"You were far, far too tense today." Ember's hooves worked against her client's back as she spoke, shiny charcoal chitin slicked with massage oil contrasting rather dramatically with pearlescent white hide.

"Mmm. I know." Celestia Sol Invictus, ruler of Equestria and Alicorn of the Sun vaguely twitched a hoof, as if she meant to gesture but was far too content to bother. "I wouldn't have thought that I'd look back fondly on the days when I went to war at Lulu's side, but... Ooo! That's really good, right there..." Ember chuckled and worked a bit harder at the muscles at the base of Celestia's wings. "But at least those problems were simple. Politics are simply maddening. This though... mmm. This is simply delightful."

"I do my best." Ember leaned down slightly and nibbled at one of Celestia's ears.

"Mmm. So you do."

Ember chuckled softly and bent lower over her new massage table—a wonderful acquisition that could be adjusted for larger ponies, even alicorns—and letting her weight settle onto Celestia's back. She savored the hint of spice—the flavor of lust—that came from her august client as she did so. There was always something delightfully transgressive about how much Celestia loved being dominated. She nipped Celestia's ear again, a little harder, and got a soft gasp in response. She chuckled again and shifted, running her muzzle along Celestia's long, elegant horn.

"Ooo. You can keep doing that." Celestia lifted her head a bit, shifting the angle of her horn for better access.

"If you insist." Ember grinned and licked along one spiraling groove slowly. Celestia shivered and moaned softly. Ember kept licking, running her tongue sensuously up and down Celestia's horn. She nuzzled against it, letting her smooth chitin slide along it, then wrapped her lips around it, squeezing and caressing it as best she could. One long fang scraped along it for a moment with a nails-on-chalkboard sound, and Celestia shuddered.

"Ah! Not-good pain there."

Ember giggled a little, but let go. "Sorry." She stood, climbing off of the massage table. "I think I'm finished here anyway. Shall we retire to the bedroom? Perhaps I can finish what I started there."

Celestia climbed off of the massage table. "Let us. Though without any more teeth, please. I do like your nibbles, but fangs on the horn are not fun."

Ember had a sudden idea. "Well, let me take preventative measures then." Green fire flashed over her, and when it cleared she had taken her default pony form—blue coat, blue hair, blue eyes, triskelion cutie mark—but with one difference. She'd been a pegasus before, and a unicorn, for clients that preferred them, but now she was both—an alicorn—and still as tall as Celestia herself.

Celestia looked her up and down with a somewhat amused smile. "Interesting."

Ember grinned, a bit less toothily now, but no less salaciously. "I hope you approve. But I do believe I was saying something about the bedroom?" Her horn glowed green and Celestia found herself picked up bodily in Ember's magic. "I think we should go there, now."

"Yeep! Well, if you insist..." Celestia didn't struggle at all, but let Ember carry her into the spacious bedroom and set her down on the bed. Ember put her belly down, sideways across the bed. She hummed to herself and adjusted Celestia a bit, arranging her hooves, posing her elegantly with her hair spread out around her, then finally turning her head just so, to put her horn at just the right level.

"There. No where was I? Doing something or other, but what was it?"

"Uhm..." Celestia blushed deeply. She was still a little shy talking about sexual acts, though her comfort had grown to the point where Ember hardly had to try to tempt her into doing them. A little mention of tension, an offer of a back rub, and the alicorn princess practically jumped at the chance to let Ember have her way with her. Ember knew that with time Celestia would no doubt be able to relax even more. She was delighted to have that time. She'd worried, after that second visit, that Celestia might not come back. But she'd turned up only a few weeks later, with a long stream of invective she'd obviously needed to express to somebody about arrogant ambassadors who obviously didn't realize that Celestia could vaporize them all and it would serve them right if they got a demonstration of it! Ember had laughed, insisted on giving Celestia a massage again, and set the pattern of their visits for months to come.

Now, though, it was time to push the boundaries just a little bit on the subject of discussing sex, and have a little fun while she was at it. "I am so absent-minded, what was it I was doing? Why if somepony doesn't remind me, I shall never be able to resume whatever it was." She winked at Celestia who blushed even harder.

"Uhm... you... ah..."

"Hmm? I know I was 'playing dolls' with a lovely little princess," she winked again, and Celestia turned nearly scarlet. "I suppose I could just keep arranging you in various poses, but I think there was something I was licking. Perhaps you could remind me? What was it?"

"You... my horn..."

"Ah, of course! And would you like me to resume?"

Celestia immediately nodded.

