Praise the Night

by Dusk Melody

Rating: mature
Tags: Princess Luna, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Fetish, Other, Romance, Sex, Slice of Life
Length: 5542

Following the open mic event at Caffeinated's coffee shop, Luna, Mapper and Coffee Bean share a bed - and each other - and reflect on the night's events.

Following the open mic event at Caffeinated's coffee shop, Luna, Mapper and Coffee Bean share a bed - and each other - and reflect on the night's events.

A side story in the Wilyverse, this takes place between chapters 8 & 9 of Wildfire 2: Releasing the Flame

Contains: F/F/F threesome, sensual preening, oral, lots of love and cuddles Dark tag is present for the nature of part of the conversation.

Published 2016-12-25 11:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-12-25 11:00:01 UTC

Worshipping the Moon

Following the events that had just transpired in the Mare’s Room, Mapper was convinced now that she’d seen it all. Watching Luna magically repair Wildfire’s wings…well, that had to rate as one of the most intense moments of her forty three year life. ‘Well…top five anyway…’ she thought to herself with a wry grin. “I will enjoy sharing your bed,” the pink unicorn said at the top of the wide stairs as she led the way to an empty bedroom, “But if you want some one on one time with your Priestess I can join the other two.”

“I'd very much like you with us, Mapper.” Luna replied as she followed the unicorn into the nearest bedroom on the left of the first floor hallway. Luna noted the layout of the large bedroom. To her right was a twelve by twelve foot bed, easily big enough for eight ponies, centred on the far wall. There was a walk in closet and bathroom on the left, entertainment centre on the wall opposite the bed. Large windows on either side of that and two windows on the right wall allowed for plenty of natural light during the day. On the other side of the bed was a door to the balcony.

Looking around the room, Luna was most impressed with the bed. “I swear this bed is bigger than my own.”

Mapper laughed, “Needs to be, to sleep at least eight in comfort.”

“I'm sure your room is very pretty.” Coffee Bean spoke up immediately.

Luna shrugged, “My palace suite is alright. It suits my needs.” Upon closer inspection, Luna noted the utilitarian nature of the room, in particular the 'hotel' quality paintings above the bed. ‘Maybe Dusk's friend Oils can improve that…’ she thought. Get Caffy to bring you over and I'll show it to you.”

Mapper giggled, “I'll drag her along with me and Serenity. She can keep my Pet occupied.”

“That’s settled then.” Luna smiled, “You know I bet Dusk's new stallion could do something with these paintings.”

“They seem okay,” the Priestess agreed, “But not as beautiful as you.” She said as Mapper make her way around to the far side of the bed.

“Coffee Bean you flatter me.” Not that she was above such flattery, though. “Keep it up and I just might take you for a flight in the morning if you'd like.”

Coffee Bean smiled up at her Goddess, “That would be nice, you take me home maybe visit for a short time?”

Luna nodded, “Certainly. For now though I think Mapper is lonely on the bed.”

“Do you wish to be between us Mungu wa Usiku?”

“Indeed I would.” At that, Coffee Bean followed Luna onto the bed and as the midnight blue alicorn laid down next to Mapper, the white zebra laid close to her other side.

Mapper couldn’t resist, “A unicorn, an alicorn, and an earth pony walk into a bar…”

“Ouch!” Luna interrupted her with a little giggle.

“Har, har…” Mapper stuck out her tongue and Coffee Bean giggled.

“Sorry Mapper,” Luna composed herself, “Please continue.”

Mapper looked shocked, “That wasn't funny enough?” Smiling, the pink unicorn rolled over onto her back up against the Princess and nuzzled under her chin.

“Hmm…I like this better…”

Making full use of the distraction, Coffee Bean reared up and slid her tongue into Luna’s ear, causing the lunar alicorn to squeak in surprise and she reflexively caressed the old zebra with her wing as the Priestess nibbled her way down her neck and Mapper continued to work her way under her chin.

“Ooh…oooh that's niiice…” Luna moaned out loud, stroking the zebra’s flanks with her wing while Mapper used her forehoof to steady the alicorn’s head and continued to nip and kiss her as she become aware that Coffee Bean was heading for where her wing protruded from her barrel.

