Sexy Ghost Pony Adventureby AnkaruChaptersMutual AdvantagePhantom PleasurePublic loveMutual AdvantageIt had been a day of festivity: Equestria was celebrating the new friends it had made, and the allies they had found in some of the Changelings. Not all of them, of course: humiliated and angry, Chrysalis had taken her most loyal followers and left, vanishing into the wasteland, either unable to accept the loss of her power or unwilling to change her ways. But Thorax had proven himself to be a good king, and a good leader. He had been a strong figurehead for the rest of the Changelings to rally around, and find a new way to live, and he had finished, in many ways, what Marina had started: he had helped the Changelings change. Literally and metaphorically, since he had both changed their culture and helped them grow from their starved, husk-like states into something... more. Thorax had been inspired by many things, and one of those had been Marina: the way she had confronted Queen Chrysalis even when all hope seemed lost, how she had promised there was another way and struggled to help both the ponies and her own people. And most of all, he had been inspired by seeing for himself how pony and exiled Changeling had struggled to protect each other, even in the face of certain defeat. He had helped them find peace. He had helped unite ponies and Changelings and given a new meaning to their struggle. Today had been about celebrating that, although Thorax had really wanted them to cheer on the Changelings and the ponies who had helped inspire him and his leadership, not himself. Thorax himself, a handsome, tall Changeling who, like many other reformed Changelings, had become sleeker, stronger, more individual in his evolution, was wandering through the party, greeting ponies and dignitaries, sharing smiles and laughs. He kept trying to make his way towards a certain mare who had isolated herself near the doors leading out to the balcony, but it seemed like there was always someone to meet, always more politics to play. He didn't know how people could do this all day with smiles on their faces. But it helped seeing how happy, excited everypony was. And it made him feel so proud, so good, to see Changelings and ponies interacting as equals, as friends. Still, he very much wanted to try and thank the person who had helped him understand all that. And he felt awful, because while he had gained so much, she had lost something truly precious to her. He skirted away from the party again, but this time he was sidelined by an earth pony mare: he didn't recognize her immediately in her long dress and with her mane pulled back, Thorax smiling awkwardly as he extended a hoof and said: “It's nice to meet, you, I'm-” “Yes, we met when you were interviewed.” the mare said, and Thorax blinked in surprise before his smile became a little uneasy as a unicorn huffed up beside her, grumbling about the large suitcase she was carrying with telekinesis. The sight of the white mare helped stir Thorax's memories, however: yes, there had been a gray earth pony on the Luciferin council, named- “I am Octavia, if you don't remember. This is Vinyl Scratch. Have you spoken to Marina yet?” “Oh, no, I was just going there-” Thorax started, but he was cut off by Octavia clucking her tongue, and Vinyl glared at her even as she hurried to Thorax's other side, the two mares forming a barrier around the Changeling and leading him briskly through the crowd. “You know, I wish you wouldn't order me around like that.” Vinyl muttered. “Also, this party sucks. Why is Marina even here? She should be anywhere but here.” “She should, but you know she won't. And you should do what I ask, then, and I won't have to tell you.” Octavia retorted, as Thorax awkwardly looked away: ponies were so strange to him. They argued and grumbled even as they projected love at each other; they had such intense emotions, and all of it got mixed together in ways that should have been impossible, as if they were programmed to be paradoxes. “So you know her well?” Thorax asked, although of course he already knew the answer to that question: not just from what he'd overheard here and there, but the emotions he felt emanating from her. It just seemed like a good way to start a conversation. Octavia only gave him a look, however, before she instead said: “Be gentle with her. She is having a very difficult time right now: I'm sure Changelings of all people should be able to understand the seriousness of a broken heart.” “Yes, I do.” Thorax hesitated a moment as they pushed through the crowd, before he added quickly: “And thank you, too. I've wanted to talk to her all night. But... my new duties, I suppose.” “Well, if you don't mind a bit of advice, the first thing you should learn is to balance those duties with your own personal obligations. A king cannot hope to care for his people if he cannot care for himself, and those around him.” Octavia instructed, and Thorax gave a small smile before the mare said in a softer voice: “I am sure she will appreciate it.” Thorax nodded as they finally breached that open space away from the brunt of the party, the three heading quickly across the floor towards the lone mare standing at the doors to the balcony. Marina looked up, the chocolate-colored unicorn smiling faintly at them but remaining silent otherwise, disheveled and hollow-eyed; Octavia could tell something was a little off about her transformation, but only Thorax recognized as fraying. He softened as he gently tilted her head towards her, using his own magic to help neaten the 'wrinkles' out of Marina's own glammer as he greeted, courteous and almost careful: “Hello, Marina, it's nice to finally meet you.” “Thorax.” Marina said after a moment, and then she gave another small smile as she looked at the half-empty glass floating in her telekinetic grip; how long had she been holding that drink? Thorax carefully took the drink from her, and Marina barely seemed to notice it was gone, looking with brief surprise at the glass for a moment before she rubbed at her face and murmured: “Sorry. I don't think I'm... I just meant to stop in for a moment. Pinkie Pie and the others have been trying to cheer me up but I'm not... in a party mood.” “I understand.” Thorax hesitated, and then he stepped forward and hugged her gently, and Marina blinked in surprise, but then trembled as her breath caught and she looked away for a moment, steadying herself before she gave a small nod as she managed to start breathing again. He drew back, then smiled a little before he said: “I just want you to know that it means a lot to have you here, and... I wanted to thank you, for everything you've done for us. For the Changelings, I mean. I might be the figurehead, but you're the one who really started all this... I'll never forget your words. That Changelings can change.” Marina gave him the faintest of smiles, studying him a little closer before she nodded briefly. Thorax nodded back: before he could say anything else, however, Octavia cleared her throat as she swept the suitcase out of the air, Vinyl blinking before the earth pony suggested pointedly: “Vinyl, perhaps you could be a dear and go with Thorax to get us something to drink. I'll join you in a moment.” Vinyl scoffed, but then she nodded and gave Marina a small smile, reaching up to pat her on the shoulder before she turned around and bulled Thorax away before he could say anything else, hurrying him off. Octavia smiled herself a little over her shoulder as the two left, before she turned her eyes back to Marina and said quietly: “You've helped with a wonderful thing.” Marina gave a small shrug, her gaze almost becoming vacant, and after a moment Octavia sighed before she shouldered the suitcase as she approached Marina, gently bumping into her as she encouraged: “Let's go outside for a moment.” Marina allowed herself to be guided towards the balcony doors: she opened them out of habit, and the two slipped outside into the chill of the night air. Not that Marina really seemed to notice it: her eyes wandered without taking in the sights either near nor far, and she seemed... distant. Octavia couldn't blame her. She didn't want to imagine what Marina was going through right now. But she also knew Marina and understood a little about what she needed right now, the earth pony clearing her throat before she set down the suitcase in front of her and opened it, saying quietly: “Here. With some help from the Changelings and a research grant from Princess Celestia, I've been able to make a little something for you. A prototype model that I hope will allow us to better help not just ponies, but our Changeling allies, too.” Marina tilted her head, and then she frowned a little as she picked up what was clearly a prosthetic limb from the suitcase, studying it curiously. She tilted it back and forth in her magic grip, feeling something different about it: unlike her current limbs, she felt her energies being drawn into the artificial leg. It felt... warmer, in her grip, too, for lack of a better word... “What is this?” “We don't have a name for it yet: I've been calling it composite, due to its nature.” Octavia answered, before she instructed gently: “Run your magic through it.” Marina frowned, but having something to focus on brought a bit more of the life back to her, enough that she was able to start asking even as she did so: “What will that-” The limb in her magic grip glowed for a moment before it changed in shape and consistency, Marina feeling a strange, phantom tingling through the metal, as if it had not only come alive, it had somehow joined with her. She flinched and dropped it, staring as the prosthetic clanged against the floor of the balcony, and in a blink the prosthetic changed back to its plainer steel form, leaving her mouthing wordlessly for a moment before she asked: “What just happened?” Octavia smiled slightly as she picked up the limb, carefully brushing it off before she said quietly: “I've never been able to make prosthetic limbs for you that can do more than hold a glammer, and even that effect fades over time as the reflective paint wears out. And sharp eyes could always tell the difference, anyway: even if you can change the colors of the limbs, my prosthetic devices were never the precise imperfection of real flesh and bone. “This was partly because of the expense of materials capable of liquidshift, a magical-metallurgic process that governs many golems, and because we lacked a proper power source that could both interact with you and hold the charge necessary to maintain cohesion in user-malleable limbs.” Octavia paused, licked her lips, then simplified: “We didn't have the parts, the technology, or the understanding to make all of that work. “But the Changeling provided us materials that were designed to work with their transformation, and by reverse-engineering these and learning more about the power sources of the hive and other Changeling technologies, I was able to redesign these prosthetic limbs and implement a new system of convex cores that should help contain and relegate your energies as necessary.” Octavia smiled a little. “They're only a prototype: we're a long way from making this fully effective. But I wanted you to test these for me, Marina... and to have them, as a gesture of thanks, from myself and everyone else in Equestria, for all the help you've given us.” Marina laughed faintly, lowering her eyes and nodding a little as she studied the limbs for a moment, before she said quietly: “I appreciate what you're trying to do. But it doesn't feel right. It seems I've always got all these friends and I get all these benefits, but... I lose, I hurt the people I care about most.” Octavia softened, and then she looked down at the mechanical limb in her grip before she slipped it into the heavy suitcase next to its partner, saying gently: “You've given up more for us than I ever have for you, Marina. You've done more for Equestria than many ponies would be willing to do, and I include myself in that number. I admire you. But I don' t envy what you've been through, either, or what you've lost. “All the same, you need to move on. If not for your own sake, then for hers.” Octavia said quietly, and Marina grimaced and looked away. The earth pony breathed through the guilt at the low blow