"Oh? What was that? I didn't hear anything."

Celestia blushed again. "Uhm. Yes?"

"Ask nicely."

Celestia licked her lips and stammered, "Y-yes please?"

"There it is! Good girl."

She grinned as Celestia gave a little shiver of excitement at those words. Then she nuzzled Celestia's horn again, this time her soft coat rubbing against it rather than firm chitin. Celestia made a soft sound of pleasure, and let her eyes half close as Ember continued. Ember began licking again, running her tongue up the grooves, humming softly to herself as she did. Celestia sighed deeply, relaxing, her eyes closing further. Ember finally took the tip into her mouth, carefully. It was sharper than a normal unicorn's horn. It was longer as well, so she couldn't go down the whole length of it, but she took what she could. She worked steadily, sensually up and down it, tracing lips and tongue over its every detail, and Celestia began to moan softly in response.

After a few minutes, though, Celestia pulled her head back, removing her horn from Ember's mouth. "Uhm. Better stop here."

"Hmm?" Ember tilted her head in wordless question.

Celestia gave an embarrassed little cough. "Alicorn of phenomenal power, etcetera. If I spark, I'll put a hole in the ceiling."

"Oh. Right." Ember chuckled. "Well, guess I'd better find something else to lick then." She picked up Celestia in her magic and made a show of turning her every which way. Celestia put on an amused look and as much dignity as she could manage while being held in various ridiculous poses. "Let's see, here?" Ember licked one of Celestia's forelegs. "No? How about here?" She licked the end of Celestia's nose. Celestia started giggling. "How about here?" She licked Celestia's shoulder. "Is that not it?"

"Hee. You are being ridiculous." There was a little note of frustration behind Celestia's words, Ember could taste it as well as hear it. She grinned to herself. Need brought her to speak out where mere desire wouldn't. She was obviously quite wound up at this point.

And Ember was having a lot of fun teasing her. "Me? Never!," she said, still grinning. "How about this, is this it?" She licked Celestia's cutie mark.

"Closer," said Celestia, somewhat sarcastically.

"How about this then?" Ember suddenly pushed Celestia onto the bed, on her back, her legs spread out, and in one swift motion she leaned in and ran her tongue firmly between those legs, lapping up Celestia's labia and pressing between them near the top to lick at her clit as well.

"Ah!" Celestia twitched and kicked, caught off-guard, but her instinctive attempt to struggle went nowhere, Ember's magic still held her. She wasn't really trying to fight, but given the amount of emotional energy Ember took in, she had more than enough magic to easily pin the alicorn princess down even if she had been struggling in earnest. She started licking intensely, not bothering with any further teasing. Celestia shuddered and let out a low moan.

Ember made a little pleased sound, but didn't stop what she was doing. The taste of pleasure was strong in the air; Celestia's emotions were not necessarily stronger than those of other ponies, but her power meant that the flavors could sometimes be overpowering. Ember drank it in eagerly. She didn't need it, really, but it was delicious all the same. The literal taste of Celestia was also delicious, if in a very different way. Ember lapped at her insistently as she continued to hold Celestia in her magic, her tongue working in calculated strokes, seeking to increase the pleasure the captive princess felt.

Soon Celestia was moaning repeatedly, her shuddering body straining against Ember's restraints as she tensed with building pleasure. Ember could tell she was very close, the taste and feel of her passion almost overwhelming.

Ember let go of Celestia with her magic, letting the princess arch her back and lift her hips to the disguised changeling's insistent tongue, and a moment later she gave an intense shudder and came, the taste of her pleasure so strong now it was hardly a flavor, more a white-hot heat in the air. It wasn't as strong as some climaxes Ember had tasted from the alicorn, but it was still amazing, and Ember basked in it, pleased even more than usual to have satisfied a client.

After wiping her muzzle clean, Ember flopped down on the bed next to Celestia, who turned to her and cuddle up, putting one huge white wing over her. Ember smiled and nestled into the embrace. "That was delightful," she said.

"Mmm. Yes indeed. I confess I do not regret letting you once more lure me back to your bedroom."

Ember grinned. "I can never resist trying. You really are my favorite customer, for oh so many reasons."

Celestia blushed just a bit. "Thank you."

"You said you wanted to talk about something, though?"

Celestia opened her mouth, then closed it with a faint frown. "Yes. But not something I should bring up with only minutes left, and I really should be going. I have made certain promises—to myself and others—about not getting in the habit of skipping sleep. I need less than most ponies but I do need some. If I'm to get any before sunrise, I should be leaving here about now, really."

