You Called For Me

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Epilogue

Chapter 1

I can see a Rainboooow in your tears as they fall on down. I can see your soul grow through the pain as they hit the ground—

Celestia could still hear Songbird Serenade’s amplified voice even from her personal chambers. She imagined it a quirk of the lower balconies of the redesigned palace.

The song was nice, and when the colorful explosion of fireworks lit up the night sky, she couldn’t help but step near the window and watch the show. She idly wondered if Luna appreciated the nightly crowd, Celestia hadn’t seen so many ponies out and about at this hour in quite some time.

It gladdened her that her little ponies could still sing and dance. It softened the trauma of how close it had all been.

“Perhaps I’ll give them a few extra hours before morning,” Celestia murmured quietly to herself.

“Before or after you give some hours to yourself?”

Celestia splayed her wings and spun in place. Reflex had her light her horn, though she winced as her aura sputtered.

A moment later, she relaxed when she saw who it was. “Novo! You startled me.”

The ruler of the hippogriffs strolled the rest of the way into the room proper. A tall creature with elaborate plumage made her one of the few creatures that could match Celestia’s own stature. Perhaps even more so when one took the wings and broad tail.

It’s like she’s wearing a dress. How did she get in here? Celestia mused, and her eyes fell on the large pearl hanging from Novo’s neck. Did she u—

“Claws,” Novo said, catching Celestia’s glance and answering the unspoken question. She raised one for a showy finger wave. “Ponies listen for hooves, but not clawtips.”

“And the guards?”

Novo cocked her head in a very avian way. “You left them in the courtyard.”

“Ah… so I did,” admitted Celestia. She allowed herself a nose scrunch for that. A small one.

Novo rolled her foreclaw, gesturing with the digits as she spoke. “Why do you have this habit of leaving without a word? One hello and you’re gone?”

“A courtesy to the revelers. If I announce that I am retiring for the night, then the party is over. You of all creatures should know that social currents follow the biggest fish.”

There was a clacking noise as Novo flexed her beak, something that Celestia guessed was a sign of annoyance.

“It’s not that late,” Novo retorted.

“The Storm King drained my magic, it comes back slowly at night. I need a little while to rest.”

“You don’t need magic to talk to me!” Novo shot back.

Celestia noticed how Novo’s crest had lifted along with the neck fluff around the throat. It lent the hippogriff an appearance akin to that of a shaken up chicken.

Forcing herself, Celestia pressed her lips in a line, and answered slowly without inflection. “I am sorry to have… ruffled your feathers.”

Novo blinked, looking more part-owl than eagle before her feathers settled and she indulged her pony side with a hard snort. “You’re such a pain in the flank.”

The smile Celestia kept at bay, climbed her muzzle now. “Twilight won this war, but there’s the aftermath to deal with. It’s those kinds of questions I am putting off tonight.” She gestured with her head towards the balcony. “I wouldn’t mind spending time with you, though. Watching the party instead of being in it.”

Outside on the balcony, the fireworks seemed to have stopped, but there were plenty of lights from the crystal-powered spotlights illuminating ponies dancing to the steady beat. A good swath of the crowd had hippogriffs from Novo’s army drafted as dance partners, along with some curious match ups from the remnants of the Storm King’s own forces.

The newfound harmony amongst every creature cheered Celestia’s heart. Novo sounded similarly affected as she leaned on the balcony, claws on the railing.

“I’m glad I brought the soldiers to a dance instead of a fight. My griffs are sick of war.”

“I am glad you brought them at all, needed or not,” Celestia replied. “Twilight mentioned some disagreement?”

“If you can disagree with a thief on what to do with your property,” muttered Novo. Her head turned. “Why did you send her?”

“Twilight is the Princess of Friendship. She’s usually a better diplo—” Celestia began before she was cut off by Novo’s firm headshake.

“No, why did you send her at all?” Novo pressed. “Of all the creatures in the world, you call for hippogriffs? You called for me?”

Celestia idly noted that hippogriffs didn’t seem to blink as much as ponies. It made Novo’s trained stare unavoidable. Especially on the balcony with them nearly shoulder to shoulder.

“Hippogriffs are nearly the only decent creatures outside Equestria that don’t practice slavery or a form of cannibalism. And… we’re friends, Novo. I knew you would help.”

Novo’s beak lifted at the flexible corner, and Celestia felt the danger in the smile.

“Are we?” Novo asked in an airy and innocent tone.

Celestia steeled herself for the trap from such a question. “Yes… of course we are.”

“It’s been years since your last visit.”

“You are a queen. You must understand that royals can’t ju—”

“Thirty years, Celeste.”

It was Celestia’s turn to stare. “Thirty? No, that can’t be right. You would be...” She trailed as she took a second round of appraisal. Novo looked exactly as she did in Celestia’s memory of when they first met.

A little too exact, actually.

“You look… good?” Celestia intended it as a statement, but it came out as a question instead.

Novo raised a claw finger and lightly flicked the pearl around her neck. “Think I would show up wrinkled and with graying feathers? Let you beat me with good looks?” Her smile returned, playful in its challenge. “You won’t ever win this contest. Not in thirty years or three hundred.”

“Very well, I concede. You will always be the pretty one. I’ll have to make do with being the smart one,” Celestia said with an exaggerated sigh.

Novo preened her wing, keeping her smile at Celestia’s jest. But said nothing more. Waiting.

“—or maybe the absent-minded one,” Celestia continued. “Sorry that it has been so long. I should have done more to avoid falling out of contact. Have the years treated you well?”

Novo’s smile turned wane. “Since your last letter? I married a prince. Had a daughter. Had a divorce.”

“Oh, I am so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Happy couples don’t divorce. Skystar is the only good that came of that.”

“It sounds like it was a messy separation.”

“It started a civil war.”

Celestia blinked and stared, but Novo was drumming her talons on the railing while she looked at her soldiers partying below.

“I would have not ignored a call for aid. I would have helped you!” Celestia insisted. “You never wrote to me about that.”

Novo shook her head. “Civil wars you have to win yourself. You’ll never have legitimacy otherwise.” She made a derisive snort. “Or maybe that was just pride. It left us weak and unable to stand up to the Storm King when they attacked. I wish I sent a message then, but we had to keep hidden.”

There was a tension in the queen’s shoulders that Celestia recognized well. The weight any leader carried. Hesitantly, she raised a hoof and placed it on Novo’s claw. “You did your best with what fate dealt you.”

Novo looked at the hoof touching her claw but didn’t pull away. “Easy to say. Your ponies are happy. You’ve never let a relationship endanger...” She stopped when Celestia let out a whickering laugh. “What?”

“My dear friend. When was the last time you looked at the moon?”

Celestia waited for Novo to look upward. She did so, first in confusion, then thoughtfully. When the hippogriff’s eyes widened in realization, Celestia added, “I am afraid I have you beat on family squabbles.”

“She’s real?”

“Oh yes. I could even introduce you two later.”

Novo squinted, then cocked her head. “Do I need… candy?”

Celestia grinned. “If you want to get on her good side.”

“I think you’re pulling my wing, pony.”

“Only a little,” Celestia said and drew her hoof back. “But having that thousand-year problem solved made me realize how much it had consumed my thoughts and drew me away from what’s important. It taught me a lesson that being more forward-looking instead of endlessly raking over the past is a healthier way to live.”

“An interesting pep talk,” Novo commented. “Still have a flair for the inspirational life lessons, hmm?”

“It’s also a promise. I won’t forget you, not again. Not now. Not ever.”

That statement had Novo focus those eagle eyes on Celestia’s once again. After a long moment, she relaxed and smirked. “Did you plan on staying up here the whole night? If we’re going to toast a new start. It sounds like we shouldn’t let everycreature else have all the fun.”

Celestia shook her head. “I’ll be hounded the moment I show my face out there.”

Novo smiled as she flicked the pearl around her neck. “There are ways to avoid a crowd.”

Celestia tumbled head over tail, slowly falling. All her instincts seemed wrong and she kicked her forehooves while she twisted and tried to flap to no avail.

The end came with a soft, anti-climatic thump against the Canterhorn’s sandy riverbed.

A few moments of lingering let her marshal control over the disorientation. Despite her senses telling her to panic over every inhaled breath, no pain of drowning came to her. Just the curious tingle around her throat as she breathed in water and the excess left the newly formed gills.

In the dark, a light moved near. It was Novo’s familiar face illuminated by her glowing head bobber. Her transformation made it easier to read her expressions now that she was a seapony, though it meant Celestia had to suffer that superior grin.

