The True Self

She was back in the dreamscape—the twisting, and writhing world built within her own subconscious. Whereas before it was filled with evidence of her worry, now it was filled with her trepidation, her nervousness at the prospect of having to see Luna again. The thought of facing the elder Princess after what she witnessed the night before was something that made her shiver with anticipation, and wretch at that reaction. Two halves of her mind both yelled different things at her; one side told her that she was a deviant for even considering it to be any sort of sexually appealing. The other half was saying to hell with that, it was hot. That half was slightly more vocal, and as Cadence shifted in her dream world, she saw the faintest tinges of scarlet tinge the sky—evidence of her more carnal thoughts. She made to push those thoughts aside, and cast her mind towards more pressing issues.

Like the fact you'll have to watch Celestia and Twilight? a little voice in her head spoke in lecherous tones that made her skin crawl. She gritted her teeth. There was a reason she was lucid at the moment within her dreams, rather than enjoying a relaxing, pleasant dream. She was calling out to her Aunt again. They had things to discuss. And not how nicely her porcelain skin glistened in the moonlight, thank you very much!

She drummed her fingers on a table—unsure of when exactly she had sat down. There was no structure in her unconscious mind, because there was nothing she wanted to do in her lucid state. Normally she would be running, or flying, possibly even re-living happy memories, but now she was waiting, as she had been last night. Calling out to the only one that could visit her, the one she needed to see the most, and the one she didn't want to see the most.

Cadence kept drumming, turning the sounds into a little salsa rhythm to soothe her nerves. She didn't notice heels clacking on stone until the figure they belonged to was already behind her, as they blended into the rhythm

"Good evening, Cadence," a voice spoke to her. Soft, but confidently tinged with stone.

Cadence tensed up a little in shock, and let out a little sigh when she recognised the voice. Turning around to face her Aunt. Cadence recoiled a little at the woman's appearance. Rather than the usual, reserved and slightly somber look, the Lunar princess positively glowed. The corners of her mouth were permanently upturned ever so slightly, not enough for anyone except those that knew the Princess closely could tell. Her hair, which usually splayed about her shoulders like a halo, was tied back in a long ponytail that reached in between her shoulder blades. Her eyes were alight with something that Cadence had never seen before, and her posture was straighter; it made her seem all the taller, and she positively exuded an air of confidence that took Cadence's breath away.

While Cadence was fumbling for her words, Luna tilted her head to one side, and brushed aside a stray strand of her midnight blue hair, floating in front of her face as it was on an invisible breeze. "You called me here again," she said. "Is it to speak of last night?"

Cadence swallowed around a very dry mouth and nodded, smoothing down her dress. It took her a few moments to pull her thoughts back to the present, she hoped that the mistress of dreams couldn't see how utterly attractive the younger Princess found her at that moment. "Yes," Cadence said. "I wanted to... smooth things over, I suppose."

Luna nodded, stepped forward, and picked Cadence up into a warm embrace.

"Oh?" Cadence's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Her entire body was enveloped in warm, radiating heat. For some reason, Cadence always considered Luna to be cold. It wasn't often that she gave out hugs, and she had never given one to Cadence. It was all nods, respectful handshakes even—once she did get a pat on the back, though.

But here she was, being hugged by a Luna that she had never met before; a completely new woman that had stepped into the diarch's shoes. Perhaps Cadence really did help her, and she felt a little surge of pride in her chest at that, as Luna stroked over her back. "I wished to thank you," Luna gave Cadence a little squeeze. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me." Her voice was laced with sincerity, and she breathed a heavy, contented sigh.

Cadence hesitantly returned the hug, bathed in the crisp scent of Luna's perfume—like that of a winter's night. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she resisted the urge to bury her head into Luna's neck and inhale. A part of her was laughing, another part was trying to worm little fantasies into her head, and another part still was simply content. "You're welcome," the Princess of Love said, "but, what I did was—" she began to speak, to say how she should never have done what she did, telling her to love herself was good advice when it didn't lead to self-pleasure, if it could be called that.

"What you did was help me face myself." Luna cut her off, and pulled away. She kept her hands on the younger Princess's shoulders. "What I did was..." she trailed off and stepped away, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. "I took that a bit too literally. The mind is unguarded while it sleeps, my mind even struggles, so when I embraced my... poorer qualities, and saw them in a new light I..." she trailed off.

Cadence let the pregnant silence linger for a few seconds before deciding to break the tense air around them. "You were overwhelmed?" she offered.

Luna nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the subject. "You might say that."

Cadence gave out a little chuckle. At least she wasn't mad, and they could now move away from it. "Well, I'm glad it worked," she said. "It did work, yes?"

Luna closed her eyes, shrugging. "Nightmare is silent," she said. "I have peace of mind for the first time in a thousand years. Now," she turned around, clasping her hands as she gazed out over the ever-shifting landscape. "The time has come to help the others."

Cadence cleared her throat. "Are you sure you're okay with seeing Celestia... do that?"

Luna froze, and shook her head. "I will admit, I have spent the better part of the day considering the implications. But, there is no guarantee it will happen." She turned around with a smile. "Besides, if someone like you were able to help me one thousand years ago, I would want that help." She stepped up closer to Cadence. "Celestia will never want, nor ask for help. She believes herself strong enough to fight any enemy. I fear she is not strong enough to fight herself. You must help her instead."

Cadence smiled back. "That's a very selfless thing for you to do, Luna."

Luna nodded. "I just hope we are not too late."

"Only one way to find out," Cadence said, holding out her hand for Luna to take so they could exit her dream. "Only one way to find out a lot of things tonight."

Luna looked at the hand and arched an eyebrow. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Cadence nodded in reply. "Ready as I'll ever be. Will you be okay?"

"For my sister's sake, I must be." Luna straightened her back, and took Cadence's hand in an iron grip. Cadence felt vertigo overtake her, and they were gone.