"Well, another time, then."

"If you ever let me talk, rather that molesting me." Celestia grinned.

Ember chuckled. "I'll try to give you at least a minute or two before having my way with you."

"I don't believe that for a moment. But I really do need to be going." Celestia sighed softly and started extracting herself from the bed and from Ember's embrace. Ember let her go with a little sigh of her own. She hadn't been joking about Celestia being her favorite client. She rather wished the alicorn princess could stay the night more often, but she hadn't since her second visit. Still, at least she was coming back regularly, and Ember was very glad of that.

"I'll see you again soon," said Celestia.

"I look forward to it."

Then, with a flash of golden light, Celestia was gone, and Ember was alone in the bedroom. She heaved a sigh and went to clean things up so all would be ready for her next client.

The next day Ember woke a little bit after noon, as she usually did. She lay for a while in the bed that she and Far Gaze shared. He was still asleep, and she watched him sleep for a little bit, smiling fondly at him. She was very glad that she'd ended up in the basement of his apartment building, all those years ago, and not somewhere else in Canterlot. If she'd been in some other basement, or sun forbid had been out in the streets to be flung out of the city with all the other changelings, her life would have been quite different.

She finally rose when Far did, and they went about their ordinary day in the apartment above her business. Far made breakfast, as Ember was still not much of a cook, while she took care of the cleaning. Messes always seemed to multiply far too quickly if she didn't stay on top of them, even though only two ponies lived there.

Eventually they both went down to set about getting the business ready to open for the evening. Ember never could quite bring herself to call it a "brothel", that seemed incorrect when there was only one person actually working there, but she didn't really have a better word for it. Once again she shrugged at the familiar little nagging thought. There was no sign out front in any case, just the little red lamp, so it didn't matter what she called it.

"Mail for you," said Far, hoofing over a rolled scroll. Ember took it with curiosity. Usually she got envelopes not scrolls. Her eyebrows rose when she saw the sealing wax was marked with a rather familiar teapot cutie mark. She swiftly broke it open and read the contents.

Dear Ember,

I would be honored if you would meet me for tea tomorrow. I will be at Brown's at noon, should that suit your schedule. Please inform me if another time and place would be better.

Cordially yours,

Darjeeling Cup

"Hah. She was serious about talking without getting distracted, apparently. Interesting."

"Who?"

"Darjeeling."

Far's eyebrows rose as well. "The princess, you mean?"

"Indeed. I wonder what she wants to talk about?"

"No idea. She is more of an enigma to me than most ponies."

Ember chuckled. "Still sore that her disguise fooled you?"

Far made a harumphing sound and turned away from Ember, busying himself with the rest of the mail.

She grinned and went about her own afternoon tasks, but she found Darjeeling, aka. Princess Celestia, popping back into her mind frequently. She was very curious what the alicorn might have to discuss with her. Hopefully whatever it was would be pleasant news and not some kind of misguided "we can't do this anymore" declaration. She was fairly certain Celestia was past that point, but one never knew.

I hope not, Ember thought to herself. She hadn't been exaggerating when she called Celestia her favorite customer.

The first customer of the evening arrived, and Ember successfully pulled her thoughts away from the princess as last, but she found them drifting back between each session, and she truly did hope that whatever conversation they'd be having the next day, it wouldn't be the one that included Celestia no longer being among her clients.

She woke early the next morning, to be ready by noon. When she realized that she'd preened her wings three times a wry laugh escaped her. She'd be disguised, so it really wouldn't matter, but she couldn't help it. Knowing she'd be seeing Celestia made her want to put in a little extra effort. Of course she could go in her natural form if she wanted. Since the end of the hive war some years ago ponies and changelings had all sorts of treaties and truces between them. One could occasionally see changelings on the streets of Canterlot, though mostly only near the changeling embassy, but Ember still preferred to go out anonymously. If nothing else it lowered the odds of a former customer recognizing her and saying something embarrassing.

Her grooming finished, she set out for Brown's Hotel, whose famous teahouse had been serving tea for longer than Ember had been alive, though certainly not longer than Celestia had. She donned her usual pony form before leaving, an earth pony only remarkable for the fact that she was entirely blue—coat, mane, tail, and eyes—replacing the much more startling shape of a changeling queen. The hotel wasn't far from her home, only one tier higher on the sloping mountain side, so it didn't take her long to get there.

Darjeeling was already there, at a little table outside, beneath a striped umbrella. She waved at Ember, apparently recognizing her easily enough, despite her currently being an earth pony and not an alicorn nor a changeling. Ember waved back and trotted over to join her.