she knew she had dealt, and looked up, forcing Marina to meet her eyes as she said in a gentler voice: “I know it's terribly hard. We all want to help you. But you need to help yourself, too. Why are you here, Marina?” “I... I don't know.” Marina murmured, looking away as she took a shuddering breath. “It just felt like...” “Like a responsibility. But it's not your responsibility. You need to be responsible for yourself now, first and foremost.” Octavia hesitated, then she stepped forwards and hugged her friend, saying softly: “Your old room will be waiting for you. Vinyl and I would love for you to stay with us for a little while, and I'd enjoy your help with testing these new limbs. Can you do that for me? Can you do that for yourself?” Marina hesitated, and then she closed her eyes, buried her face in the comfort of Octavia's neck, and for a few minutes she just trembled and breathed. Finally, she took a slow breath, and then she nodded once and whispered: “I miss her. I don't even know what I'm doing.” “I know.” Octavia said quietly, as she gently smoothed out Marina's dress, and then she smiled and said quietly: “I'll give you a few minutes. When you're ready to leave, come find us. Neither Vinyl nor I are really much for this kind of party anyway.” Marina gave the briefest of smiles in return, rubbing silently at her face and nodding once, but Octavia had already excused herself. Instead, the mare's eyes turned to the prosthetic limbs, gleaming in the suitcase. She reached out and touched it, felt warmth. Were these made with heartstones? Was that why they were so warm? She didn't know. But they felt like they held more than just electric energy; like they had vibrancy, like they were waiting to accept a soul of their own. Did a Changeling like her have a soul to share with these metal shells? She didn't know some days. Some days she felt like a monster. Like nothing more than a beast. Other days... other days, in some ways, the harder days, she felt too alive, and she could swear that she heard Moonbeam talking to her, urging her on. The only reason she... she was still trying, that she was still here, and not lost, was because she thought... she thought she heard whispers from her beloved. She thought sometimes she felt... a presence in Moonbeam's home. A presence that simultaneously loved her, but wanted her out: not gone, but not isolated, either. Madness. Maybe this was why Changelings weren't supposed to love. Marina stroked over the beautiful metal, then she smiled faintly as she thought of Moonbeam, and for a moment, she thought the artificial limbs took on the faintest of blue. And for a moment, love flared through the hollow that had eaten her up, and she closed her eyes and breathed softly and wished, for the thousandth time, that all those whispers could be real. But somewhere, deep inside her, a voice was already telling her that she didn't have to be alone, and she never would be again. Phantom PleasureShe didn't entirely know how, or why, but Marina was no longer alone. As a matter of fact, she had never really been alone, she had discovered, because it turned out that even if she had passed on... Moonbeam had never left her. They had always shared such a connection, such a deep, strange love. And while Marina had hated herself that maybe it was the emotional feedings that had finally taken their toll, that, like a vampire, Marina had drained her willing victim dry, never taking into account the damage that Moonbeam had already suffered from excessive feedings. Except maybe that very same thing, and the love they had felt for one another, the love that Moonbeam had always given willingly and had never been bought, or coerced, or stolen, had helped forge a deeper bond and connection that had extended beyond Moonbeam's death. At first Marina had thought she was crazy: she'd heard wordless whispers in her ears, saw flashes of blurry images in her mind, her eyes chased after things she could swear she saw, but had never really been there. She thought she woke up to things in different positions, or found a blanket over her when she was sure she'd just curled up on the couch, or sometimes something seemed to grasp her, and help pull her to bed, instead of leaving her there on the floor, crying her eyes out. But that was all normal, considering what she was going through, wasn't it? No, she didn't think there really was a normal, and of course she didn't talk to anyone about it, anyway. She just did her best to smile, and stay quiet. She couldn't bring herself to talk about Moonbeam with other ponies, not yet. Something had cajoled her into leaving the house for a little while, though, spending time helping out Octavia's research. And it had been good for her: Octavia had given her a new set of prosthetic limbs that were able to slightly change their shape and completely change their appearance. An incredible technology that moved with her more fluidly than even her most-advanced set of prosthetic limbs had been capable of. She remembered standing there, in front of the mirror in the labs, changing through different forms as rapidly as she could: not very fast for a Changeling, but to the ponies it looked impressive. Until finally she'd changed to an old form she'd been familiar with both inside and out, and she had stood for a time, staring at the reflection of Moonbeam, part of her already cursing herself for letting her stupid self blindly morph into this of all forms... She looked at herself in the mirror, and she looked at Moonbeam, and Moonbeam seemed to give her that old, wry smile, and that look. Love, tinted by the faintest hint of exasperation. Moonbeam touched the mirror, and Marina silently placed her hoof against the reflection's, breathing quietly for a moment before she allowed her glamour to vanish, leaving her a naked Changeling, staring at the unchanged shape in the mirror. Her prosthetic limbs gleamed faintly, still the beautiful blue that Moonbeam's smooth coat had been... A blink, and Moonbeam had been gone, and Marina had just been looking at herself, staring for a few moments before she took a shuddering breath and evened herself out. But that had lingered with her. And she had felt strange all day afterwards, although Octavia had been polite enough to only give her little nudges now and then, instead of trying to drag anything out of her. She had appreciated that. She remembered laying in bed, hugging herself with those metal limbs that felt so warm. That felt like hers, and like they weren't; they felt the strangest, smallest bit like someone else was trying to embrace her, like something else wanted to offer her comfort. She had clung to that feeling, and carried it with her until it had been time for her to go back home. Home. The home she had shared with Moonbeam, a place where she just wanted to close herself up inside and never come out. A dusty prison-sanctuary. She really had let the place become a mess. She took some time to do some light cleaning, dusting off the glass, rearranging some of the baubles, washing the dishes that had piled up in the sink. Not that there were many: Moonbeam had been accustomed to a solitary life, and even after Marina had moved in with her, she hadn't changed her ways very much. Cupboards had always been full of quick meals and prepackaged goods, and of course worried friends had stopped by with treats and meals that she had heated up – if she found the strength to do so, anyway – and then simply eaten out of their containers. It had felt good to clean up, to take the dust off all the little glass ornaments that decorated the house and the front of the shop, each and every one lighting up with a faint luminescence under her touch that felt like Moonbeam. There were bits and pieces of her all across their home, warm, and loving, and just waiting for her to stumble across them: how had Marina allowed herself to be blind to that? She could feel the love in the air. It renewed her strength, and helped her feel strong again. She went to bed that night, and wrapped herself in her limbs, and it felt like Moonbeam was there, holding her, sharing love and strength with her. In the morning, she awoke and found her limbs had changed color again, reflecting Moonbeam's coat. She studied a prosthetic leg as she rested in bed, tilting it back and forth in front of her face before she murmured: “I just wish you were really here. That there were more than just... traces of you. It's selfish, I know, but... I miss you. I love you. I wish we had more time, so I could say all the things I was always too afraid to...” I'm right here, Moonbeam's voice said in her mind, tender, and kind; the loving mare, hidden under the hard face she always put on. “I know, but... I wish you were here, though, really-” “I'm right here.” Moonbeam's voice said, as if she was speaking right into her ear, and Marina flinched as she looked sharply up. But there was nothing there. It had sounded so real, though, that for a moment she had dared to hope... “I'm right here.” said Moonbeam, in that quiet way Marina she had only ever shown when they were alone, and comfortable, and ready to be vulnerable with one another. She felt hooves on her shoulders, and Marina breathed out and closed her eyes, trembling for a moment as her whole body tensed, her head tilting back a bit before those hooves squeezed down, sending tingles through her body as phantasmal warmth trailed along her body, stroked down her forelegs. She bit her lip, then felt her head tilted her back; she felt tingling spread along her lips, a sensation like softness brushing over them. She pushed back against it, nuzzling into it, feeling air, and yet something beneath, something more; there was nothing physical there, but when she moved against it, those sensations increased, as long as she didn't push so hard she disrupted them completely. It was impossible to describe. It was like contact with a cloud, it was like trying to kiss sunlight. She trembled as she felt her nerves light up, even where she no longer had feeling in her body, but the fact she could somehow feel that ghostly tingling as something ephemeral stroked down her legs, as if they had never been lost... She heard a breath; she caught it in her mouth, tasted sweetness. Her eyes fluttered, then slowly opened, and she gazed with tenderness at the strangely-expected phantom of Moonbeam that lingered over her, trembling a little before she whispered: “I missed you, so much.” The phantasm smiled at her, then reached up and touched her face, cradling it gently for a moment before she spoke to her, in a voice that echoed in Marina's mind: “I've been here the whole time, you idiot. I never left.” Marina laughed a bit, bowing her head with a faint blush, and Moonbeam continued: “But I couldn't reach you, I couldn't speak to you. You only ever seemed to hear the echoes of what I did, but it was exhausting, trying to get you to notice me. I felt like... mist, never able to touch you, or get close to you.” One of her hooves stroked up Marina's face, while the other rested on her shoulder, pulled herself closer: Marina realized only now that Moonbeam was floating, gravity meaningless to her, resting in the air with fearless grace. She leaned up, helplessly trying to nuzzle into her, and there was that sensation again, like contact with a cloud; their faces pressed together for a bare moment, their hooves stroked against one-another's bodies, and Marina trembled before she compulsively tried to grip, but that was too strong, and her hoof passed harmlessly through Moonbeam's body as the phantasm smiled down at her wryly, with that old mix of exasperation and love, chiding gently: “Careful.” “Sorry.” Marina smiled awkwardly, shifting back to sit up on the couch, looking up at her with love and need and the faintest hint of pain, and Moonbeam hovered over her before she silently touched down to the surface of the couch, resting her hooves on Marina's chest and guiding her down. It was like being pressed into by a whispering wind, but Marina felt more than just the contact, she felt Moonbeam's intent, and her body responded naturally to that; as naturally as it had to Moonbeam's physical hooves. “I'm here, but my body no longer is. But I can touch you. I can feel you. I can... see you, maybe similar to the way you could always