The Devil You Know

“Is anypony here?!” Twilight called, her voice echoing in the empty blackness.

She had been calling frantically ever since she had arrived in this place but had not received an answer. The darkness seemed to go on forever, yet she could see her own hooves and body as if there was light present that only shined on her. She felt warm, like she was standing outside on a summer day. She almost caught the scent of freshly cut grass against her nose as she walked.

But where was she? The last thing she could remember was… killing herself in Luna’s tomb. Now she was here, wherever here was.

She had heard the story of the Elysian fields when she was a foal, a wonderful place where you never had to toil and struggle ever again. Being a skeptical filly, she had argued with the teachers constantly about how they could possibly know such a place existed when nopony had ever been there and come back. That had earned her a visit to the head matron more times than she had liked, but no amount of detention or floor cleaning had been able to persuade her that it was real.

Right now? She was really hoping the Book of the Sun was right and she was just in a waiting room or something. Had the ritual meant she was going to Tartarus for her transgressions? Had Celestia forsaken her?

She fought off her rising panic and set her apparently still-functioning mind to work. She could figure this out; she just had to think.

She sat on her haunches and brought a hoof to her chin. Could this be a side effect of Starswirl’s spell?

“You are partly correct,” a soft voice said from behind her, making her jump with a squeak.

Standing there was the mare from the painting in Celestia’s study, Luna, an amused expression on her face.

“Y-you’re Princess Luna!” Twilight gasped, backpedalling before dropping to her knees and bowing.

There was a chuckle. “You know my true name. You’re full of surprises, my dear.”

“I-how? How are you here? Where is here?” Twilight babbled. “I thought I died. I did die.”

“Indeed you did.”

“Then how?” she asked, hyperventilating. “How am I here? Why have I not gone to Elysium? What is this place? I want to go home… I want…”

A choked, desperate sob escaped her lips, her confusion and fear spiralling out of control.

A gentle hoof lifted her face, and she gazed into the most beautiful cerulean eyes that sparkled with a strange light. “So many questions! Fear not, my bloodsworn, for you are safe.”

“Bloodsworn?”

“Yes, blood is the most potent offering one can give to the gods,” Luna said, leaning forward. “You gave your life to restore me, and now it is mine. Consider yourself honoured.”

She was so close, and her presence was so overwhelming that Twilight felt her cheeks flush a little. “I-I was only doing what Celestia ordered me to.”

Luna’s expression darkened. “Regardless of what my sister desired, you willingly gave your life, and I am grateful to you.” She bowed her head.

Dazed, Twilight returned the bow. “But if I’m still alive, where am I? Where is this place?”

“You are within me, child. I had to put you here to keep from losing you,” Luna said. “Forgive me, I was busy attending to our guests.”

“Guests?”

“The Umbra you led into my tomb,” Luna huffed angrily.

“I… we,” Twilight stammered, unsure how to respond.

The alicorn laughed. “I jest, those beasts will trouble us no more.”

“What about Rainbow Dash? Is she okay?”

Luna tilted her head with a smile. “You will see soon enough. Come. It is time for us to return,” she declared with a flap of her wings. “I would like to thank you in person.”

“But I-I don’t want to go back,” she replied, looking away. “I have nothing to go back to. Just let me go.”

“Indeed? Your companion seemed most adamant to protect you,” Luna said. “Were I not in a generous mood, she would be dead already. She endured much, hoping to protect your honour.”

“She-she did?”

“Oh yes, and there is so much more to come, my dear bloodsworn,” Luna said, her eyes shining with an eagerness that enthralled and frightened Twilight in equal measure.

Twilight looked down, but Luna lifted her head up. “Come, let us walk our path of blood together.”

Her eyes glowed, and Twilight felt herself being pulled into the light. For a brief instant, Twilight saw the being that was Luna, not a mere pony or even an alicorn, but a goddess—a being of light, terrible and yet, so beautiful.

<=======ooO Ooo=======>

Twilight awoke with a gasp of breath, followed by a fit of coughing as air rushed into her lungs.

“Twilight!” she heard Rainbow Dash’s voice cry as she felt herself being pulled into a hug. “I thought you were dead!”

“I am insulted you thought so,” That was Luna, yet her voice was colder and stern.

“Rainbow…” Twilight croaked, feeling a strange relief at seeing the pegasus again.

“How is this possible? You’re not even hurt anymore,” Rainbow gasped, pulling away, her hoof prodding at Twilight’s chest where the blade had entered.

“I don’t know,” she replied, looking down at her blood-soaked fur yet not feeling any sign of injuries. She felt fine. Better than fine, in fact, the weariness of the evening having washed away.

“You live because I will it, my bloodsworn. We are bound now, you and I. While I live, then so shall you,” Luna said, but as Twilight looked to her, she now saw a very different mare than moments before. She was black as night, her star-filled mane billowing like a silent storm, those canines poking out from under her lips. “Now rise, I wish to thank you properly.”

Gingerly, she got to her hooves, staring into those slitted eyes in confusion. Luna tilted her head, her eyes having a dangerous, hungry glint in them.

Was this truly Luna? Why was she so different out here?

Her questions faded away as Luna kissed her on the muzzle. Twilight’s eyes widened, and she tried to pull back, but Luna was not to be denied. Her tongue forced Twilight’s lips apart, urgently exploring her mouth. Luna’s wings unfurled and gently stroked against Twilight’s back as she pressed against her. A soft moan escaped Twilight’s lips as pleasure surged through her body. She leant into the alicorn’s embrace, rational thought a distant memory as she drowned in this new sensation.

As quickly as she had begun, Luna withdrew, leaving a dazed and panting Twilight in her wake.

That had been her first kiss, and it had been stolen! By a mare! The Nightmare, no less! Her cheeks were burning as she looked into the other mare’s eyes.

“You are mine, my bloodsworn,” Luna said, huskily, giving Twilight’s lips a playful nip. “Body and soul.”

A flood of thoughts rushed through Twilight’s mind like a tidal wave, objections, questions, but mostly terrible embarrassment.

An awkward cough from off to the side brought her back to some semblance of clarity. Rainbow was still there, a bright blush on her own cheeks, her wings standing rigid at her sides.

“Do not fear, my pet, you shall receive my gratitude in good time,” Luna said, a predatory smile on her face.

“I…” Rainbow stammered, taking a few steps back.

Luna laughed. “Now, the night wanes and I must regain my strength before I face my sister,” she declared, striding purposefully away. “Come, my minions, let us go!”

“Go? Go where?” Twilight asked.

Luna tilted her head to look back. “Why hunting, my dear bloodsworn. We’re going hunting.”

Twilight looked over to Rainbow, who looked about as dazed and confused as she was. Just what had they gotten themselves into?