"Hello!" She pulled up a chair and seated herself across from the seemingly drab little mare.

Darjeeling smiled, and was instantly not drab at all. "Hello. I've taken the liberty of ordering a few tea cakes and a pot of my favorite jasmine blend. They should be arriving any minute now. I had the waiter leave the menu, if you want anything consider it my treat."

"Thanks." Ember pulled the menu over and perused it, turning the pages with by-now practiced ease using only her hooves. Sometimes she wondered why she stubbornly stuck to using an earth pony when she could easily be a unicorn instead, but something made her want to continue with the very first pony form she'd ever taken. "I think I will get something a bit more substantial of you don't mind. I haven't had breakfast yet."

"Oh dear. Is it too early for you? I know you keep late hours. I should have asked what time you preferred. I am probably far too used to simply dictating things to ponies, I didn't even think..."

"It's fine." Ember smiled and waved off Dar's protestations. "I'm usually up by now, I just managed to spend too much time grooming this morning is all."

Dar shifted a bit, her hooves shuffling uncomfortably. "I am very sorry all the same." Ember was surprised at the strength of the nervousness she tasted from her. Yes, alicorn magic made "Darjeeling's" emotions taste strongly, but the flavor was bitter enough to border on true fear. Dar was anxious to the point of near-terror, beneath the smiling exterior she presented.

"Nothing to be sorry for," said Ember, gently.

The waiter arrived with the tea and cakes just then, sparing Ember any further apologies. She ordered a fairly hearty sandwich and fries, and after he had left, Dar busied herself for a while pouring two cups of tea and setting tea cakes out for both of them. Ember noticed that she too was very deft with her hooves. She found it interesting that they had both settled on earth ponies.

"Why an earth pony?" she asked after taking a sip. "Wouldn't it be simpler to be a unicorn? Pouring tea with hooves isn't easy."

Darjeeling smiled, the taste of her nervousness fading at this innocuous topic. "There's something very solid about being an earth pony, I suppose. When I created this form I wanted to feel unremarkable, and I was looking for... reassurance, I suppose. Or comfort. It feels comfortable, and... safe, I guess? It's hard to put into words." She shrugged. "But what about you? You made the same choice."

"Only in that I continue to use this form. When I first took it I was panicked and just didn't think of trying to have wings or a horn. I thought 'pony' and pony happened. That's also why the blue." Ember grinned. "I couldn't think of any other colors. For a very long time I was a blank flank as well, because I also couldn't think of a cutie mark. And now it just seems like giving up something to stop being this version of me, so I stick to it when I don't have a reason to need wings or a horn."

"Ah. You'll have to tell me about that someday. I know you were part of the Chrysalis hive during the invasion, but I have no idea how you got from there to here."

"Someday, perhaps. It's a very long story, though, and I don't think I have time to relay it all today. Besides, you had something you wanted to discuss?"

Dar shuffled her feet again, her nervousness spiking. "In good time. You should eat first."

Ember took another sip of her tea. "That would require food for me to eat," she said with a smile. "But I suppose we can speak of other things while we wait. Tell me about the current palace gossip. I know a Saddle Arabian delegation has been visiting. I had a customer the other night who'd taken a liking to horses and had me become one. I will admit that was a new one for me, which doesn't happen often these days."

"Oh my. Was that difficult for you?"

"Well, the client seemed happy enough, so I suppose I did all right. How has the politicking been?"

"Too early to tell yet, they only just arrived, but so far it has gone quite pleasantly. Once the formalities are over and we get down to more serious business I'll find out for certain. For now I'm nearly enjoying it."

They chatted further until Ember's sandwich arrived, and then Ember mostly kept her mouth full while Dar rambled a bit about her past dealings with Saddle Arabia. They'd been allies of Equestria for centuries, so there was a long history there.

Finally the last hay fry was gone and the waiter cleared the plate away, bringing another pot of tea while he did so. Dar poured again, and there was a slightly uncomfortable silence. If Ember had liked the taste of fear, she could have made a second meal from the anxious emotions Dar was giving off. Finally Ember said, "So, what was it you wanted to discuss?"

"I... oh heavens this is going to sound ridiculous. I, ah, I need some advice. I thought I might ask you. I can't think of who else to ask. You have some experience helping ponies out, and I thought, well, maybe you could help me. I mean, you've helped me already but with something else-" Dar stopped abruptly, no doubt aware that she'd started to babble. She flushed. It was actually kind of adorable, and Ember gave her a hopefully reassuring smile.