When she was able, Luna offered brief little kisses to Mapper’s lips, though she was completely distracted by where the zebra was going. “C-Coffee Bean...I'm tickli…t-that's a sensitive spot…”

“I know, Goddess.” Coffee Bean replied as her forehoof slid under the Princess’s wing and she opened her mouth to lick the sensitive wing joint and probe the area with her tongue.

Mapper smiled, “Laughter is the best medicine.”

“Hehehoohaha!” Luna tried – and failed – to fight back her fit of giggles, “N-Naahahaho…n-not fair!”

With her mouth full of feathers and fur, Coffee Bean couldn’t speak to answer her, instead Mapper chuckled, “Fair Princess? Life is a game of chance and you've rolled well.”

“Teehee…yes I…I really have.”

Seeing the Priestess at work, Mapper grinned a sly devious grin. “As much as I love the taste of your lips, I must leave you now.” Before Luna could question what she meant by that, she quickly curled up, sliding her leg under her other wing and sensuously mouthed that joint.

“Oh-hohoheehee! No...No...Oh no...” Luna squealed with laughter, her powerful wings spread out to their full eight and a half foot span, fluttering as both pony and zebra rubbed at the space between her wings with a delicate hoof that was wrapped around and under the wings. “Hmm…” she wanted to giggle and moan at the same time, “A little lower...” almost immediately, both hooves moved lower down her lithe body as the mares started to emerge from behind her wings. “That's the spot, just there....oooh!”

Keeping a hoof each in the centre of Luna’s back both mare’s moved to preen her secondary feathers closest to her body. Coffee Bean worked her left wing while Mapper attended to her right. “Airmail and Tempest have given me much practice, Goddess.” The white zebra murmured as she worked.

“Us. They’ve given us much practice.” Mapper corrected with a feather in her mouth.

“Nggh!” Luna grunted under the perfect attention she was receiving. “I-I can tell...oooh...you've done this...aaah...before!”

Coffee Bean paused, “Mabawa yako ni kivuli ambayo inalinda sisi kutoka mwanga. Mikia yako nyota kuongoza yetu. Nywele yako huleta faraja. Neno lako ni sheria na wewe ni tu.” Once the prayer to the Mistress of the Night was completed, the Priestess slowly dragged her tongue over the shimmering feathers.

Luna couldn’t help but blush, her intense blush even colouring her midnight blue fur as she heard the prayer. ‘Your wings are the shadow that protects us from the light. Your tail the stars to guide us. Your mane brings us comfort. Your word is law and you are just.’ She’d heard it many times before of course, but never before uttered with such devotion and sincerity. “Thank you Coffee Bean, my subjects are everything to me.” She squirmed under the preening, starting to get more than a little wet, and not just from the preening.

As they moved in unison from her secondary feathers to her primaries the two mares could no longer keep a hoof on the alicorn’s broad back. Luna whimpered, “If…aaah…if you could just suck the primaries after nipping them...Tavi does it just so…”

“Hatua ya pili,” Mapper announced, to which Coffee Bean murmured her agreement.

Luna tried to ready herself, wondering what in Equestria the ‘next step’ could possibly be, when the preening that had been sensual became wonderfully erotic. Already wet between her hind legs, both from the preening and from the devoted adoration from her Priestess, Luna almost lost herself in a world of utter bliss as tongue, teeth, lips and hooves began gently, very gently, tugging and pulling, began realigning feathers amid snorts of air.

Coffee Bean could feel the heat rising in her Goddess, happy was she that she was doing such a good job to one she revered so much. “Wewe kushikilia mwezi na nyota. Wew kushikilia sisi katika kwato yako.” She said as she nipped the primary just as she had been asked.

“Gaaah!” Luna squeaked at the dextrous tongues and teeth that worked so expertly on her feathers, the next line of the prayer – ‘You hold the moon and the stars. You hold us in your hoof’ - making the alicorn drip from her marehood. Both mares at her wings were snorting a veritable storm, blowing hot air through her feathers as the lapped away aligning the barbs along the vanes.

Luna felt a familiar tingling sensation begin to build in her sex, which was only getting wetter the more the mares worked her wings, and the more Coffee Bean revered and adored her. “Oooh…oh holy Goddesses!”

“Wewe ni mungu takatifu. Tafadhali kuruhusu waturmishi wako waziri na wewe.”

