Uh-oh.”

* * * * *

The moonlight caused the bleached white stone of the ground to take on a slightly silvery hue. The blue streak of light that suddenly split into reality complimented it well. The scream that fell out of it, not so much.

Trixie stumbled out of the cleft in the night sky and fell to her knees, the scream still coming from her mouth. Her coat was scorched, smoking from the fire that burned around her body only moments ago, her body in agony. After a minute the screaming stopped, her head still facing the ground.

“I. Will. DESTROY her.” Her voice carried the heat that had just surrounded her body. “If Trixie wasn’t the greatest and most powerful unicorn to ever live, then I would be dead right now!”

She lifted her head up and saw the destruction for the first time. “And she would do this to Equestria? It is clear to me now that Trixie must free the land from that insane princess and restore the land to the people. They will only need the slightest bit of guidance from me to carry on and make sure that no pony will disrupt the peace that I will bring.”

A purple mist crawled across the ground, seeking out safe ground on which to grow. Trixie was too caught up to notice it swirl about and form into the domineering form of Nightmare Moon.

“Time displacement?” the midnight mare announced herself. “My, my, Luna would be impressed. You were able to take yourself away from the blast at the last possible moment--though obviously not totally unharmed.”

“You!” Trixie whirled upon the alicorn, her eyes slits on her face. “You did this! You brought Celestia to me and then left me when she was ready to destroy us!”

“Technically, it was Luna who brought her. I would have left Celestia behind,” Nightmare Moon smiled, walking around Trixie slowly.

“You ARE Princess Luna!” she shouted back.

“Hmmm. She and I were having that exact conversation only a short while ago,” the stalking mare stated. “Perhaps we are and perhaps we are not, but what really matters is who we are right now.”

“You are a liar is what you are!” Trixie shouted, her sharp teeth bared at her foe.

“True.” Nightmare Moon kept her head high, looking down on Trixie. “Which is a bit of a contradictory statement on its own.”

“And you are a coward,” Trixie snarled.

“Coward? No, not at all. Cautious and crafty, most definitely, but not a coward,” she replied.

“You fear Celestia. You fear her power,” Trixie stood up, puffing her chest out.

“I am impressed with her power, but I don’t fear it. I am more powerful than Celestia--the normal Princess Celestia, that is--but this new form is a mystery.”

“I thought you said she was more powerful than you, and that’s why you needed Trixie?” she asked.

“Too simple. That Celestia no, this Celestia I’m not sure. I suppose it could be considered another lie. An excuse to get you to distract her so that I could attack. Test her mettle. I will admit that the sun trick surprised me. I didn’t think her quite so ruthless,” Nightmare Moon explained.

“You’re pathetic,” Trixie said, her horn glowing to life. “I will break your body as a symbol to--”

“Oh please, do shut up,” Nightmare Moon’s horn lit instantly, “and give me back my boots.”

Silver metal dissolved from Trixie’s feet, sliding off her like water in the rain. They flowed across the ground, seeking out their mistress, and slid up her legs, surrounding her hooves and legs and forming the armor that protected the appendages of Nightmare Moon.

As the boots left Trixie, the unicorn went through an instant transformation. Her body shrank, her eyes and teeth returned to normal. She collapsed to the ground, falling in a defenseless heap. She lay there motionless for a moment, and then sobbing could be heard coming from her.

“Why?” she asked, not raising her head. “Why did you give Trixie those things? Those horrible, twisted boots?”

“Because,” Nightmare Moon answered, “you were an easy target. So very angry. So very desperate to prove yourself. It took just a little push to manipulate your mind and draw you into the diamond chamber. You were the catalyst for my escape, dear pony. And for that reason, I am going to let you live.”

“I could feel myself, I could hear myself, but I could not control myself,” Trixie sobbed. “It was like I was trapped in my own body.”

“Yes, the unfortunate side effect of having such power thrust on you so instantly. You actually felt the change. Luna didn’t notice it, nor has Celestia, but you, Trixie, you had that unique experience. Tell me, what was it like?” Nightmare Moon stood over Trixie, her tall, powerful form towering above the mare.

“Every dark thought came out. Every repressed desire became a part of me.” Tears streamed down Trixie’s face as she remained on the ground, unmoving.

“How wonderful,” Nightmare Moon laughed. “That must have been so refreshing.”

“Refreshing?” she finally turned her head up, staring into Nightmare Moon’s face. “It was a nightmare. My soul was being torn apart. I lost all control. Trixie had finally found a home and a love. I had even forgiven the princesses in my heart. What do I have now?”