"I'd be delighted to help you if I can. What sort of advice are you looking for?"

"About dating."

Ember blinked. "Dating?"

Dar nodded, still flushed. "I haven't... I mean I've never asked anyone out, as they say these days. It's been centuries since I last courted. I have no idea whatsoever what I'm doing."

A confused tangle of reactions flashed through Ember's mind. If Dar—if Celestia—wanted advice on dating, that meant she'd no doubt met somepony she wanted to date. Part of Ember was immediately delighted. Celestia had been so lonely for so long, she deserved a special somepony. But very few ponies continued to be customers while dating, she tended to mostly get single ponies. So if Celestia started dating, she would most likely stop visiting Ember, and Ember would lose her favorite client. If things went well she might lose Celestia forever. Yet if things went well Celestia would finally get the happiness she deserved. Loss and delight warred with each other in Ember's mind, and all she could manage to do was say, somewhat confusedly, "But I've never asked anyone out either. Why ask me?"

Dar frowned. "You haven't?"

"No. I've never dated conventionally at all."

"Oh."

"And if you want advice on romance, shouldn't you be asking Princess Cadance?"

Dar coughed and looked away. "I suppose. But her past reactions when somepony she likes is courting have been... a bit overbearing. And I would really prefer to avoid her doing her 'happy dance' any time she is in my presence for weeks on end."

Ember chuckled. She'd never met Cadance, but she had studied her to imitate her for clients, and she could quite imagine what that would be like. "I see. Well, I can try to give you some advice, but I'm really not sure I'm the best person for this. You want to know how to ask somepony out?"

"I... yes, I suppose that too. Mostly I want to know, how do you tell?" Her nervousness faded slightly, tempered with a healthy helping of sharp determination. "How do you know the difference between a friend and a lover? How do you tell someone you're simply attracted to from someone you actually love?"

"Heh. Getting right to the hard questions." Ember considered how best to answer.

"Hmm?"

"Well, there's no simple answer there. Friends can be lovers. Physical attraction can lead to love. The difference between somepony you've just seen and thought 'hey, he's cute' and the kind of love that Shining Armor and Cadance have—to give one example we both know—is mostly time."

"You can't possibly mean that any two people who think each other are 'cute' can have true love."

Ember laughed. "No, sorry, that came out a bit awkwardly. Not everyone compatible like that, no. I mean that if I'd been there, tasting the flavor of their emotions when those two first met I wouldn't have tasted love. I'd have tasted the same simple attraction I taste from any two ponies who find each other attractive. Love happens gradually, often over many years."

"Then how do you know who you can love? If there's nothing different between ponies—between people—who'll have true love and those who won't, how do you know who to date?"

"I gather that's kind of the point of dating, is to find out. It's why it's so difficult for so many, because it doesn't work out so many times, but then it does, and it's worth it. Or so I'm told. I did mention I've never dated, yes?"

Darjeeling sighed. "You did, yes. Neither have I. I see what you're saying, but it makes it so hard to want to risk asking someone..."

Ember nodded. "I'm sure it is hard. But you keep saying 'people' and not 'ponies'." She smiled, trying to turn the conversation a bit lighter. "Are you falling for some dashing Saddle Arabian stallion, then? I'm told half the palace mares have been swooning over the Ambassador's son! You really have to tell me who it is."

She expected blushes and laughter, but instead she got the taste of even stronger apprehension. "Who? Th-that's not exactly, uhm..."

"You don't have to confess if you don't want to." Ember smiled gently, trying to ease whatever anxiety was plaguing the princess. "I'm just pleased to see you thinking about romance finally."

"Y-you're pleased?"

"Well of course! I like the idea of seeing you happy with someone else." Never mind that I'd rather you stay with me, said a little voice somewhere inside Ember. She pushed that voice down. She needed to help Celestia, with whatever was causing her so much anxiety, not express her own selfish desires. She hunted for something else to add, and found herself saying, "You can't just keep seeing me forever."

But as she spoke, the anxious flavor coming from the princess changed sharply, from fear to something that was harder to name. It was still bitter, but contained a strong note of shock. "I... I..." Dar stood suddenly. "I can't do this. This was a bad idea. Asking your advice was a horrible, terrible idea. I'm so sorry."

And with that she vanished in a flash of golden magic, leaving a very startled Ember once again gaping after her.

Author's Note

This is a two-part story. The second part will go up next week.

Thank you all for reading!