As the High Priestess completed the last line of the prayer, ‘You are holy Goddess. Please allow your servants to minister to you.’ Luna heard it and threw her head back and screamed in ecstasy, “S-Service me!” She cried out loud, pleasure from the preening, as well as the sheer devotion, pushed the lunar alicorn right up to her edge. “Muurrrr…” Luna purred as she came, wetting the bit of bed where she was sitting as she did so.

Finishing up on the wings, Mapper and Coffee Bean shared a satisfied look between them over Luna’s back. “I'll take over the massage while you see to your Goddess' pleasure.”

Nodding the Priestess smiled, “You are wise in your youth, Mapper.”

With the zebra’s seal of approval, Mapper moved to work on Luna’s back with both of her forehooves while Coffee Bean moved herself under the alicorn’s larger body to get to her ethereal tail. “Mimi atakayeonja milele!”

“Oooh Mapper...” Luna moaned as she felt knots and muscles along her back loosening under her talented hooves and without meaning to she lowered her rump slightly into Coffee Bean's muzzle so she could better taste the eternity she had boldly declared she would.

Underneath her Goddess, her muzzle pressed between her labia Coffee Bean lapped at the sopping wet marehood presented to her. “Oga yangu kwa utukufu wako!” She cried, determined to make her climax again.

Above her, Luna had no doubt whatever that she would indeed shower her, and with more than just glory, if she kept doing what she was doing as she felt her orgasm building with each lick of the tongue now deep inside her.

Moving a hoof to tease her nipples, Coffee Bean used her muzzle and lips probe at the drenched inner muscular walls of her marehood. “Kutoka tumbo kuzaliwa nyota na chuchu kwamba rangi yao nitakeyembusu mwezi lako tkufu!”

That did it. Hearing that line pushed Luna well over the edge that she had been cresting for the last few minutes. “BUUuuuUUUCK!” She screamed at full volume the climax that had been building in her since the preening started, soaking her High Priestess’s face as for a brief moment she sat down upon her, forcing her old muzzle deep inside her so that she came again for a second time before she finally lifted herself up to allow the gasping mare to breathe, her cum still seeping from her as she did so. In her daze, Luna wondered where ‘From the womb that birthed the stars and the teats that coloured them I kiss your glorious moon.’ Had come from, it wasn’t any prayer she was familiar with. But it was damned hot.

“Mimi kuoga katika utukufu wa Mungu wa kike na kuwa na nafasi ya msamaha.” The Priestess murmured, offering her praise to her Goddess even as she drank every bit of her essence that landed on her muzzle.

Luna panted heavily, reaching a little mini climax from the vibrations of Coffee Bean's speech, plus being told that she was bathed in the glory of the Goddess didn’t hurt either. She really didn’t know what to make of it all. This level of devotion was usually only directed at her sister, never at her.

At her back, Mapper giggled as she continued to work her massage. “I've heard of being turned on by dirty talk, but I'll have to let Junior Pet know you find adoration to be quite the turn on.”

“You saying you wouldn't be turned on by a gorgeous pony worshipping your marehood?”

“Labda wanyama wadogo maahitaji ya kujifunza pundamilia.” Coffee Bean offered as she delved back into Luna’s marehood for a second helping of her sweet cum.

“T-There are...aaaaah s-sweeeeet Mother!” Luna screamed as she wet the zebra with a third climax, “M-Many things...Tavi should learn...ooooh…zebran is aaaah…one of them.”

Laying on her back between Luna’s hind legs, Coffee Bean said with a heavenly smile on her old muzzle, “Nimeonja chemchemi ya usiku na ladha fyller utupu kati ya nyota.”

Mapper snickered, “Now I know where Caffy gets his poetry streak.”

Luna slumped forward to her knees, somewhat overwhelmed and smiling a very wide smile with the afterglow of her three climaxes, she didn’t really care at that moment. What she did care about, very much indeed, was the loving attention that Coffee Bean was lavishing upon her with soft cleaning laps of her tongue and gentle kisses. Deciding some reciprocation was in order, and with the zebra easily reachable by the larger mare as she was laid on her side with her rump under her wing, Luna bent her neck down and began to blow softly over Coffee Bean's exposed sex before trailing delicate kisses up a hind leg and stopping just short of her target.

