Twilight woke alone, curled up in that big, fuzzy blanket. This happened a lot in her relationships. Celestia was the very epitome of a morning person, and Twilight was a notorious grump before at least nine a.m and maybe a strong cup of coffee, so she was neither surprised nor upset to wake up alone. She had a nice, languorous stretch, marred only slightly by all the little pains the night’s adventure had left her with, and then rolled off the blanket when she felt she was ready. Her train didn’t leave till well after noon, so there was no hurry. Twilight ambled to the bathroom without bothering to dress because she was a grown-ass woman and could walk around naked if she felt like it. She stopped when she saw herself in the full-length mirror and almost laughed.

“Yup. Definitely gonna need a turtleneck,” she said to no one.

Or at least a scarf. She hadn’t packed any, she’d need to have Spike send something. It was cool enough for either. She checked herself out a bit more, amused at the light bruises on her butt and various little marks across her back. She supposed she should be embarrassed, or something. Whatever.

She hopped into the shower and did all the other requisite morning bathroom things, then sauntered out in search of the travel bag she always brought on her trips to Canterlot. She never knew quite where it would end up. Usually it was just left in front of the big double doors of the bedroom, but sometimes she found it under the bed, or in a closet. She suspected Celestia’s staff might be messing with her a bit, making a little game of it to entertain themselves. And that was fine. She didn’t mind people knowing about her relationships. Worrying about that that was Celestia’s thing.

Before she found it, something better caught her eye. Food!

Sitting on the little end table near the doors was a tray full of breakfast, still warm. Celestia must have taken a moment from doing her morning Sun Princess stuff to have sent it for her. A warm little glow filled Twilight. She was so thoughtful!

Twilight abandoned her search for clothes in favor tackling this new situation. She descended onto the platter and, after spattering a wave of crumbs and/or juice all over herself in her excitement, began to wonder if maybe her decision to vigorously eat while nude might not have been the best one.

So, after shower number two, she went back to seeking out her things. She found her bag by the door, because Celestia had thought of that too, with what appeared to be a letter and a small gift box on top of it. Intrigued, Twilight reached for the scroll and popped it open.

“Dearest,

I’m terribly sorry to leave you so soon, but I’m afraid I have a very busy day and you just looked so peaceful this morning that I didn’t want to wake you. I hope you had as much fun last night as I did! I do owe you a bit of an apology though. I get excited when I let Tyrant Sun take over sometimes, and do things without thinking. Just know that I love you, and that the marks will fade in a day or two. I hope you can forgive me my excesses. I got you a little something to make up for my misbehavior. It’s nothing much, but I felt it was appropriate.”

Twilight rolled her eyes fondly. Always so apologetic. Of course she’d forgive her! There wasn’t even anything to forgive. Twilight made a mental note to tease her about that later.

“If it should happen that I don’t see you before you leave, have a wonderful time on your trip. Remember to take some time to see the sights between your studies. Manehatten is a truly marvelous place.

I shall, to borrow your own words, wait with bated breath for your return,

C.”

P.S Please toss this in the fire or something before you go. I know it’s silly, but the idea of anyone finding out what we get up to in here frankly terrifies me.

P.P.S Sun absolutely adores you, by the way. She can’t wait to meet you again!

Aww. Thought Twilight. That was nice. Strange, but nice. Twilight set the letter aside and picked up the box. She untied the big, ridiculous bow and opened it. She had a good laugh at what she found inside: a pair of thin, white, cotton panties, nearly identical to the ones she’d been wearing last night. Where had Celestia even gotten them this early?