“My, my. I had to double check I didn’t turn you into a brick with how fast you sank.”

“This is a new experience and form for me. You can’t expect me to be a master,” protested Celestia.

Novo circled Celestia, swimming with annoying ease to lean on her opposite shoulder. “I thought the Eternal Princess in all her many, many years would have at least learned how to pony-paddle.” Novo pursed her lips and blew a stream of bubbles past Celestia’s earfin.

“I can fly, teleport, and evaporate a lake with magic. Treading water never seemed that pressing of a skill.” At the tickling bubbles, Celestia swiped at Novo with her now-frilled hoof.

Novo easily dodged the slow swing and pirouetted in front of Celestia. “Well, it looks like the Queen of Ocean and Tides will just have to be a swim instructor. I suppose I ought to. You’re a guest in my domain.”

“Your domain? We’re twenty paces from my palace.”

“If it’s underwater, it’s mine.”

“And I own everything under the sun. Do you really want to play this game?”

Novo stuck her tongue out at Celestia. “Depends on if you want to learn how to do more than flop on your belly.”

Celestia set herself to do just that. First, she tried imitating the pegasi method of pumping her wings-turned-fins, and when that didn’t get her anywhere, she tried a circular paddle with her forehooves. After dragging along the riverbed like this for a meter, she bubbled out a sigh in resignation. “Fine. Teach me.”

“Hmm, what was that?” Novo asked. She’d adopted a lounging posture in the middle of the water, studying her hoof.

“Teach me… please?”

Novo put the hoof on her chin and looked speculative.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Teach me please, Queen of all the oceans, tides, and water of the world.” With a snort she added, “You can even have this river if you like it so much.”

With a victorious smirk, Novo swam in close again and touched forehooves with Celestia. “These are for steering. Same with your backfins. The power is below your waist, to your tail. Watch me.”

After a few demonstrative swishes, Celestia tried to mirror Novo’s motions. They rose together from the river floor, bit by bit. Though as the rhythm increased, they grew out of sync. Celestia started to lag behind Novo, causing them to tip one way and necessitating a pull at the hooves to correct.

“Too much… no...no… now too little,” Novo shook her head, making her head bobber bounce. “It’s like a hind hoof waltz. Think of it like that?”

“I avoid dances that put my flank out there. Ponies talk over any indiscretion,” Celestia muttered as she missed another stroke.

“Pity, it’s a nice flank.”

Celestia looked up sharply at that, to Novo’s grinning muzzle.

“Let’s try something different. You need to feel the rhythm.”

All at once, Novo drew Celestia in close, and curled their tails together. The erratic strokes Celestia had been making smoothed out as it muscled her into a regular swishing.

“Swimming is like flying. Use instincts and what feels right. Stop thinking so much and try to relax,” Novo continued.

Celestia tamped down on the reflex to break free and tried to not think. Eventually, her mind wandered.

A seapony’s hide differed from a pony’s coat, with places for scales to mingle with the furred portions. The waterproofed fur itself had a silky quality that was... nice. With the surrounding water being chilly, Celestia felt a natural inclination to huddle towards a source of warmth in it. It wasn’t until her muzzle was right beside Novo’s that she caught herself.

Novo’s grin had softened into a smile. “You’re doing better, Celeste.” Her tail withdrew, and she floated back a hoof length away.

Celestia could feel the right rhythm to use in the water now, though her tail still tingled at the departed contact. She opened her mouth, then closed it before changing the topic. “Why do you use that old name? I doubt most even remember.”

“Sailors still do, and it’s written that way on nautical maps. We love naval tradition where I come from,” Novo’s grin returned. “If you want me to be really stodgy, I could call you ‘Sun and Stars’ instead.”

“I have enough ponies kissing my hooves and trying to worship me. Celeste… is fine.” She tried to sound nonchalant, but Celestia couldn’t help her own smile.

Novo appraised her for a long moment before chuckling and gesturing with a forehoof. “One more lesson for you now. See that bridge downstream?”

Celestia followed that hoof to see the distant bridge. It was one of the larger ones in Canterlot city that cut across the Canterhorn river with support pillars. “Yes?”

“Race me there,” Novo said before taking off, quick as a dart.

“W-Wha—wait!” Celestia floundered in place before she kicked her tail and followed. “It’s more fair to count before starting,” she complained once she’d caught up.

“No thinking about swimming, remember?” Novo replied, looking smug. “You’re keeping pace already. How about we raise the stakes? I win and you can give me something… oh… Vanhoover, maybe?”

“Vanhoover?” Celestia frowned. “Take Appaloosa instead, it’s closer to you.”

“What am I going to do with a city next to a desert?”

“I thought a world-class swimmer could learn to swim through sand.”

That earned Celestia a faceful of tail flukes when Novo swam ahead, blowing a bubbly raspberry over her shoulder.

For a few tense moments they both sped along the river, following the current as much as each other. Celestia focused all of her attention on Novo’s glowing head bobber and fell into the trance of cutting through the water. It was like galloping; she told herself. Destination mattered more than any single step, and she was making progress.

Progress enough to have her right alongside Novo and even making a creeping gain. Something that brought a look of indignation on the queen’s face that Celestia found delicious.

That expression changed from nose-scrunch to one of surprise. Novo suddenly crossed lanes and barreled right into Celestia, sending them both surfaceward.

Breaking into the open had Celestia sputtering as she coughed out water and breathed in air instead. As soon as she had her breath, she groused, “Cheating? I hope you know you’ve forfeited any bet.”

Novo snorted. “You win the prize of not bashing your head.” She clopped a hoof on the support beside her. “Too busy looking at me. Though I can’t blame you for that.”

Celestia blinked and looked at the bridge overhead. Had they really swam that far so fast? She was about to respond when a very familiar voice came into hearing.

“—castle, too. Though it’s not here. It’s in Ponyville.”

“You own land? I thought ‘Princess of Friendship’ was just a title.”

“Well... I used to live in a tree that was a library before it got blown up in a fight. My castle isn’t exactly a castle, it’s a magical tree. That turned into a castle.” A pause. “It’s still a tree, just… made of crystal and now... also a castle.”

“Uhh… huh.”

Celestia peeked upward, and sure enough, it was Twilight walking alongside Tempest Shadow of all ponies.

Novo followed Celestia’s gaze, and her eyes narrowed at the sight of Tempest.

Before she could touch her pearl, Celestia caught Novo’s hoof and pulled her back into the shadow of the support.

Above, Twilight halted by the railing. “Okay, it’s probably easier to see my castle first hoof than hear somepony talk about it.”

Tempest glanced sidelong at Twilight. “Are you inviting me over?”

“Sure! It’s really late to be hunting for any inns or hotels to stable up in any case.” Twilight laughed. “And you’ve been in your armor this whole time. That can’t be fun. I’m not even wearing any, and I just want to sprawl out in bed after all the stuff we’ve been through today.”

“That’s what you want to do? Umm... okay.”

Twilight’s smile became beaming. “And if you’re not too tired, we can get you started on your very first friendship lesson.”

Tempest chuckled. “What do you have in mind for this ‘lesson’?”

“I still have some starter work written down. I had to do this already for Starlight and Sunset, so it won’t take me long to get you going. Hope you don’t mind some light reading before bed.”

Novo blinked and opened her mouth, but Celestia put a hoof over it to shush her.

Tempest’s smile had faded, and her ears splayed at hearing the other names. “What? You lost me there. I thought…” she trailed.

“Mmm? You thought what?”

“I... ah... err,” Tempest’s expression became pained as she sought for the words. Finally, she stomped a hoof in frustration and sent a minor flicker of jagged magic from her broken horn. “Argh! You invite me over, want me to get naked, and then get in bed. Sorry for misreading you there.”

Twilight blinked and became as dark of a purple as Tempest when a blush covered her entire face. “O… oh… OH! No, no, no, no, that’s not what I meant at all!”

“Yeah, figures.” Tempest shook her head. “I’m just going to head back to the airship. Sorry again for being stupid about this.” She turned away from Twilight and crossed the bridge.

From underneath, Celestia and Novo leaned back in unison to watch.

“Wait, Fizzle!” Twilight cried.

The word seemed to have some effect on Tempest for she stopped in place, ears perked.

“If that’s what you… I mean… I wouldn’t mind…” Twilight took a long breath, held it before letting it out. “If you want to go around Ponyville, together and see stuff, together. Maybe afterward we could go to my castle... together?”