“Tamu Mungu wa Usiku!” The Priestess squealed in shocked surprise, “Nimekuwa akambusu na utukufu wa kivuli cha ukweli!”

Luna giggled and lapped her tongue teasingly around thee zebra’s wet labia before she started to kiss and nip her way down her other hind leg.

Going on the attack, Coffee Bean ran her tongue from below Luna straight up her crotch between the centre of her wet lips to rest just under her tail.

Feeling the zebra’s tongue swirling around her tail-hole Luna moaned in sheer bliss for a moment before she remembered she was supposed to be pleasing her. Recalling the sneaky tickling, Luna withdrew her lips from Coffee Bean’s marehood and, snickering at the delicious little whine, she laid the tip of her horn against her clit and cast the spell to vibrate it.

As soon as she felt the wondrous vibrations from her Goddesses horn, Coffee Bean's licking stopped as she pressed her muzzle deep against her. “Kuon...yesha mimi hak...una hur...uma…”

Resolving to indeed show her no mercy, Luna increased the intensity of the vibrations from her spell, starting to bob her head to slide her horn inside the white zebra’s dripping wet marehood.

In heaven underneath the lunar alicorn, Coffee Bean shouted at the top of her lungs, “Mungu wa Usiku mimi kuja nyumbani kuwakaribisha yangu ndani ya kukumbatia yako!”

Snickering at the thunderous applause and cheers of encouragement from the other bedrooms, Luna removed her now glistening horn and replaced it with her dextrous tongue, lapping deep inside Coffee Bean’s soaking wet tunnel before taking her clit in her lips and sucking on it hard until the old mare let loose a stream of pure love as she gasped for breath.

Lapping it up gently, Luna planted soft kisses all around Coffee Bean's lips as the exhausted old mare uttered, “Una kuheshimiwa sana binti yako…” through panting breaths.

“It was my pleasure to honour my daughter,” Luna smiled as she rolled off of her and laid out on the expansive bed next to Mapper.

Coffee Bean yawned as weariness finally overcame her. “Thank you Luna, for being here.”

“Again, it was my genuine pleasure, Coffee Bean”

Mapper snickered, “You've done well, Princess.”

“Aww…” Luna smiled as she watched the old zebra close her eyes, “I've tired out my Priestess.”

“I do believe it is a happy tired.” Mapper affirmed as she reached up and nuzzled Luna’s cheek. “What of you? You've had quite the work out tonight.”

For a brief moment, Luna was considering going another round with the pink unicorn, then she flexed her back and her shoulders and realised all her knots were completely gone she smiled at her friend. “Actually, I’m all for a cuddle, Mapper.” When the unicorn nodded her agreement, the two ponies snuggled up together like lifelong lovers at the end of the bed opposite the sleeping zebra.

“What do you think our naughty Pets are up to?” Mapper asked as her head found a particularly comfy spot to rest at the top of the Princess’s foreleg.

“Well,” Luna replied, “If I know my Tavi at all, she'll be cuddling Wildfire like she used to cuddle Dusk. Then she'll be preening those lovely new wings.” She smiled as she wrapped the foreleg tightly around her friend.

Mapper, seeing the very rare opportunity to speak with Luna pony to pony, mare to mare, asked softly, “How many have gone before her? How many will come after her?”

Luna laid her head on Mapper’s shoulder as she considered her reply. Not many had asked that, either they didn’t care enough to ask r they were too intimidated by her to ask. She sighed deeply. “Before my absence, there were three mares that I loved, the last of them was a pegasus called Sky Dive. She and I were engaged – oh, big scandal for the age, trust me - just before I was sent away.” Luna took a deep breath, “There will be others, of course, after Tavi passes.”

“It is the way of things.” Mapper shrugged, “Your naughty Pet is a silly Pet too.”

Luna smiled, “So you've noticed?”

“She is silly to believe that pushing you away will save you from pain.”

Luna nodded, “I believe that's her intention, yes.”

“A selfish Pet she is.” Mapper said simply as she passed her judgement. “Then you do like to lavish attention on her, don't you?”

“More than anything, Mapper.” Luna agreed.

“Yes, but she'll not stop though.” Mapper pressed on, “She thinks each time she pushes it draws you closer.”

“I know. Her trouble is she thinks my attraction to her will fade as she does. Of course it will not.”