“Me.” Nightmare Moon lowered her head down, bringing it directly in line with Trixie’s, staring deep into her eyes. “You will be my pet. Do you understand?”

“No,” Trixie protested weakly, fear painting her face. “No, please.”

“It wasn’t a request. You are going to be my pet. Repeat it.”

“I...I...” she rolled over, sobbing.

Nightmare Moon grabbed her and rolled her back, her face contorted with perverse pleasure. “Say it, or I will make things unpleasant for you--and for your marefriend, Rarity.”

Trixie’s eyes grew huge. “No. Don’t hurt her.”

“Say. The. Words.”

“I...am your...pet,” Trixie choked out, concern for Rarity forcing her to act.

“Again!” She pressed closer to Trixie.

“I am your pet,” Trixie repeated weakly.

Nightmare Moon stood, her nose high, looking down at the crying pony at her hooves. “Excellent. Now, I need you to sit here and repeat that until I return. You are going to think about nothing else and do nothing else. Am I clear?”

“Yes,” she nodded in reply.

A single arched eyebrow told Trixie she was being too quiet.

“I am your pet,” she said. “I am your pet. I am your pet.”

“Perfect. Now, since I have returned the power that I loaned to you, I am ready to face Celestia once more. I will be back shortly. You are to continue talking without me.”

A mantra was developing from the blue unicorn that once again lay on the ground with her head hidden. “I am your pet. I am your pet. I am your pet.”

Without another word spoken, Nightmare Moon transformed on the night wind, shifting to a haze of purple mist that floated away towards her next destination.

The mumbling from the curled up pony continued. “I am your pet. I am your pet. I am your pet.”

For several minutes it went on with no change. The same phrase repeating over and over. Images of what she had done went through her mind. The things she said to Twilight. The fear of what Nightmare Moon would do to Rarity. Of what Nightmare Moon would do to everypony.

“I am your...pet. I am... I am...”

What Nightmare Moon would do to anypony. Especially to those ponies that hurt her in the past. Like Celestia. And Twilight Sparkle. And Twilight’s friends. Rarity. The sobbing left Trixie’s voice.

“I am. I am,” she raised her head up from the ground, tears no longer falling. “I am...Trixie.”

She struggled to her hooves, resting uneasily as her balance came back to her. Nightmare Moon was evil. She was nothing to be feared. She was something to be stopped.

“I am Trixie,” she said to herself clearly and precisely. “I am The Great and Powerful Trixie.”

There was no trace of fear left anywhere on Trixie’s face, but there was the cold chill of anger.

“I am The Great and Powerful Trixie, and right now, I am pissed off.”

* * * * *

“Tell us, our formerly-faithful-student,” Celestia began, “how is it that you are still standing? You should be as unconscious as your friends.”

“I--I don’t know,” Twilight stammered as she backpedaled away from the princess. “It just went past me.”

“And what magic did you use to do this?” Celestia moved with Twilight’s every step, keeping pace with the frightened unicorn. “What magic do you possess that can challenge us?”

“I’m not challenging you, princess. I just want to help you.” She stumbled and fell backwards, landing firmly on her flank.

Save me.

Twilight looked at the princess, confused. “I am trying to save you, princess. That’s what I’m saying.”

“We don’t need to be saved, Twilight. We need to be obeyed. We need everypony to love and trust our guidance,” Celestia’s eyes burned down as they stared at her rebellious student. Flames licked along the ground, dancing across Twilight’s hooves as they played on the white earth of Equestria. They went unnoticed by Twilight Sparkle, who stared up at the goddess.

Twilight, save me. It spoke again. Clearly Celestia’s voice, but Twilight was watching the princess. Her mouth never opened.

“Princess?” she asked, not directed towards the flaming goddess in front of her.

“We are disappointed in you, Twilight,” the flaming Celestia said. “We thought that you, of all ponies, would be there for us always. Now, with a heavy heart, we must weigh judgment upon you.”

“Princess, what do I do?” Twilight asked in desperation.

Save me. Restore me. The voice replied just before the flaming Celestia did.

“You seek our mercy?” She arched an eyebrow as she looked at the seated pony. “Never let it be said that Celestia is without kindness.” She brought her hoof up to rub her chin for a moment. “We need you to restore faith. An act of contrition.”

The world rushed up to Twlight Sparkle. Images from the past four months flashed in her brain, as pieces fell into place. Restore. A light dawned in her eyes. It was clear what she had to do.

“I--I want to prove my love to you, princess.” Twilight swallowed back fear as she stood up. “Please, allow me to show you.”

“And what do you propose?” Celestia asked.

“One single night, four months ago, was the greatest moment in my life. The night that I was allowed to pleasure you. I would be honored to do so again,” Twilight said through very unsteady nerves.