Tempest eyed Twilight for a long, silent moment before she blew out a laugh. “Is this how you ask somepony out on a date?”

“I am really curious to see you without your armor...”

“You wouldn’t be the first mare eager to get a look at my flank.”

Their voices dwindled as Tempest and Twilight crossed the bridge and continued their way down the road.

“Okay, what in the Great Abyss was that?” Novo asked once they were out of earshot.

“That,” Celestia said with a smile. “Was Twilight doing what she does best: making friends.”

“So she steals hearts as well as pearls?” Novo scoffed.

“Poke fun all you want, but Twilight has managed to turn more foes to allies in the last seven years than I have in the last hundred.” Celestia shook her head and chuckled. “I hope she manages well with Tempest. I desperately need a new captain of the guard.”

Novo stared at Celestia in shock. “What?! You would make her a captain? She’s a monster!”

“She was a misguided soldier under the orders of a now dead king.”

“She assaulted Mount Aris with airships!”

Celestia arched a brow. “A unicorn incapable of spell craft defeated a nation of hippogriffs in the air. She captured this very city, in the heart of Equestria, in a day. I would be a fool if I wasted her talents in prison when she could be turned into a protector. Redemption comes in many forms. I can forgive her this war if she spares me any that might come after.”

Novo crossed her forehooves and fumed. “How can you be so sure? So very sure that a pony like her won’t stab you in the back?”

“If there is one thing that links every living thing in Equestria, it’s harmony. I am sorry to say that I haven’t always acted in its interest. But I am a believer in it now. I believe in love. Do you?”

“What a question,” Novo muttered, and after a flustered silence, she made an exaggerated shrug. “But what do I know? I’m just a queen.” She frowned. “If this blows up on you, don’t expect me to come to save you from your own mess.”

“There’s only one thing I desire from you, and it’s not soldiers.”

That made Novo raise a brow. “Oh? What’s that?”

“Your friendship, of course,” said Celestia, smiling again.

Novo looked like she was doing her best to keep the dour expression on her face before her lip twitched and she gave in to a laugh. “Oh, you… you… pony. What am I to do with you?”

Celestia looked down the road where Tempest and Twilight had gone. “Ponyville has a tradition of hosting celebrations after attacks. It’s also far enough away from the city to be discreet for us.”

Novo oriented herself in the water to point herself downriver. A grin passed over her muzzle. “Sounds like we have another race on our frills. Let’s see how your endurance holds up, Celeste.”

At first blush, Celestia would have imagined flying to be the quickest way from the city to Ponyville, after that, she’d have said taking the train to be the most leisurely. Swimming the Canterhorn river by moonlight, however, was by far the most thrilling method of travel.

From the changing currents at the small waterfalls while winding along the curves at speed, to the brief breaks where they skipped along the surface like dolphins, the journey was exhilarating in ways she never thought before.

Eventually, they came to the part of the river which split between Ponyville and the edge of the Everfree Forest. Novo sprinted the last quarter mile and beached herself on the soft silt.

“I’m going to enjoy owning Horseshoe Bay. Maybe I’ll build a nice waterfront property there.”

After just gotten so used to swimming, Celestia now waddled like a seal once on land again. “You never let me set my bet first. Also, the first wager was a draw. Shouldn’t it be best of three?”

Novo wagged her flukes in the water. “What would you want? Please don’t say friendship again.”

“How about legs? We’ll need them to mingle.”

“And I miss my wings, let’s see now.” Novo reached for the pearl around her neck and raised it. The golden magic swirled around the artifact and traveled down the hoof holding the pearl. The changes spread along the limb and then jumped over to Celestia.

The effect brought disorientation again, but Celestia found it superior to typical transmogrify spells. The pearl’s magic seemed to work at a deeper level and nearly instantly. At least this time when she opened her eyes, she felt more normal than she did as a seapony.

She looked back at herself and nearly thought that Novo had simply reverted her shape, but a second glance at her reflection in the river water showed her the full change. She was missing her horn and was shorter in stature. A pegasus. Her mane had also lost its ethereal edge and fallen to its natural shade of pink. It still had the habit of falling over her eye, and there was plenty of it to nearly touch ground in front of her. Celestia laughed then. She resembled Fluttershy with a white coat and purple eyes.

“Anything missing?” Novo asked as she joined Celestia by the water's edge. If Celestia was a Fluttershy lookalike, then Novo, with her fanciful purple mane streaked with blue, looked like a pegasus version of Rarity.

“Did you copy Twilight’s friends for these forms?”

“No,” Novo said all too quickly, then added defensively, “A pony is a pony, isn’t it? Most of you look alike.”

“There are plenty of differences,” replied Celestia patiently before she waggled her hindquarter. “But the main one is that you’ve kept my cutie mark and you don’t even have one yourself.”

Novo glanced between Celestia’s sun stamped haunch and her own blank flank. “Those are important?”

Celestia waited for the punchline before she blinked and let out a giggle. “Oh, dear… are you serious?”

“Laugh it up, but let’s see how well you do at sorting my kind by what seashells we wear.”

“Fair point,” admitted Celestia. “But my cutie mark is on every flag and government building in Equestria. It’s also unheard of for a pony to reach adult age without one. In Ponyville you’ll draw the attention of the Cutie Mark Crusaders for sure.”

Novo stared. “You have some kind of police for these?”

Celestia grinned. “They only seek to help.”

“Hrmph. What makes a good mark?”

“A Cutie Mark is an expression of a pony’s innate talent.” Celestia adopted her teacher’s voice as she went on. “While cuties can be similar, no two are quite the same. Usually, they are very personal to a ponies’ interest, their identity or profession. For instance, pegasi often manifest weather, flight or speed marks.”

Novo looked thoughtful before she broke into a broad smile as she lifted the pearl again. “I think I get the concept.”

Magic swirled around them both, and Celestia felt the tingle in her flanks as the transformation changed her coat in a superficial way.

“Ah ha! It wasn’t hard to get the shape or colors right,” Novo commented as she studied her hoofwork on her own rear.

Celestia saw Novo had given herself a bright, iconic heart and in that heart was a…

“Oh!” Celestia exclaimed and felt a blush rising to her cheeks. “Is that a heart around a sun?”

“Can’t you tell? I tried to make it look like the one you have as an alicorn.”

“I… it looks quite nice, but ah… what do you mean by it?”

Novo scratched her head with the corner of a hoof. “You said pegasi like the weather. So… ‘I love sunny skies’ ?”

Celestia smiled. “That’s one interpretation, I suppose.”

“Tell me what you think of yours?” asked Novo with a sidelong glance.

Celestia checked herself and saw that she also sported a large heart on her flanks. Though inside the heart wasn’t a sun it was…

“A CAKE?!” she cried. “You gave me a cake?!” She turned on Novo, but they were already flapping off. “Get back here and change it this instant!” Celestia shouted.

“They’re some very sweet flanks!” Novo called and cackled like a madmare when Celestia chased after her.

Despite the evening hours, Ponyville was lively. The town’s streets were well lit and decorated with some holdovers from the Friendship Festival. Even though that holiday was a new one and the main celebration was in Canterlot, Ponyville never missed a chance to join in on a party.

Novo reached the town first and declared herself a winner again. Celestia offered the prize of not kicking her in the freshly made cuties, heart or no heart.

“Don’t be such a sour loser, Sweet Flanks,” Novo teased.

“That’s NOT going to be my name,” Celestia grumbled.

Novo grinned at Celestia in a way that suggested that she was going to say it to the first pony she came across. “What’s this place famous for, anyway?”

Relieved to be talking about anything else, Celestia looked down Ponyville’s main street and pointed to the landmarks she saw. “Well, there’s the town hall. That’s Twilight’s castle in the distance. The spa...and oh! Sugarcube Corner! Ponyville makes fantastic cak— ”

“Mmm?” Novo looked at her after the sudden stop.

“Cider,” Celestia mumbled around her bitten tongue. “They make cider here.”

“I could go for a drink. I’m thirsty after all that swimming,” Novo said, brightening.

Celestia furrowed her brow and opened her mouth to ask, but thought better of it. Instead, she took the lead in walking toward the town’s pub.

Like the town, the pub on main street was bustling. A combination of the festival atmosphere and Ponyville’s spot as a travel stop between anycreature going to and fro from Canterlot. A fact that became evident when she saw a few non-ponies mixed in the crowd.