She gathered them, the letter, and the rest of her stuff, shoved everything into her bag, and then finally got dressed, because even grown-ass women had to do that eventually. Then she headed out to attack the day. She pointedly refused to be ashamed of any looks the hickies got her.

~~~

Celestia panted, rubbing hard at herself, desperate fingers slippery with her own desire under Tyrant Sun’s skimpy outfit. Her other hand squeezed at one breast, playing at the nipple, then tweaking it sharply when that wasn’t enough. She cried out, shaking with orgasm, back arching up. She flopped back onto the bed, the air around her glowing with lambent magic, momentarily spent. That was the maddening part: momentarily. She knew she’d want more, and soon, and her girlfriend was still days away, having fun without her in another city.

It wasn’t fair to begrudge her some time alone, Celestia knew that. But she wanted her! She brought her well-lubricated fingers to her mouth and sucked at them. It wasn’t something she’d normally do, but Twilight loved it, so there had to be something to it.

Damn her own monogamy! If she’d been like Luna, this would be simple. Her sister had whole harems to keep her busy. One in every city, practically. Alas, Celestia just couldn’t do it. She needed commitment from her lovers.

It might not be fair to be cross with Twilight, but dammit, she was doing it anyway! Celestia hadn’t felt this restless in ages. She shimmied her little outfit back into place and kicked herself up off the bed. She paced back and forth before her full length mirror, booted heels clicking against the floor.

How much longer until she comes back?

Three days, was it?

So long! Maybe We can go to Manehatten, meet her there? Buy out a whole floor of her hotel, make a real night of it?

Celestia sighed. No. She had full days all week. She couldn’t just ignore her responsibilities like that. Even if they have been dreadfully dull lately…

Tyrant Sun said nothing.

Celestia hadn’t noticed when Tyrant Sun had started speaking again. She didn’t notice she was doing it now. It had been a long time, but now that Sun was back, it all felt perfectly natural. Celestia actually felt a bit foolish for having locked this part of herself away for so long. If felt good, having her back. Exhilarating, even. But she wanted to do something. She wanted some excitement. She posed for herself, watching her own reflection. She let her hair flow into Tyrant Sun’s crimson deluge. She gave herself a wicked grin.

Maybe you don’t need Twilight. We’d both love to play with her more, certainly, but I know of another woman you’ve been neglecting who might be able to give what you need, Celestia.

It was certainly tempting. Maybe she could…

A little chill ran through Celestia.

No. She shouldn’t. This was crazy. People these days wouldn’t know what to make of Tyrant Sun. They weren’t ready for this side of her.

Oh, come now. You underestimate them. You thought Twilight wasn’t ready either, and she was everything we could have wanted!

True enough.

Let’s just go out there and have some fun! Make a few decrees, order some people around. Nothing big. Just enough to show them we still can!

Well. Maybe. But just for a little while. Sun wasn’t a monster, after all. Not really even a villain. She could behave. And besides, Equestria had been stable and at peace for centuries. And her people were very understanding. Honestly, what harm could Tyrant Sun do?

Her grin grew a touch more wicked as Tyrant Sun slipped back into the world.

~~~

This wasn’t turning out at all the way she’d hoped.

The first thing Tyrant Sun had done on assuming command was lock Celestia away. That part had worked fine. It had been so easy! Celestia had practically begged for it! Goddess, the woman let herself get so repressed! It was a good thing Sun was here to give her some release.

Perhaps the ease of her takeover should have made Sun more wary…

When she'd first strutted into the throne room like a conquering goddess, Tyrant Sun been ready for some commotion. Dismay, despair, maybe even outright hostility. She'd prepared for it. She’d been hoping for it! Many, she thought, would flee at the very sight of her. Others, the smart ones, would prostrate themselves before her. And a few, a brave, noble few, would stand firm in heroic defiance. Those were her favorites. Maybe they’d even try to fight her!

Aaah, the very thought of it had made her shiver in delight.

What Tyrant Sun had not been prepared for was a complete and enthusiastic acceptance of everything she was.

Raven, her head assistant, had immediately complimented her ‘hot, bold, new look’ and stated that it would ‘change everything about the public views its Princesses.’ She’d smiled as she said it. Smiled! She had been happy to see her like this!

Sun's first decree, that she was here to conquer Equestria, had elicited only polite confusion.

"But you already rule Equestria, your highness,” they had said.

Sun’s announcement that Equestria now had a prettier, better, stronger ruler was met with cheers. Actual fucking cheers! Even her declaration that she was no longer a princess, but a Queen went over impossibly well. That title had inspired nothing short of terror when last Tyrant Sun had strode the earth!

Her stated intent to consume Equestria’s malaise of mediocrity in the flames of her glorious might had met with applause, her plan to dissolve Equestria’s silly little republic and replace it with her own unquestioned, iron-fisted rule had resulted in her own court, the very people she planned to disempower, praising her ‘brazen disregard for tradition,’ her willingness to ‘shake things up,’ and ‘take command’ and ‘make the big decisions.’

She hadn’t even wanted to do that! She was just trying to scare them, and it had backfired completely! Utterly flummoxed, Sun had just flopped back in her throne, unable to even comprehend how this was happening.