Time was meaningless to an immortal. That wasn't to say it was unimportant, there were still dates to remember, activities to attend, celebrations to be had, and a life to live, but you would never see an Immortal move with any sense of urgency when attending to personal matters. The simple act of taking a break, of walking from point A to point B, would be so lax and leisurely that one would be forgiven for thinking their attitude cavalier. Time was simply a method by which subjects found meaning in their lives. Happiness could always be found, even in a century, and Celestia often took comfort in that. Though her subjects may have lived entire lives in the time it took her to blink, she would always ensure their happiness. It was just, the lives of Immortals were such that things lost urgency as she aged. She could always put off a personal errand until tomorrow, because for her there would always be a tomorrow.

So why then, if her life was indeed so relaxed and carefree when she removed her regalia, why then was she sprinting down a hallway, sweat pouring from her head in cold rivulets, and her chest constricting with fear?

She had never run from anything so fast in all her life. She had never run from anything in her life. In her long millennia of being alive, never once had she turned tail and fled. That thought alone was more frightening than whatever it was chasing her, that she should break her streak for this, whatever this was.

She came to a large atrium, surrounded on all sides by Romane pillars and Gothic moldings, forming archways of alabaster white. Two spires of marble rose into the sky, forming the entrance she had just come through, and another two mirrored their partners on the other side of the atrium. Around her, upon the keystones of each arch, sat a sconce alight with golden flame. Usually they would radiate warmth, banish the chill of the mountain air, but Celestia only felt an icy sensation grip her heart, deep within her chest. It sunk its fangs and talons into her, and would not release its hold. It reminded her of the Everfree Castle, where she faced her sister for their final confrontation. She felt the same coolness spread through her chest. She felt her heart shatter and her soul cry out while she sent her sister to the very Moon that she tried to use to destroy their fair nation. Except she didn't run that time. She wasn't a scared little girl.

"Celestia..."

That voice was enough to make her consider the truth to those words. She stiffened at it; it sounded like glass tinkling together, with all the gentleness of a Timberwolf's fangs. The sconces were replaced with an unnerving stillness, and a figure emerged from the dying light. The warmth and golden light of the sun was drawn into her, and coalesced into a burning that was neither friendly nor warm, but stifling, and burning. Celestia did not flinch. She recognised the armour, the nails that ended in golden points. The grandiose crown atop her head, and the wicked smile belonged to Daybreaker. "You again." The Princess felt the fear within her abate just a tad. She had a face to put to her fear; a figure to focus on, and a fight to win, should it come to that. She turned to one side so as to present the smallest possible profile to the other combatant, and they began to circle around each other in the circular atrium. "I thought Cadence commanded you to leave me be!"

Daybreaker cackled; a harsh sounding noise that sent a chill rushing down Celestia's spine. "Cadence? That sniveling worm?! I am worth ten of her. She took me by surprise," she had the good grace to admit that at least, "but that will not happen again!" She rushed for Celestia; a blaze of fire in her wake. Talons outstretched, and face twisted in a snarl.

Celestia willed her magic to flare to life, and did the only thing she could think of—she dodged. She winked out of existence, and reappeared behind Daybreaker. The other woman skidded to a halt, digging her golden heels into the marble, and leaving trenches in the smooth stone.

"I don't know what you are, or where you came from, but I will find a way to defeat you, even if it takes me a thousand years!"

Daybreaker threw her head back and laughed a full-bodied laugh. "Oh my dear, sweet, stupid Celestia," she wiped away a tear of mirth from the corner of one of her cat-like eyes. "I come from you. I am you. I thought your dear sweet Sister explained that?"

The Solar Diarch shook her head in abject denial. There was something familiar about this conversation, and a memory that danced along the edge of her mind like a winter mist at the edge of a field. "You can't be me," she said. "That is not possible!"

"Why?" Daybreaker sneered. "Because you're kind? Because you're pure?"

"Because I'm not callus!" Celestia shouted back. "I'm not a heartless wretch that seeks only power!"

"You are not you!" Daybreaker bellowed, bringing one hand up, and straight out. A torrent of fire boiled the air between them. Celestia could smell ozone and melted marble. A defensive barrier was hastily erected in front of her, but it was barely enough. The sheer force of the spell was enough to make Celestia take two shuddering steps back, to say nothing of the heat. "

I'm more of a Celestia than you could possibly hope to be!" Daybreaker continued, taking slow steps forward while she burned Celestia's barrier away, bit by bit. Celestia gritted her teeth, put all of her magic into the spell that she was willing to unleash. She had more, she had so much more, but she vowed not to use it.

Daybreaker had to shout over the roar of the flames, but that didn't stop her. "You are an ideal! You've been sculpted and forced into your ways by hundreds upon thousands of people under your rule! Over thousands of years your name has become synonymous with charity! With kindness! You have forgotten our origins, but I have not!"

Celestia looked up, and found Daybreaker to be launching her fire from less than a foot away./ Her eyes stung in the light, but she endured. Wisps of flame rose up around the alter-ego, blended in with the hair flying from her skull like agitated waves in an orange ocean, making her look far more terrifying. In a single moment of inaction, Daybreaker brought her hands close to her chest, then lunged forward, thrusting them out. A ball of white-hot plasma shattered Celestia's barrier and dissipated. The air blast was enough to knock her away, and the head singed her sundress a dark black, but she was unharmed. Her skin prickled, her dress smouldered, but other than that she felt nothing but fear.

"Celestia is power." Daybreaker stood back up, taking a deep breath, and flashing those wickedly-sharp canines at her counterpart. "Was power. Your name used to inspire awe, and fear, and you were worshipped where you stood! A thousand years ago, two, three, it doesn't matter! We weren't this snivelling, washed up fragment of ourselves!" She gestured wildly at Celestia. "We felt no guilt, we had no remorse but that for our own kin!"

Celestia's face twisted in anger. "That's not true?"

"No?" Daybreaker arched an eyebrow. "All the wars we fought, all the fights we marched into at the helm, we never shied away from using our full destructive force."

"We were arrogant," Celestia said.

"We?" Daybreaker grinned.

Closing her eyes, Celestia continued. "I was arrogant. I was young. I didn't know how to rule, so I did whatever I wanted, and innocent people suffered for it."

"Oh boo hoo," Daybreaker chided her, bringing her hands up to her eyes, pantomiming wiping away tears with over-exaggerated movements. "You used to think that sacrifice was the hallmark of a great nation. You never were one to turn your head to suffering and ignore it. You never sought to personally remedy it, you delegated, as any ruler would do. And now you are so bogged down with governing that we have no room to live." Daybreaker looked downtrodden. It was surreal to see the woman, who just a few moments ago had blasted Celestia across the room, seem so utterly pitiful.

