Author's Note

Star:Pupil takes place after Bug on Its Back
This chapter brought to you by Arravadel as part of the Extra Chapter Challenge.

Celestia tries her luck after losing Anon and finding out that Atlas wasn't real after all. But her luck may not be enough to find true love.

[Bonus][Act II] Star:Pupil

“Twilight!” Celestia exclaimed, meeting her student in the receiving hall of the castle. “Thank you for coming to the castle on such short notice.”

“Well given how serious the situation, and especially since I missed out on the warning signs myself… It only seemed prudent that I get here as soon as possible.”

“Oh, Twilight. Don’t beat yourself up about that. If Luna and I didn’t notice, there’s no way you could have possibly-”

“I’m supposed to be studying them! I should know more than anypony. Anypony except-” she paused, “well, except Atlas if he were actually a pony.”

“They are devious, evil creatures, Twilight. That they were able to deceive such a pure heart as yours comes as no surprise,” Celestia soothed, “Anyway, discussing this matter was only part of why I brought you here.”

“Really? Please, tell me what you need from me.”

“Come on, we need privacy to discuss what I have in mind.”

“Right. Where should we go? Do we need to reference written sources? Should we go to the library reading room? Maybe we need more room to consult a map, so the royal conference hall or-”

“Twilight, this is a much more casual conversation than I think you’re anticipating.”

“So the tea room, then?”

“No, Twilight,” Celestia corrected, “We need to go somewhere a little more… intimate for what happens next.”

“I-Intimate?” Twilight asked, trying not to read into her mentor’s words.

“Yes. I’d like you to accompany me to my chambers, my little pony. We have everything we’ll need there.”

“Your c-chambers? Nopony ever-”

“Yes, Twilight. Nopony ever goes there because I don’t just trust anypony with what I’m about to ask of you.”

Twilight snapped to attention at that. Something that her beloved mentor wanted that no other pony could fulfill… She would do anything to satisfy that. Anything.

“Yes, Princess. Whatever you ask, just lead the way and I’ll come with you.”

“Oh, I have no doubts there, Twilight. You’re exactly the mare I need for this job. You’re the only one I can trust with such a sensitive matter.”

“I’m flattered!” Twilight beamed, her sense of pride warring with her need for recognition over which one was allowed to manifest. “I promise I’ll do my best.”

“Then let’s go, Twilight. We’ve got so much to discuss and so little time!”

—

“This is really…” Twilight realized, staring at the enormous inscribed doors with a guard on either side. “This is actually happening!”

“You’re such an anxious little filly sometimes, Twilight,” Celestia giggled, opening the door and stepping inside.

“S-Sorry!” Twilight quickly apologzied, following her in as the door magically shut behind them.

“Don’t be silly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Those quirks and eccentricities are all a part of the mare I’ve come to admire.”

“T-Thank you, Princess.”

“Twilight, you don’t have to call me Princess in here. This is the last place where I get to just be Celestia.”

“Yes Pri- Celestia.”

“There you go. I have no doubt that you understand just as I do that it’s nice to just be a mare from time to time. Now just imagine how infrequently I get that pleasure. Hearing somepony say just my name, no Princess or Your Highness, just me… It’s one of my favorite guilty pleasures.”

“I can only imagine…” Twilight empathized, “But didn’t you have something important to discuss?”

“In time, Twilight Sparkle. Impatience is not a good look for you!”

“Sorry, I… It seemed like this was urgent. I just wanted to…”

“Urgent isn’t necessarily the right word. Important, though, that’s true.”

“Right, so… I’m sorry, I just don’t like anticipation.”

“That’s fine, Twilight. We can get started shortly. But first I have a question for you,” Celestia smiled, “Do you like me, Twilight? Be honest.”

“Of course I like you! Everyone likes you! I don’t know a single pony that doesn’t worship their Princess.”

“No no no, Twilight. You’re not hearing me. What I asked is if you like me, Celestia, the pony, not the princess. I know my subjects admire me, but that is an empty platitude.”

“I…” Twilight started, not sure how to answer the question.

“You’ve spent more time with me than almost every other pony in Equestria. What I want to know, is if you like me. Am I a likable pony or do ponies just respect me out of obligation.”

“Are you… Why do you even have to ask? You’re wise, kindhearted, nurturing…” Twilight started, blushing as she tried to phrase another thought, “b-beautiful.”

“You really think I’m beautiful?”

“S-Sorry, I know it’s inappropriate…”

“No, Twilight! It’s so far from! Nopony ever says anything about my appearance. I’ve learned to distinguish the glances over the years, the difference between physical admiration and ‘Maybe you shouldn’t have had that sixth piece of cake’. But nopony ever tells me I’m beautiful,” she explained, tearing up, “Luna used to s-say I was as beautiful as the sun is bright but… Ever since she’s been back… We don’t talk like that anymore.”

“Princ-” Twilight caught herself, “Celestia… I didn’t know… I just… Nopony ever tells you that you’re beautiful?”

“No… Everypony is always so politically correct and tense, like I’m not just another mare under this gilded barding. Like I don’t have a fragile heart… It’s getting to me, Twilight. Especially since that human and Luna… and you…”

“T-Tia…” Twilight tried, watching Celestia bristle at the nickname before soothing slightly. Hearing someone other than her sister call her by such an intimate nickname caught her off guard. After Celestia relaxed, Twilight wrapped her hooves around her monarch’s neck, pulling herself into a loose hug with the taller mare.

“Twilight…” Celestia started, leaning into the hug, “Do you love me? Do you want me?”

“I-I… You’re my teacher and I’m your student! It’s unethical for me to… to be attracted to you.”