Funnily enough, Ponyville’s pub was a building Celestia hadn’t ever visited, though she was certain the town folk would have been aghast at seeing their princess enter a bar. She found the anonymity refreshing, though a problem reared its head when she observed a pony trading coins for a pint.

“Novo, do you happen to have any bits?”

“Where would I keep them? We were fish a minute ago.”

“Might you use the pearl?”

“Not unless you want me to turn your mane into gold, Sweet Flanks.”

Celestia mused, “Perhaps I could start a tab and pay it back later. If they believe I would.”

“I have a better idea,” Novo said, and Celestia turned to follow her gaze.

At a table sat the unmistakable sight of Rainbow Dash opposite of a large avian. Rainbow helpfully provided a reminder to their name with a cry of ‘gotcha now, Celaeno!’ as she went rounds with the parrot.

“They’re playing a game, I can beat them,” murmured Novo with an expression that was oddly fitting on her Rarity-alike muzzle.

“Are you sure you could? That’s a Wonderbolt and a Pirate Captain, mind.”

“Oh please, you ponies put more water in your liquor than we do,” Novo scoffed, “and I’m not going to lose to an upright, imitation hippogriff.”

“Just don’t make a fool of yourself. We’re trying to be low key.”

“Don’t worry, I know how to talk to pirates.”

Celestia watched as Novo fluffed her wings, cocked her hip, and swayed up to the table in a showy canter. She then called out, “Ahoy, mates! Room fer one more at this table I be goin’ t’ drinkin’ ye under?”

Rainbow sputtered mid-gulp and coughed. “R-Rarity?! What in the ha—oh you’re not her. Who the buck are you?”

“Ye can call me Lovely Sunshine ‘n I’m goin’ to bet that pile o’ bits, that there pitcher on the table ‘en the one aft it that I can see ye two to the floor.” After a moment of consideration, Novo added, “Yarr.”

“Heh. This somepony you know, Rainbow?” Celaeno asked in what Celestia noticed to be perfectly unaccented Ponish.

“Nope! But I get what she’s saying,” Rainbow said and disappeared in a multicolored streak that went from the table to the bar, to the taps before returning to the table. Suddenly there were several more mugs and a refilled pitcher. “You’re totally on!”

Novo sat down pony-style at the opposite end of the table and raised her mug in cup clacking toast.

“So, who’s your friend there? Are we going to make this two on two?” Celaeno asked.

“This here be Sweet Fla—” Novo paused at Celestia’s glare. “Frosting. Sweet Frosting. But I be the one to bet ye, so I’ll be the one to take the plunge. She’s more...she be my first mate on this trip, yup.”

“Hah! That like a wingmare?” Rainbow asked. After a swallow of cider, she added. “She’s cute.”

“Pleased to meet you too, Rainbow,” Celestia said with a smile.

“Yeah? You’ve heard of me?”

“Of course. I never miss a Wonderbolt show when you perform in Canterlot.”

Rainbow’s grin grew, and she leaned a hoof on the table. “Want my autograph, later?”

Celestia noted that Novo had lost some of her pirate-y cheer and was taking more determined gulps from the second round of mugs. “Let’s see who is still standing by the end of this, first.”

“Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for meeee,” sing-songed Novo as she swung her nearly empty mug with one hoof and adjusted Celaeno’s hat on her head with the other. It clashed with the pair of Wonderbolt goggles strung around the neck, but she didn’t seem to care.

She then ruffled through the rest of the ‘treasure’ on the table and used her wings to stretch out a garment in-between pinching feather tips. “What do you think this was for? She only had feathers on her chest.”

“A better question would be what you are going to do with a bra,” replied Celestia, watching the now naked Celaeno and Rainbow stumble their way towards the tavern’s second floor. “There’s such a thing as being a gallant winner.”

“If they were in distress, they just had to signal ess oh esssss,” Novo sang with a slurring to her words. She raised her cup and blew bubbles into it. “Shoop bee doooo.”

“I am glad you’re still feeling jolly,” Celestia said and settled herself on the opposite stool where Celaeno sat before.

Novo squinted at her over the rim of the cup. “What are you doing?”

Celestia filled the mug from the pitcher and raised it to her lips. “Challenging the winner.”

Chapter 2

At night, most ponies kept to the cities and major roads. Celestia appreciated it, as it gave the forest path a secluded feel despite the wide open and well-trotted lane.

Her hoof encountered a stray twig, and the sound startled Novo from her dozing sprawl on Celestia’s back.

“W-Wha…?” Novo mumbled.

“Welcome back. Did you talk to my sister? You were out for so long I wondered if she introduced herself.”

Novo blinked at her, eyes bleary. “I… what?”

“Oh, nevermind.”

“Where are we? Where’s the bar?”

“Ever hear of the Running of The Leaves? This is the path they take when they shake them off in autumn. It’s scenic, and I thought the night air would do us good.” Celestia smiled. “As for the bar, well I doubt there’s much left there for us to drink or otherwise.”

Celestia shifted her weight slightly when Novo rearranged herself to be cross-wise with her forehooves and hindhooves dangling on either side of Celestia like saddlebags.

“What happened to all the stuff I won?” Novo asked as she shook the grogginess from her head.

“I gave it all back. We only needed the bits to drink, and we did plenty of that.”

“Gave it back!” Novo exclaimed, the sheer indignation sobering her. She cried out a second time when she finally saw what Celestia was wearing. “You still have my hat.”

“Was your hat,” Celestia corrected. “I won it fair and square as I did the rest.” She chuckled. “I thought it’d make a nice souvenir.”

“How did you manage to beat me?” Novo asked, frowning. “You had as many cups as I did.”

“You preferred your drinks warm. I enjoyed mine cold,” answered Celestia. “With ice.”

“Why would that ma— ” Novo blinked then exclaimed for the third time. “You sneak!”

“It was tactics,” Celestia clarified. “Also, you were a bit distracted by trying to sing some exciting renditions on top of the table.”

Novo grumbled for a little while then sighed. “Sorry if I got carried away. I’m really good at spoiling a night out, aren’t I?”

“I wouldn’t say that. This is the most fun I’ve had in years.” Celestia peeked over her shoulder. “Nopony or creature treats me like you do.”

"Is that a good thing?”

“Very much so,” Celestia replied with a smile.

“I always did wonder…” Novo trailed and grew quiet.

When the minutes ticked by with nothing more. Celestia added a small cajoling bounce to her next step. “Yes?”

Novo squeezed at Celestia’s sides to keep from slipping off. “Do you remember when we first met, Celeste?”

The memory drew a laugh out of Celestia. “How can I forget such an adventure? Fit enough to be a Daring Do novel.” She grinned. "The Lost Treasure of the Seapony, featuring Princess Celestia and Princess… ah, what were you calling yourself back then? Princess Aurora the… "

“I’m the seventh,” said Novo before she asked, “Daring who?”

“An adventurous author who’s also quirky with names,” Celestia replied. “I am glad you changed yours when you took the crown, though. Numbers are a pain.”

Novo petted a hoof over the pearl on her neck. “The Queen who brought back the pearl and helped her kind regain their other forms. Novo, a new queen for the start of a new age of mastery over sea and sky.” She snorted then. “Except... you didn’t need to help me. You could have found it yourself. Kept it, even. Why didn’t you?”

“Friendship, naturally.”

It took a full minute of Novo's glaring before Celestia explained further. “I rule the largest nation on this planet. I move the sun, and I am immortal. What need have I for more power? Or more land? If I returned the pearl without you, they would have pledged loyalty to me. I wanted allies, not more subjects.”

Novo’s expression fell. “So it was just politics?”

“My most dearest of friends. You wear a crown like I do, you know that everything is politics.” Celestia shook her head. “But our relationship is something I cherish. Even now, decades later, it feels like not a moment was lost between us. In an ever-changing world like ours, that is worth more than any signed squiggles on some dusty parchment.”

A smile returned to Novo’s muzzle. “It’s funny how we ended up, hmm? Do I complain? My kind is free. My soldiers are celebrating, and I get to tour Equestria on the most royal carriage of them all.”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “If you're feeling sober enough to tease me you're welcome to get off.”

“I’m pretty comfortable like this,” Novo said, her smile now a smirk. “Besides, I don’t know where we’re going.”

“We’re heading to Sweet Apple Acres. It would be a shame to miss a chance to have a taste while we’re in town.” Celestia’s eyes made happy arches. “Nothing tastes quite like Equestria’s heartland as an authentic Apple Acres apple pie.”