“Yes, she’s a silly naughty Pet. Love is not a mirror. If she stopped though you’d worry more than having her push, right?”

Luna’s voice was barely audible, “That's right.”

“Would you like it to happen less often?” Mapper asked without looking up at the Princess.

“Tavi trying to make me leave her you mean?” Luna asked in turn, “Yes I'd like it to happen less. I swore to her on our wedding day that I'd be with her always.”

Abruptly, Mapper changed the subject. “Serenity's needs are...extreme. So extreme in fact that it split our little herd. Now we have hope that foals will bring us back together.” Mapper sighed as she was about to open up to what was essentially a stranger. But, she sensed they were sharing what was to be honest a rare moment of honesty and reflection for them both. “I broke her so the needs she has are not as frequent.”

Luna, laid beside her new friend, held in her embrace, felt the ‘moment’ between them both. “Needs such as what happened earlier?”

“No,” Mapper laughed, “Nothing so mild as that.” Mapper’s voice went ever so slightly monotone as she continued, “I would have to flail her hide, she would run rivers of blood to appease her needs. Airmail…Airmail couldn't take it.”

“I understand,” Luna nodded, “I confess I was amazed how well Serenity took that pain in the Mare’s Room.”

“Yes,” Mapper continued, her magenta eyes focussed on a point that the alicorn couldn’t see. “Extreme. She wouldn't do self-injury, she tried it and said the pain tasted sour. She would destroy things though to get my attention.” The pink mare paused for just a moment, “Still, ten broken bones, it must've been excruciating. In a way, I'm glad she did it, I was...hesitant to put Wildfire through it all over again.” Now, Mapper did look up at Luna, her eyes wet with what she was about to share. “One day, with Serenity, I forgot myself. I forgot my love for her. It is the only time she has ever used her safe word. We were lucky Caffy's tribe have some good healers. It was then I knew I would have to break her so that I could live with myself.”

Luna didn’t want to break the moment so she simply pulled the pink unicorn tighter into the cuddle as she carried on. “I would chain her to a spot where she couldn't break anything and leave the instrument of pain next to her, but I wouldn't use it on her. One day she did no wrong and I whipped her soundly. That day she looked at me with adoration and became my slave. She still has needs, but they have been tempered. I try to spank her daily. She will still be naughty, but not destructively so. I find a reason to whip her at least twice a month.” Mapper paused for longer than a moment now as she left that statement hanging in the air. “Your pretty mare needs to know her beauty.”

The Princess nodded, “Octavia is a fool. She thinks I'll allow her to pass on without saying goodbye to her.”

“Yes she is,” Mapper agreed, “After all her son will outlive her too. She is selfish of your love. If she were my pet…” glancing up, she saw Luna’s questioning look, “When she next says she isn't pretty put her in an empty room with mirrors for the walls, floor and ceiling. Enchant them to make sure her earth pony strength can't break them. Ask her to decide for herself if she is pretty and leave her there for a day or more.”

Luna saw where Mapper was going with this idea and liked it, a lot. “As it happens we have a similar room, Tia likes her mirrors. It can be adapted to suit. If I'm honest, Octavia confuses me Mapper.”

“Mortality.” The pink mare replied simply.

“Ah…and my lack thereof.”

“Tell her you want her to be beautiful for ever and you'll trade your immortality for her mortality. She will react to that.” Mapper continued, “She would never allow you to do that. She couldn't watch you die. She needs to know that you can and will and seal her dying breath with your kiss.” Then a thought came to her, as they were laid there in each other’s legs. “Is it worth it Luna? Is it worth loving and losing, or is it better to never love at all?”

Luna didn’t have to even think of her answer. “Yes Mapper. I'd endure a lifetime, several lifetimes in Tartarus for one moment spent with my Tavi.”

“Ahh,” Mapper smiled, “Then you should know what it is she truly fears. That to you her life wasn't worth it. She doesn't fear dying before her son. She knows he believes her life was worthwhile. But you? Will her death be worthless that you might give into the Nightmare again? Her life of so little value you'll lash out in her passing? She fears what you will do when she dies.”

Luna listened, and she understood. Her and Celestia had shared many talks like this in the years following her return. “You ask if her life has little value, she's the only mare I've raised a foal with, the only mare I’ve wanted to raise a foal with. When Tavi dies I will mourn her. I will miss her. I will move on. She won't be gone though. I will have her memory, her beautiful music, and our son.”

