Twilight's Second First Time

Rays of early morning light came through the windows, warming the cool air of Twilight’s throne room as dust motes captured the rays of light and scattered it about. One particular window illuminated the Cutie Map and the three alicorns around it.

Luna and Twilight stood side-by-side, flooding the room with the potent musk of two mares in heat, while Cadance stood on the other side of the map.

“So, you bind her to the Cutie Map,” Cadance said, raising an eyebrow at Luna. “And then any spell that affects Twilight is projected throughout Equestria.”

Luna nodded affirmatively. “And it will be amplified by the power of the Map.”

Cadance put a hoof to her head in consternation. “And Celestia knows what we’re doing?”

Luna fussed with her hooves nervously for a moment and shook her head. “I know she wouldn’t approve of using Ancient Magic. Though it can be used safely, it is far too dangerous when wielded improperly and she has worked hard to eliminate it in my thousand-year absence.”

“I see.” Cadance nodded to herself. Then she glanced at Twilight, who looked like she was only half-conscious, with heavy bags under her eyes. “I can’t believe you called me down here first thing in the morning for this. Have you even slept?”

Twilight shook her head sheepishly and blinked a few times. “I’ve been too worked up to sleep much,” she admitted.

Cadance knew Twilight. And she could tell that Twilight wasn’t going to be swayed from this plan. She could refuse to help, since they needed her talent for the plan to work, but ...

“Very well, then,” Cadance sighed. “Let’s get this done with.”

“Then We shall begin,” Luna declared. Bracing her hooves against the ground, her horn lit up with magical energy as she began chanting, eyes closed in concentration.

“Utenacaf luy voyepe pe. Used iteso oritihaw ibilow meve iror nato ocite sel unama: Uleni egayenuc hir iniehas di totezim. Niwatat ece nenas wiceta wo sacac ro son.”

Cadance looked at Twilight quizzically. “What is she doing?”

“The interfacing spell is Ancient Magic,” Twilight explained. “From what Luna explained to me, Ancient Magic uses verbal invocations to call upon the powers that created Equestria to effect change. Modern Equestrian magic, which draws upon our own reserves of magical energy, is much more limited as a result, but it is also several orders of magnitude safer.”

“Lebunoc eponinil gimi conie ukizey: Agesecen net nilot kicidu bor vi edoha: Gis ice nilalem. Roc hoc osa renilot lutiho. Pilag payoda se tidudad nebu demahen etenar letal sire obulerit.”

“I don’t understand a word she’s saying,” Cadance lamented.

“Neither do I,” Twilight agreed. “She says it is a dead language that only she and Celestia know.”

“Wodaf sarot ebe nuto mamare use etar yuxotot leri!”

As Luna completed her chant, Cadance felt a strange power gathering in the room - one so intense that the room seemed to dim around her as the very thickness of the magic in the air seemed to impede light. After a few moments, dense magical energies in the visible spectrum erupted from the map and engulfed Twilight, wisps of light swirling about her in varying purple and blue shades. Cadance could also feel the effects in her horn: a light tugging sensation, as if the map wanted to consume all of the magic around it and thrust it into Twilight.

Twilight relaxed, feeling the familiar warmth of Harmony around her as she cast her portion of the spell, the comparator. As she finished her part, an ethereal shell of purple light erupted from her, passing through the walls of the castle. Several moments later, a few Cutie Marks began appearing on the map - initially just at Ponyville, with Twilight’s own cutie mark as well as two other marks, but moments later a few more appeared further out. Rainbow Dash’s mark appeared over Cloudsdale. Celestia’s mark appeared over Canterlot, along with two others. When the spell had reached the edges of Equestria, there were perhaps two dozen marks.

“That’s not very many ponies,” Cadance observed.

Twilight’s face fell. “I know all of those marks,” she lamented. “And they’re all mares. I had hoped there was at least one stallion. On the other hoof, it isn’t really necessary to have a pony of my own calibre.”

Luna stopped channelling her own magic, and the warmth surrounding Twilight faded. “No stallions at all?” Luna wondered aloud.

“That isn’t too surprising,” Cadance replied. “Mares do have more latent magic reserves, as a generalization. It is used to nurture their children in the womb.”

The door to the north hallway suddenly opened and Starlight Glimmer trotted in, a broad smile on her face. Ignoring the collected Princesses, she headed straight toward the east hall, humming happily to herself.