“Well. Good then,” she’d finished, lamely.

Raven had stepped forth, eyes bright and eager, quill ready.

“How can we help you ring in this daring new era, your majesty?”

~~~

Tyrant Sun seethed. This wasn’t what she wanted at all! That first encounter in the throne room had set the tone for this whole damned day. Everyone was so absurdly helpful and positive. Every new person who saw Sun immediately admired how ‘fierce’ and ‘dynamic’ her outfit was. It was both of those things, of course, but it was dangerous and racy as well! Why weren’t they talking about that!? Wait, who cared about that? Why weren’t they afraid of her!? What had Celestia been doing while Sun was away? By what magic or trickery had she enamored these people into trusting her so?

Case in point, the pegasus beside her.

“Take that down! It irritates me.” Tyrant Sun waved her hand at a tapestry that would take an entire team of pegasus or unicorns an hour or more to move. “Put it up over there!” Her indicated location was no more than five feet from where it hung now.

“Immediately, my Queen!”

He spread his wings and was in the air before she could even be properly disgusted with him. He was so eager! So perfectly willing to appease her arbitrary demands, no matter how ridiculous. It was infuriating!

She could simply explode one of them, she supposed. That would get the results she wanted. But only a lunatic would break her own toys. She might be a harsh mistress, but a mistress she was, and a mistress was nothing without her servants. But honestly, did they have to be so easy about it?

Contrary to most villains, Tyrant Sun had little interest in actually ruling the world. She didn’t really want it crawling on all fours, trembling at her every word, begging to do her bidding. Well, she did, but more than that, she wanted to conquer it. She wanted to break the world over her knee in glorious combat and force it to crawl on all fours, trembling at her every word, etc, etc. And even then, that was mostly in the hopes of producing a hero that would rise to fight her again, even stronger than those who she’d defeated before. She was a warrior, dammit, not a bureaucrat! All she wanted was some decent conflict!

Actually, on further thought, all Sun really wanted was her girlfriend. Ugh! Why had she ever let her leave? Oh, how she longed to give her little girl another spanking. Twilight knew what she wanted…

At that very moment, the massive double doors of the throne room slammed open.

“Sister!” bellowed Luna in a tone most royal. “What are these nonsense decrees you’ve been tossing about? What are you-”

Luna! Now there was someone Sun could always count on for a good tussle! Why hadn’t she thought of this before? There was no one in the world that could fight like Luna when she was properly enraged. Plus, Tyrant could never be entirely sure she’d be able to come out on top, and that risk made the conquest all the sweeter. This was perfect!

“Luna!” Tyrant Sun bellowed in return, eyes aglow with rising battle lust. Flames licked at the ground near her. “Do my decrees offend you, sister!? Then face me! Prove yourself by force!”

Luna’s eyes went wide as she recognized her sister’s villainous alter ego. Then, quick as a shadow, she was gone, disappearing without so much as a sound.

“AUUUGH!” screamed Tyrant. She balled her hands up into fists and stomped one boot, leaving a stiletto-shaped crack in the stone. “Come on! I’m so bored!”

“She’s so strong!” said one of her subjects.

“I wish I could be like her…” opined a second.

“We’ll have that fixed immediately, my Queen,” said Raven.

“AAAAUUUGGGHHH!”

~~~

Luna re-emerged in her own chambers, eyes still wide in shock.

“What the Fuck!?”

The guards outside her open door jumped. Luna ignored their queries. She was busy remembering an event from a few days past. She’d thought it was funny at the time…

“Fucking Tartarus, Celestia! Really? That’s all it took?” She grabbed a few things and leapt out her balcony window, casting some quick magic to hide her presence, mind working furiously. She wasn’t going to fight her sister, not here, not in the middle of a city.

She let her wings catch air as she pondered what to do.