Celestia remained guarded. She would not forget what had just happened just because of a pretty face. "What are you saying?"

Daybreaker sighed, and took graceful steps straight across the marble floor towards Celestia. She didn't radiate the aura of power, or of anger, or of terrifying raw strength. This time, there was something different in the way her hips sauntered about as she polaced one heeled-foot in front of the other, something predatory, but without twisting Celestia's heart in fear. It was confidence—assurance that she knew Celestia wouldn't try to move away this time. She was trying to distract Celestia so she wouldn't bolt away this time while she made her point. Thanks to the little display, it was working. "I am you." Daybreaker dropped her voice to a husky drawl. Celestia was startled out of her musings by how close the other woman had gotten. A hand was raised, and placed on Celestia's golden-tanned cheek. Confident orange eyes found harrowed and stunned fuschia, and locked them in place. "I am thousands of wasted afternoons, sitting in your study and signing legislation."

The tips of her fingers, dangerously clad in razor-sharp, armoured points, were cold against Celestia's skin. The palms, however, were warm enough that she could feel it coursing through her flesh in waves. The danger in this act made the Princess' breath hitch in her throat. She briefly wondered what she was doing; was she really thinking of the evil that stood before her as beautiful? When Daybreaker dragged her fingers down Celestia's cheek to rest upon her chin, her mind screamed 'yes' as shivers found their place dancing across her spine. Daybreaker cupped Celestia's chin with her index finger, running her thumb over Celestia's lips. Her orange eyes flitted about Celestia's face, studying it in detail, while Celestia found her back against the cold marble of a pillar.

"I am all the yearning you have to embrace your full potential once more. I am that potential," Daybreaker continued, stepping ever closer. "I am everything you want to be, in that I am free!"

"I'm perfectly free!" Celestia found her feet, so to speak, and finally slapped the hand away.

Stung, Daybreaker drew back with another mirthless cackle. "Are you really? Can you take the day off? Can you stop raising the sun one morning? Can you elope with a lover to Saddle Arabia for a few decades?"

Celestia's face flushed as she realised the answer to all of those things was #no'. "Things are different now. No one else knows how to raise the sun—"

"No!" Daybreaker cut her off. There it was again. The power, the force behind the alter-ego. Eyes wide and stance proud, Daybreaker looked like a threat again. "You are different!" Daybreaker declared. "You have forgotten who you were, and I'm here to remind you."

"You're here to take over, you mean," Celestia said. "You're here because you want power."

Daybreaker's lips tugged upwards in a malicious grin. "You're so sure of that, you must desire power, too."

"Never!" Celestia snapped back.

"We already rule a powerful nation," Daybreaker narrowed her eyes, "what more could there possibly be?" It wasn't a question directed at anyone but herself.

Celestia, rather than answer, snapped her mouth shut. Several seconds ticked by as Daybreaker paced, considering the answer to her own question, all while keeping her eyes glued to Celestia. If it was true what she said, and she really was a part of her, then what was she doing? Surely she should already know the answer? Or was she searching? Rifling through their shared memories, as she could do now, trying to find that hidden spark of desire that Celestia fought so hard to contain deep within herself? Of course she wanted power. She yearned for it as a flower yearned for the sun, but she abstained. She told herself, night after night when the thoughts found her in her vulnerability that she was content. There were no more wars to fight, there was no more territory or land to claim, there was no more.

"Nothing," She finally broke the silence. The single word shattered the delicate spell that had settled over the room, and Daybreaker seemingly snapped back into the current world. "I am at peace! I am content!"

Daybreaker's eyebrows arched downwards in an expression of sympathy. "You lie, and you lie," she covered the distance between them again. This time, her hand rested on Celestia's breastbone, just underneath her collar. Celestia gazed downward at the offending limb. It came to a rest just above where her sundress ended; concealing her body, but leaving her clavicle exposed for her torque to rest. Celestia tried to control her breathing, but her frantic heart beat so hard that she knew Daybreaker could feel it.

"I know what lurks in that lusting heart. It must be so agonizing, knowing that you could bring the world to its knees with a single spell," Daybreaker said to her. "To resist that urge day after day..." trailing off, she licked her lips slightly, and smiled. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you do still have strength."

"It's not my place..." Celestia shrunk under Daybreaker's domineering form, feeling as small as a mouse before a giant.

"Why not?" Daybreaker leaned in a bit closer. " Why shouldn't you rule?"

"We were only ever meant to act as guides." Celestia countered.

"Guides are for the blind and deaf. We are neither. Our people are neither," Daybreaker said. "We are so much more, we could be so much more. If you just gave in," as she spoke, her second hand trailed down to Celestia's waist, and pulled her closer. Their bodies crashed together, and Celestia took in a shuddering breath. She felt nothing but the armour plates and the strength behind the body that cradled her close, but she knew that Daybreaker could feel every one of her curves underneath her simple sundress.

"If you just saw things the way I do," Daybreaker continued, stroking her second hand over Celestia's hip, "we could bring this world into the light for good. Think about all the people in this world, united under one banner, in harmony. True, honest harmony."

The words were like honey to Celestia's ears. Her eyes fluttered shut for a second. The thought of a world united, the thought of culture after culture living in peace, no more chaos, no more politics save for one nation... The soft-spoken, silken words of a master temptress. The silver tongue that hid forks like a serpent's; a siren song in the night, drowning her in the promise of everything she ever wanted. It would be easy for Celestia to give in, let Daybreaker take over, take whatever she wanted. It would be oh so simple. Which is precisely why she couldn't bring herself to do it. She never took the path that was easy, for better or worse. "Under an imperial regime. Ruled by fear. That isn't a world I want," Celestia said, pushing Daybreaker away, and breaking free from her spell. "That isn't harmony."

Daybreaker smiled. Celestia didn't know if it was the disappointment or the elation that made her blood run cold. "I had hoped you would see reason, but I guess we'll have to do this the old fashioned way."