Twilight brightened. “Starlight! What perfect timing!” Starlight stopped, turning slowly to Twilight with an apprehensive expression. “Would you be so kind as to help us with a little spell?” Twilight asked.

Starlight’s smile returned. “Sorry, Twilight,” she said, far too cheerfully. “I have a date with Sunburst this morning. There’s really not much time.”

“It should only take a few moments,” Twilight begged as Starlight continued on her way. “Please?”

Starlight stopped at the door to the east hallway, one hoof on the door. She sighed deeply. “Alright, but just for a few minutes. Sunburst is already on his way.”

Twilight took a moment to teach Starlight the comparator spell. Thankfully, Starlight was a quick study, and in just a couple of moments, Luna had begun her chant again. Starlight’s eyes widened in wonder as the room once again seemed to fade ever so slightly. A few moments later the Cutie Map once again exuded the warm energy that engulfed Twilight, and the wispy lights returned.

Cadance nodded to Starlight. “It’s your turn next. Cast the comparator on Twilight, and everypony in Equestria that has more latent magic than you should appear on the Cutie Map. Then, I can use my compatibility spell to narrow those down to ponies that Twilight might actually be able to court.”

“That’s what this is about? Good grief,” Starlight scoffed, rolling her eyes momentarily. “I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me at this point.” She shrugged “Whatever. Here it goes.”

Magic surged from Starlight’s horn into Twilight, causing Starlight to stumble forward at the unexpected draining sensation from the Cutie Map’s influence pulling on her horn. As the energy entered the Cutie Map, the ethereal wisps surrounding Twilight shifted from purples and blues to pinks and reds. A moment later, the energy blasted outward in another expanding shell of magical energy. Twilight groaned, stumbled forward, and immediately collapsed to the ground, still glowing with faint pink energies.

That was different.

“Twilight!” Cadance shouted. “Are you alright?”

Twilight writhed about on the floor, completely unresponsive to Cadance’s voice.

“Her marehood is leaking profusely,” Luna observed dryly from behind Twilight. Twilight moaned erotically in response, uttering something that Luna couldn’t make out. Luna looked up. “What did you do to her, Starlight?”

“N-n-nothing,” Starlight quickly stammered defensively. “I cast the spell just as she taught me. See?” She pointed a hoof at the Cutie Map. “It’s working as expected.”

Luna turned to look at the map. Hundreds of Cutie Marks danced across the map, all of them in motion - some faster than others. “They’re all... moving?” Luna wondered aloud. “Every last one of them.”

“What?” Cadance’s eyes widened in alarm as she saw the map. “They’re not just moving -- look!” She gestured around the map with her hoof, and then pointed right at Ponyville. “They’re all coming here!”

“I’m guessing the spell was not supposed to do that?” Starlight tittered nervously.

Luna clicked her tongue at Starlight. “No, it is not.”

The door to the east wing pushed open slightly and Sunburst poked his head into the throne room. “Hello?” he called into the room. “Starlight? No one answered the door, so I let myself in.”

Starlight grinned sheepishly, trotting over to him. “Sunburst! I’m sorry, honey, I just …”

“Honey?” Sunburst interrupted. “That’s… a little awkward, don’t you think?”

“But I thought…” Starlight looked back at Cadance briefly. Cadance only shrugged and Starlight shook her head. Then, she looked back at Sunburst and locked eyes with him, leaning in for a kiss.

Sunburst didn’t even seem to notice, pushing roughly past her and toward the center of the room. Starlight staggered to the side and fell on her rump in stunned silence. Sunburst sniffed at the air. “What is that amazing smell?” he wondered aloud. He took a few tentative steps toward Luna, almost as if in a trance. Luna planted her tail on the floor and blushed deep enough that it was visible even on her dark cheeks.

Cadance giggled. “You are smelling not just one, but two alicorns in estrus, Sunburst. You might want to take your marefriend and leave, before you grow a bit too horny to function.”

Starlight still sat on the floor, confused at Sunburst’s rejection. Was the spell she cast on herself not working? She watched as Sunburst stood stock still, his nose still in the air and taking in the smell, almost as if he hadn’t even heard the princesses’ explanations. His sheathe began dropping.