see my emotions. We're connected.” Moonbeam said softly, as she straddled Marina, stroking her hooves along her chest, and Marina trembled at the weightless weight, the tickle and sizzle of something intangible stroking across her form. “That's because of you, Marina. The connection we shared.” “But I... I made you sick. I-” Marina was silenced by a hoof to her mouth, Moonbeam giving her a stern look that made the Changeling quail a little. “No. I don't want to hear that. I don't know or care why I got sick... but I do know that because of our connection, because of what I gave to you, I'm still here. I'm still here...” Moonbeam stroked silently down one of Marina's mechanical limbs, and oh, Marina felt it like it was flesh and blood, felt the tingle and the surreal flex of muscle that no longer existed, the twinge of supple flesh... They looked at each other silently for a few moments, and then Moonbeam leaned down, and kissed her, and it was indescribable: countless sensations all at once, made of ether and memory. She grasped helplessly at the living shadow, and for a moment, she squeezed too hard, threatening to rip the soft fabric of that void, but... Her flex lightened, her hooves loosened, her touch hesitated, and became gentle; and in the softness of that embrace, she felt her lover again, that much clearer than when she had tried to cling into the phantasm. She didn't simply hold the ghost with her forelegs; she helped shape its vessel, supported it, cradled it, instead of crushing it. The kiss broke, and Marina gave a low moan as kisses trailed down her neck. She tilted her head back, felt Moonbeam's hooves move across her body, sending incredible tingles through her form; it was like Moonbeam touched the deepest parts of her, made her whole body flare with heat, and there was no denying her desire or the heat of the moment. And they both could feel that connection, that desire, mutual emotion flaring through their conjoined spirit: this was what love was supposed to be, at its best and purest. Physical desire, joined with an intimate knowing of the other. Hooves moved down, across her body, and Marina flushed in pleasure as she felt something touch her, stroking over her groin, rubbing down to her sex. Her body flexed as heat flared through her loins, and the strangest of tingles seared along her labia, making her groan out; her whole body sizzled with pleasure, her hips rocking, her body quivering as her breath quickened. She could feel Moonbeam's emotions, Moonbeam's intentions, and it made her horn spark and her mind sizzle; her eyes rolled back in her head as she felt ecstasy spreading through her body, felt her sex flare with fire, felt like something hot and electric was sliding into her, filling up her passage without spreading her walls, making her feel so full and tight even as her vagina clenched around nothing, as her clitoris burned with heat as it stood stiffly out with every wink of her blossomed sex. “O-Oh... Moonbeam...” Marina groaned as she rocked her hips, flushed and excited, already almost delirious with pleasure as she gasped out: “Going to... oh, I'm going to...” She arched her back, helplessly thrust her hips as she gave a low moan of pleasure, her body pulsing with ecstasy as she bucked herself against the incredible sensations thrumming through her form. She whimpered with need as her hips rocked, her eyes only half-focused, clutching at the ghost that was over her, ruling her, filling her with such delight and ecstasy and hunger and love... She cried out as her hips rocked again, again, again, the sizzling, tingling, unfathomable pleasure driving her over the edge. The sensations were too much, the pressure of love and desire burning through her pushing her far over the edge and making her whole body quake with ecstasy as she spasmed beneath the phantasm, flushing as her body flexed and vented its nectar, her vagina clenching powerfully against the sensations burning through it, the unknown force filling it, her sweet juices bursting from her body to splatter across the couch cushions. Moonbeam groaned with her, the shade leaning down into her, seeming to feed off that deluge of emotion and desire, light of pleasure pulsing through her phantasmal form. As Marina's pleasure slowly faded, and those sensations vanished with it, Moonbeam's own form solidified a little more, those ghostly flashes fading little-by-little until, finally, they both settled. “Been a while.” Moonbeam said softly, teasing her, and Marina flushed and licked her lips, a bit embarrassed, but in the best of ways as she nodded almost meekly. She felt ephemeral hooves stroke down her chest, before she groaned quietly as she felt... a tingling. She felt desire press at her: not her own, but Moonbeam's, and it made her almost embarrassed before she gasped a little as she felt those sensations not just touch her, but reach through her glamour, and the Changeling's body flexed as it slowly shed its disguise, staring up with a mix of surprise and strange delight at Moonbeam as her mask was peeled away, the Changeling beneath looking up at the mare who had captured her heart as she whispered: “But I'm not done with you yet.” Moonbeam stroked down her body, gripped into her, and Marina felt a hoof touch her sheath, stroke upwards, and her penis took little urging to begin to grow; a heat, a tingling warmth surrounded her shaft, and Marina gritted her teeth, the pleasure of her female orgasm still rumbling through her body, her hips rocking, putty in the intangible grasp of the mare floating over her as she moaned out: “M-Moonbeam...” “Don't worry about me... I can feel everything just fine through you...” Moonbeam stroked over her chest, her own breathing rough and heavy as she shifted, her ghostly body flexing as her hoof moved up and down that length, teased it, toyed with it, as Marina's cock came quickly to full hardness, that heavy erection throbbing with need, her testicles sizzling with warmth and pleasure that flowed down from her length. Her body flexed and shuddered before she felt Moonbeam shift on her: it wasn't like weight pressing down against her, but like air pressure; she felt her shaft swallowed, gripped, by a sensation of heat, felt something clench her shaft, then pull against it, tingling tickling across her cock, and the sudden absence, the cold air that assaulted her member almost as stimulating as when the wall of heat pushed down her length and swallowed her cock whole again inside its vise. She groaned, her head lolling back, mouth gaping open, her body shuddering, shaking under the feeling of something else taking control. Moonbeam was in full power here: even without any physical touch, any ability to truly push or press on her, it wasn't just the tingling, the sizzling that made Marina so helpless: it was the assault of emotions, it was the power of memories that mixed in among the phantom sensations, that all these feelings and their connection brought back. She remembered the first time and the last time and every time in between they'd had sex like this, every thrust, every penetration, every thrill of pleasure all at once: she remembered every time Moonbeam had taken control, and how well she had done it. She remembered every night of passion and caught glimpses of shards of memory from those countless times before. Moonbeam's taste filled her mouth, her scent filled her nose; her body shook as she felt her hooves, heard her moans echo through her mind. Marina thrust helplessly, a happy tool under Moonbeam's desire, clenching into the couch beneath her as her hooves curled and her whole body shook with passion. It wasn't long: she thrust, and thrust, and thrust, until her cock stiffened, her body shook, and she cried out, mixing with the moans of Moonbeam as she orgasmed: she felt a wash of heat along her sex, felt the invisible, touchless nectar of her lover spill across her cock, and was barely aware as her load squirted into the air, unfettered by the ghost, spraying through her intangible lover to splatter down across her own body and legs and the floor beside her. And then she lay there on her back, her cock throbbing on her body, her breathing hard and heavy, feeling Moonbeam on her chest, laying over her, feeling her wonderful weight. She reached up and touched her face, almost solid for a moment, and Moonbeam smiled at her before she said quietly: “I need to rest for a bit. But I'm never far now...” Moonbeam reached up, touched her face, and drew her into a kiss; their mouths worked together for a moment, and then parted, and Marina watched as Moonbeam faded from sight, becoming motes that split apart, and slid themselves into Marina's prosthetic limbs. The vessels that had been built to contain her energy. Well, it looked like they could hold more than that. Marina smiled as she lifted a leg, watched it turn to Moonbeam's old coat color, and she laughed a little before she whispered: “I'm really going to have to thank Octavia again. I bet she never imagined that...” She quieted, then reached down and touched the sticky mess on her chest. But then she only smiled faintly, silently resting back for a moment and letting herself breathe. This was going to take some getting used to. But that was fine. She and Moonbeam were together, and that was all that mattered. Public loveIt had been a long day out and about for the Changeling: she could swear that even her prosthetic legs were starting to ache. But she had gotten her shopping done and she was on her way home, the satchels of supplies she needed – or, more precisely, her magically-bound better half – hanging off her sides. She smiled as she looked down at her legs: whether they really were aching or not, she was happy that for the first time in a long time, she was able to walk around in public without drawing much attention to herself, thanks to how these slim prosthetic limbs were able to shape themselves to match the glammer. No longer did she look like a chocolate-colored unicorn with slightly-too-large metal limbs covered in flaking paint, a mediocre camouflage that sometimes only drew further attention to her instead of deflecting it away: now she just looked like any other unicorn, with normal unicorn legs. Her blonde mane blew back in the breeze as her green eyes roved curiously around Canterlot, listening to the hum of frivolity in the air, feeling the tingle of warm emotion that seemed to come from every corner of this prosperous city. At least in a place like this, there was so much energy inundating the air that she never had to worry about going hungry... Not that she had a problem with that to begin with, of course, but she was technically eating for two, she supposed, so it was good to have access to resources as prosperous as this. Plus Canterlot was just a nice a place, and it was nice to be able to walk around and just feel that positivity in the air. You're in a good mood, said a voice in her head, and Marina smiled giving the faintest of blushes as her eyes flicked to the side. She saw a phantasm gliding more than walking beside her, a translucent blue unicorn that idled through the air with the occasional step thrown in out of habit, a shape that Marina knew only she could see or hear. The soul of a love she had almost lost: Moonbeam. The ghost gave her an amused look, and Marina blushed a bit and shrugged lamely as she turned her eyes back ahead, murmuring after a moment: “Well, I can't help it. I was afraid for so long... and now?” Marina smiled, raising her head, gazing around the open street at the ponies, the sunlight, feeling the happiness in the air, and more than that, the happiness in her own heart. “Now everything's different. Warmer. Better than it's ever been. I can... I can really feel your love, and by that, I mean I can feel it, and feel my love for you. I can-” Okay, okay! She heard Moonbeam laugh in her head. That laugh had been so rare, something that Marina could go weeks without hearing: these days, Moonbeam laughed freer, shared her emotions more. Part of that was the fact they were connected now, but part of it... Oh, shush. Yes. We're connected. Get over it. But was that the hint of a blush in the ghost? Marina couldn't help but smile even as she shifted her eyes away, not wanting to seem to the ponies around her like she was dumbly smiling