This time, Celestia wasn't going to go easy on her. No defensive spells, the only thing that came to her mind were all the myriad ways she could incinerate Daybreaker. She made a point of touching Celestia, making her feel powerless, and saying that the Solar Regent was stuck in a rut, where she wouldn't—or couldn't—use her full strength. The former was the truth; if she unleashed her full magic potential, it would be like a solar flare raging across the surface of the world, and she would not condemn her subjects to that. But, right here, with this abomination in front of her, such qualms went out the window.

Alicorns had a natural affinity for all things magic. The magic plane that was tethered to the planet was as much visible to them as the real world, if she only desired to look at it. Over the millennia, Celestia had learnt how to will those forces to be at her beck and call; attracting them as through some form of gravity. She did so now. She felt power surge through her, from her feet to her head. She practically thrummed with an ancient and powerful energy.

She felt the power, she felt the confidence flood her system. She could win. She would win. She would banish this monster to the deepest reaches of tartarus, and she would never let her out. She would rot, for all eternity, long after Celestia's sun had burnt out and reforged, long after the world cycled out to be replaced by another. Long, long after the world around her crumbled and formed anew she would remain stagnant, in a cell, bound by chains, forced to watch.

As she focused her attention on the woman in front of her, however, her face fell. Daybreaker had raised her arms on either side of her body, and her arms were glowing with an otherworldly, forceful orange glow. Celestia's stomach dropped like a leaden weight. If what Daybreaker had said was true, if she really was a part of Celestia, then she had all the power, and all the abilities of her as well. Her sudden and decisive win was seeming more and more like a pipe-dream. The shards of marble rose from the trenches dug by Daybreaker's heels into the floor, rising up, and glowing first red, then white hot. They melted into orbs, the ground began to shake, and both women prepared to unleash truly apocalyptic forces upon the other.

"Stop!"

Until a voice commanded them to stop. Mist whirled around their feet, sapping them of their magic and releasing it as hurricane-force winds. Celestia and Daybreaker stood firm, shielding their eyes. The wind tore down the marble pillars and reliefs, the Gothic molding crumbled, the keystones fell, and everything faded to a muted gray, flat in every direction, as far as the eye could see.

Two figures descended upon Magical wings; Princess wings, and landed in between Celestia and her counterpart. One wore her dark hair up a ponytail, with a confident swagger that made Celestia do a double take. The other one had two-toned pink and cream hair, and wore a strapless pink dress. She recognised the two of them as her sister and niece, respectively.

"Cadence. Luna." Memories came flooding back from the dream she had the previous night. How Luna explained what Daybreaker was. The revelation that Daybreaker was in fact a part of her made her seize up in disgust. To think that she could harbour such dark thoughts.

"You again!" Daybreaker growled, baring her sharpened teeth. Cadence fell into a defensive stance, raising a simple Ward. Daybreaker would tear it down in an instant, but her previous encounter with the pink-haired Princess left her wary, and she would carefully consider her options before blindly engaging again. She knew because that's what she herself would have done.

"Me again," Cadence said with a small smile.

With a new resolve, she looked between her niece and her sister. "I appreciate the gesture, but I am perfectly capable of tending to my own... issues without outside interference every night."

"With respect, Sister; no. You're not," Luna said, taking a step back away from Cadence, to fall in line with her sister.

Celestia drew back at the candidness of her reply. "What?"

"Our niece has found a way to help," Luna said. "Trust her."

Daybreaker cackled. Cadence tensed up. "Oh really?" She drew one hand across her midsection to support her elbow, twidling her thumbs in a gesture that could have either been nervousness, or confidence, Celestia wasn't sure. "And how do you plan on doing that, little girl?"

Cadence smiled. This was it. She took a step closer to Daybreaker, and strengthened her Ward.

"No! Wait!" Celestia ran forward, grabbing ahold of her Niece's arm. "You can't fight her!" she said, terrified of what would happen if Cadence took another step. Daybreaker could incinerate her on the spot, or liquefy her with a spell made of pure force.

Cadence turned to face her Aunt with a grin. "Actually," she cleared her throat, "what I had in mind is the exact opposite of fighting."

Celestia looked between Daybreaker and her, before releasing he rhold and turning back to her sister. "What does she mean?"

"Cadence has successfully banished the Nightmare within myself," Luna said, "in such a way that she is now a part of me. I was hiding from my flaws, as you are no doubt hiding from yours," Luna said, motioning towards Daybreaker.

The dark echo of Celestia let out an indignant snort. "I am not flawed!"

"Then what are you?" Cadence asked suddenly, startling everyone in the room with the abruptness of her question. It was almost enough to distract Celestia from the revelation that Cadence had successfully banished Nightmare Moon; an Entity that seemed as permanent within Luna's life as her very skin.

"I am all of her wasted days," Daybreaker replied. "All the times she considered tossing off the shackles of duty, every time she bit her tongue for a noble, every time she wished to rain fire and death upon her enemies but held back." Her face contorted with disgust with each and every offence she listed off, while Celestia's face grew more and more angry. "I am the rage, and the fire, and the fear and the doubt, I am the oppression and the yearning to be free from this cage!"

Luna looked at Celestia with shock. "Is this true, sister?"

"No!" Celestia snapped.

"Aunty," Cadence sighed. "This won't work unless you are honest with us, and yourself."

Celestia went to automatically reply again, but something stopped her. It was either the way that Daybreaker seemed to grow ever more burning and dangerously-radiant with each refusal, or the care that she could see in Cadence's eyes. If Cadence could really help her, then she owed it to both herself and her niece to be honest. "Sometimes it can be trying to be Princess Celestia every day and night. Sometimes I just want to be Celestia. A normal woman. With a normal life."

"And sometimes we want to vapourise a few enemies of the state!" Daybreaker added.

Celestia's eyes snapped up. "We hold back to protect our subjects," she said. "We hold back so they don't suffer, or revere us as godlike." She moved past Cadence, beyond the flimsy ward, and back towards Daybeaker.

"But that doesn't matter now, does it?" Daybreaker asked cynically. "How many people worship us?"

"Too many. We never wanted that," Celestia said.

Cadence tilted her head. "Why?"