Starlight stared in wonder at the massive male organ she’d pined after her entire life. He was getting an erection!

… That was … part of the way to her goal, at least. Despondence soon took over as she realized his erection had nothing to do with her.

Sunburst continued to slowly advance toward Luna and Twilight. Luna shifted her weight back and forth nervously as he advanced, her eyes flitting over to Twilight’s prone and writhing form. Twilight simply lay there, muttering incoherently to herself as she slowly hoofed herself off, oblivious to the events happening around her.

Starlight stared at Twilight’s hoof, stroking up and down her slit. She shivered in fear with the realization that the two alicorns were desperate enough they might just… She slammed her hoof into the ground as she stood up again. “SUNBURST!” she screamed. “What in Celestia’s name are you doing?! You’re supposed to be fucking me!” Her voice cracked as despair threatened to overwhelm her, and she forced back tears.“Fuck me! Not them!”

Cadance and Luna both stared at her, eyes wide. The room fell into an near-absolute silence, spoiled only by the soft sounds of Twilight’s moaning and the shlicking sounds of her hoof against her marehood. Even the click of Sunburst’s hooves against the hard floor stopped as he slowly turned to face Starlight.

“Starlight…” Sunburst whispered quietly. “I can’t.”

“Why not!?” Starlight wailed, on the verge of losing control and breaking down in tears. “Why can you so nonchalantly approach another pony in heat - a princess no less! - and just ignore me. Me! Your best friend! I’ve wanted you for so long, Sunburst. I’ve tried throwing myself at you countless times, and every time I’ve tried, you only ignore me.”

“Star-” Sunburst began.

“And yesterday, when you agreed to come by for breakfast, I thought…” She took a deep breath. “I thought to myself, maybe! Maybe this time it would be different.” A choked sob tore its way out of her lungs as she collapsed to the floor in tears.

“All I want is to finally - finally - make love to you,” she sobbed. “I planned this entire date around it! I know you want me! I’ve always known you want me. I know we could be happy together. So… why?” She stared straight at Sunburst, her tear-streaked face red with anger and sadness. “Why won’t you just… be with me?!”

“Starlight…” Sunburst’s voice was despondent. He hung his head, staring at the floor and not wanting to meet her gaze. Not wanting her to see the tears forming in his own eyes. “I love you… but I can’t.”

“But why?” Starlight begged. “Tell me, why can’t we be together?”

“Because I can’t offer what you want,” Sunburst replied softly. “Ever since we were kids, you always told me that it was your dream to have a family.” Starlight choked on a sob wordlessly as Sunburst continued. “You always imagined us growing up and having lots of foals together. And I could tell from the way your eyes lit up - every time you told me that - that you really wanted to be a mom. And then, at Celestia’s school, I found out that I…”

“I don’t…” Starlight interrupted, barely able to choke out the words. “I don’t want…”

“You don’t want...?” Sunburst tilted his head in confusion as he tried to understand what she was saying. She didn’t want kids? “But you always-”

Starlight took a moment to regain control of herself, taking a few deep breaths before focusing again on Sunburst. “I mean, I do,” she said, finally in control again. “Sunburst, I do want to have a family with you. But I also know that it’s just a pipe dream. Back then, I was a young filly filled with hopes and dreams, protected from the harsh realities of biology, adulthood, and relationships.” She smiled at him softly, shaking with nervousness. “I didn’t know then what I know now.”

Twilight’s mewling utterances echoed through the chamber as Cadance, Luna, and Sunburst all gazed upon Starlight’s trembling form. Starlight remained silent as Sunburst took a step forward

“And I know now that I was wrong!” she finally uttered, stopping him in his tracks. “You really don’t… love me. Or want-”

“What?” Sunburst interjected, eyebrows knitting with confusion. “No, I do, Starlight. I just didn’t want to break your-”

“You don’t,” she insisted. “If you had really been attracted to me at all, you would have already been mounting me.”

“That’s--”

Starlight raised a hoof to silence his objection. “I put a spell on myself this morning. I took Twilight’s Want It, Need It spell and modified it. The first stallion that had any physical desire for me at all - the first one to look into my eyes would be unable to control himself. If you had any love for me at all, you wouldn’t have been able to resist me.” She glared at him. “But you did - you rejected me when I came in for a kiss. You walked on past me, straight for Luna. Even though…” she took a deep breath. “Even though I’m in heat, too.” She flagged her tail, finally relaxing her efforts to keep it lowered.