Celestia pulled her head back, recoiling from the words she just heard. “You propose physical pleasure? Here? Now?”

“Yes, my princess,” Twilight answered, stepping closer to Celestia. “It is always the right time and place to show the one you love most just how much you love her. Let me show you.”

Twilight stepped into the corona of Celestia’s flame, her heart racing as she did. This would prove her theory--or cause her to run screaming in pain. The fire cascaded around her body, swallowing her up completely. And doing no harm at all.

“How are you not on fire?” Celestia asked. “What magic is this?”

“This isn’t magic, my princess. This is my love for you,” she answered hastily. “My heart burns for you with a heat that is only matched by your radiance.”

“We do not--” Celestia was cut off by Twilight Sparkle’s kiss. The unicorn rushed forward, stretching up to bring her lips into direct contact with the taller mare. Twilight could feel the fire brushing over her lips and playing with the inside of her mouth, but all the heat came from the passion of the kiss and not the flame.

Twilight pressed her tongue past Celestia’s lips, which opened to receive the visitor. The two tongues frolicked together, playing in Celestia’s mouth. Twilight pulled back, a trail of burning saliva connecting the two mouths for a moment before snapping.

“Please, my princess,” she looked at her with half-lidded eyes, “please let me pleasure you.”

Celestia took a deep breath, staring down at Twilight who stood so seductively before her. “We will let you.” Her voice was thick and husky as she spoke. “But not on this ground.”

Her eyes turned to pure white as Celestia’s magic went to work. The stone of the area moved, rearranging itself to her will, bringing up massive columns of what looked to be polished white marble and a stone floor covered in a massive inlay version of Celestia’s cutie mark. Fire spun off of the goddess, spiraling out into the middle of the chamber, forming itself into a massive, luxurious circular bed, covered in soft, red pillows.

“This is a more appropriate place for a goddess to receive pleasure,” Celestia said as she stepped towards the huge bed. In her mind, Twilight was aghast. Had the princess always possessed this level of power? To be able to conjure this from nothing was unheard of. On the outside, she valiantly kept her composure and followed to the bed.

“And what did you have in mind, Twilight?” Celestia asked.

“For now, my princess, simply lie back and let me tend to you, please,” she answered, sliding up next to the mare and nuzzling her neck gently.

“We...like this idea,” Celestia breathed out. “Proceed.”

Twilight smiled as her tongue came out to lick along the princess’ neck, followed by a series of kisses. Intermixed, she let her teeth nip on the burning coat, just enough to cause a gasp from the powerful mare. Celestia lay back, her wings stretching out to either side of her large frame, occupying the majority of the bed. Twilight moved some of the pillows with her magic, putting them beneath the neck and head of the mare to allow her a better view of what was happening.

The kisses trailed down Celestia’s neck, with Twilight briefly stopping at the nape of the neck, to increase the pressure at the erogenous point where the neck joins the body. She momentarily thanked the time she spent reading about pony physiology before she kept moving.

Her forehooves strayed down from Celestia’s chest, wrapping around until they met with the princess’ wings. She brushed against them, realizing how sensitive they were from their previous encounter, and drew a warm sigh from Celestia.

Kissing down the chest, Twilight let her hooves linger on the wings as long as possible before sliding them down with the rest of her body. Stringing a series of kisses across Celestia’s stomach, she moved her hooves out and around, taking them beneath the princess’ rear legs and letting them fall directly onto her flank. She massaged and kneaded the flank of the mare, even as she moved her lips lower.

Her lips met Celestia’s inner thigh, even as her cheek brushed gently against the goddess’ marehood. Twilight felt Celestia’s forehooves reach out and gently stroke her mane as she continued to lavish kisses, tongue, and teeth against the willing flesh.

She moved inward, suddenly finding herself facing Celestia’s dripping wet sex. She stared at it for a moment. This was a new experience for her. She had kissed plenty of times in the past, and had some sexual experience, but she had never actually...performed...on a mare before. Even in a moment like this, with so many lives on the line and the possible fate of the entire world hanging in the balance, she paused to think about what to do next, her nerves fluttering in her stomach.

With a heavy breath, Twilight lowered her muzzle down to place a kiss on Celestia’s lower lips. A moan came from the throat of the goddess, encouraging her to continue, and Twilight repeated the action, again kissing the outer lips of Celestia’s marehood.

Twilight looked up, finding the eyes of Celestia staring back down at her, desire filling them with a heat more brilliant than her flame. Celestia’s mouth was hanging open, her breath heavy, as Twilight let her tongue slip out of her mouth and into the waiting slit beneath her.