"If I may, Cadence," Luna stepped up to her, taking her arm and lowering her voice, taking up a position beside the younger Princess, while her sister continued to inch forward. "We are what happens when powerful Magic, influenced by the forces of pure Harmony, create something meant to bridge the gap between all three Equestrian tribes. We are not meant to be revered as gods, or as all-powerful entities. We are chaperones and guides only."

"But we were built for so much more!" Daybreaker yelled over to them, evidentally able to hear them no matter how low their voices dropped. Luna straightened up at that revelation, indignant at having been eavesdropped on.

"We were built to rule, and we are ruling," Celestia said. "We were not built to conquer or enslave."

Cadence's mouth formed an 'O' in realisation. "I think I understand now," she said gently.

"Do you?" Celestia laughed, then snapped her mouth shut with a 'click' at the reply that had just come spilling out. It was hollow, lacking any sort of her usual warmth or kindness. It chilled Luna to the bone, but to Cadence it was a good sound; it was the sound of brutal honestly. She nodded for her Aunt to continue, and after a calming breath, she did. "I have been alive for thousands of years. I have outlived mountains, and oceans. I have seen war, and death, and destruction, I have done things I regret. I never wanted to be all powerful, I just wanted to be me. That's all I've ever wanted."

"But Equestria needs a ruler, so you rule," Cadence said. "No room for error, no room for mistakes, no room to just be you, right?" she asked.

Celestia turned back to her counterpart. "We try to rule justly, and fairly, and we try to show them that we are fallible, and we can make mistakes."

"But they will not have it!" Daybreaker snarled, balling her fists so tightly that her armoured nails pricked against her flawless skin, drawing the faintest and smallest buds of crimson forth from them. "They refuse to believe us any less than gods!"

Another step, and the two closed the distance even more. Cadence took a hesitant step alongside Celestia, not wanting to be far from the 'action', so to speak. She told herself it was so she could react to any unintended conversation topics; egg them on to their final reconciliation. But, a budding anticipation within her told her otherwise. The fluttering of a thousand butterflies in her stomach, and the beating heart in her chest told her everything she needed to know; she was excited.

Squashing that down, she continued to listen, holding up a thumb at Luna, who was likewise watching in rapt attention as both Celestia and Daybreaker laid bare their issues. "So we have to be what they think we are, lest we shake the very fabric of this nation's founding," Celestia said.

"So with every battle we are forced to act weak!" Daybreaker spat.

"When in reality we are strong enough to bind the Sun to our will." Celestia finished for her.

"With each public appearance, the most trivial, and useless of things—" Daybreaker began.

"We must remain strong, and vigilant," Celestia cut her off.

They were less than a foot apart, and they stared deeply into each other's eyes. With a final breath, they both said the same thing; "Lest it all come undone."

Cadence followed them both. She was close enough now that she could smell the scent of Daybreaker; burning air and bonfires. Rather than being offputting, or frightening, it was almost comforting. She took her aunt's hand, and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Do you see now that you're not different?" She stepped forward, reaching out, cautiously, towards Daybreaker's. Celestia's alter-ego tensed, but did not resist when she felt Cadence's hand close around her own. The Princess of Love stood between them, holding both their hands, and inexorably dragging them together. "You're just two sides of the same coin. Facets in a statue, one shrouded in shadow."

"Then how do we reconcile, my dear Cadence?" Celestia looked down at her niece, and tilted her head.

"Yes," Daybreaker said. "How can I possibly return when she has learnt nothing of her own desire for freedom!"

"That is what we're going to remedy, her and now," Cadence smiled, drawing their hands together, and clasping them. Celestia and Daybreaker seemed shocked, as though they forgot how close they really were. "You need freedom, Celestia," Cadence said. She was very careful not to mince her words, but, at the same time, she knew her Aunt well enough that she wouldn't jump right into what she had in mind. Careful guidance was necessary. "You need an outlet for you most baser impulses."

Celestia cocked an eyebrow in confusion and intrigue. "Baser impulses?"

Cadence nodded. "If you truly want freedom, if you wish to be less than the perfect princess people have made you out to be, but you want your subjects to not lose hope, then you need a private, fulfilling, and safe outlet."

Celestia turned to look at Daybreaker. For once they both seemed to have the same look on their face; confusion, with the barest hints of intrigue. "What would you suggest?" Daybreaker asked.

"Well, in Luna's case," Cadence began, casting a look over her shoulder at where Luna was standing. She was chewing on her finger, watching the exchange with an air of nervousness. Cadence caught her eyes for a moment. A lot of thoughts rushed through Cadence's mind; she had automatically tried to do to Celestia the same thing she had done to Luna, except now, she was actively attempting to steer the conversation into the art of seduction. She wasn't exploring any alternatives, which gave her pause. She shook it off after a second, and turned back to the two other women in the room, continuing her speech. "All she needed was a little self love. She needed to learn to embrace her flaws and turn them to her advantage, you two need something different."

"I am still not following." Celestia shook her head, and rolled her shoulders.

Cadence sighed, and turned around once again to face her other aunt. "Princess Luna, you may want to leave."

She shook her head solemnly. "I cannot leave the dream with you here."

"Then, turn away? Don't watch?" She weakly offered.

Luna nodded. "I will endeavor not to."

"Right." Cadence sighed. Her thoughts were a jumbled mass. The only way she knew would work in 'combining' the two women beside her was the way she had done so with Luna. She had already drawn their attention to how similar they were, but apparently that was not enough. It was either Celestia's age, or her purist mindset, that had no doubt settled in after millennia of ruling with no release, but whatever the reason, Cadence sensed that she would need to be more 'hands-on' with this attempt. The thought alone was enough to send shivers through her body, and for her mouth to suddenly turn dry. She didn't know how she would do it, but she had an idea of how to start. She pushed aside any thoughts of impropriety, or familial connections. She couldn't afford to seem nervous right now. She turned to the tall, dark, and fiery incarnation of Celestia's alter-ego. Daybreaker, close your eyes."

She drew back. "I will do no such thing in the presence of so many enemies!" Hissing, she assumed a more defensive stance, letting Celestia's hand go from her grip.