into the air. It was bad enough she always looked like she was talking to herself these days. She slipped off the street and into a park: it was rife with life and energy, ponies milling about their business, plenty of them coming and going on their way to and from work and school and other activities, but plenty more just lounging, enjoying the beauty of the day. Marina wasn't sure if it was really a shortcut or not to the train station, but the train wasn't departing for an hour and the pleasant diversion of the route made it more than worth a few seconds' extra time. She hummed a little to herself as she walked onward, Moonbeam silently gliding along beside her, the two moving in easy, comfortable quiet together. They shared emotions, flashes of idea and thought: when they both really concentrated, they could share whole conversations between themselves in a matter of moments, but they were both still getting used to that. It was a lot easier for now for them to speak to each other... and maybe just force of habit, too. It was nice to be together. To be able to spend time like this: even if Moonbeam wasn't really physical anymore, Marina could still feel her presence, and her nerves tingled when she was close, reacting to her ephemeral touch. It was a welcome sensation, and it was only amplified by the way they were joined in spirit and mind, turning even the idlest of contact into something deep, almost sensual. Moonbeam gently swept against Marina, making her blush and almost stumble, but her mechanical limbs caught themselves and kept her moving, only one or two ponies tossing her a curious look. The chocolate-colored Changeling lowered her head a bit as she walked along, giving Moonbeam a look, but the phantasm only shrugged before she floated in a bit closer again, saying in a voice so clear and crisp that Marina had to remind herself it was only in her head: I think we should take advantage of all this positive energy, Marina. It's been a while since I was able to recharge properly. “Here? Now?” Marina mumbled, and then she shook her head and awkwardly looked away: not that it did any good, since Moonbeam simply reappeared on her other side. One of the advantages of being a ghost. “I don't know if that's such a good idea...” Moonbeam shrugged, and then she flickered out of reality. For a moment, Marina felt a distinct warmth in her limbs as they glowed the faintest blue for a few moments, and then Marina felt that warmth spreading up through her body, resisting the urge to arch her back, a sizzle tickling along her spine as she felt Moonbeam... everywhere. It was hard to describe: it was like she was all around her, and inside her, all at once. It was a tingling, like she was surrounded and swallowed up for a moment by Moonbeam's spirit, and she could almost see the phantasm draped across her body before she felt that feeling grow less omnipresent and more focused, becoming a teasing slither up her back. Marina bit her lip, flushing deeply, eyes dilating as she forced herself to try and focus ahead. Sweat formed over her body as her glammer threatened to distort for a moment, but she just focused on the ground under her hooves, moving forwards one step at a time even as she swerved for a moment. “M-Moonbeam...” Moonbeam's reply was a breath of emotion, a whisper, a mischievous yearning: Marina felt all of it, and she could never resist either the sensual provocations or the playful teasing of Moonbeam. In a way, they were even more powerful to her than orders: an order told her what to do, but a temptation gave Marina a chance to please on her own, and somehow that was even sweeter. And Moonbeam knew it. Knew all the right ways to ask, all the buttons to press, and Marina squirmed even as she tried to hurry on through the park, her bags jangling, awkwardly stumbling around a cluster of ponies in the path and mumbling an apology as she nearly bumped a stallion in a suit. She had to find a place to hide, or at least get herself away from everyone. She could feel Moonbeam teasing her, urging her on, making her body sizzle as unbearable tingles thrummed through her and she struggled to control herself. Her nerves tingled. She could feel a mix of energy being drawn through her body as images flashed through her brain: was it really happening right now, or not? It felt like it: it felt like she could feel a tongue dragging against her horn, could feel soft lips teasing it, wrapping around it, could feel the tickle of teeth as they tapped tenderly against it. Marina shuddered, her eyes nearly rolling back in her head, her tongue almost lolling out as a flare of pleasure traveled through her body. She had to fight not to flag her tail as she felt her nethers flex, as her body shuddered with unexpected heat and need before she shook her head rapidly as she forced herself to hurry on, grinding her teeth together as part of her begged Moonbeam to stop but the rest of her was helpless to do anything but whimper, plead, moan for more... She was through the center of the park, heading past a fountain now. But her eyes widened in horror – and was that hot, unforgiving arousal? – at the sight of several street performers who were putting on an impromptu show for a crowd that had gathered next to the entrance. Part of her wanted to flee, but there was nowhere to run: all she could do was keep moving forward and hope against hope that she was going to be able to escape and find a place to herself before things got too out of control. But she already felt out of control: her body was on fire, her loins flexing, she could smell her own lust and excitement. She could feel Moonbeam all over her: little waves of pleasure tingled through her body here and there as Moonbeam's living essence scraped against it, with the brunt of that passion concentrated around her horn. Her horn, which she was teasing, licking, suckling on, making her excited, giving her pleasure in return for the essence she siphoned out of her, but even feeling that mix of love-energy and spirit being pulled out was somehow wildly erotic, as her very self was drawn into Moonbeam, as she mixed into the spirit of her lover... Oh, it was almost too much to bear! Marina's eyes darted back and forth before they locked, almost in desperation, on a nearby carriage that had parked. It was a wild gambit, but there wasn't exactly anything else she could think of to do at this moment, and with Moonbeam teasing her, that sultry energy devouring her mind and sanity, it was the only safe place she could think of. She stumble-ran over to the carriage, hitting up against the side of it with a grunt before she almost slid her way around it, and she was more relieved than she could say when she reached the back and found a low overhang she was able to hurriedly slip under. The cloth, angular tent' that extended from the back of the carriage was meant to cover the luggage rack and cover the rear window from the weather, but it was low enough that all anypony outside would see were her hooves... and as long as she didn't cry out too loudly... I knew you wanted to play. Moonbeam breathed in her ear: strong, confident, teasing Moonbeam, who had almost driven her into a wild orgasm in public... Oh, please, you better be able to control yourself better than that. And maybe a naughty filly like you deserves a bit of embarrassment... Marina gasped quietly, her body flexing as she grit her teeth, and then her eyes rolled in her head as she gave a little buck of her hips when not only her mare-parts seared with pleasure, but she felt a stiffness spring to life as Moonbeam's energies teased across her groin and made that stallion-part of her burst through her transformation, hard as a railspike, throbbing in the ghostly grip of the mare as she felt the phantasm stroke it roughly, firmly, making her fight back a squeal. Her shaft thrummed with heat and lust, whimpering a little as the bags of stuff jangled on either side of her body, her eyes rolling back in her head slightly: magic sizzled over her horn as she felt elation spike through her body, and visions played through her mind of Moonbeam teasing her in every possible way, in impossible ways: her mouth kissed and worked at her horn as living energy was drawn from it, while hooves and body teased her shaft, hot energy stroking through it, a sense of Moonbeam's presence and spirit both filling it up as well as wrapping around it... Marina's hips gave a few short, helpless shudders, her body shaking, her member throbbing almost painfully as she jerked and twitched helplessly. Her jaws fell open, gasping for breath as she thrust uselessly into the air, her cock slapping loudly against her own stomach as a bit of pre burst from the tip, her vagina flexing as Moonbeam's hot lust breathed through her body, tickled against her length and her entrance before she felt a feeling like rapture as energy crackled up the length of her horn. Marina shuddered with a low moan: she couldn't stop herself. She couldn't resist, as she staggered forwards, flushed, panting, her teeth grinding together as she arched her back slightly, her mechanical legs flexing as she thrust into the air, helplessly, as her body gave in to its primitive need. Her hips bucked and flexed as she gasped out, rasping steam as her frame shuddered. Her horn sparked and crackled, then sizzled as it gave a short burst of static-color, an eruption of color and light and sound blasting through the air at the same time as her stiff member gave its own mighty throb and unleashed its own pent-up burst. Her cock splattered its potent load across the dusty road, while her horn sent flashes and bangs up from beneath the cover, making one of the street performers fumble in his juggling at the sudden sound and lightshow that also surprised the ponies in the back of the crowd, nearly causing them to bowl over. But Marina wasn't aware of any of them: she groaned out, feeling the rush of electric pleasure as sparks danced over her horn and her body shook with desire. Her hips bucked and thrust as she gasped for breath, feeling that heat spilling not just from her horn, but down her legs in an unstoppable tide to imbue the earth beneath her as thick, gooey shots of pleasure continued to explode from her helplessly flexing, thrusting member. Her body shuddered as she stood for a moment, gasping, shaking with bliss as her horn thrummed with aftershocks, and she felt Moonbeam floating both around and through her, a soft sigh rolling from the spirit's mind and sending a thrill through Marina's body as, for a moment, the world was only them, the two of them together, spirits tangled, energies thrumming together. She could feel the kiss of Moonbeam's lips against her horn, and the gentle push of her body; she could feel the tender brush of their forms, and the settling of their conjoined emotions... She blinked, then looked around blankly for a moment, and she realized that she could hear ponies talking loudly, and approaching hooves, and the edge of the tent started to shudder- Ponies yanked up the luggage cover, and found nothing but a musky smell and trail of liquid pleasure on the ground, one of the stallions wrinkling up his muzzle as another ducked back in confusion, looking back and forth wildly. But the culprit was already gone: hurrying away as her glammer flickered with a wheeze, having miraculously been able to use a little bit of deception and a whole lot of luck to evade the confused eyes of the ponies around the carriage. You can always slip away. That's why I never worry that much about you. Moonbeam answered through their telepathic link, teasing, somehow both kind and... not mean, maybe, but blunt, unyielding. Firm and loving... You were the firm one there, Marina. Marina blushed beet-red, then gave a little giggle before she stiffly turned her head forwards and hurried on, stumbling into an awkward gait down the path to the exit. Moonbeam laughed in her head, clearly pleased, and Marina grumbled under her breath even as she repressed a dizzy smile as she tried to get herself under control. But she couldn't even pretend to be mad for long, not with Moonbeam gently cajoling her, or the feel of their spirits, intertwined, and her horn still sizzling with pleasant aftershocks. After all, it wasn't like she could pretend she didn't like all the ways Moonbeam could make her sizzle.