Novo snickered. “Pie, hmm?” She made an extra squeeze, this time towards Celestia’s flanks.

“Pie, not cake! Completely different thing! You’ll see.” Celestia made sure to stomp each step for a while.

With Ponyville’s start as Equestria’s apple basket, Sweet Apple Acres was just as much as a community spot as the town square. Large tables usually used for Apple family gatherings were now set for visitors along with a wooden stage for ponies to perform. Some light music, rustic and country, played in the air, while ponies chatted and mingled.

Novo had slipped off Celestia before they approached and they walked together towards the tables. “You gave away all my bits. How are we going to pay for any of this?”

“We simply have to wait.”

Sure enough, after a little while of standing around Applejack herself greeted them.

“Howdy! Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres. Sorry 'bout the mess, but it’s been all sortsa crazy today.” She gave them both a second glance and raised a hoof to tip her hat back. “Humm. Say... we ever met before? Yah look mighty familiar, yer pardner too.”

Novo stiffened in place, but Celestia smiled and answered for them both.

“Last time was in Canterlot. I’ve gotten fritters from you before. I was just telling my… ‘pardner’ that we can’t visit Ponyville without stopping to get Apple family cooking right from the farm. It’d be terrible to come all this way without a bite!”

Applejack’s nose wiggled momentarily, but she seemed satisfied with that answer. “Ain’t that the truth! Should have known you a mare with some sense with a fine hat like that on ya. What’s yer names ya two?”

“I am Sweet Frosting, and this is Lovely Sunshine,” Celestia said.

This time Applejack’s eyes narrowed, and a small frown touched on her lips. Celestia tried not to fidget.

“... heh!” Applejack laughed suddenly. “Sweet ‘n Lovely? What a pair ya two make. You two kin?”

That made Celestia and Novo startle and share a glance. “No!” They blurted out, nearly at the same time.

“Mmhmm. That other kind of pardner, then. Well ah don’t mind sparing a little hospitality to some visitors. Granny’s cookin’ up a storm, so we bound to have extra pie in any case. Sit right tight, and I’ll bring ya a slice of pie when it’s good and ready. Maybe a little something to wash it down with, too.”

“Hey, your name is Applejack,” said Novo with a dawning realization. “Does that mean you make appleja—” she cut off when Celestia gave her a look.

“Just water for us, my friend lost her bits after a few barrels of cider already,” explained Celestia.

“Sounds ‘bout right.” Applejack chuckled.

When Applejack left them, Novo turned to Celestia and stuck her tongue out. “I lost the bits to you.”

“You still lost them,” Celestia countered, reaching with a hoof to tip her pirate hat.

It wasn’t too much a long wait at the table for Applejack to come serve them a freshly baked pie. Celestia had the pleasure of watching Novo’s expression go from skeptical to surprise to starry-eyed delight while she chewed.

“It’s amazing what one little fruit can do. I wonder if they’ll grow in the south,” Novo commented as she looked at the pie slice with one eye closed.

“Doubtful, but we could always work out a trade agreement,” Celestia replied, gesturing with a spoon held in her wingtips.

“Is there much demand on the pony side for kelp chips or salmon juice, though?”

Celestia had the spoon halfway to her mouth, and she paused, suddenly feeling a queasiness. “Salmon juice?”

Fortunately, any answer was lost as Applejack went over to the wooden stage and spoke to the gathering.

Applejack held up a metal cone and used it as a simple megaphone to address the crowd. “Howdy everypony and everycreature! Ah know it’s gettin’ on in the night, but maybe we can count on Princess Celestia bein’ in a mood to keep the sun down for us a little extra—”

“Achoo!”

“Sun and Stars bless you,” Novo said automatically.

Celestia used a nearby napkin to blow her nose. “Thank you.”

“— so we have enough of a band and enough pairs to have ourselves a best in show hoedown. Come up and have a go. Winners get first go at some fresh jam we’re gettin’ ready.”

Novo leaned.

Celestia kept her eyes forward, slowly chewing the remainder of her pie.

Novo crossed her hooves in front of her and perched her muzzle, looking up with fluttering eyes.

Celestia found an interesting spot on the tablecloth to stare at. Novo slid forward to cover it.

Finally, Celestia poked Novo’s nose with the spoon. “Fish, bird, and horse I knew about, but not puppy. Do you really want jam that badly?”

Novo closed her mouth around the spoon and stole the last bit of pie on it. “No. But it’s a contest! For the both of us! We could win.”

“At dancing? And I would have thought you’d gotten your fill of competition for the night.”

“I’m the best dancer in my court, ” Novo boasted with a wide grin. “Becoming a bachelorette means every suitor asks me to one. Competitions are how hippogriffs impress higher rank, you see.” She polished her hoof on her chest. “I always win, but it’s cute to see them try.”

“You don’t say...” Celestia mused and glanced sidelong at Novo.

Novo was now looking at the stage where several pairs of ponies were congregating, seemingly gauging the other entrants. When she caught Celestia’s look, she tipped her head. "Well?"

"Let’s win some jam," Celestia said, smiling.

“So do you know how to do a hind hoof waltz?” Novo asked in a low voice as they took a corner of the stage amongst the other dancing couples.

Celestia reared herself back on her hind legs and matched forehooves with Novo. “Of course, Platinum herself taught me.”

“One, two, step,” Novo murmured as she started them off. Her ear flicked at the name. “Who?”

“Visit again in the winter time and we can watch the Hearth's Warming play together,” Celestia replied then continued the pace. “Three, four, turn.”

“Visit again? Not tired of me yet?”

“How could I be? Every minute with you is an experience.”

For all her boasting, Novo truly was skilled at dancing and Celestia fell into an easy match to the movements. Without the need to watch hooves, Celestia looked up and caught the smile on Novo's muzzle. She returned it with one of her own, the idea of them winning didn’t seem that farfetched at all.

At least until the band changed the music from the slow twang to a more lively song with a quicker beat. Celestia started to fall out of sync and lag behind.

“Mmm? We have to match the tune,” Novo whispered to her while giving a coaxing pull at the hooves. “Swing your hips a little.”

“That’s alright… this is fine,” Celestia replied. Embarrassment and a missed step had her looking towards their hooves again.

A gentle touch came on Celestia’s cheek as Novo leaned forward and bumped her. “Think less like a princess and more like a griff.”

Celestia arched her brow. “What does that mean, pray tell?”

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Besides, I’m the only one who knows who you are, Celeste.” Novo drew her muzzle back and dropped her a wink.

Platinum’s own disembodied voice started to chide Celestia, but she fought against it and centuries of ingrained etiquette. Slowly, she hitched her tail and began to sway herself. A part of her was poised, expectant for the telltale snap of a paparazzi’s camera.

None came, and a glance showed that even the couple behind her were more interested in each other than gawking. Celestia relaxed and put more spring in her hindhooves and returned to matching steps.

They fell back in rhythm and bounced along to the music. Distantly, Applejack declared it to be a proper hoedown and instructed them to give the partner a dosey do. Celestia spread her wings and let herself be lifted clear off the ground when Novo swung her through a turn. The landing left them both giddy and laughing.

So caught up in the moment that Celestia didn’t have time to warn Novo when another dancing pair, less agile than they were, stumbled into their corner.

Novo grunted, falling forward and wobbling until Celestia steadied her. She threw a sour look over her shoulder. “Watch it— ” she began before doing a double take. “YOU!”

“Sorry about that,” Tempest said sheepishly.

Celestia was as surprised as Novo but even more startling was the look of the commander. Without the bulky armor, Tempest wasn’t quite the imposing figure she had been, and even her cutie mark was innocuous. She was also just about tall enough to shadow her more recognizable dance partner.

“Two… three… three, you have to do step three, Fizzle,” Twilight mumbled before she looked up and blinked.

“You better be sorry!” Novo shot back. Anger had frazzled her Rarity-like curls.

Tempest winced at that tone and bowed her head.

Celestia tried to tug Novo with their linked hooves, she resisted and kept her glare focused on Tempest.

Twilight opened her mouth to speak but Tempest replied first.

“I figure this is about more than just the dance, huh…” Tempest swallowed. “If I hurt anypony you knew or your family. I’m sorry about that, too. If you want to buck me in the face right now. I deserve it, and I’ll let you. I don’t have much else I can do to make things right.”

Novo for her part shifted on her hindhooves and Celestia was afraid that she was considering doing just that. The tension went on for a beat longer before she sagged in place.

