Celestia's Sorrow

A figure in the distance shifted, and the crickets stopped chirping. It was a warm summer night, and the ground was dewy. The black figure trotted forward, head down. Black, tarry tears dripped from the weeping pony's muzzle. It was a soft, wailing moan that appeared from the whole body instead of just its mouth. The temperature dropped to freezing next to the pony. The ground froze, and every tear became ice. The pony's hind hooves crunched on the frostbitten grass, and suddenly the sun rose. The pony looked at the sun, and suddenly- the fear broke. White flashed in front of the pony's eyes, and it shook it's head, but the white wouldn't disappear, it wouldn't leave!

Celestia looked up at the sun. Her eyes glittered softly, wet with tears. Her beautiful sun glowed in the sky, and the heat of her handsome Sol made her glow with pride. Turning around, she faced Luna, who was watching proudly. “I'm glad... she's not here. It's you, not her.” Luna whispered into her sister's ear. “I love you, you know that?”

“I know.”

Luna smiled, and walked away. Celestia looked at her. Normally she wasn't in such a cheery mood, but everypony had their good days. Except me. Celestia thought viciously, and she stomped her hoof sharply, and the slipper broke, shattering into a million tiny pieces. Each piece... Her subjects... Her only...

Celestia raised herself up gently, and suddenly, her whole body shivered. She felt a shiver run down her spine. “Oh my Lauren,” She gasped softly. “He's... not... back!?” She whirled around, convinced that He was there, there for her, done with his job- But He wasn't there.

Twilight moaned and kicked as she slept. No! A voice snarled in her head. Let me in your head, let me in your mind! This is for the sake of Equestria, its hard enough to get to you from here! LET ME IN YOUR MIND! Twilight woke, feeling unhappy, her face pale, and her whole body dripping sweat. Spike stood off in the corner, looking smug.

“Dreaming about having love?” He said cheekily. He was a teenager, but Twilight wasn't going to let him get away with that!

“Spike!” She snapped, whirling around. “You might be with Rarity now, but you need to get busy here! Organize all the shelves. All of them.”

Spike's smugness vanished. “But that'll take me all day!” He said in anguish. Twilight smiled grimly, and said, “And tell Rarity you're going to be busy all week.” She said, relishing in someone to yell at. Maybe she should see Celestia, she hadn't seen Twilight in weeks. Twilight decided to go to the castle. Celestia hadn't written in at least a month. Her concerned deepened when she realized she hadn't heard from either Princess, and the letters she sent were basically ignored, saying Princess Celestia couldn't write back at the time. She paced for a minute. Maybe Celestia was sick? If so, she should certainly visit her mentor! After all, Twilight hadn't been in canterlot for months.

Twilight made her decision. She had to get on the long, boring train to Canterlot. She took the train, read a huge book a foot thick, and finished by the time they were in Canterlot's train station. Twilight trotted up the steps slowly, and then calmed herself. She might as well visit her brother now that she was here, maybe stay a few nights. She sent a letter to Spike, saying she would be staying in Canterlot for a little less than a week. She might as well meet a few other ponies, buy some stuff in shops, see new sights. Yeah, she had a good week ahead. She could see Celestia later, just because she didn't write didn't mean she was in any immediate trouble.

Smiling to herself, Twilight strolled to a hotel she knew well, called L'Hôtel Best. Twilight strolled in. One of the staff, Duster, raced up to her and hugged her. “Oh, thank Celestia! I thought you died or something! I haven't seen you in years!” He let go, eyes bright. He was the closest Twilight had ever had to a friend before she went to Ponyville.

“Hi Duster!” Twilight said, grinning. “So, you're still working here, after ten years?”

“Until I can get a better job.” He said gloomily. “Well, how've you been? I know you went off to Ponyville, and I heard insane rumors that you beat Nightmare Moon,  Changelings and a dragonquis.”

“Well, uh, they're true, Dusty.” Twilight coughed. “Uh, got any free rooms?”

“Certainly! Only a hundred bits! It's still being cleaned.” He scowled for a second, smiled, and then said, “What brings you to Canterlot?”

“What, I can't visit?” Twilight said in mock outrage, trotting along side the brown stallion in the white hallways. Gold letters stamped atop the white painted doors read, 450, 451, 452, and so on. The lavender unicorn mare looked down at the ugly, pea-green carpet beneath her. Duster looked at her, and his eyes were slightly narrowed. His wings were folded tightly to sandy-dust-colored body, Twilight blushed.