Sunburst stood stock still, his breathing growing shallow, eyes flicking rapidly between Starlight and the writhing Princess Twilight, straining to keep his calamitous emotions under control while under the onslaught of air thick with pheremones.

Cadance’s eyes shot open in alarm. “Wait! You put a Want It, Need It spell on yourself?!” she shouted.

Starlight nodded silently.

Luna’s ears perked up immediately. “What did you modify the spell with?”

“An aphrodisiac,” Starlight confessed. “One that would last until I was satisfied sexually.”

“An aphrodisiac.” Cadance repeated. “And you combined it with a compulsion spell?!” She whirled back to stare at the Cutie Map in horror. “And then we just…”

Luna slowly turned to the Cutie Map, her mouth open with apprehension as she watched the Cutie Marks slowly closing in on Ponyville. Starlight’s eyes went wide, suddenly remembering the draining sensation that happened when she cast her part of the spell. All of the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.

She stood, turning to face the map when she was suddenly blinded and thrown from her hooves. A crack of thunder echoed through the chamber as Starlight hit the ground roughly. As her sight returned, yellow smoke was billowing out from a scorched circle near the doorway, and the tall, lithe, majestic form of Celestia stood in the center of it all, her mane billowing wildly about her head.

“LUNA!” Celestia thundered. “WHAT IN TARTARUS IS GOING ON HERE!”

Luna fell on her haunches and raised her front hooves in surrender. “Sister, wait, I can explain!” she blurted frantically. “It was a temporary mind control spell. We have the situation under control!”

“...what?” Celestia stopped, tilting her head in confusion at the nearly catatonic Sunburst. “A mind-control spell…? I thought it was an aphrodisiac. I saw an image of Twilight flashing through my mind - a rather saucy one, I must admit - and it came with a nearly overwhelming desire for sex. Were I still…” she trailed off for a moment before shaking her head. “It has affected several of my guards, who promptly abandoned their posts!”

Celestia looked around the room, her eyes falling on Twilight, who was furiously masturbating, seemingly oblivious to everything around her. Celestia raised an eyebrow at that but continued to survey the room. Cutie marks dotted the map next to her, seemingly dancing about the map and closing in on Ponyville. An abnormally large number of them, compared to the Cutie Map’s usual output. She moved on, her gaze falling upon Starlight Glimmer. Her eyes narrowed.

“Nevermind Luna’s use of forbidden magics. I’ll have plenty of time to deal with her later. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“WHAT?!” Starlight objected. “You have no evidence that I did anything.”

Every mare in the room delivered Starlight a flat stare - even Twilight managed to writhe her way into a strangely judgemental look, though her hoof still worked ceaselessly behind her as she muttered incoherently.

“Seriously?” Starlight complained. “Just because there’s mind control involved?!” The others continued to stare. Starlight heaved a sigh. “Fine, I did it.”

Celestia sighed, rolling her eyes.

“Starlight, you… might want to leave,” Cadance suggested.

“What?! No! I know I made a mistake, but I should be allowed to help fix it. And I will take responsibility!” She drew herself up, trying as hard as she could to defiantly stare down the much taller Celesta. “If Celestia wants to punish me… then she can do that. I accept my fate.”

Celestia shook her head. “No, Starlight. Take Sunburst and go,” she commanded.

“But--”

Luna glanced over at Sunburst. His eyes were glazed over, and his erection was dragging against the floor as his legs shook, all of his willpower seemingly going into not mounting any of the mares present. “Starlight, you have made mistakes,” Luna observed. She pointed at the stricken stallion. “And one of them can only be fixed by you.”

Starlight fumed indecisively for several moments, glancing between Twilight and Sunburst. “I still resent the accusation,” she huffed, before telekinetically grabbing Sunburst by his neck and dragging him bodily back toward the north hall. “But at least this is the issue I’ve been trying to fix.”

A clattering of hooves sounded from the east wing - several ponies were inside the castle. Luna shifted her attention to the great doors and slammed them shut, holding them firmly with her magic as Starlight and Sunburst disappeared to the north. “We have a problem,” she announced.

“The spell ends when one is satisfied sexually,” Cadance said with a frown. “Does this mean Starlight needs to be satisfied sexually, or has the spell changed?”