“We all make mistakes,” Novo admitted through what sounded like clenched teeth. “Best we can do is not make them again and try to move on.”

She nudged Celestia to resume the dance and Celestia followed automatically, simply watching Novo.

“What’s with that smile?” Novo muttered once they were away and out of earshot.

“I am so proud of you,” Celestia said, her smile growing even broader.

“Oh, shut up and dance, pony.”

After the dancing and festivities, the winning couple came up to the table beside Applejack and held up the jar of jam to the hoof-stomping applause of the other ponies.

Celestia and Novo themselves lingered more towards the back, far enough away that they could talk without the other ponies listening.

“How could she win?” Novo asked with a shake of her head.

“Now, now, we must be good sports. You said yourself the dance was more for the fun of it than a prize.”

“That was meant to be a serious question,” Novo pointed at the blonde, gray-coated pegasus standing next to a pink unicorn. “Maybe being able to see the floor at the same time gave her an advantage?”

Celestia had a vague sense of familiarity that she’d seen the bubble marked mare before. Listening to the crowd, the unicorn’s name of Sparkler was easy enough to pick out. For the pegasus, it was all a mess and everypony seemed to have one nickname or another.

On the stage, the bubble pegasus merrily ate the jam to the crowd’s cheers, happy no matter who called her what.

“I wouldn’t worry too much over it,” replied Celestia. “I hope it doesn’t spoil the evening for you?”

Novo made a shrug with her wings and chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m having fun. Even meeting a mortal enemy did… didn’t ruin… hey... do you hear that?”

“I am so happy that you could forgive Tempest. Holding a grudge is like keeping poison within yourself. You will find that once you’ve made peace wi…err… hear what?” Celestia paused her friendship speech when she found that Novo had wandered towards the barns somewhere in the middle of it.

Annoyed, Celestia trotted to catch up, though she soon heard what Novo had: Giggling and two very excited voices that carried.

“One time my friends started acting reaaaallly weird and I thought it was because they didn’t want to do any more parties and that made me super duper sad, and I had to go make friends out of bags and rocks to do a party with but then my real friends were actually using this barn to throw me a surprise party!” Pinkie said without needing to pause for breath somehow.

“Oh wow! That’s amaaaaaazing!” exclaimed a yellow-coated and blue maned hippogriff next to Pinkie. “But what happened to the friends you made?”

“Hee! I couldn’t let my new friends down because of my old friends turned out to still be friends. So now I throw parties for them and for Sir Lintsalot, Madam le Flour, Rocky, and Mister Turnip, too!”

“Do you think Shelly and Sheldon could go to one of those parties?” The hippogriff asked in a wondering voice that sounded earnest and genuine.

“Welllllll, I suppose I might be able to fit them in,” Pinkie dawdled in what passed for a serious tone for her, and even then she quickly broke into a grin. “Of course they can come, silly! Anything for my bestest feather and fish friend, Skystar!”

“Oh!” Celestia turned towards Novo. “Skystar... isn’t that—”

“My daughter!” Novo cried and started to advance down the path towards the barn.

Celesta hurried to circle around and step in front of Novo. “Hold on, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to twist her earfeather and drag her back to Canterlot. She’s supposed to be grounded. Not out carousing with a pony!”

“Oh? Is that something only queens can do?” Celestia asked pointedly.

Novo flustered. “That’s different.” A thought struck her, and she grew even pinker. “Very different! Sun and Stars help me if she’s been drinking!”

“I’ll help you be reasonable,” replied Celestia as she glanced over her shoulder. Pinkie and Skystar looked to be holding up various farmyard objects and making funny voices with them. They both burst into giggles afterward.

“They’re not drunk that’s just Pinkie being Pinkie… I think,” Celestia said with some uncertainty. “But how old is Skystar? She doesn’t look that much a filly.”

“She’s twenty,” Novo grumbled. “But it doesn’t matter if she’s twenty or fifty. She’s not allowed until I say she is!”

“You were younger than that when we found the pearl together. A night out with a marefriend is magnitudes less dangerous.”

Novo stared at her, an expression of abject horror on her muzzle. “...marefriend?” she whispered.

“Oh come now, I didn’t mean it lik—”

“Mwah!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Mwah mwah!” Skystar answered.

A second glance over showed Pinkie and Skystar rubbing a bucket and a rake together.

“Okay, that’s adorable,” Celestia said then grunted when Novo pushed on her.

“Out of my way. I’m putting a stop to this before pretend becomes reality,” Novo said, her voice hard with steely determination.

Celestia stumbled backward several steps before bracing her hooves and pressing back. “Wait, Novo. Let’s think on this, what is the harm of those two together?”

Another bout of distant giggling had Novo trying to look over Celestia’s head. At the question, she focused back to answer, “I have to protect her. She’s innocent to the world.”

“Protect her?” Celestia echoed. “From Pinkie Pie? Pinkie is the last mare who would hurt your daughter.”

Novo stomped a hoof on the path in her frustration. “You don’t understand!” After a moment her voice softened. “Celeste, I’m sorry, but you don’t know what it’s like to be a mother.”

“You’re right, I don’t. As much as I would like to be one.” Celestia sighed. “But I have raised students before, and I know what happens if you grip too tight. She’ll grow to resent and hate you.”

The push against Celestia eased up, and Novo’s eyes fell away, wavering and unsure.

“Hey! There’s a lot of hay in that barn!” Pinkie observed. “Wanna go roll around in it?”

“Roll in the hay with you? That sounds fantastic!” Skystar chirped eagerly.

Celestia’s third glance over her shoulder caught the sight of Pinkie doing her signature bounce-hop towards the barn while Skystar did her own imitation of it, fluttering her wings each time.

When she looked forward, she found Novo’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks and her mane utterly frazzled. It was all Celestia could do to rear back in time to catch Novo when she charged forward and tried to scramble over Celestia.

“No no no! Let me go!” Novo was still a pony, but her voice sounded out like an avian’s shriek.

Celestia teetered on hindhooves, ironically all the time dancing with Novo helped her with the balance now. “It’s… it’s not… what… you think!” She gasped as she struggled with the hoof-full of squirming pegasus. “Trust in Pinkie!”

“Trust? Trust?!” Novo retorted. “You want me to trust that pink mare with my daughter’s virtue!” She doubled her efforts, her pushing becoming a shove.

Celestia lurched and turned the push of their locked embrace into a spinning tango step. It took them both off the road and into the nearby muddy ditch. Her hind hoof slipped until she anchored it with a stomp in the squishy earth. “Then trust in friendship. They will become ha— ”

“Oh stuff it with your friendship speech!” Novo interrupted, angrily. “I already forgave your thief for stealing and a conqueror for destroying. I’m not going to give up my daughter!”

The pearl’s golden magic swirled around Novo, and she lost her wings. Celestia was confused by the action until the next shove came with all the force of an earth pony and lifted her clear off her hooves.

Celestia splayed her wings and started to pump them. Despite the effort she was beginning to be carried backwards. “Then believe in love!” she called out desperately. “If they feel it for each other let them have their love!”

Novo let out a laugh. It was short, derisive, and bordering on the maniacal. “Oh, that’s the best one yet! Let’s see you believe in love when it leaves you helpless and lonely.” She shook her head violently. “Love makes you an idiot. Skystar will thank me for stopping it now, before she can get...att-attached to some...some...mare. Before she spends years w-wanting and...and... wishing for things that can’t be. Hoping she can win the love of a pony...”

Midway through the rant, Novo’s tone had dropped from the shrill highs to a low halting mumble. Her cheeks glittered wet in the moonlight and Celestia understood.

“I am a pony, and I love a hippogriff,” Celestia said into the tense air. “I love you.”

Novo’s eyes widened. “W-what…! You don’t...bu— ” It was all she managed as she’d halted her push and left no stop to Celestia’s counterbalancing.

It pitched them both back, and Novo landed flank first into the mud with Celestia soon falling on top, splattering them both as they rolled in a jumble of wings, hooves and wet earth. They struggled, but more to untangle themselves until they both sprawled out on their backs panting for breath.

A rhythmic thunk sounded nearby.

“Wow look at that!” Pinkie said, “Those two know how to have fun.”

Skystar bounce-landed next to Pinkie, still with a few stray bits of hay in her feathered mane. “Ooh! Can we do mud wrestling next?”

“Sure! I know the best spot, it’s right by the pigs! Come on, before they take all the good mud!” And they were both off again, bouncing in tandem.