Well, Twilight had caused this, maybe she could fix it. But…dammit. Luna didn’t know where she was, just that she had left Canterlot. Luna tilted towards Ponyville. Maybe Twilight’s friends would know. Either way, she could find the girl while she dreamed tonight. She’d just have to hope Tyrant Sun didn’t do anything too crazy in the meantime…

~~~

Celestia stroked her long and dexterous tongue between Twilight’s legs.

“Is this good, baby?”

Twilight tried to respond, but her mouth was full. All that came out was a muffled “Mhmm.”

“How about this?” said the second Celestia, pressing her breasts up further against Twilight’s face as the girl licked at them.

“Mhmm!”

“And this, boss?” asked the third Celestia, dressed in an absurdly skimpy bit of secretary-themed lingerie, between sucking on Twilight’s toes.

“Mhmm!!”

The fourth Celestia had just squeezed in beside the second, burying Twilight in the best avalanche ever when…

“Twilight Sp-Gah! Goddess above! Do the two of you ever think of anything but sex!?”

Twilight looked up, torn unpleasantly and unwillingly out of the dream as her several partners *poofed* out of existence. She found herself floating naked in some kind of pale cloudscape.

“I-What?”

Her attention gradually found focus on the only dark point in this radiant realm.

“Luna?”

“Who else!?” snapped the Moon Princess, facing away, arms crossed. “Make thyself presentable! I must speak with thee!”

A cloud coalesced under Twilight, and within seconds the whole scene had changed to something more like her old library. A simple dress formed over her, and she descended lightly onto a nice, wooden stump of a chair. All of this seemed perfectly reasonable to Twilight, caught as she was between dream and wakefulness. The many Celestias, alas, were nowhere to be seen. Regretting their absence might have been the thing that finally drew Twilight up into lucidity.

“Oh! Hi, Luna. What’s up?”

Luna looked back over one shoulder, checking that Twilight had actually bothered to dress herself. She had to be reminded every time. The woman’s latent exhibitionism really came out in the dream realm.

“What is up, Twilight Sparkle, is that your paramour has just declared her intent to conquer Equestria!”

“Um. She already runs Equestria. Along with you.”

“Yes, this argument has been made. Do you suppose I would be bothering you if simple reason could convince her?”

“Well, no, I guess not. But-”

“And once she is done there, she plans to do the same to the rest of the world!”

“What? But that’s-”

“Mad? Yes! It is!”

“But Celestia would never-”

“No, she would not. But perhaps there is someone else who might? Someone living within her? Someone you may have recently been introduced to?”

“Ok, wait, hold on. You mean Tyrant Sun?”

“Of course I mean Tyrant Sun! Who else would I mean!?”

“There’s no need to get snippy, Luna!”

“There is every need to get snippy! Let me make a guess as to how this came about,” said Luna, rubbing at her temples. “Celestia came to you and made a very brave, very endearing confession about certain needs that she wished to have fulfilled, and you, good little student that you are, promised to give her whatever she felt she had to have. And it was then that she told you about this other persona of hers, and then very earnestly pleaded with you to just play along because you would almost certainly enjoy it more than you might think. Is any of this sounding familiar?”

“Um. Sort of?”

Luna sighed, words growing in volume as she went on.

“I see. Did it ever occur to you, Twilight, that it might not be the best idea to indulge the whims of someone who’s literal name is Tyrant Sun!?!?”

“I-b-but she said Sun wouldn’t be a problem!”

“Of course she said that! What else would she have said!? ‘Oh, hello, honey, I’m off to try to take over the world, but ‘tis fine because you’ll get some really dirty sex out of it.’ That’s how our evil sides work, Sparkle! They’re clever and sexy and devious and make everything sound reasonable! Ugh!”

“Well, I’m sorry if I trusted her because she’s honest and good and has never betrayed me or anyone else ever! And that is not fair! I’m not going to let you judge us just because we want things that aren’t-”

Luna waved a hand, kneading at her brow again.

“Yes, I know. You are right, Twilight Sparkle. My insecurities over being powerless to stop this disaster are making me lash out at you despite you being the only person I could think to ask for help, and my jealousy of your abilities is cocking it all up. I apologize.”

“Oh. Wow. That was…honest.”

The two women fidgeted for a long moment.

“So, why can’t you do anything about it?”

Luna sighed once more.

“Because we swore never to fight again. Has Celestia shown you what happens when we truly throw ourselves at an enemy?”

“I guess not, no. But she said something about it. It’s…bad?”

“Hah. Yes. Worse than that. 'Tis why we never do anything directly. But you are free of such constraints.” Luna smirked, already melting away into dream stuff. “Outside the bedroom, anyway. You and your friendship and whatnot can fix this. So get to it!”

“Wait!”

Luna had been fading, but she halted.

“How did you know all that? About what happened?”

“We are sisters, Sparkle. We talk. No subject is forbidden between us.”

“Right, great, thanks for that thought. But I meant Tyrant Sun. Is she like Nightmare Moon was for you? Does every Princess have one of those? Do I have one?”

“Everyone has a dark side, Twilight. Ours are simply more literal. It comes with power I think, so perhaps you will form your own, in time.”

“Wow. Ok.” That was certainly something to think about. “Has she, I don’t know, escaped, or taken over, or whatever, before?”

“Several times. Though not usually by such, hm, unorthodox means.”

“Ok, so how did you get her under control then?”

“We had a fight that levelled half of Old Canterlot.”

“Oh.”

“Indeed. Now, if it would not be too much a burden, get your narrow ass back to Canterlot and fix this!”