Celestia looked sadly down at Twilight. “Starlight’s spell was designed with her as the focus of attraction. When the spell took hold, it was Twilight that I was attracted to, so I believe it is Twilight needs to be sated. An alicorn heat combined with an aphrodisiac…” Celestia shook her head and looked at Cadance. “Has she expressed any preference?”

Twilight moaned happily and struggled to her hooves. The other alicorns waited to see what she would do. The young princess merely stood, turned her posterior at the blockaded door and flagged her tail, then her horn glowed, struggling against Luna’s magic to open the door. Further pounding of hooves on the door rang through the chamber.

Luna grimaced, but held her magic firm. “We have spoken on the matter extensively,” she replied. “Twilight would like the opportunity to form a relationship with the pony that impregnates her, but seemed to have little preference as to whom beyond that.”

Cadance nodded in agreement. “That is what I have been led to believe as well.”

Celestia looked at the map - hundreds of cutie marks were there. A significant portion of Equestria would be unwaveringly obsessed with coming here until Twilight was satisfied. She glanced at Twilight’s flagged tail and the copious lubrication running down her legs. “She needs to be bred, then.”

Twilight groaned happily, nodding her head and waving her tail back and forth. Her horn began to spark with effort as she wrenched the door harder against Luna’s magic.

“Wait,” Cadance interjected, adding her own magic to Luna’s blockade. “Even if she is okay with this, we cannot just have any pony come in and mount her. They’re under the effect of a mind-control spell. That’s... rape. On a massive scale.”

Celestia grimaced. “You are correct, of course. But surely some of them would enjoy having the opportunity to stud her? How can we determine that?” The pounding on the door was escalating to a dull roar - there must have been at least a dozen ponies now.

“I see ponies’ dreams,” Luna replied. “A large part of dreams is subconscious desire. Between Cadance’s ability to select ponies who are compatible with Twilight, and my ability to know their innermost desires, I think we can narrow down those who enter.”

“A shield bubble,” Cadance chimed in. “I could create a teleportation shield. Any pony who fails to meet the criteria will be teleported from the bubble to somewhere else.” She blushed. “Shining taught it to me, so we’ve used it a few times to have sex in public places.”

“And where would you send them?” Celestia asked. “You cannot just drop dozens, or potentially even hundreds of horny ponies at the same place. It would cause utter chaos.”

“I can ensure they go to wherever they last dreamed,” Luna offered. “That would put the majority of them in their own homes, though it is likely that they will simply wander back until Twilight is sated, or until their bodies give out and they collapse from exhaustion.”

Cadance nodded again. “And they will be exhausted by the time this all blows over, but the shield would simply teleport them a second time if they get back here.”

A loud thump sounded from one of the windows as a shadow of a pegasus slammed into the stained glass. All of the alicorns cringed at the sound.

“Then cast the spell,” Celestia urged, not taking her eyes off the pegasus who was now knocking on the window. “Quickly. And make sure it covers the entire castle, so we don’t have anypony getting hurt.”

Sunburst slowly came back to his senses as Starlight dragged him further and further from the overwhelming scent of Luna and Twilight’s heats, eventually managing to limp alongside her, even though she didn’t release her magical hold on his neck. His hooves got tangled up trying to keep pace and he stumbled.

“Come on,” she growled, continuing to drag him down the corridor.

“Look, I-I-I’m sorry, Starlight!” he stuttered, trying to get back on his feet. “I d-didn’t know how you really felt!”

“Shut up, Sunburst,” Starlight admonished. She wasn’t sure if she was more angry at Sunburst for being so dense, herself for not clearing this up years ago, or Celestia for sending her away without letting her make amends.

Her bedroom door loomed closer, and she let Sunburst fall to the floor as she threw the door open with her magic, then dragged Sunburst inside and slammed the door shut. Immediately she turned on him, seizing his cloak and stripping it from him.

“Slow down!” he cried. “I’ve never done this before!”

Starlight froze. “You… haven’t?”

“No,” he mumbled. “I… I’ve never wanted anypony else. I’ve always only wanted you, but… well...”