“You have told her this, but do you take her to visit the loves of your past?”

“Oh yes.” Luna replied, “Every year on what would be Sky Dive's birthday she accompanies me to the cemetery. She waits with me while I'm there for hours on end. Together we visit her statue in the Royal Gardens.”

“Have you had your sister tell her what you did after that death?”

“No. Tia doesn't speak of the Nightmare, or anything regarding it. She refuses to even countenance what happened.” Luna replied solemnly.

“So,” Mapper asked, “Was that what pushed you over the edge?”

“You really want to know?” Luna asked, “While we're here baring ourselves?”

“I just want your Pet to be happy.” Mapper lifted her head and nuzzled the larger pony. “What dark secret does this mortal pony hold that you'd like to know?”

Smiling, Luna nuzzled Mapper in return. “Tell me why you bear such disdain for stallions, and I'll tell you why I gave in to the Nightmare.”

Mapper didn’t hesitate. “My mother was a whore. She doesn't know which trick was my father and which wasn’t. I love her though. If a trick ever thought the cute filly was part of the deal she would defend me. She would lose a trick to protect me. Stallions are takers.” Her tone grew resentful, “Like that damn Caffy, he is so good at the carnie games...too good…to Tartarus with me he always gave tickets after he got his plush for Thespy. She would talk with me. Found out my mate Airmail worked in the same building as Caffy. I don't judge all stallions by the tricks my mother turned, but I still have a hard time trusting. I'll die for this herd, but I'm not going to let one of the stallions mount me.”

Luna kissed her lips as lovingly as she could manage. “I understand you.” She said, then she recalled the conversation between herself, Tempest and Airmail in the kitchen earlier. “One question though, what if Serenity should bear a colt?”

“I don't know.” Mapper sighed and her voice cracked, “By your mane I just don't know. I'll not leave Serenity if it happens. I can learn to love a colt can't I? It's not like I can banish his father from our lives.”

Luna tightened her hugs. “My turn I believe.”

“No, not really,” Mapper shook her head. “I just want to know if Sky Dive's death was the root cause or the tripping stone?”

“Sky Dive…” Luna almost quailed at her cherished love’s memory, of reading her millennia old journal when she had returned, but she carried on. “Sky Dive died during my banishment. In the sixtieth year of my banishment. She died hating me and cursing my very name for what I did and that I wasn't there with her.”

“Ohh…how much of the root cause of the Nightmare does your Pet know?”

“Everything.” Luna replied, wiping her eyes, “I have never hidden anything from Octavia.”

“Hmm, you do have a silly Pet.” Mapper said with a little smile. “You need to visit Sky Dive more often, hug your Pet when you do. Talk to Sky and tell her about Octavia. Tell Sky it was her love that let you find love again. Tell Sky you've learned your lesson and you'll never abandon your lover again. Tell her these things while you hold your Pet. Let your Pet listen to your heart.” Mapper’s tone then became a little bit lighter. “Then tell cake butt to talk to you, Octavia, Dusk, and anypony else that will listen about the Nightmare. Like that Librarian. She can take notes or something. Your silly sister needs your healing too.”

Luna laughed out loud. “Sky Dive is my one real regret in my long life. That I never got to say I was sorry for leaving her, that I never got to kiss her goodbye. The first thing I wanted to do when the Elements of Harmony cleansed me was find her. I thought she still lived.” To Mapper’s questioning look she carried on, “You see, time moved different for me, it only seemed a few short decades that I was gone. You can imagine my shock when I found out it was a thousand years.”

“You slept those thousand years?”

“I…I don’t know, it’s hard to put my hoof on it. I was only vaguely aware of where I was, sometimes I was conscious, awake. Other times I wasn’t.” Luna sighed and kissed Mapper’s forehead. “It ripped me apart when Tia told me how much time had passed. That everything I knew, everypony I loved, was long dead. I…I’ve never felt so alone.”

Mapper returned the kiss and added a tender nuzzle. “Your pain isn't very special, not really.”

“I know that.” Luna nuzzled her friend affectionately. “It’s the mundane nature of my pain that surprises everypony.”