“Yeah, I'm here to see Celestia, but...” She lowered her head slightly, lavender face turning scarlet, and mumbled something awkwardly. Duster laughed.

“Twilight, you're my friend.” he said softly. “I'm not saying I'd deny you if you asked me to things behind closed doors with you, but I'm not your coltfriend.” His warm green eyes glowed, and she wondered if he'd actually do it. She didn't ask, but trotted forward, until she got to room 467.

She opened the door as soon as Duster handed her the room key. He left, murmuring goodbye. There was the same ugly carpet, and the dull white-washed walls, but there was a large bed with a black blanket. There was a bathroom, and the bath had a shower. There was a surprising amount of warm water, and she imagined the warm glow in Duster's eyes as he said 'behind closed doors'. She kept herself level, and shook the water out of her mane.

She got out of the bath, drained the tub, and levitated a towel onto herself. She dried herself, watching the steam rise from the water. She exited the bathroom and opened the blinds. The sun was sinking into the horizon, and the sky was bloodred mixed with orange. She thought about calling for Duster, and they could watch the stars- but felt a strange reluctance to do so. Was it the fact he said they were friends, but nothing more?

Twilight waited until the sun sank down, and the sky turned black. It was a new moon, perfect for star-gazing. She put on a scarf, as it was still cold even if it was summer. The unicorn trotted outside, putting a woolly hat, her room key, a telescope, some parchment, an ink bottle and a quill. She walked outside, and went back in to put on boots. It was unusually cold that night, and she didn't know why. She took out the telescope, propped it on the railing, and gazed out into the night. Suddenly, it became colder. It had dropped at least ten degrees. Twilight saw something moving from far away, and raced back inside. What could do that? Discord or a changeling? Somehow, she didn't think so. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her door flew open. Duster jumped in and slammed it shut with his wing.

“It's outside. I don't know what it is, but it just moans. It scares me.” Duster said, voice shaking. “It's so cold... It makes me... sad.... I want to pity it, but it is so creepy!”

“I know.” Twilight's voice caught in her throat. The only thing lighting the room was a dim candle, and Twilight was surprised when she heard Duster so close. “We're just friends.” He murmured in her ear. Twilight crouched, leaning towards him, and his voice.

“Just friends.” He repeated sharper, but his eyes were lighthearted, and his face was so close to Twilight's, and she could tell he was about to kiss her-

The door opened again, and this time, it was Applejack. Her eyes were bright.

“Twi'! What in all ahve hay could've caused ya'll to come here? Rarity said next time ya'll went to canterlot ya'll had to take her, ter!” She said, then cringed when she saw them so close, staring at Applejack. “Oh... yall're... ahm... busy. Ah can tell Rainbow ter stop searchin' Los' Pegasus."

All of them blushed, and Applejack cleared her throat.

“Yeah, ahm, sugarcube, we were just wondrin' where ya'll were, so... I'll be on mah way. Oh, if ya'll are... bein' private an' all, keep tha door locked, so Ah don't walk in on sumin' like that.” Applejack stammered. “Rarity was 'specially wondrin' why ya'll were here. Ya'll know how much she loves Canterlot, and ahll of 'er fancy-smansy dresses.”

Applejack coughed, closed the door, and Twilight hurried to lock it, hiding her burning face from Duster.

“Uh... shouldn't you leave?” Oh, why did she have to go red now? Even by the candle's glow she was still flaming-red in the face. Duster coughed awkwardly, and hurried out the door, not looking back.

Twilight kept blushing, and fell asleep, the bed surprisingly cozy and warm.

The next morning, Twilight watched the sun rise, and last night's details rose up in an awkward warmth in her cheeks. Twilight trotted outside, and went to a small shop to eat. The daisy, wheat, and mustard sandwich was delicious. She tipped the waiter, and trotted outside to see the shops. They were all selling food and books. Twilight looked at everything. There were cherries on sale, hundreds of ponies trotting down the streets, all smiling happily, hooves clunking on the cobblestone pathways. At around midday, she went to a lemonade stand. She bought two glasses, and drank the first. It was ice-cold, and it was a very hot day. A warm breeze occasionally stirred her fur, but all she could to do stay cool was to walk in the shade as often as possible, and eat ice cream and drink icy lemonade, and try to ignore the warmth of hundreds of ponies. Twilight Sparkle sighed happily. She was in the shade of an umbrella, sprawled out at a park, watching foals frolic in the fields, enjoying their summer vacation.