Starlight sat back, stunned. “You abstained because of me?” Sunburst nodded silently. “Because you couldn’t have a family with me?” Another nod. Starlight glanced at the cloak laying on the floor and heaved a heavy sigh. She know he might need some time, but the itch under her tail demanded relief. “I’m sorry, Sunburst. Just let me lead for now… please? Just lay back on the bed. I promise, you’ll have plenty of time to learn how to please a mare later. But for now… I… I really need you inside me.”

“O… oh… okay,” Sunburst replied, trembling as he climbed up onto the bed and laid down, his massive erection slapping against his chest as he settled in. Starlight couldn’t help but stare at his shaft - far longer than any she’d ever taken before, though nowhere near the thickest. She climbed up next to him on the bed.

No longer overpowered by the scents of so many mares in heat, she was finally able to savor the musk emanating from his arousal. She lifted one leg over him, straddling his member and allowing it to slide along the length of her slit. Copious lubrication smeared along his shaft as she grinded against him.

Sunburst gasped at the warm, wet sensation. Starlight used his open mouth as an invitation, pressing her lips against his.

Their tongues danced together, writhing about and around as they probed each other’s mouths. Sunburst’s technique was lacking - sucking at her face like a vacuum cleaner - but Starlight didn’t even care: she finally had him. The one stallion she’d always loved. Always longed for. Right here beneath her and at her mercy.

Not withdrawing her lips even for a moment, Starlight shifted her weight forward, pressing the tip of his throbbing member to her entrance. She could feel him begin to shudder beneath her - not a pleasured one, but an apprehensive one. She pulled away from him, gazing into dilated pupils.

“Are you really okay with this?” Starlight asked. “We can stop if you aren’t.”

Sunburst could barely contain his trembling. “I-I-I-I-I-I-...”

Starlight pressed her hoof to his lips, sitting back to let some pressure off of his chest. “Take a deep breath, Sunburst. It’s okay.”

He swallowed, nodding nervously, though the trembling didn’t let up. “I’m okay,” he finally managed to croak out. “I’ve j-j-just never done this before!” His voice cracked. “Please, uh… keep going.”

Starlight nodded, leaning forward again. She kissed his lips briefly again before stopping to line up her dripping slit to his shaft. “I’m going to start now,” she said softly. “It’s okay.”

Sunburst’s trembling only intensified as she slowly split herself upon his shaft. His eyes went wide as his shaking only worsened. He was inside Starlight Glimmer! It was that moment he’d been anticipating for his entire life! But his nerves were completely shot - he couldn’t stop shaking. And that only made him even more nervous - what if he couldn’t perform?! That thought only made him even more nervous.

Starlight wasn’t sure what to make of Sunburst’s trembling, but he had affirmed that he was okay, so she started slowly gliding herself up and down his length. A groan escaped her lips each time she impaled herself.

“Goddess, thank you,” she breathed. “This is everything I ever needed.”

Sunburst swallowed thickly, gazing down at his cock disappearing into her depths, only to reappear again. He couldn’t help but notice her pert teats bounced slightly - a sight that excited him far more than even the magnificent feeling of being inside the mare he’d loved at a distance for so long.

Starlight began to speed up, heaving herself up and down on his cock even faster. She needed to be bred - to be filled up with his semen. Even if he wouldn’t be able to get her pregnant, her physical needs didn’t know that! Copious fluids began drooling down her thighs and all over Sunburst’s crotch as she got more and more worked up.

Faster and faster, Sunburst watched with wide eyes as Starlight began mewling out her pleasure. His name escaped her lips several times as she bounced away over the top of him. He realized that he’d stopped shaking with anticipation at some point as the pleasure of the act had overwhelmed his fears. Her bouncing teats had completely enthralled him with her, and he found himself slowly beginning to thrust back up into her in time with her movements.

“Yes, Sunburst! Oh, yes! I need this so bad!” Starlight shouted, escalating to a frenetic pace. “Come for me, Sunny, please!” She could feel the tip of his cock pounding relentlessly against her womb, demanding to release its life-giving seed.

“Starlight, I’m~!”

Starlight lifted herself up. “Give it to me!” she screamed, slamming herself back down. She bounced off the bed, toppling backwards to the floor. Her head slammed backwards into the hard ground, bringing an instantaneous headache.

“Oww… why in Luna’s name did you do that?” she shouted.

Silence.

When Starlight pulled herself off the floor, Sunburst was nowhere to be seen.