~~~

Twilight’s eyes fluttered open. The memory of that last dream stuck with her, forcing her into wakefulness even as she tried to roll away from it. She gave in after only a token bit of tossing and/or turning, threw the covers aside and stumbled out of bed. She stopped in front of the bathroom mirror for a second. She turned to one side, nodding in satisfaction at what she saw there. Then she took her pleasantly curvy and not narrow at all ass into a quick shower, threw on some clothes, and hopped aboard the fastest train she could find to Canterlot.

~~~

It was mid-morning when she arrived. Luna, wearing the guise of someone else, but still so regally imperious that it couldn’t possibly fool anyone who’d ever met her, found Twilight within moments.

“Sparkle," she nodded.

“Luna. So, what’s the plan?”

“There is no plan, as of yet. Tyrant Sun has some grand announcement planned, and it would almost certainly be best if we stopped her from making it, though I doubt we shall have the time. Your friends are on their way.”

“Ok. That’s something. When’s the announcement?”

“It happens as we speak.”

Luna distorted strangely, and it took Twilight a moment to realize that it wasn’t her, specifically, but the space around her. The Moon Princess teleported the both of them into an enormous crowd. At a glance, she recognized the place as one of Canterlot’s huge courtyard areas, ideal for festivals, snow days, and, it turned out, mysterious proclamations by power-mad secondary personalities. It looked like half the city was here. No one seemed to notice their sudden appearance though, and for a moment Twilight was briefly, intensely jealous of Luna.

Teleportation is loud and flashy, not subtle! How does she do things like that!?

“Up there.” Luna directed Twilight’s attention to a raised platform. Tyrant Sun, immediately recognizable by her flaming hair and distinctive sashay, was just walking toward a great, black and gold podium. Two sets of curving stairs led up to the dais, both blocked by guards. “I dare not show myself just yet, so I will remain here. Go do you what you do, Twilight.”

She pushed the younger woman forward.

“Wait! What am I supposed to-”

But Luna was already gone.

“Do..? Alright then.”

She had dealt with things like this before. Lots of times. Just had to go up there and talk her once-teacher-now-lover-who-lived-in-terror-of-anyone-discovering-she-might-ever-have-had-sex into giving up this whole villainy thing in a way that wouldn’t blow their cover. In front of a crowd. Sure. Simple.

Not that their relationship was a secret, exactly. Twilight was certain that the entire castle knew about it, at least. How could they not? Two grown women spending the night together several times a week was a bit of a give-away. It would be more suspicious if they weren’t having sex. Celestia was just kind of weird about it. Twilight didn’t much care for it, but that was a battle for another time.

Should she just teleport up there? Fly? Hrmm. No. The guards would go crazy. She had no idea what Celestia could be thinking with all this, but Twilight held out hope that she could still be reasoned with. Best to get it sorted without a fuss, if possible.

She made her way as best she could through the crowd to the podium. As a rather slight woman in a sun dress and sandals, Twilight knew she didn’t make the most imposing figure, so she put on her best imitation of Luna’s truly masterful bitch-face, lit up her horn, called in her wings, and compensated for lack of size with attitude. It seemed to work well enough. The guards tried to stop her of course, but only as long as it took her to scowl at them, flare her wings, and declare,

“Twilight Sparkle! Princess of Friendship! Out of the way!”

The two soldiers hopped smartly aside without apparent thought. This pleased Twilight. She’d been practicing her bitch-face. It was nice to see it pay off.

“Apologies, Princess, we didn’t know you were here! But this is such a relief! Would you like an escort?”

“No, I don’t think so. I just need to talk to Princess Celestia.”

One man, a unicorn, looked at the other, a pegasus.

“She’s ah, going by Tyrant Sun now, your majesty. Queen Tyrant Sun.”

“I…see.” Queen, huh? That couldn’t be good. “What’s this about? Why is she holding this gathering?”

“We were hoping you knew, m’lady. The Pri-eh, Queen has been acting very strangely for the last few days.”

“Strange how? Evil? Has she hurt anybody?” Urgency wove into Twilight’s voice as she spoke. Luna hadn’t given her much to go on.

“No, your majesty. She hasn’t done anything I’d call evil, exactly.” The guard looked to his comrade, who nodded. “But there’s been a lot of talk about conquest and glory and making Equestria great again.”

“Again?” asked Twilight. “Equestria has never been greater than it is right now. We hold an amazing amount of territory and resources, and our standard of living is the highest in the world! How much greater can it get?”