“Mmmmm, yes,” Celestia moaned as her head rolled back, taking her eyes away from Twilight.

Deciding to let instinct take over, Twilight continued to let her tongue work up and down the lips of Celestia’s pussy. Her analytical mind would not stop working, though, and she pondered the taste of the sun goddess’ nether juices. Sweet and tangy. Those were the words that first came to mind as she continued to lick up and down, feeling combined juices from her mouth and Celestia’s cunt begin to intermingle and soak the coat around her mouth.

Pushing her tongue out as far as she possibly could, Twilight plunged into Celestia’s hole, feeling the tunnel expand to accept her intrusion. She began to move her head, thrusting her tongue in and out, fucking the goddess with her mouth. Immediately, Celestia found the rhythm and began to push back against the unicorn’s tongue.

Having trouble keeping up with her, Twilight brought her legs back around, locking them around Celestia’s thighs to keep herself anchored against her pussy as the two of them bucked against each other.

Alternately, Twilight began to pause between thrusts, licking up the length of Celestia’s slit and making sure to spend a moment on the engorged clit that waited at the top of the opening.

“Yes! Right there!” Celestia commanded when Twilight’s tongue touched her sensitive nub.

Responding to the physical cue, Twilight stopped thrusting and focused her attention on the clitoris. She didn’t want to over-stimulate the princess, but rather bring her to a steady crescendo. She kept her tongue soft and guided it across the surface of the clit, and then surrounded it with licks that went back-and-forth across the vaginal lips. She punctuated these actions by stopping and taking the whole clit into her mouth with gentle suction, and letting her tongue play with the isolated nerve bundle.

Celestia was in ecstasy. Her moans filled Twilight’s ears, and her forehooves clutched at the pillows nearby, pulling them towards her repeatedly. Twilight was relentless, continuing to tease and pleasure Celestia’s clit and opening with her tongue.

Twilight’s face was coated with the signs of her work, and the sounds filling the room told her that it was a job well done.

A strong, guttural moan was accompanied by Celestia grabbing Twilight’s mane and pulling her against her cunt, juices flowing from it like water as the goddess came. Twilight stayed there, drinking in the liquid as best she could, swallowing it down. It seemed to flow forever to the unicorn, but she kept at it, not wanting to disappoint. Not right now.

Eventually, Celestia loosened her grip on Twilight’s mane, and the unicorn was able to pull back, her forehoof wiping the excess cum from her lips as she sat up.

Looking up from her position, Celestia smiled. “You do love us, don’t you?”

“I’ve always loved you, princess. I would do anything for you,” Twilight explained honestly.

“Then you deserve a reward. Name it, and we shall make it happen,” Celestia said.

Twilight swallowed back her fear. This was the opportunity that she wanted. That she needed. Hopefully the next part would go as smoothly.

“I--I do have something...” Twilight trailed off.

“Speak it!” Celestia ordered.

“Would...you play with my horn?” Twilight said softly.

“You wish our hooves on your horn?” Celestia asked, her smile turning into a smirk.

“No,” Twilight answered quickly. “I mean, yes, I do, but...I was thinking more about your mouth.”

“You want our lips on your horn, then?” Celestia slid forward, bringing her muzzle closer to Twilight. She bent down and kissed the unicorn, this time pushing her tongue into Twilight’s mouth and exploring. She held it only for a moment. Celestia’s flaming mane looped down, covering Twilight in a warm embrace, but still doing no damage to the smaller mare.

“Yes, please,” Twilight answered earnestly.

Celestia’s tongue came out and licked the base of Twilight’s horn, flicking around the place where it joined her body. That first action was almost enough for Twilight to lose control. No pony had ever done that to her before, and the sensation was far better than she thought it was going to be.

“Like that?” Celestia asked, pulling away from the horn for a moment. She brought her hoof up to stroke the shaft of the horn as she spoke into Twilight’s ear. “We have centuries of experience, little pony. We will try to make this special for you.”

“Please,” Twilight begged.

Removing her hoof, Celestia ran her tongue up the length of the shaft, pausing when she reached the top to swirl it around the point. She stayed there, letting her tongue play with the tip as her hoof moved back to the base of the horn, gently rubbing it. And then she took the horn into her mouth.

Twilight moaned. The pleasure was so amazing. Beyond anything that she imagined. The feeling of Celestia’s tongue working along the ridges of her horn as her lips pulled and sucked on it sent wave after wave of primal delight slicing through Twilight’s brain. She could feel her magic already building at the base of the horn.