A few minutes of quiet passed.

“Told you so,” Celestia murmured while she idly traced the constellation of one of the Ursas above.

“Did you mean what you said? Or was that just ‘tactics’ again?” Novo muttered. She sounded tired and worn.

Celestia raised herself on one hoof, enough to give her room to bring a muddy wing around Novo and draw her close.

“There was a time when I didn’t believe in love. I would keep it shut tight and away and never let myself feel it for other ponies. Doing so drove my sister into a rebellion and turned my first student into a runaway.” Celestia sighed. “It also kept me from pursuing a young queen who touched my heart.”

Novo leaned her head on Celestia’s shoulder, huddling under the hugging wing. “And… now? It’s different?”

“My sister returned from exile, my wayward student reconciled... and that queen came when I called for her." Celestia shook her head. "You've been on my mind lately, as another one of those old regrets. Maybe that's why I could only think of you in the heat of the attack.”

“You… you could have said that before when I asked, you ninny.” Novo chuffed. “Why be so mysterious?”

“Let me break my bad habits one at a time, love.”

Novo shook her head and chuckled faintly. “What happens now?”

Celestia considered. “Give me back my horn, and I’ll take us back so we can have a good long shower.”

“And tomorrow?”

“We’ll worry about it tomorrow.”

Chapter 3

Novo examined the shower with mild curiosity. For seaponies, the very idea of ‘taking a shower’ was a foreign concept. Even as hippogriffs they did their bathing in large communal baths.

Celestia’s bathroom could almost pass for one, with a large basin, marble floor, and golden fixtures. Everything looked neat, polished, and expensive.

Making a fist with her foreclaw, Novo pressed on the pedal valve marked with ‘H’ in front of the shower head and was rewarded with a stream of hot, steaming water from above through the miracle of modern plumbing.

She warbled her pleasure and angled the shower head with her other claw, turning this way and that. Some particulars of pony idiosyncrasies weren't half bad.

“I’ve found where they keep the shampoo, funny how the manedressers like to hide these things,” Celestia commented as she entered the bathroom.

Novo peeked an eye open to see Celestia with her horn alight as she levitated what looked like to be a dozen bottles. “You don’t wash your own mane?”

Celestia arched a brow and made a sharp dip of her head. With her form returned to its alicorn shape her mane had reverted to being full and lengthy. The mystical quality was somewhat spoiled by clods of brown mud stuck in the rainbow streamer. ”I am a busy mare.”

“Busy or lazy?” Novo teased.

Celestia stepped in close to give her a playful bump on the shoulder. “Oh Queen of soap and suds. Help me learn how to properly lather and wash...” Celestia’s smile turned into a grin. “...so that I might be as beautiful as you.”

Novo felt a blush rise high to her feathered ears, and she looked away. Bantering with Celestia always felt like playing chess, but now there were many new pieces on the board.

And many new ways to get caught.

She flipped the table instead and angled the showerhead to douse the princess. “First get wet.”

That resulted in a sputter from Celestia along with a vigorous head shake. Novo started to snicker though she was cut short when Celestia’s horn brightened, and the bottles aimed their nozzles like an array of cannons.

Novo’s world went white and bubbly as she was splattered by a salvo of shampoo. Blindly, she grabbed for Celestia and pressed close in a final act of mutually assured soap-ation.

Afterwards, they shared a laugh at the silliness, and there under the water some of the earlier stress washed away with the mud.

When Novo opened her eyes, they met with Celestia’s. For a quiet moment, she merely admired the mare in front of her. The water had weighed down some of that wispy mane, giving it solid strands at the bangs. Curiosity had her combing through the multicolored hair with her talons and she felt it ripple between magical and solid each time.

So strange, but so very… Celestia.

Celestia leaned at Novo’s touch, resting her cheek against Novo’s stroking palm.

The move was enough to have Novo murmur, “Celeste...” but she trailed when she realized that she had nothing to say. She wanted to ask again if Celestia had meant it when she declared her love, but that felt foolish.

Still, the sense of disbelief at having that old dream come true lingered. Celestia loved her! As much as Novo had peacocked and strutted throughout the night, in her heart, she hadn’t expected Celestia to truly want her. Not after all this time.

“Mmm?” Celestia prompted when Novo took long to continue.

“If we stay in the shower too long I’ll have to change us to seaponies again,” Novo said airily, burying her anxiety with the joke.

Celestia watched her for a long moment and then answered in the same light tone. “The bed then?”

Checkmate.

They made their way from the shower to the bedroom, and Celestia spared them the chore of toweling off by brightening her horn once more.

Novo’s body was outlined in golden radiance that warmed her from beak to tailfeathers. The heat rippled intensely and then was gone, leaving her feeling like she’d been blowdried from every angle.

“I see your magic has come back to you,” Novo marveled. She could transform into a unicorn, but never managed more than some clumsy pushing when she’d tried horn magic.

“Oh, that wasn’t such a hard thing. Not for me.”

“Then couldn’t you have zapped the mud off us?”

Celestia stepped past Novo and brushed shoulder and flank against as she made her way to the bed. “Yes, but then we wouldn’t have been made nice and fluffy for each other,” she remarked as she settled herself back on several pillows.

Novo chuckled at that answer, though her trepidation returned as she approached the bed herself. It was hard not to feel intimidated at the sight of Celestia like this. I can’t even say a prayer to Sun and Stars… she’s laying right in front of me.

Swallowing her nervousness for a second time, Novo settled in the bed, opposite of Celestia. Celestia turned to face her and smiled. A smile so practiced and serene that it gave little hint in how to start.

‘I’ll have to be sure to never play poker with you,’ Novo thought before she looked across Celestia’s body. At some point, Celestia had taken off her regalia, and Novo noted the scuffs in her coat around her throat and chest.

Novo reached for the spot on impulse, intending to brush it with her talons. When her clawtips touched, she blinked at what she felt there.

Celestia’s heart thudded away with a pulse that was nearly hummingbird fast.

“Are you… nervous?” Novo asked, astonished.

The Ruler of the Sun, Equestria and all ponykind turned her head slightly. “A little,” Celestia admitted. “It’s been a while for me.”

Novo started to stroke, petting over Celestia’s front. “How long is ‘a while’?”

Now Celestia’s eyes darted to the side. “Oh… a decade?” she muttered.

“A decade?” Novo echoed. “Do ponies not love their princess?”

“The trouble is too much adoration, really. They don’t see me as anything else.” Celestia made a wry smile. “And those who do get shamed by those that don’t for their impure thoughts.”

“Oh Celeste, that can’t be healthy. For them or for you.”

“I make do with a hoof when the need arises... and the shower is such a lovely invention, is it not?”

“A hoof, hmm?” Novo’s confidence rebounded, and with it a plan took shape. “Let me show you what claws can do, pony.”

She continued the path of her claws down along Celestia’s barrel. Appreciating the feel of that soft coat and warm body underneath. A smile came to Novo when she felt Celestia shiver under the drag of the talon tip along with the excited tension as the claw approached the hindquarter.

Novo dropped the pretense and took as much of that sun-emblazoned curve in her claw as she could, kneading and massaging heavily there.

Celestia drew in a breath and murmured, “Novo…” She repeated herself with a yelp when the massage was replaced with the solid clap of a spank. “Novo!”

Novo leaned in close and grinned. “If you want me to stop, just say so, Sweet Flanks.”

That earned a glare from Celestia with her muzzle in a scrunch. “You have an obsession,” she remarked sullenly.

“I’m a hippogriff. What parts of a pony do you think I would like?” Novo challenged and swayed her own equine backside.

Celestia snorted a laugh at that and rolled her eyes. Though she was smiling again.

Novo continued her fondling, gratuitous in her squeezing touch. There was a kind of pleasure in feeling the generous curves dimple under her fingers, and she played like this until Celestia relaxed. She slowly progressed and teased her digits into the furrow itself to begin a tracing touch around the sexual lips there.

This time there were no protests from the princess, though she became very still with eyes falling on Novo’s.

With a locked gaze, Novo watched Celestia's expression while her claws navigated by touch. She felt out the shape of that sex, hunting for the telltale bump hidden by the hood, acutely aware of Celestia's still silence and held breath.

Novo’s rubbing was steady while her fingers circled. She coaxed Celestia with a small nibble to the throat.

Finally, there was a quiver in those lips followed by a minor kick of Celestia’s hind hoof. Novo felt that fleshy pearl reveal itself, a hot and tender marble underneath her fingers’ touch. She stroked the clit in passing while she dipped a finger into that tunnel proper.