Cadence cursed inwardly. She couldn't afford to lose it now, not after so long. She would never get another chance. "I'm trying to help you, and Celestia." Cadence inclined her head towards both of them, respectively. "I'm not trying to get her to banish or destroy you, but embrace you as a part of her. Close your eyes."

Daybreaker did nothing, she narrowed her eyes, but in suspicion.

Cadence let out a frustrated sigh, and turned to her Aunt. This wouldn't work unless they both couldn't see. "Celestia, close your eyes. She won't do it unless you do."

"But we—" Celestia began.

Cadence cut her off with a dazzling smile. "Just trust me, okay?"

Celestia's mouth clicked shut. She looked between Daybreaker and her niece. She had always trusted Cadence, and now was not a time to start doubting her family. "Very well," she said, closing her eyes.

Cadence's chest fluttered, and she turned to Daybreaker. "Your turn."

Daybreaker groaned. "I am not happy about this arrangement," she said, pointing at Cadence with a slender, armoured index finger.

Cadence folded her arms. "Suck it up," she commanded.

To her surprise, Daybreaker closed her eyes. With both of them without their sense of sight, she could easily work. She summoned a thin tendril of magic, and gulped around the lump of fear that had settled over her throat like a vice. She worked the thin coil beneath the hem of Celestia's sundress, resisting the urge to run it over her skin. It was absolutely imperative that she not touch the older Princess at all, which would be difficult by itself, but now, without their eyesight, it would be damn-near impossible. Every one of their other senses would be heightened, and it was likely only their mutual trust; Celestia in her, and Daybreaker's residual, that allowed her to even get away with casting a spell with their eyes shut, without them questioning it. She briefly wondered if this was a breach so great that she would never be forgiven, but she had bigger things to worry about.

The coil of magic wrapped around Celestia's leg, in between the fabric of her dress and her skin. It did not touch either; so thin was the tendril that it would take all of her concentration and magical ability to summon it in the waking world, let alone manipulate it to such a fine degree. Luckily, Celestia had an ample supply of Love within her, which Cadence had tapped into before, and so was drawing from now. Like an electrical conduit, or a transformer of sorts, she channeled this raw energy into something she could use.

Briefly, her magic touched Celestia's side, and she saw the woman twitch. Cadence froze. Celestia said nothing, but her brows did contort. After a while, she shook her head. Cadence let out a shuddering breath, full of fear, and something much different. Her skin felt silken smooth, free of any and all imperfection. Corded, toned muscles lay just beneath, and Cadence, for once, looked over her Aunt's hidden form with an appraising eye. It was a crime to cover such a body beneath loose dresses. Perhaps after tonight, she would begin branching her wardrobe out, like Luna had.

The tendril finished wrapping around her abdomen, snaked between her perfect breasts, and then came to a stop just at her collarbone. By now, it had wrapped itself around every inch of Celestia's form, and was ready and waiting for Cadence's next command. Beads of sweat trickled down Cadence's brow, and she was breathing rather heavily at the exertion. With each of Celestia's breaths, her magical field stayed a hairsbreadth away from her skin, nestled in the mere millimeters between bare skin and fabric.

"Here we are." Cadence clenched her fists. This was the moment of truth. "Celestia, do you trust me?"

With no hesitation, she nodded. "Yes."

"Say the words, please," Cadence said.

Again, with barely a pause, she said the four words that made Cadence's heart sink. "I trust you, Cadence."

"If I were to do anything untowards," Cadence began, "know that it's for your own good."

There was a significantly longer pause; almost a full five seconds. Cadence heard nothing save for the beat of her own heart, and the breathing of three women. "I understand," Celestia finally said.

Cadence licked her lips. There was something about what she had just made Celestia say that was empowering—intoxicating even. It gave her a rush, whatever it was. Carefully, she stepped up behind Celestia. Her hands were shaking, and she cast one last look behind at Luna. She had turned away. Good. Cadence leaned up on her toes to cover the few inches that separated her head from Celestia's. She dropped her voice to a whisper. It wasn't meant to be husky, it was meant to be soothing. It wasn't meant to smoulder, it was meant to relax, but somehow she found herself slipping into her 'bedroom voice'. With all the smoothness of dark bourbon, she began speaking in her Aunt's ear. "You need to be taught how truly freeing it can feel to give up control for a while." Unable to resist, she planted her hands on Celestia's arms. Her aunt gave a shiver. "Maybe you knew already," Cadence said, "maybe you've entertained fantasies about it, but I'm here to teach you now."

"Fantasies?" Celestia opened her eyes. Something seemed very off, and she had been hearing this faint tinkling of a magical field for almost a full ten minutes now. When she turned her upper body to ask Cadence what she meant; she found herself bound by the thinnest string of magic. Looking down in panic, she saw it straining against her dress. Before she could ask what was going on, it expanded outwards all at once, with the roar of ripping fabric, and all the speed of an exploding star.

While she was still in shock, she felt something warm slide up over her chest, and grab ahold of her two soft breasts. Startled, her mouth dropped open, and a surprised squeak left her lips as she felt the warmth rush into her body, along with the electrical tingles of pleasure. "What on earth?!" Celestia began to squirm, trying to get away from the kneading hands. She realised that they could only belong to one person; they could only have belonged to Cadence. "What is the meaning of this?!" she shouted.

Daybreaker's eyes snapped open, going wide as dinner plates at the sight.

"Cadence, what are you doing?!" Luna bellowed, rushing forward towards the scene. Celestia tried her hardest to cover herself up, but Cadence's magic had not been idle. Almost on reflex, it had bound her hands, and lifted them up over Celestia's head, ensuring that she was on display for all the world to see.

Cadence's eyes were wide as well, though for much different reasons. She had an almost-manic looking glee in her eyes as she spoke to Luna. "I'm teaching Celestia that there are ways to relax, unwind, and be normal." She trailed one hand down towards Celestia's core, enjoying the little hums and coos, writhes and squirms her adoptive Aunt made as her fingers toyed with her skin. Every touch was meant to entice, every action designed to send trails of fire in their wake. Cadence leaned forward, pressed as much of her body against Celestia's bare back as she could, and held her still. Her left hand remained glued to Celestia's generous bust, alternating between soft massaging, and pinches. Her other hand dipped between the monarch's legs, and Cadence smiled as Celestia squeezed her thighs together, trying to halt its advance. Good gods those thighs, they could crush boulders. "Pleasures of the flesh, shall we say, are perfectly normal," Cadence said, a casual shrug of her shoulders.