Mutual AdvantageIt had been a day of festivity: Equestria was celebrating the new friends it had made, and the allies they had found in some of the Changelings. Not all of them, of course: humiliated and angry, Chrysalis had taken her most loyal followers and left, vanishing into the wasteland, either unable to accept the loss of her power or unwilling to change her ways. But Thorax had proven himself to be a good king, and a good leader. He had been a strong figurehead for the rest of the Changelings to rally around, and find a new way to live, and he had finished, in many ways, what Marina had started: he had helped the Changelings change. Literally and metaphorically, since he had both changed their culture and helped them grow from their starved, husk-like states into something... more. Thorax had been inspired by many things, and one of those had been Marina: the way she had confronted Queen Chrysalis even when all hope seemed lost, how she had promised there was another way and struggled to help both the ponies and her own people. And most of all, he had been inspired by seeing for himself how pony and exiled Changeling had struggled to protect each other, even in the face of certain defeat. He had helped them find peace. He had helped unite ponies and Changelings and given a new meaning to their struggle. Today had been about celebrating that, although Thorax had really wanted them to cheer on the Changelings and the ponies who had helped inspire him and his leadership, not himself. Thorax himself, a handsome, tall Changeling who, like many other reformed Changelings, had become sleeker, stronger, more individual in his evolution, was wandering through the party, greeting ponies and dignitaries, sharing smiles and laughs. He kept trying to make his way towards a certain mare who had isolated herself near the doors leading out to the balcony, but it seemed like there was always someone to meet, always more politics to play. He didn't know how people could do this all day with smiles on their faces. But it helped seeing how happy, excited everypony was. And it made him feel so proud, so good, to see Changelings and ponies interacting as equals, as friends. Still, he very much wanted to try and thank the person who had helped him understand all that. And he felt awful, because while he had gained so much, she had lost something truly precious to her. He skirted away from the party again, but this time he was sidelined by an earth pony mare: he didn't recognize her immediately in her long dress and with her mane pulled back, Thorax smiling awkwardly as he extended a hoof and said: “It's nice to meet, you, I'm-” “Yes, we met when you were interviewed.” the mare said, and Thorax blinked in surprise before his smile became a little uneasy as a unicorn huffed up beside her, grumbling about the large suitcase she was carrying with telekinesis. The sight of the white mare helped stir Thorax's memories, however: yes, there had been a gray earth pony on the Luciferin council, named- “I am Octavia, if you don't remember. This is Vinyl Scratch. Have you spoken to Marina yet?” “Oh, no, I was just going there-” Thorax started, but he was cut off by Octavia clucking her tongue, and Vinyl glared at her even as she hurried to Thorax's other side, the two mares forming a barrier around the Changeling and leading him briskly through the crowd. “You know, I wish you wouldn't order me around like that.” Vinyl muttered. “Also, this party sucks. Why is Marina even here? She should be anywhere but here.” “She should, but you know she won't. And you should do what I ask, then, and I won't have to tell you.” Octavia retorted, as Thorax awkwardly looked away: ponies were so strange to him. They argued and grumbled even as they projected love at each other; they had such intense emotions, and all of it got mixed together in ways that should have been impossible, as if they were programmed to be paradoxes. “So you know her well?” Thorax asked, although of course he already knew the answer to that question: not just from what he'd overheard here and there, but the emotions he felt emanating from her. It just seemed like a good way to start a conversation. Octavia only gave him a look, however, before she instead said: “Be gentle with her. She is having a very difficult time right now: I'm sure Changelings of all people should be able to understand the seriousness of a broken heart.” “Yes, I do.” Thorax hesitated a moment as they pushed through the crowd, before he added quickly: “And thank you, too. I've wanted to talk to her all night. But... my new duties, I suppose.” “Well, if you don't mind a bit of advice, the first thing you should learn is to balance those duties with your own personal obligations. A king cannot hope to care for his people if he cannot care for himself, and those around him.” Octavia instructed, and Thorax gave a small smile before the mare said in a softer voice: “I am sure she will appreciate it.” Thorax nodded as they finally breached that open space away from the brunt of the party, the three heading quickly across the floor towards the lone mare standing at the doors to the balcony. Marina looked up, the chocolate-colored unicorn smiling faintly at them but remaining silent otherwise, disheveled and hollow-eyed; Octavia could tell something was a little off about her transformation, but only Thorax recognized as fraying. He softened as he gently tilted her head towards her, using his own magic to help neaten the 'wrinkles' out of Marina's own glammer as he greeted, courteous and almost careful: “Hello, Marina, it's nice to finally meet you.” “Thorax.” Marina said after a moment, and then she gave another small smile as she looked at the half-empty glass floating in her telekinetic grip; how long had she been holding that drink? Thorax carefully took the drink from her, and Marina barely seemed to notice it was gone, looking with brief surprise at the glass for a moment before she rubbed at her face and murmured: “Sorry. I don't think I'm... I just meant to stop in for a moment. Pinkie Pie and the others have been trying to cheer me up but I'm not... in a party mood.” “I understand.” Thorax hesitated, and then he stepped forward and hugged her gently, and Marina blinked in surprise, but then trembled as her breath caught and she looked away for a moment, steadying herself before she gave a small nod as she managed to start breathing again. He drew back, then smiled a little before he said: “I just want you to know that it means a lot to have you here, and... I wanted to thank you, for everything you've done for us. For the Changelings, I mean. I might be the figurehead, but you're the one who really started all this... I'll never forget your words. That Changelings can change.” Marina gave him the faintest of smiles, studying him a little closer before she nodded briefly. Thorax nodded back: before he could say anything else, however, Octavia cleared her throat as she swept the suitcase out of the air, Vinyl blinking before the earth pony suggested pointedly: “Vinyl, perhaps you could be a dear and go with Thorax to get us something to drink. I'll join you in a moment.” Vinyl scoffed, but then she nodded and gave Marina a small smile, reaching up to pat her on the shoulder before she turned around and bulled Thorax away before he could say anything else, hurrying him off. Octavia smiled herself a little over her shoulder as the two left, before she turned her eyes back to Marina and said quietly: “You've helped with a wonderful thing.” Marina gave a small shrug, her gaze almost becoming vacant, and after a moment Octavia sighed before she shouldered the suitcase as she approached Marina, gently bumping into her as she encouraged: “Let's go outside for a moment.” Marina allowed herself to be guided towards the balcony doors: she opened them out of habit, and the two slipped outside into the chill of the night air. Not that Marina really seemed to notice it: her eyes wandered without taking in the sights either near nor far, and she seemed... distant. Octavia couldn't blame her. She didn't want to imagine what Marina was going through right now. But she also knew Marina and understood a little about what she needed right now, the earth pony clearing her throat before she set down the suitcase in front of her and opened it, saying quietly: “Here. With some help from the Changelings and a research grant from Princess Celestia, I've been able to make a little something for you. A prototype model that I hope will allow us to better help not just ponies, but our Changeling allies, too.” Marina tilted her head, and then she frowned a little as she picked up what was clearly a prosthetic limb from the suitcase, studying it curiously. She tilted it back and forth in her magic grip, feeling something different about it: unlike her current limbs, she felt her energies being drawn into the artificial leg. It felt... warmer, in her grip, too, for lack of a better word... “What is this?” “We don't have a name for it yet: I've been calling it composite, due to its nature.” Octavia answered, before she instructed gently: “Run your magic through it.” Marina frowned, but having something to focus on brought a bit more of the life back to her, enough that she was able to start asking even as she did so: “What will that-” The limb in her magic grip glowed for a moment before it changed in shape and consistency, Marina feeling a strange, phantom tingling through the metal, as if it had not only come alive, it had somehow joined with her. She flinched and dropped it, staring as the prosthetic clanged against the floor of the balcony, and in a blink the prosthetic changed back to its plainer steel form, leaving her mouthing wordlessly for a moment before she asked: “What just happened?” Octavia smiled slightly as she picked up the limb, carefully brushing it off before she said quietly: “I've never been able to make prosthetic limbs for you that can do more than hold a glammer, and even that effect fades over time as the reflective paint wears out. And sharp eyes could always tell the difference, anyway: even if you can change the colors of the limbs, my prosthetic devices were never the precise imperfection of real flesh and bone. “This was partly because of the expense of materials capable of liquidshift, a magical-metallurgic process that governs many golems, and because we lacked a proper power source that could both interact with you and hold the charge necessary to maintain cohesion in user-malleable limbs.” Octavia paused, licked her lips, then simplified: “We didn't have the parts, the technology, or the understanding to make all of that work. “But the Changeling provided us materials that were designed to work with their transformation, and by reverse-engineering these and learning more about the power sources of the hive and other Changeling technologies, I was able to redesign these prosthetic limbs and implement a new system of convex cores that should help contain and relegate your energies as necessary.” Octavia smiled a little. “They're only a prototype: we're a long way from making this fully effective. But I wanted you to test these for me, Marina... and to have them, as a gesture of thanks, from myself and everyone else in Equestria, for all the help you've given us.” Marina laughed faintly, lowering her eyes and nodding a little as she studied the limbs for a moment, before she said quietly: “I appreciate what you're trying to do. But it doesn't feel right. It seems I've always got all these friends and I get all these benefits, but... I lose, I hurt the people I care about most.” Octavia softened, and then she looked down at the mechanical limb in her grip before she slipped it into the heavy suitcase next to its partner, saying gently: “You've given up more for us than I ever have for you, Marina. You've done more for Equestria than many ponies would be willing to do, and I include myself in that number. I admire you. But I don' t envy what you've been through, either, or what you've lost. “All the same, you need to move on. If not for your own sake, then for hers.” Octavia said quietly, and Marina grimaced and looked away. The earth pony breathed through the guilt at the low blow she knew she had dealt, and looked up, forcing