Celestia began to bob her head up and down, taking in more of the horn with every downward motion. And then she moved her hoof and took the entire thing down her throat. Twilight froze, her flesh tickling with electric lust as this creature swallowed her horn. She wanted to cum. To release her magic there and then down Celestia’s throat, but she couldn’t. Not yet.

Not if she was going to save the princess.

Bringing her hoof back into play, Celestia let the slick moisture of her saliva lubricate the horn, allowing her to twist her hoof around it with every plunge of her mouth. She quickly built up a tempo, driving deep down Twilight’s horn before pulling back so only the tip remained in her mouth. And then she began to hum.

Twilight’s eyes crossed. She was fighting so hard not to release her magic just yet. She could feel the build-up inside her, seeking release, but she had to wait. She had to have all her magic behind this--and more.

Experience told Celestia that Twilight was ready to explode. She increased her tempo, sucking hard on the horn as she pulled back while expanding her throat out to accommodate the length on the way down. She smiled, content to know that this little unicorn was no match for her carnal skills.

“Princess...please...” Twilight was barely able to form words, “let me...cum in...your mouth.”

A laugh was Celestia’s only answer. As though there was going to be another option for her unicorn lover.

Twilight screamed. Unlike Celestia’s moan, this was a base scream from the core of her being, piercing the silence of the night. And with it came the magic from the core of her being. It erupted from her horn, filling Celestia’s mouth as the goddess thrust the horn down her throat, letting the magic spill into her completely.

With the last bit of strength and reason that Twilight had left, she reached up and grabbed Celestia, pulling her down onto her horn, forcing her to swallow. Wave after wave shot out of Twilight and into Celestia, pouring magic both foreign and familiar into her being.

Suddenly aware of what was happening, Celestia tried to pull free, but Twilight held onto her with all her might. Though she was much smaller than the alicorn, Twilight Sparkle was debatably the most tenacious being in all of Equestria.

Twilight held onto the fighting figure until she felt completely spent, and then let go. Celestia immediately pulled back, her eyes ablaze--but the rest of the fire surrounding her body suddenly fading. Only her eyes, mane and tail remained aflame. “What did you do to me?!” she shouted down at Twilight.

Falling into a heap onto the pillows, Twilight fought to keep her eyes on Celestia. “Come back, princess. Please, I know that you can do it.”

“What do you mean? I--”

“That’s right: you!” Twilight interrupted. “Not ‘we,’ but you. You are a single pony. The best of all of us. And we need you. Not the creature you were becoming. Please, princess, come back.”

Celestia stared down at Twilight, her face twisted in anger, and yet all she did was stare. The anger in her face twitched and faded. And then the flame that ignited her tail was extinguished, immediately followed by the burning mane. She stared down, her eyes burning with something other than hate, and then fading back to become the clear eyes of the kind princess of Equestria.

“T-Twilight?” Celestia gently identified the pony beneath her.

“Princess?” Twilight answered.

She fell down, wrapping her hooves around Twilight’s weak form, embracing her tightly. Twilight responded, hugging back as strongly as she could muster.

“Is it you, princess?” Twilight asked.

“It is. It is,” she pulled away, tears streaming down her face as she looked at her prized pupil, “thanks to you.”

“I wasn’t sure that was going to work,” Twilight said. “I heard your voice calling to me, and I realized it was the pure part of you that was speaking to me. The part that hadn’t been corrupted. The part that I...stole.”

“You stole nothing, my faithful student,” Celestia smiled. “You cannot take what is freely given. And besides, you had the good courtesy to return it to me.”

“So, I really had a piece of you inside me that whole time?” she asked.

“Yes, you did,” Celestia answered. “Not on purpose, mind you, but I am so glad that this accident occurred. I suppose that is why I have felt so weak lately. You had a portion of my power, unbeknownst to either of us. But if you hadn’t harbored it--hadn’t kept it pure of the corruption that I put myself through--there might have been no coming back for me.”

“Are you okay, princess? Is that...bad...side of you gone for good?” she asked.

“I believe so, yes. The fragment you shared was enough to let me fight it off and destroy it. It has left me rather weak, though,” Celestia stated.

“I know how you feel. I think I could sleep for a week,” Twilight said. Her eyes suddenly opened wide. “Hey! I think I can sleep! I’m tired!”

“You will have to explain why this is exciting news to me, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia was confused.

Twilight laughed. “Don’t worry about it, princess. Just another side effect of having a piece of you inside me.”

“Oh my, what a touching scene.” Twilight and Celestia both turned to look at the newly arrived pony, their faces becoming ashen when they saw her face.

“Now, how do you think I can add to this moment?”

The corner of Nightmare Moon’s lip curled up into a sneer.

...to be concluded.