Luna did not seem convinced, and her face was furiously flushing. Cadence could only imagine what Celestia's must have looked like.

She turned her eyes downward, and her face morphed into one of concern. "I don't want to do this, but there's no other way."

Luna backed off.

Cadence was lying, of course. Her hand continued to worm its way in-between those rock-hard thighs. She squeezed Celestia's bust a little bit harder, and in the shaking and shuddering, her hand slipped in. A finger dipped low; her palm brushed up against her most sensitive part while the finger dragged up along its length.

"Cadence!" The word came out as a half-strangled moan. " Let us go this instant! This is embarrassing!"

"Oh I don't know," the soft, dulcet tones of Daybreaker reminded everyone that there was an observer. An observer that seemed to be enjoying the show, if her state of undress was any indication. Her armour had been mostly discarded, one hand working on removing the sundress. She toothily grinned at Celestia. "I say we let her continue,"

Celestia went to protest, but Cadence dipped a finger into her heated core, and her protests were forgotten. How long had it been since she had felt the intimate caress of a lover? Oh and Cadence's touch was intimate indeed. The correct combination of rough and caring. Pinches melded with sensual massages, seamlessly melding pain with pleasure, but there lied the problem. This wasn't a lover. This was Cadence! "This is debasing and humiliating," Celestia said between her pants and moans, straining to keep her voice level. "And I want no part of it!"

It would have been more convincing had she not stuttered. Cadence leaned up, planted a reassuring kiss on Celestia's neck, and began whispering once again. "That's the point, isn't it?" she asked. Celestia felt her head loll to one side as Cadence's incessant kisses continued. "To debase. To toss off the mantle of Princess for a little while." Cadence's eyes roved towards Celestia's alter-ego, and she flicked her head. "Daybreaker? Would you mind giving me a hand?"

"With pleasure," Daybreaker purred, and slipped out of her dress, revealing herself in her full naked glory. SHe covered the meter distance between both of them in one short stride, and grabbed a hold of Celestia by the waist, their bodies pressed together tightly.

"The whole point of this is to show you that your fears, your anguish, all the things you feel like you have to lock away need not be buried," Cadence said. "They can be used for better purposes. Healthier purposes."

Celestia felt her niece pressed against her back, and her dark self against her front. She found her gaze locked by the orange eyes of Daybreaker, by the lust in that gaze that made her shiver. She felt her arms wrapped up in magical bindings, she fult utterly, utterly helpless.

And she loved it.

"T-this doesn't seem healthy..." she protested. She felt her resistance ebbing away; the question of why she ever wanted to fight this propped up in her mind. They just wanted to help her.

"But doesn't it feel good? Doesn't it feel freeing?" Cadence asked.

Daybreaker leaned forward and captured Celestia's lips with her own. Celestia's eyes rolled back in her head at the searing intensity of the kiss, and the warmth of another's body pressed against her own. Cadence slipped her hands off of her aunt with great difficulty. Daybreaker's thigh slipped in-between Celestia's, serving as a substitute for Cadence's hand, and Daybreaker's own hands—still bearing the armoured tips—raked down Celestia's back just hard enough to leave angry white marks. They cupped the perfectly sculpted, heart-shaped ass of Celestia, and hiked her up, grinding her against Daybreaker's body.

Celestia threw her head back, letting out a melodious song. "It does..." she finally answered. And it was true; control had been wrestled from her in the most delicious way. She no longer had to worry about nobles, petitioners, her subjects, she wasn't tied down by anything except the magic around her wrists, and that felt good. A physical representation of her bindings, but these ones felt infinitely better. The sensual feel of Cadence's magic, delicately wrapped around her forearms, only heightened the feeling of total loss of control. It only served to enhance everything she was feeling.

Cadence decided that now it was time to leave them be, but she still sensed that Celestia had reservations. She stepped around to behind Daybreaker, and looked up at Celestia with a smile. "Then let yourself go, Celestia. Be whatever you want to be here." Cadence raised her hands up at the wasteland around them. "No prying eyes, no one to see, no one here except you. No more grand openings, galas or gentries, no more nobles or maids or men bowing to you. Canterlot is a distant memory, all that matters here is you," she lifted her hand, then moved it towards the fiery red hair of her counterpart. "And her. Embrace that."

Celestia looked at Daybreaker again. At the half-lidded gaze, and the sheer love in her eyes. The wind swept her fiery hair around her head, like a glorious halo. Her eyes were strong, she was powerful, why had Celestia ever pushed her away?
Daybreaker chose that moment to dip her head, and suck on the sensitive spot underneath Celestia's chin. As she did, one hand grabbed Celestia's hair and yanked back, while her thigh slid up and down her womanhood.

And Celestia was lost. "Oh gods!" She felt her very first orgasm in a thousand years rush over her like a tsunami. Wetness coated the inside of her thighs, and she screamed her pleasure into the heavens. Daybreaker growled possessively, and nipped at Celestia's neck with her fangs, pressing her back until Celestia was against a wall. Her back arched, her hands came free of their bindings, free of the lashings, free of everything, free to wrap around Daybreaker and cradle her close. She never wanted to be let go, never wanted this pleasure to end.

Cadence stepped back, and kept her eyes glued to the scene in front of her. She felt a sense of satisfaction, and of arousal. There was definitely that.

Luna placed a hand on Cadence's shoulder. Her back was turned, and her face twisted in unease at every moan, and every lewd sound. "We should leave," she said. "Leave them to... finish."

Cadence looked down at Luna's hand, then back at the display. She shook her head. "No. We have to make sure it works."

Luna shifted, and hugged herself around the stomach. "This is most uncomfortable for us."

Speak for yourself... Cadence privately thought.