Marina to meet her eyes as she said in a gentler voice: “I know it's terribly hard. We all want to help you. But you need to help yourself, too. Why are you here, Marina?” “I... I don't know.” Marina murmured, looking away as she took a shuddering breath. “It just felt like...” “Like a responsibility. But it's not your responsibility. You need to be responsible for yourself now, first and foremost.” Octavia hesitated, then she stepped forwards and hugged her friend, saying softly: “Your old room will be waiting for you. Vinyl and I would love for you to stay with us for a little while, and I'd enjoy your help with testing these new limbs. Can you do that for me? Can you do that for yourself?” Marina hesitated, and then she closed her eyes, buried her face in the comfort of Octavia's neck, and for a few minutes she just trembled and breathed. Finally, she took a slow breath, and then she nodded once and whispered: “I miss her. I don't even know what I'm doing.” “I know.” Octavia said quietly, as she gently smoothed out Marina's dress, and then she smiled and said quietly: “I'll give you a few minutes. When you're ready to leave, come find us. Neither Vinyl nor I are really much for this kind of party anyway.” Marina gave the briefest of smiles in return, rubbing silently at her face and nodding once, but Octavia had already excused herself. Instead, the mare's eyes turned to the prosthetic limbs, gleaming in the suitcase. She reached out and touched it, felt warmth. Were these made with heartstones? Was that why they were so warm? She didn't know. But they felt like they held more than just electric energy; like they had vibrancy, like they were waiting to accept a soul of their own. Did a Changeling like her have a soul to share with these metal shells? She didn't know some days. Some days she felt like a monster. Like nothing more than a beast. Other days... other days, in some ways, the harder days, she felt too alive, and she could swear that she heard Moonbeam talking to her, urging her on. The only reason she... she was still trying, that she was still here, and not lost, was because she thought... she thought she heard whispers from her beloved. She thought sometimes she felt... a presence in Moonbeam's home. A presence that simultaneously loved her, but wanted her out: not gone, but not isolated, either. Madness. Maybe this was why Changelings weren't supposed to love. Marina stroked over the beautiful metal, then she smiled faintly as she thought of Moonbeam, and for a moment, she thought the artificial limbs took on the faintest of blue. And for a moment, love flared through the hollow that had eaten her up, and she closed her eyes and breathed softly and wished, for the thousandth time, that all those whispers could be real. But somewhere, deep inside her, a voice was already telling her that she didn't have to be alone, and she never would be again.
Phantom PleasureShe didn't entirely know how, or why, but Marina was no longer alone. As a matter of fact, she had never really been alone, she had discovered, because it turned out that even if she had passed on... Moonbeam had never left her. They had always shared such a connection, such a deep, strange love. And while Marina had hated herself that maybe it was the emotional feedings that had finally taken their toll, that, like a vampire, Marina had drained her willing victim dry, never taking into account the damage that Moonbeam had already suffered from excessive feedings. Except maybe that very same thing, and the love they had felt for one another, the love that Moonbeam had always given willingly and had never been bought, or coerced, or stolen, had helped forge a deeper bond and connection that had extended beyond Moonbeam's death. At first Marina had thought she was crazy: she'd heard wordless whispers in her ears, saw flashes of blurry images in her mind, her eyes chased after things she could swear she saw, but had never really been there. She thought she woke up to things in different positions, or found a blanket over her when she was sure she'd just curled up on the couch, or sometimes something seemed to grasp her, and help pull her to bed, instead of leaving her there on the floor, crying her eyes out. But that was all normal, considering what she was going through, wasn't it? No, she didn't think there really was a normal, and of course she didn't talk to anyone about it, anyway. She just did her best to smile, and stay quiet. She couldn't bring herself to talk about Moonbeam with other ponies, not yet. Something had cajoled her into leaving the house for a little while, though, spending time helping out Octavia's research. And it had been good for her: Octavia had given her a new set of prosthetic limbs that were able to slightly change their shape and completely change their appearance. An incredible technology that moved with her more fluidly than even her most-advanced set of prosthetic limbs had been capable of. She remembered standing there, in front of the mirror in the labs, changing through different forms as rapidly as she could: not very fast for a Changeling, but to the ponies it looked impressive. Until finally she'd changed to an old form she'd been familiar with both inside and out, and she had stood for a time, staring at the reflection of Moonbeam, part of her already cursing herself for letting her stupid self blindly morph into this of all forms... She looked at herself in the mirror, and she looked at Moonbeam, and Moonbeam seemed to give her that old, wry smile, and that look. Love, tinted by the faintest hint of exasperation. Moonbeam touched the mirror, and Marina silently placed her hoof against the reflection's, breathing quietly for a moment before she allowed her glamour to vanish, leaving her a naked Changeling, staring at the unchanged shape in the mirror. Her prosthetic limbs gleamed faintly, still the beautiful blue that Moonbeam's smooth coat had been... A blink, and Moonbeam had been gone, and Marina had just been looking at herself, staring for a few moments before she took a shuddering breath and evened herself out. But that had lingered with her. And she had felt strange all day afterwards, although Octavia had been polite enough to only give her little nudges now and then, instead of trying to drag anything out of her. She had appreciated that. She remembered laying in bed, hugging herself with those metal limbs that felt so warm. That felt like hers, and like they weren't; they felt the strangest, smallest bit like someone else was trying to embrace her, like something else wanted to offer her comfort. She had clung to that feeling, and carried it with her until it had been time for her to go back home. Home. The home she had shared with Moonbeam, a place where she just wanted to close herself up inside and never come out. A dusty prison-sanctuary. She really had let the place become a mess. She took some time to do some light cleaning, dusting off the glass, rearranging some of the baubles, washing the dishes that had piled up in the sink. Not that there were many: Moonbeam had been accustomed to a solitary life, and even after Marina had moved in with her, she hadn't changed her ways very much. Cupboards had always been full of quick meals and prepackaged goods, and of course worried friends had stopped by with treats and meals that she had heated up – if she found the strength to do so, anyway – and then simply eaten out of their containers. It had felt good to clean up, to take the dust off all the little glass ornaments that decorated the house and the front of the shop, each and every one lighting up with a faint luminescence under her touch that felt like Moonbeam. There were bits and pieces of her all across their home, warm, and loving, and just waiting for her to stumble across them: how had Marina allowed herself to be blind to that? She could feel the love in the air. It renewed her strength, and helped her feel strong again. She went to bed that night, and wrapped herself in her limbs, and it felt like Moonbeam was there, holding her, sharing love and strength with her. In the morning, she awoke and found her limbs had changed color again, reflecting Moonbeam's coat. She studied a prosthetic leg as she rested in bed, tilting it back and forth in front of her face before she murmured: “I just wish you were really here. That there were more than just... traces of you. It's selfish, I know, but... I miss you. I love you. I wish we had more time, so I could say all the things I was always too afraid to...” I'm right here, Moonbeam's voice said in her mind, tender, and kind; the loving mare, hidden under the hard face she always put on. “I know, but... I wish you were here, though, really-” “I'm right here.” Moonbeam's voice said, as if she was speaking right into her ear, and Marina flinched as she looked sharply up. But there was nothing there. It had sounded so real, though, that for a moment she had dared to hope... “I'm right here.” said Moonbeam, in that quiet way Marina she had only ever shown when they were alone, and comfortable, and ready to be vulnerable with one another. She felt hooves on her shoulders, and Marina breathed out and closed her eyes, trembling for a moment as her whole body tensed, her head tilting back a bit before those hooves squeezed down, sending tingles through her body as phantasmal warmth trailed along her body, stroked down her forelegs. She bit her lip, then felt her head tilted her back; she felt tingling spread along her lips, a sensation like softness brushing over them. She pushed back against it, nuzzling into it, feeling air, and yet something beneath, something more; there was nothing physical there, but when she moved against it, those sensations increased, as long as she didn't push so hard she disrupted them completely. It was impossible to describe. It was like contact with a cloud, it was like trying to kiss sunlight. She trembled as she felt her nerves light up, even where she no longer had feeling in her body, but the fact she could somehow feel that ghostly tingling as something ephemeral stroked down her legs, as if they had never been lost... She heard a breath; she caught it in her mouth, tasted sweetness. Her eyes fluttered, then slowly opened, and she gazed with tenderness at the strangely-expected phantom of Moonbeam that lingered over her, trembling a little before she whispered: “I missed you, so much.” The phantasm smiled at her, then reached up and touched her face, cradling it gently for a moment before she spoke to her, in a voice that echoed in Marina's mind: “I've been here the whole time, you idiot. I never left.” Marina laughed a bit, bowing her head with a faint blush, and Moonbeam continued: “But I couldn't reach you, I couldn't speak to you. You only ever seemed to hear the echoes of what I did, but it was exhausting, trying to get you to notice me. I felt like... mist, never able to touch you, or get close to you.” One of her hooves stroked up Marina's face, while the other rested on her shoulder, pulled herself closer: Marina realized only now that Moonbeam was floating, gravity meaningless to her, resting in the air with fearless grace. She leaned up, helplessly trying to nuzzle into her, and there was that sensation again, like contact with a cloud; their faces pressed together for a bare moment, their hooves stroked against one-another's bodies, and Marina trembled before she compulsively tried to grip, but that was too strong, and her hoof passed harmlessly through Moonbeam's body as the phantasm smiled down at her wryly, with that old mix of exasperation and love, chiding gently: “Careful.” “Sorry.” Marina smiled awkwardly, shifting back to sit up on the couch, looking up at her with love and need and the faintest hint of pain, and Moonbeam hovered over her before she silently touched down to the surface of the couch, resting her hooves on Marina's chest and guiding her down. It was like being pressed into by a whispering wind, but Marina felt more than just the contact, she felt Moonbeam's intent, and her body responded naturally to that; as naturally as it had to Moonbeam's physical hooves. “I'm here, but my body no longer is. But I can touch you. I can feel you. I can... see you, maybe similar to the way you could always see my emotions. We're connected.” Moonbeam