“Pain is real. Physical, Spiritual, Mental. Pain cannot be faked like happiness.” Mapper said gently. “To share your pain is to share your very self. You share your love with your Pet, but do you share your pain with her?”

“To my failing, no, not for a while.”

Mapper giggled, “Let your Pet taste your pain and she will know that you truly lover her with all of your being. It is a heavy burden, but one that two can carry better than alone. Even a weak mortal pony.” The pink mare said kindly as Coffee Bean sighed on the bed.

“Tavi is many things.” Luna replied, “I wouldn't call her weak. She has been strong for me in the past when others weren't.”

“She is a silly naughty pony.” Mapper countered, “Love her, punish her, and tell her of the future after she is gone. Tell her that you will love another to honour her love for you.”

Shedding the guise of sleep, Coffee Bean sat up. “Mungu wa Usiku walinzi milango ya kuzimu, mbinguni, na kifo. Yeye alama kupita kwamba wote. Wale ambao wanastahili uangaze katika anga la usiku. Wale ambao ni wasiostahili kuondoka uchaguzi moto.” Taking a breath, meeting Luna’s turquoise eyes, the High Priestess added, “Napenda kushiriki maumivu yako.”

Mapper shot her a wink. “Sneaky Priestess, pretending to sleep.”

“I know you would share my pain, Coffee Bean.” Luna said as she sat herself up a little on the bed. “Now we have sorted my Pet's troubles, may I ask about yours?” She asked of the pink mare, “How do you see Wildfire progressing?”

Coffee Bean snickered at the pink unicorn. “I'm troubled by the truth of who you are, but my faith will see me through. Wildfire is with Tempest and Airmail. They know love. Even the pink mare here knows love and it will be good to see them all together again.”

Mapper shot the zebra a deadpan look. “Your confidence underwhelms me.”

Luna laughed, “Mapper? Do you think she'll ever fully recover, mentally I mean?”

“Fully?” Mapper asked in turn, “What is fully? She will definitely be productive, probably be scared forever, and we will be sure that she will 'not' be Amethyst to her foal.”

“Yes,” Luna nodded, “That's the best outcome I think. As I said earlier, her progress from yesterday is amazing though.”

“She lost her pride in two things.” Mapper commented.

“Her scars and her ability to not use her safe word.”

“Those were big turning points alright.” Mapper smiled with a tinkling giggle. “She still has a Luna take care attitude about a lot of things. It will be a challenge to embarrass her like I could Junior Pet.”

Luna joined Mapper in her giggle. “It still beggars me how easily, how well, she flew through those suspension cables. Tartarus, if you told me she was fighting fires again I'd believe you.”

Mapper shot the zebra a sly look, “Wildfire is a lot like Coffee Bean. Full of Blind Faith.”

“And you are not Mapper?” The Priestess shot back immediately.

As Mapper nuzzled Luna’s cheek, the alicorn replied. “She is indeed. I don’t think there's much in the world that would embarrass her.”

Mapper shrugged, “I have plenty of time. I'll find something I can use. A lot of things depend on seeing other react, for her she would have to hear them react. Like Junior Pet, it was the shout outs in the coffee shop that finally did her in.”

“Yes.” Luna agreed, “She's been very fortunate in that regard so far. I fear that not everypony will be as sympathetic to her disability or to her scars.”

“Wildfire wears it as a badge still.” Mapper thought out loud, “That first night here she was wearing the blindfold all night.”

“That was on purpose for your parade I take it?” Luna asked curiously.

“Not to hide her scars, but to give her the illusion of blindness.” Mapper explained, “It was a fun parade.”

“Ni moshi na vioo.” Coffee Bean commented, earning herself a loud laugh from Mapper as the three mares got comfortable together on the bed.

Luna snickered at the Priestess’s ‘smoke and mirrors’ comment, “It'll be safe to assume she'll be 'mother hened' as you put it on the shopping trip tomorrow?”

“Thespian is going!” Mapper exclaimed with a snorted laugh. “She can out hen Tempest!”

“What concerns me,” Luna said as her laughter died away, “And I'm sure Requiem will report, is when she encounters less charitable ponies when her hens aren't around. I fear it won’t take much to undo all the good work we've started.”

Mapper shrugged. “Pain is real. I'll get Pet to share it and we go from there. You can't undo love.”