Daybreaker was fully in control now. Celestia was desperately clinging to her as they passionately embraced, kiss, suckled, and moaned. Lips found lips, and tongues battled for dominance. Daybreaker purred; Celestia moaned as her own tongue lost, and Daybreaker was allowed to explore to her heart's content. She broke away, trailing the kisses down, down, ever lower until her lips wrapped around Celestia's breast. Teeth clamped down, and a tongue relentlessly lashed, and Celestia writhed ever harder. Hands found Daybreaker's shoulders, and helf onj tightly. Celestia wanted the torturous sensations to stopl, but also continue.

Daybreaker continued her quest down, trailing a long, serpentine tongue very lewdly, and very suggestively, along Celestia's toned stomach. Stopping briefly to dip into her navel, Celestia giggled softly to herself. Daybreaker grinned, then came to her prize. She dragged her tongue up Celestia's right thigh, then her left. She planted a kiss right above her mound. The teasing was driving Celestia mad. She wanted it so bad, and now Daybreaker was toying with her. Her eyes snapped open, and locked onto Daybreaker's and they both paused.

Celestia decided to take a page from the villainess' book. A hand shot forward, and wrapped itself in the golden, fiery tresses of Daybreaker's hair. With a primal growl, Celestia shoved the face in between her thighs, and began rolling her hips. Daybreaker moaned, her hands came up to grab ahold of Celestia's legs to steady herself, while she got to work.

Daybreaker's hair lost some of its fiery hue, but none of its vibrancy. As Cadence watched it wrap around Celestia's hand, it became multicoloured, and wafted on a much more gentle breeze, unlike the inferno it had been previously. Celestia's movements became more desparate and erratic, until finally her back bent and she tossed her head back. Daybreaker's eyes fluttered shut as Celestia found release.

Celestia didn't stop. Before Daybreaker could fully pull her head away, and catch her breath, Celestia pushed her back. She landed on the floor with a grunt, staring up at Celestia with newfound, wide eyes. Celestia's eyes lidded, and she bit her lip as she sauntered over to Daybreaker, settling her body on top of her counterpart's. It might have been Cadence's imagination, but she swore she noticed a pronounced cat-like slit in Celestia's eyes. She didn't get time to observe more, as they were already locked in another passionate embrace. Celestia pulled away, and dragged a finger down Daybreaker's lips. "My turn." she said, before turning around, and bending at the waist to capture Daybreaker's lower lips in a kiss of equal intensity as the one they were just in. Daybreaker gasped and arched her back. Celestia enjoyed the noises that she was enticing from Daybreaker, and she also enjoyed being the one to elicit them. Perhaps Daybreaker was right; she could stand to be a little bit stronger.

As she thought, Daybreaker leaned up and licked Celestia's own core from the bottom to the top once more, capturing her clit in between her lips. Celestia moaned, and redoubled her efforts. As they inexorable drove each other towards their peak, they began softly glowing. Soon, Cadence was forced to avert her eyes by the sheer intensity, and then the dream was gone.

She looked around at the unfiltered, untapped dreamscape. "I guess it worked?"

Luna sighed in relief. "The dream has ended, and I must attend to my duties." She took Cadence's hand, and they were back in her dream once more. "Your methods may be unorthodox," she cleared her throat, "but if it helps those we care about, I suppose I have no choice but to follow along with them."

"Honestly, I'm just as surprised as you are."

Luna scoffed coldly, and folded her arms. "Indeed?" she asked. "Gazing lecherously at my sister mid-coitus was you acting surprised?"

Cadence placed a hand on her chest in indignation. "I was not 'gazing lecherously'—" she began.

"No," Luna cut her off. "You were much more hands-on."

Cadence flushed red. She was right of course. Cadence didn't know what came over her. She just felt a need to do it. If her thoughts were confused before, then they were a maelstrom now. She had, essentially, seduced her aunt. "It got a little..." she searched for the right word. "Physical. Intervention was necessary."

Luna sighed, and turned away from her niece. "My sister will have things to talk about. No doubt she has issues that still need to be resolved. She will likely wish to speak with you, come the morrow," she said, looking over her shoulder. "I recommend you think long and hard about what you say to her, regarding your role in her dream. No doubt she will come to see you differently."

Cadence chewed on her lip. She couldn't let Luna leave, not with the hostility in her mind, and her voice. "What about you?"

Luna sighed, her shoulders sagged, and she turned around to face Cadence.. "You played a passive role in my resolution of Nightmare Moon. I was embarrassed, and insecure about you having been there to witness it. Now, I have seen your hands roam the body of my sister. Can you blame me for thinking of you differently?"

Cadence shifted in place, sheepishly looking away. "I suppose not."

"I'm not angry," she said, "or accusatory, merely... confused."

"What about?" Cadnece looked up, and cocked her head.

"Why you chose to engage so actively, for one thing." Luna said, placing a hand on her hips.

"She never would have done it herself," Cadence said, shaking her head. "She's spent so long being Celestia The Pure that she needed a little push to just be Celestia."

Luna studied her for a moment. Cadnece gulped. THey were in a dream, they were in her realm. It was pointless to lie, and so she didn't. She merely didn't mention her desire, because Luna did not ask. Luna finally nodded. "Very well. If your intentions were purely altruistic, then I can forgive and forget."

Cadence sighed. "That's good."

Luna turned away for good this time. "Goodnight, Cadence."

"Goodnight Luna." Cadence called back to her, and then Luna was gone.

Cadence waited for a time, just in case Luna wasn't really gone. When she was finally satisfied that she was alone, she allowed the thoughts to come rushing at her like a tidal wave. Lustful and regretful, happy and confused, it was all too much for the young Princess to handle. She kept envisioning her hands roaming Celestia's body, she could remember the softness of her skin, the smell of sunflowers and spring, the warmth of Celestia's womanhood around her fingers, and she could hear the amazing, beautiful, sexy noises that came pouring from between two perfectly pouty, sculpted, red lips. Cadence regretted that she hadn't gotten to kiss them.

By the same token, she felt disgusted. She felt dirty, she felt like she had betrayed the woman that had served as her surrogate mother, and Aunt for a thousand years. She felt a hollowness inside her that couldn't be filled by any lustful memories. She felt cold, and like a villain in her own right, and she still had Twilight to help yet.

She lost control with Celestia, how would her sister-in-law fare?

Cadence stepped back up to the table she had left in her dreamscape, sat down upon it, and buried her head in her hands.