“Er. Yes, Princess. Like I was saying, it’s all very exciting, but nobody’s quite sure what to make of it. Some of us guards are starting to worry we might have an S-7 on our hands.”

Twilight blinked. Oh, right. That was guard-speak. They loved their acronyms.

“Remind me what a Situation 7 is?”

“Of course, your majesty. It’s when a Princess or other important person has been replaced by some kind of alternate dimension version of herself. As opposed to an S 6, which is replacement by changeling, or S 8, which is replacement by something not covered by S 5, 6, or 7. ”

Twilight considered this. Nonsense like that happened so often that people probably wouldn’t bat an eye over it. And the guards did have a term for it, so…

“Yes. Yes, I’m certain that is exactly what’s happened. You should make sure to tell everyone you know that that is exactly what happened. Thank you. I’m going up.”

The guards saluted and Twilight ascended the stairs to top of the platform. It was smaller than it looked from the ground.

Ok. So where is…Aha!

Tyrant Sun stood at the podium, a scant few meters away, striking a majestic pose. Honestly, everything that woman did was a pose. She appeared to be doing nothing more than basking in the crowd’s attention for the moment, grinning out at them.

Twilight took an unintentional moment to appreciate the view Sun’s outfit provided. She couldn’t decide if it was better seeing her from the front or the back… Anyway! Twilight cleared her throat of nothing.

“Princess?”

“I believe I gave specific orders not to-” Tyrant Sun turned back just far enough to notice Twilight standing there. Her eyes lit ablaze.

“There you are! My wonderful, naughty little girl!”

Tyrant Sun abandoned the podium, strutting away from the crowd as if they weren’t there and never had been.

Twilight ran a hand through her hair and fought not to giggle eagerly.

“Um, hi, Mi-Princess!” She’d almost said Mistress. Dammit, Twilight, get it together!

“Oh, how I’ve missed you! Come here, darling!”

“I-Wait! I have to-mmph!”

The words were lost as Tyrant Sun lifted Twilight into a tight embrace, kissing her fiercely, pressing in close. One of Twilight’s legs wrapped around Tyrant’s on pure reflex.

“That’s my girl.” Sun breathed into her. “How dare you make me wait so long to see you again, you wicked thing.”

“I uh, I’m sorry, but-”

“You certainly should be sorry. But I forgive you. Let it never be said that I am not a generous Mistress.”

“Oh, um, sure, but-”

Tyrant’s hands wrapped tight around Twilight’s hips. She lifted her with ease and placed Twilight atop the balustrade surrounding the platform on which they stood. She stepped in between Twilight’s legs, hands questing over and into the girl’s light sundress.

“Oh, you remembered! What a good little girl you are!”

It took Twilight a moment to guess what Sun was talking about. Then she saw a flash of white as Tyrant’s hand snuck under her dress. The panties! The ones Celestia had somehow gotten her. Dammit, why had she worn those today!? Embarrassing as that was, thinking of Celestia reminded Twilight of what she had actually come here for.

“Princess, just wait a second! We have to, oh my, we have to-” Twilight tried to close up, tried to push Sun off. If she’d had any idea this was going to happen, she would have worn something that was harder to take off.

Or maybe not. Hard to say, just now…

“No we don’t. We don’t have to do anything. But we can do everything. Right now, in fact. But enough talking. Let’s play.”

The crowd, now mostly on Twilight’s left, had gone from open chatter to a quiet, very attentive murmur. Maybe that was what suddenly reminded her that they were there. She could see them out of the corner of her eye. Which meant they could see her.

“Princess, we can’t! There’s people!” She pointed at them. That should do it. The very idea of making such a display of herself should get Celestia back in control.

“Hm? Oh, them?” Sun waved dismissively at the mob. “Pfah. Don’t worry about them. They do anything I say. I’ll tell them to turn around or something.”

Oh. Well. This could be a problem.

Sun leaned in close, voice breathy. “And don’t you even try to pretend you’re not into this. I remember all those times you dragged Celestia out and made her fuck you in the open. Did you think I’d forget? I know you, baby. And I know you’re loving this. They are too. Take a look.” She took Twilight’s chin and turned her head far enough toward the avidly watching crowd that the only way she could even pretend they were alone would be by closing her eyes. “Now, let’s give them a real show, shall we?”

“U-um.” Twilight tried to fight it. She really did! But alas, her wings had already hit half-mast and there wasn’t damned thing she could do about it. It was just…