Twilight stretched out on her towel, and yawned. The dewy grass trembled in a blustery gust of wind. She felt like napping, the day was so warm, and her eyes were so heavy. But if she napped, anypony could do something to her. So she dozed.

She didn't mean to fall asleep. It was pure darkness, and Duster was crying, “No!” And screaming in pain. She ran forward, hooves scrambling uselessly in air. She was a bird, swooping over the Palace, Celestia's face was determined, but tears dripped down her muzzle...

Suddenly, she was falling, legs flailing uselessly through the air. Duster was falling, spinning next to her, but his wings were useless. They summersaulted through the air, and a voice shouted, “WAKE UP!”

Twilight shook her head, and noticed at least three stallions watching her with intrest. She stood up, glared at them, and strutted away, kicking up dirt in their direction. “Porn addicts,” She snarled under her breath, and walked away, head high, tail stretched out. The stallions were looking sullen, and they muttered to themselves unhappily.

Twilight reached her room an hour later. She took out a book she bought and read it, then became hopelessly bored. She needed something to do. She'd been in Canterlot before, and had already seen most things there. Maybe she could take Duster up on his offer. The idea of them, together, in a darkened room, made her heart race.

Twilight went to find Duster. He ran over to her, and announced in one breath, “I'm-going-to-a-party-wanna-come?-It'll-be-fun!”

“Yeah!” She said. Seven minutes in heaven? Spin the bottle? Truth or Dare? So many opportunities to be with him, all alone...  She was in her room, and she pumped back and forward, the whole world blurring, and her eyes widening in hunger, hunger for her old friend's kiss, and the warmth of his body grinding against hers. She shivered, and pumped faster, face growing hot, her fantasy become more and more inappropriate for her mind. She moaned, just moving her hips, and suddenly stood still, and threw herself into the bed. Her matters with Duster had wiped her mind clean of her worries about Celestia, and they came back to her in a wave of uncertainty.

She and Duster were heading to the party. The party, the party that she was now longing for. She rubbed her cutie mark, squirmed, and they trotted to the party.

The first game was spin the bottle. Neither Twilight nor Duster had the opportunity to play, as they were both dancing to hard, pounding rock music. This was her first party that wasn't thrown by Pinkie Pie, and hated to admit this party was way cooler than Pinkie's little shindigs. Truth or Dare ended up with most of the ponies either to drunk to do as they asked, or becoming so horny they asked for a bedroom for them and another guest. Twilight trotted over to the DJ, Vinyl Scratch, who was nodding.

"Hey Twilight! Decided to take a vacation, then!?" She called, nodding drunkenly. Twilight nodded, and levitated a shot glass over to herself, and decided to dance. She had to watch the other ponies before she did- she had to copy them and get the dancing right. She had only danced at royal balls, and this party was hardly royal. Root beer, normal beer, and hay shakes were being served, along with chips, fries, and dips. She tasted each one, and then looked over to see Duster talking, voice slurred, with a bunch of other drunk stallions to a beautiful white mare. She looked around- they were playing a one of Pinkie's favorite games, "Pin the Tail on the Pony." Only the drunk ponies seemed to be playing, and a buzzed pony seemed to be the only one able to actually get the tail on the pony.

Seven Minutes In Heaven was played next. By now, Twilight was tipsy and Duster was flat-out drunk. Twilight pulled a slip of paper out of the hat, and in clear letters said Duster. Smiling, she called out the name. Duster stumbled forward, and they went into a closet. Duster leaned close to Twilight's muzzle, and whispered, “I stand by what I said. But you pulled my name out of that hat.” Duster leaned in and kissed Twilight. She let him into her mouth, and he explored inside, tongue on hers, and feeling every inch of her mouth. The kiss lasted for at least two minutes. He spend five more whispering flirty jokes and nibbling behind her ears and tickling her neck with his warm, moist breath.

He kissed her neck, then on the lips, allowing Twilight to explore his mouth with her tongue. The closet was opened, and they stumbled out, danced a bit more, and got drunk more, and somehow managed to stagger back to their rooms. Twilight fell asleep, the kiss still fresh on her lips.