said softly, as she straddled Marina, stroking her hooves along her chest, and Marina trembled at the weightless weight, the tickle and sizzle of something intangible stroking across her form. “That's because of you, Marina. The connection we shared.” “But I... I made you sick. I-” Marina was silenced by a hoof to her mouth, Moonbeam giving her a stern look that made the Changeling quail a little. “No. I don't want to hear that. I don't know or care why I got sick... but I do know that because of our connection, because of what I gave to you, I'm still here. I'm still here...” Moonbeam stroked silently down one of Marina's mechanical limbs, and oh, Marina felt it like it was flesh and blood, felt the tingle and the surreal flex of muscle that no longer existed, the twinge of supple flesh... They looked at each other silently for a few moments, and then Moonbeam leaned down, and kissed her, and it was indescribable: countless sensations all at once, made of ether and memory. She grasped helplessly at the living shadow, and for a moment, she squeezed too hard, threatening to rip the soft fabric of that void, but... Her flex lightened, her hooves loosened, her touch hesitated, and became gentle; and in the softness of that embrace, she felt her lover again, that much clearer than when she had tried to cling into the phantasm. She didn't simply hold the ghost with her forelegs; she helped shape its vessel, supported it, cradled it, instead of crushing it. The kiss broke, and Marina gave a low moan as kisses trailed down her neck. She tilted her head back, felt Moonbeam's hooves move across her body, sending incredible tingles through her form; it was like Moonbeam touched the deepest parts of her, made her whole body flare with heat, and there was no denying her desire or the heat of the moment. And they both could feel that connection, that desire, mutual emotion flaring through their conjoined spirit: this was what love was supposed to be, at its best and purest. Physical desire, joined with an intimate knowing of the other. Hooves moved down, across her body, and Marina flushed in pleasure as she felt something touch her, stroking over her groin, rubbing down to her sex. Her body flexed as heat flared through her loins, and the strangest of tingles seared along her labia, making her groan out; her whole body sizzled with pleasure, her hips rocking, her body quivering as her breath quickened. She could feel Moonbeam's emotions, Moonbeam's intentions, and it made her horn spark and her mind sizzle; her eyes rolled back in her head as she felt ecstasy spreading through her body, felt her sex flare with fire, felt like something hot and electric was sliding into her, filling up her passage without spreading her walls, making her feel so full and tight even as her vagina clenched around nothing, as her clitoris burned with heat as it stood stiffly out with every wink of her blossomed sex. “O-Oh... Moonbeam...” Marina groaned as she rocked her hips, flushed and excited, already almost delirious with pleasure as she gasped out: “Going to... oh, I'm going to...” She arched her back, helplessly thrust her hips as she gave a low moan of pleasure, her body pulsing with ecstasy as she bucked herself against the incredible sensations thrumming through her form. She whimpered with need as her hips rocked, her eyes only half-focused, clutching at the ghost that was over her, ruling her, filling her with such delight and ecstasy and hunger and love... She cried out as her hips rocked again, again, again, the sizzling, tingling, unfathomable pleasure driving her over the edge. The sensations were too much, the pressure of love and desire burning through her pushing her far over the edge and making her whole body quake with ecstasy as she spasmed beneath the phantasm, flushing as her body flexed and vented its nectar, her vagina clenching powerfully against the sensations burning through it, the unknown force filling it, her sweet juices bursting from her body to splatter across the couch cushions. Moonbeam groaned with her, the shade leaning down into her, seeming to feed off that deluge of emotion and desire, light of pleasure pulsing through her phantasmal form. As Marina's pleasure slowly faded, and those sensations vanished with it, Moonbeam's own form solidified a little more, those ghostly flashes fading little-by-little until, finally, they both settled. “Been a while.” Moonbeam said softly, teasing her, and Marina flushed and licked her lips, a bit embarrassed, but in the best of ways as she nodded almost meekly. She felt ephemeral hooves stroke down her chest, before she groaned quietly as she felt... a tingling. She felt desire press at her: not her own, but Moonbeam's, and it made her almost embarrassed before she gasped a little as she felt those sensations not just touch her, but reach through her glamour, and the Changeling's body flexed as it slowly shed its disguise, staring up with a mix of surprise and strange delight at Moonbeam as her mask was peeled away, the Changeling beneath looking up at the mare who had captured her heart as she whispered: “But I'm not done with you yet.” Moonbeam stroked down her body, gripped into her, and Marina felt a hoof touch her sheath, stroke upwards, and her penis took little urging to begin to grow; a heat, a tingling warmth surrounded her shaft, and Marina gritted her teeth, the pleasure of her female orgasm still rumbling through her body, her hips rocking, putty in the intangible grasp of the mare floating over her as she moaned out: “M-Moonbeam...” “Don't worry about me... I can feel everything just fine through you...” Moonbeam stroked over her chest, her own breathing rough and heavy as she shifted, her ghostly body flexing as her hoof moved up and down that length, teased it, toyed with it, as Marina's cock came quickly to full hardness, that heavy erection throbbing with need, her testicles sizzling with warmth and pleasure that flowed down from her length. Her body flexed and shuddered before she felt Moonbeam shift on her: it wasn't like weight pressing down against her, but like air pressure; she felt her shaft swallowed, gripped, by a sensation of heat, felt something clench her shaft, then pull against it, tingling tickling across her cock, and the sudden absence, the cold air that assaulted her member almost as stimulating as when the wall of heat pushed down her length and swallowed her cock whole again inside its vise. She groaned, her head lolling back, mouth gaping open, her body shuddering, shaking under the feeling of something else taking control. Moonbeam was in full power here: even without any physical touch, any ability to truly push or press on her, it wasn't just the tingling, the sizzling that made Marina so helpless: it was the assault of emotions, it was the power of memories that mixed in among the phantom sensations, that all these feelings and their connection brought back. She remembered the first time and the last time and every time in between they'd had sex like this, every thrust, every penetration, every thrill of pleasure all at once: she remembered every time Moonbeam had taken control, and how well she had done it. She remembered every night of passion and caught glimpses of shards of memory from those countless times before. Moonbeam's taste filled her mouth, her scent filled her nose; her body shook as she felt her hooves, heard her moans echo through her mind. Marina thrust helplessly, a happy tool under Moonbeam's desire, clenching into the couch beneath her as her hooves curled and her whole body shook with passion. It wasn't long: she thrust, and thrust, and thrust, until her cock stiffened, her body shook, and she cried out, mixing with the moans of Moonbeam as she orgasmed: she felt a wash of heat along her sex, felt the invisible, touchless nectar of her lover spill across her cock, and was barely aware as her load squirted into the air, unfettered by the ghost, spraying through her intangible lover to splatter down across her own body and legs and the floor beside her. And then she lay there on her back, her cock throbbing on her body, her breathing hard and heavy, feeling Moonbeam on her chest, laying over her, feeling her wonderful weight. She reached up and touched her face, almost solid for a moment, and Moonbeam smiled at her before she said quietly: “I need to rest for a bit. But I'm never far now...” Moonbeam reached up, touched her face, and drew her into a kiss; their mouths worked together for a moment, and then parted, and Marina watched as Moonbeam faded from sight, becoming motes that split apart, and slid themselves into Marina's prosthetic limbs. The vessels that had been built to contain her energy. Well, it looked like they could hold more than that. Marina smiled as she lifted a leg, watched it turn to Moonbeam's old coat color, and she laughed a little before she whispered: “I'm really going to have to thank Octavia again. I bet she never imagined that...” She quieted, then reached down and touched the sticky mess on her chest. But then she only smiled faintly, silently resting back for a moment and letting herself breathe. This was going to take some getting used to. But that was fine. She and Moonbeam were together, and that was all that mattered.
Public loveIt had been a long day out and about for the Changeling: she could swear that even her prosthetic legs were starting to ache. But she had gotten her shopping done and she was on her way home, the satchels of supplies she needed – or, more precisely, her magically-bound better half – hanging off her sides. She smiled as she looked down at her legs: whether they really were aching or not, she was happy that for the first time in a long time, she was able to walk around in public without drawing much attention to herself, thanks to how these slim prosthetic limbs were able to shape themselves to match the glammer. No longer did she look like a chocolate-colored unicorn with slightly-too-large metal limbs covered in flaking paint, a mediocre camouflage that sometimes only drew further attention to her instead of deflecting it away: now she just looked like any other unicorn, with normal unicorn legs. Her blonde mane blew back in the breeze as her green eyes roved curiously around Canterlot, listening to the hum of frivolity in the air, feeling the tingle of warm emotion that seemed to come from every corner of this prosperous city. At least in a place like this, there was so much energy inundating the air that she never had to worry about going hungry... Not that she had a problem with that to begin with, of course, but she was technically eating for two, she supposed, so it was good to have access to resources as prosperous as this. Plus Canterlot was just a nice a place, and it was nice to be able to walk around and just feel that positivity in the air. You're in a good mood, said a voice in her head, and Marina smiled giving the faintest of blushes as her eyes flicked to the side. She saw a phantasm gliding more than walking beside her, a translucent blue unicorn that idled through the air with the occasional step thrown in out of habit, a shape that Marina knew only she could see or hear. The soul of a love she had almost lost: Moonbeam. The ghost gave her an amused look, and Marina blushed a bit and shrugged lamely as she turned her eyes back ahead, murmuring after a moment: “Well, I can't help it. I was afraid for so long... and now?” Marina smiled, raising her head, gazing around the open street at the ponies, the sunlight, feeling the happiness in the air, and more than that, the happiness in her own heart. “Now everything's different. Warmer. Better than it's ever been. I can... I can really feel your love, and by that, I mean I can feel it, and feel my love for you. I can-” Okay, okay! She heard Moonbeam laugh in her head. That laugh had been so rare, something that Marina could go weeks without hearing: these days, Moonbeam laughed freer, shared her emotions more. Part of that was the fact they were connected now, but part of it... Oh, shush. Yes. We're connected. Get over it. But was that the hint of a blush in the ghost? Marina couldn't help but smile even as she shifted her eyes away, not wanting to seem to the ponies around her like she was dumbly smiling into the air. It was bad enough she