~~~

A single, resounding *smack* echoed through the courtyard as Luna’s palm collided with her forehead.

Alright. She should have seen this coming. Given what she knew about Twilight, this outcome should have been obvious. Fair enough. This was a turning into a complete disaster, but she was the Princess of the Night and she could handle this. This could be saved. Somehow.

Then Luna had an idea.

~~~

It was just, for the last few years, what with all the heroics and her coronation and all that, Twilight had spent a lot of time in the limelight. And maybe, through no fault of her own, she might, completely unintentionally mind you, have developed a bit of a taste for it. So maybe she wasn’t fighting as hard as she could have. Perhaps her mind was not entirely clear. And really, it was hardly fair and honestly how many opportunities like this could a girl ever expect to Oh, sweet goddess was that her mother!?

Twilight’s everything clapped shut tight.

~~~

It wasn’t her mother, as it happened. It was Luna, disguised as her mother. She made a gesture at the girl, one that transcended nearly all language and cultural barriers. It expressed a simple, quite emphatic question. It asked,

What the FUCK ARE YOU DOING!?!?

~~~

“Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be is it?” She sounded greatly pleased.

Twilight’s head whipped back to Tyrant Sun, an idea forming.

“Pumpernickel?”

Tyrant Sun blinked, looking, just for a moment, truly angry.

“What!?”

“Pumpernickel!”

Sun blinked again, face contorting through several emotions at once. But when her eyes finally really focused, they were the calm violet of Celestia’s.

They didn’t stay calm for long.

Celestia looked at her, confused, hair flowing back into its usual waving rainbow. She looked down at herself, and what she was wearing. She looked at where her hands were, and what they were up to. She looked past Twilight and into the expectant crowd beyond, eyes widening, lips parting in dawning horror. She looked back at Twilight, desperately.

“Um. Hi.” Twilight made a little wave with one hand.

A tiny, strangled sound escaped Celestia’s throat. The nascent scream cut off as Celestia vanished with a little *pop* of cool, blue magic.

~~~

Hah! thought Luna. Verily didst I nail it!

~~~

Suddenly unsupported, Twilight nearly fell off the balustrade. She heard the guards storming up the stairs as she recovered her balance, if not her dignity, from the clumsy landing.

“Are you alright, Princess? What happened?”

“I’m fine! Um, hang on.”

Twilight stepped to the podium and quickly addressed the crowd.

“Ah, hello! Sorry about all that! Totally taken care of though, everybody can go now!”

Sounds of disappointment filtered up from below. Twilight ignored them as best she could and turned to the guards.

"Ok, make sure everybody gets home safe for me. I have to go and, um, take care of some things." Said things were mostly between her legs. She managed to keep her hands away from them for the next few seconds. "And, guards?”

“Yes, m’lady?”

“That was definitely an other-dimensional double. It certainly was not the real Celestia. Please make sure everybody knows, ok? Thanks, bye!”

And then, with another, somewhat flashier *pop,* she was gone.

One guardsman turned to the other.

“Think it was actually her?”

“Oh, totally. Friggin’ hot, though.”

“I know! Anyway, let’s go tell everybody it was a double or whatever.”

~~~

Meanwhile, in the Solar Wing of Canterlot castle, Celestia *poofed* back into existence. Her wail of primal, mortified terror shook the tower from top to bottom.

Author's Note

Luna, at Twilight.