“You’re not just a student anymore, Twilight. You’re a grown mare who can make her own choices. Didn’t you tell me that yourself?”

“That’s not… I couldn’t possibly…” Twilight tried to explain, “You’re a princess and it’s not right for me to think of you like that. I like you a lot, C-Celestia, but I can’t love you!”

“Damnit, Twilight! I’m not a little filly! You don’t have to try and protect me from feelings. Maybe I want somepony to want me. Maybe I want you to want me.”

“You want…” Twilight tried to ask, “me?”

“Are you really asking me to spell it out for you? You’ve been my student for all these years, you’ve watched me and studied me as much as you studied anything else and you’re asking me if this is real? Can’t you see how much I need this? How much I need you?”

“I… Why did you never say anything?”

“Because I’m a princess, Twilight. I couldn’t just prance around and sleep with my student, could I?”

“You… This whole time?”

“Once you grew up into such a remarkable mare… But I couldn’t indulge myself. I couldn’t possibly ask you to choose me over everything you could be… everything you’ve become.”

“W-What changed?”

“N-Nothing!” Celestia whined, jumping onto the large bed at the center of the room, “But I’ve decided I’m indulging myself now. If Luna can do what she pleases, then so can I! Please, Twilight?”

The purple unicorn blushed furiously, nodding as imperceptibly as she could as she moved to the edge of the bed, looking at her mentor in a completely different light.

“Y-You want me to… ”

“I want you to make me feel like a mare, Twilight. Put your hooves on me, tease me, make me… make me scream your name.”

“H-How should I…”

“Don’t look at me for instructions. I’m not your teacher here, Twilight. You’ve got to learn this for yourself.”

“Can I really… Can I t-touch…”

“Touch whatever you want. Please please heavens above touch me everywhere.”

Twilight traced a hoof gently along Celestia’s flank, the princess’s hooves trembling as her legs dangled off the edge of the bed.

“Oh Twilight… I haven’t had someone actually touch my flank since… well it's been way too long.”

“Is it… Do you like it?” Twilight asked cautiously, her desire to learn clashing with her desire to impress her mentor.

“Yesss” Celestia hissed as she melted under Twilight’s cautious attention, “More! Please more!”

“Y-You mean…” Twilight asked, one of her hooves moving to trace up the inside of Celestia’s leg.

“P-please! No more teasing. I need it!”

Twilight obliged, moving her hoof higher until she just briefly came in contact with the princess’s perfect pussy. Celestia moaned loudly at the first contact, trying to wiggle and squirm her way to more of the same.

“T-This is…” Twilight gasped, letting her hoof meet Celestia’s drenched lips once more.

“Oh my… Twilight you’re a natural!”

She didn’t quite agree, but she could at least keep up the illusion. All she needed was to make Celestia cum. After that… Anything could happen. Twilight liked that idea.

Celestia reveled in the new, almost constant attention her poor neglected marehood.

“Yes, Twilight I’m getting… I’m close!”

“Already? I…” Twilight asked in shock, “I’ve barely even started!”

“J-Just a little more and I’ll…” Celestia started, her entire body shaking as she finally tipped over that edge, “Twilight I’m cumming!”

Twilight slowed her motions, reducing her attention to a slow, lazy movement that was just enough to keep Celestia riding the blissful waves of her orgasm through to their completion.

The princess, for her part, was oddly silent. Her body appearing to speak in shudders and squirms to replace all the words and sounds she wasn’t making.

“Was that good? A-Am I doing okay?”

“Yes Twilight! K-Keep going! P-Please don’t stop!”

Twilight kept going, testing different pacing, motion, rhythm, and pressure as she continued to tease Celestia’s marehood with a hoof.

“S-Spank me, Twilight!” Celestia demanded, presenting her rear more insistently.

“C-Celestia, you really want me to…”

“Come on! I’ve been a bad pony, make me hurt!”

“I didn’t… This isn’t what I want, Princess.”

“I’m not your princess right now, damnit! Now fucking hurt me, Twilight! Make me bleed!”

“No. This isn’t healthy, Celestia. We didn’t agree on this, I’m uncomfortable with what you’re asking me to do.”

“W-What?” Celestia asked, her exuberance shattered.

“I think we should stop here. This was a mistake.”

“No, Twilight. Please. I’m sorry! I’ll be better, I promise… just…”

“Princess, we just rushed into this. I think we need to take this more slowly, but right now we need to be apart.” Twilight decided, walking towards the door, “I want you, but not like this.”

“No… Please don’t go! I… You’re all I’ve got. You’re… you’re the only pony that I love.”

“I’m sorry Princess Celestia, but I can’t help you like this. What you want isn’t good for either of us.” Twilight apologized, slipping out of the room and letting the door close behind her.

“I… I can’t be alone right now…” Celestia begged to the now empty room. She had gotten what she asked for. Twilight really had hurt her. But this wasn’t what she wanted.

A few moments later, Celestia stepped out through her door, watching Twilight all but gallop down the hall to escape. She faked composure as she turned to one of the stallions guarding her quarters, his face still visibly bruised from his altercation with Anon.

“That human stallion has taken so much from me, and it's time he faces the consequences of his actions,” Celestia growled, “Find him, and bring him back to me. I don’t care the cost, but I need him alive and I need him captured at once.”

“Yes your highness, I’ll put together a team.”

“And if you find that wretched bug, bring it back as well,” she paused, “I need it alive too, but only barely.”

“Understood. Is there anything else, your highness?”

“Yes. Don’t let anyone bother me until you’ve fetched the human. Luna can handle court until then.”