always looked like she was talking to herself these days. She slipped off the street and into a park: it was rife with life and energy, ponies milling about their business, plenty of them coming and going on their way to and from work and school and other activities, but plenty more just lounging, enjoying the beauty of the day. Marina wasn't sure if it was really a shortcut or not to the train station, but the train wasn't departing for an hour and the pleasant diversion of the route made it more than worth a few seconds' extra time. She hummed a little to herself as she walked onward, Moonbeam silently gliding along beside her, the two moving in easy, comfortable quiet together. They shared emotions, flashes of idea and thought: when they both really concentrated, they could share whole conversations between themselves in a matter of moments, but they were both still getting used to that. It was a lot easier for now for them to speak to each other... and maybe just force of habit, too. It was nice to be together. To be able to spend time like this: even if Moonbeam wasn't really physical anymore, Marina could still feel her presence, and her nerves tingled when she was close, reacting to her ephemeral touch. It was a welcome sensation, and it was only amplified by the way they were joined in spirit and mind, turning even the idlest of contact into something deep, almost sensual. Moonbeam gently swept against Marina, making her blush and almost stumble, but her mechanical limbs caught themselves and kept her moving, only one or two ponies tossing her a curious look. The chocolate-colored Changeling lowered her head a bit as she walked along, giving Moonbeam a look, but the phantasm only shrugged before she floated in a bit closer again, saying in a voice so clear and crisp that Marina had to remind herself it was only in her head: I think we should take advantage of all this positive energy, Marina. It's been a while since I was able to recharge properly. “Here? Now?” Marina mumbled, and then she shook her head and awkwardly looked away: not that it did any good, since Moonbeam simply reappeared on her other side. One of the advantages of being a ghost. “I don't know if that's such a good idea...” Moonbeam shrugged, and then she flickered out of reality. For a moment, Marina felt a distinct warmth in her limbs as they glowed the faintest blue for a few moments, and then Marina felt that warmth spreading up through her body, resisting the urge to arch her back, a sizzle tickling along her spine as she felt Moonbeam... everywhere. It was hard to describe: it was like she was all around her, and inside her, all at once. It was a tingling, like she was surrounded and swallowed up for a moment by Moonbeam's spirit, and she could almost see the phantasm draped across her body before she felt that feeling grow less omnipresent and more focused, becoming a teasing slither up her back. Marina bit her lip, flushing deeply, eyes dilating as she forced herself to try and focus ahead. Sweat formed over her body as her glammer threatened to distort for a moment, but she just focused on the ground under her hooves, moving forwards one step at a time even as she swerved for a moment. “M-Moonbeam...” Moonbeam's reply was a breath of emotion, a whisper, a mischievous yearning: Marina felt all of it, and she could never resist either the sensual provocations or the playful teasing of Moonbeam. In a way, they were even more powerful to her than orders: an order told her what to do, but a temptation gave Marina a chance to please on her own, and somehow that was even sweeter. And Moonbeam knew it. Knew all the right ways to ask, all the buttons to press, and Marina squirmed even as she tried to hurry on through the park, her bags jangling, awkwardly stumbling around a cluster of ponies in the path and mumbling an apology as she nearly bumped a stallion in a suit. She had to find a place to hide, or at least get herself away from everyone. She could feel Moonbeam teasing her, urging her on, making her body sizzle as unbearable tingles thrummed through her and she struggled to control herself. Her nerves tingled. She could feel a mix of energy being drawn through her body as images flashed through her brain: was it really happening right now, or not? It felt like it: it felt like she could feel a tongue dragging against her horn, could feel soft lips teasing it, wrapping around it, could feel the tickle of teeth as they tapped tenderly against it. Marina shuddered, her eyes nearly rolling back in her head, her tongue almost lolling out as a flare of pleasure traveled through her body. She had to fight not to flag her tail as she felt her nethers flex, as her body shuddered with unexpected heat and need before she shook her head rapidly as she forced herself to hurry on, grinding her teeth together as part of her begged Moonbeam to stop but the rest of her was helpless to do anything but whimper, plead, moan for more... She was through the center of the park, heading past a fountain now. But her eyes widened in horror – and was that hot, unforgiving arousal? – at the sight of several street performers who were putting on an impromptu show for a crowd that had gathered next to the entrance. Part of her wanted to flee, but there was nowhere to run: all she could do was keep moving forward and hope against hope that she was going to be able to escape and find a place to herself before things got too out of control. But she already felt out of control: her body was on fire, her loins flexing, she could smell her own lust and excitement. She could feel Moonbeam all over her: little waves of pleasure tingled through her body here and there as Moonbeam's living essence scraped against it, with the brunt of that passion concentrated around her horn. Her horn, which she was teasing, licking, suckling on, making her excited, giving her pleasure in return for the essence she siphoned out of her, but even feeling that mix of love-energy and spirit being pulled out was somehow wildly erotic, as her very self was drawn into Moonbeam, as she mixed into the spirit of her lover... Oh, it was almost too much to bear! Marina's eyes darted back and forth before they locked, almost in desperation, on a nearby carriage that had parked. It was a wild gambit, but there wasn't exactly anything else she could think of to do at this moment, and with Moonbeam teasing her, that sultry energy devouring her mind and sanity, it was the only safe place she could think of. She stumble-ran over to the carriage, hitting up against the side of it with a grunt before she almost slid her way around it, and she was more relieved than she could say when she reached the back and found a low overhang she was able to hurriedly slip under. The cloth, angular tent' that extended from the back of the carriage was meant to cover the luggage rack and cover the rear window from the weather, but it was low enough that all anypony outside would see were her hooves... and as long as she didn't cry out too loudly... I knew you wanted to play. Moonbeam breathed in her ear: strong, confident, teasing Moonbeam, who had almost driven her into a wild orgasm in public... Oh, please, you better be able to control yourself better than that. And maybe a naughty filly like you deserves a bit of embarrassment... Marina gasped quietly, her body flexing as she grit her teeth, and then her eyes rolled in her head as she gave a little buck of her hips when not only her mare-parts seared with pleasure, but she felt a stiffness spring to life as Moonbeam's energies teased across her groin and made that stallion-part of her burst through her transformation, hard as a railspike, throbbing in the ghostly grip of the mare as she felt the phantasm stroke it roughly, firmly, making her fight back a squeal. Her shaft thrummed with heat and lust, whimpering a little as the bags of stuff jangled on either side of her body, her eyes rolling back in her head slightly: magic sizzled over her horn as she felt elation spike through her body, and visions played through her mind of Moonbeam teasing her in every possible way, in impossible ways: her mouth kissed and worked at her horn as living energy was drawn from it, while hooves and body teased her shaft, hot energy stroking through it, a sense of Moonbeam's presence and spirit both filling it up as well as wrapping around it... Marina's hips gave a few short, helpless shudders, her body shaking, her member throbbing almost painfully as she jerked and twitched helplessly. Her jaws fell open, gasping for breath as she thrust uselessly into the air, her cock slapping loudly against her own stomach as a bit of pre burst from the tip, her vagina flexing as Moonbeam's hot lust breathed through her body, tickled against her length and her entrance before she felt a feeling like rapture as energy crackled up the length of her horn. Marina shuddered with a low moan: she couldn't stop herself. She couldn't resist, as she staggered forwards, flushed, panting, her teeth grinding together as she arched her back slightly, her mechanical legs flexing as she thrust into the air, helplessly, as her body gave in to its primitive need. Her hips bucked and flexed as she gasped out, rasping steam as her frame shuddered. Her horn sparked and crackled, then sizzled as it gave a short burst of static-color, an eruption of color and light and sound blasting through the air at the same time as her stiff member gave its own mighty throb and unleashed its own pent-up burst. Her cock splattered its potent load across the dusty road, while her horn sent flashes and bangs up from beneath the cover, making one of the street performers fumble in his juggling at the sudden sound and lightshow that also surprised the ponies in the back of the crowd, nearly causing them to bowl over. But Marina wasn't aware of any of them: she groaned out, feeling the rush of electric pleasure as sparks danced over her horn and her body shook with desire. Her hips bucked and thrust as she gasped for breath, feeling that heat spilling not just from her horn, but down her legs in an unstoppable tide to imbue the earth beneath her as thick, gooey shots of pleasure continued to explode from her helplessly flexing, thrusting member. Her body shuddered as she stood for a moment, gasping, shaking with bliss as her horn thrummed with aftershocks, and she felt Moonbeam floating both around and through her, a soft sigh rolling from the spirit's mind and sending a thrill through Marina's body as, for a moment, the world was only them, the two of them together, spirits tangled, energies thrumming together. She could feel the kiss of Moonbeam's lips against her horn, and the gentle push of her body; she could feel the tender brush of their forms, and the settling of their conjoined emotions... She blinked, then looked around blankly for a moment, and she realized that she could hear ponies talking loudly, and approaching hooves, and the edge of the tent started to shudder- Ponies yanked up the luggage cover, and found nothing but a musky smell and trail of liquid pleasure on the ground, one of the stallions wrinkling up his muzzle as another ducked back in confusion, looking back and forth wildly. But the culprit was already gone: hurrying away as her glammer flickered with a wheeze, having miraculously been able to use a little bit of deception and a whole lot of luck to evade the confused eyes of the ponies around the carriage. You can always slip away. That's why I never worry that much about you. Moonbeam answered through their telepathic link, teasing, somehow both kind and... not mean, maybe, but blunt, unyielding. Firm and loving... You were the firm one there, Marina. Marina blushed beet-red, then gave a little giggle before she stiffly turned her head forwards and hurried on, stumbling into an awkward gait down the path to the exit. Moonbeam laughed in her head, clearly pleased, and Marina grumbled under her breath even as she repressed a dizzy smile as she tried to get herself under control. But she couldn't even pretend to be mad for long, not with Moonbeam gently cajoling her, or the feel of their spirits, intertwined, and her horn still sizzling with pleasant aftershocks. After all, it wasn't like she could pretend she didn't like all the ways Moonbeam could make her sizzle.