The response from Celestia was immediate, she let out her held breath in a moan and brought her hips upward to meet Novo’s claw.

Novo pressed back and sunk her finger right down to the knuckle while she cupped at Celestia’s mound. She let Celestia grind herself up against the pebbly texture of her birdscale.

With her shivers now a trembling squirm, Celestia put a hoof around Novo’s shoulders and drew her in for a firm, steadying hug. “You… you are quite good at this.”

“Mm-hmm. Practice,” Novo replied simply. She leaned her body against Celestia’s at the clutching embrace, but most of her attention was still on her hand’s motion. She gently pumped at feminine well with gradual, slow presses to let Celestia get used to the feel of the stroke. Throughout, she turned her claw ever so slightly each time and worked along that sexual wall.

Novo thought that she and Celestia were a match for size, which meant that it ought to be right around—

“AH!” Celestia exclaimed, her eyes widening to the eyeliner. Inside, she clenched at Novo’s finger, a hard squeeze that had the alicorn’s hindlegs cycling at the air. The forehooves holding Novo went from hugging to bruising in their grasp.

Curling her finger, Novo pressed on the spot, feeling it out and focusing her touch there. When Celestia’s sex fluttered, Novo added a second digit to the first and worked the twin fingers through Celestia’s contractions. Each time, she ramped the pressure there.

With no breath for words, Celestia made a guttural sounding whinny and mashed her muzzle against Novo’s beak. When she found that she couldn’t kiss, her muzzle dropped to bite on Novo’s shoulder instead.

Novo bore under both squeeze and bite, leaning her head so that they were pressed cheek to cheek. She stayed on target with her massaging fingers and made sure each squirming gyration from Celestia brought more of her palm pushing to that exposed clit.

The tight embrace stopped Celestia from thrashing, though Novo could feel her trembles turn into an outright quaking.

Celestia let go of Novo’s shoulder not to shriek or moan, but to breathe out a whimper. The small sound and stiff shaking belied the storm of spasms felt on the inside. Novo slowed the tempo of her fingers and let the contractions work her fingers to a rolling stop.

For awhile Celestia laid there, head thrown to the pillows with her body rising and falling with panting breath.

Novo watched her, tickled that somehow the princess was ever more beautiful in that disheveled, red-faced state. Though part of it came from the smug satisfaction of knowing she was the one to have made it so.

Some of that must have shown on her face as Celestia opened an eye and murmured, “...such a wicked creature you are.”

Novo made a show of slowly licking at her wet claw, smiling around her fingers. “Better than a hoof?”

“Turn around. I am not so out of practice with my muzzle,” demanded Celestia.

At the offer, Novo’s tail half-rose on its own and a pang ached through her loins. She was tempted, and Celestia’s flavor on her tongue wasn’t helping.

But the desire to impress was even stronger. She’d given Celestia an orgasm, she wanted to do more. Something unique that only she could do.

“Hmm, maybe we don’t need to take turns,” suggested Novo and touched her pearl. “I could turn into a male alicorn for you. You don’t have any of those, do you? Would you like to mate one of your own, Celeste?”

Celestia blinked and considered. “Now there’s a thought... I don’t think there have been any instances…” She shook her head and chuckled. “But regardless, I don’t want a male alicorn. I want you, you silly thing.”

Novo couldn’t help the satisfied cluck that rose in her throat at hearing that. Though as one plan was thwarted another idea came to her. “A compromise between the two, then.”

She reared herself back and spread her wings for effect as she invoked the pearl’s magic. This particular transformation was easy enough to visualize, she’d seen her share of showy suitors who liked to add physical swagger to their courting displays. She fixated on the higher end of the scale, mentally going for a definitively princely size for the princess.

The sudden changing of biological gears had an unexpected consequence. Novo had already been simmering with her clit and mound swollen in arousal. The addition of a stallionhood divided those feelings and had it plumping in record time. The male flesh kicked up and slapped at her own belly before jutting forward, hard and erect.

“O… oh my,” Celestia whispered.

“Ah...hah…bet you didn’t think I could do this, hmmm?” Novo crooned, the sudden veined stiffness was worth to see that expression on Celestia’s face. “How abo— ”

Celestia tittered behind her forehoof.

“Err…” Novo dawdled, confidence evaporating at that amused note. Her ears wilted along with some of her erection.

“My dear, I am not laughing at you,” said Celestia while shaking her head. “I just thought that you match the very definition of a pea-cock so literally now. Your tail is even spreading.”

“Hrmph,” Novo puffed with a shake of her raised tailfeathers. “I… I could make it bigger still if you think it too… cute.”

“Goodness, no! There’s plenty enough here for me,” Celestia said, grinning. “So eager to spoil me.”

Novo wasn’t quite sure how to reply to that, though she soon grunted when Celestia’s horn lit and magically grasped at the stallionhood.

All at once it felt like a plethora of hands moving along her, each more agile than Novo’s own claws touching and playing with her from flared cocktip to thick root.

Her raised-on-hindhooves stance started to wobble when Celestia’s magic lifted and gave her balls a squeeze. Novo gripped at the nearby bedpost for support. “Celeste, it’s… it’s still part of me,” she reminded in a strained voice.

The intensity of golden aura eased up then took on a rippled appearance. Novo was tugged forward, and her shaft massaged under the steady pulse. Looking down brought the visual of Celestia with her nose brushing along her flare. The sight was arousing enough to summon a twitch through Novo's flesh and with it a large bead of clear pre-seed to form at the cocktip.

Celestia’s tongue was out a moment later to sweep it away. “Mmm. So it is,” she said while balancing the stallionhood on her nose and looking up around it. “Why don’t you come down from up there and we can make love?” Celestia’s forehooves raised up in invitation.

“Make love,” murmured Novo, amused at the wording. Though... the truth was, she did love Celestia, ever since she was a fledgling. First in idolizing of a storybook figure, then as a youthful crush when they actually met. Years cooperating as leaders of their allied nations matured that feeling into friendship while Novo’s terrible marriage turned it into a wistful pining of what-could-have-been.

Now here Celestia was, waiting for her. Wanting her.

Novo let go of the bedpost and fell into that embrace. The bed underneath creaking as she arranged on top to press her feathered barrel against the furred one. Celestia’s hooves closed around Novo’s shoulders while the hinds went up to squeeze at her flanks.

They lined up, helped along with guiding presses and little lurches. Novo opened her beak, feeling like she should say something when that horn magic gripped her again. Her shaft aimed plainly to Celestia’s sex, cocktip close enough to feel the tingle of heat from those aroused folds.

Any thought for ceremony or profound words flew away, and Novo moved on instinct, rolling her hips forward and pressing inside. She had touched Celestia before with her claws, but now the sensation was potent as that splendid, living plushness yielded and stretched under her erection. The wondrous feel of that hot body surrounding her. The internal squeeze that gripped her every few inches as Celestia took her stallionhood and cradled it inside.

A second joy came as the gap between them closed and brought with it a sublime intimacy. Novo could feel Celestia’s heart where it thumped against her own chest and the echo of it in the grasp of that tunnel. Every inhaled breath, every little nuance of shifting posture. She could feel all of it and her maleness leapt with excitement, giving throbs to every clench made.

Novo had given herself a shaft sized for a princess, and it made for a snug fit as she bottomed out. The flare pressing snug to the womb’s entrance while on the outside Celestia’s spread mound nestled against Novo’s groin. Even feeling her balls settled against the alicorn’s rear brought a kind of cozy smoosh. When Celestia voiced a moan, Novo answered her with a low groan of her own from the intensity of it all.

For a time they simply rocked together, with Novo gently nudging at the depths with spongy thumps of her cock's crown while Celestia lifted her hips to drag her clit against Novo’s groin.

While they were united below, above Celestia peppered Novo’s beak with kisses. She clucked a laugh at the insistence and eventually turned her head to brush a tongue on those pressing lips. Celestia again tittered a giggle at this half-kiss, and this time Novo’s heart swelled from how happy she sounded.

Though the heart was not the only thing to swell.

A part of Novo wanted to live forever like this, coupled and mated to her beloved. But the neediness in her loins grew with every lingering throb in Celestia’s tunnel. It wasn't just her male side either, her untouched clit under her feathered tail burned like a hot pebble. Only by thrusting forward could she appease any of the desires of her crossed-wire sexuality. The slow, passionate rocking they had been doing grew into an outright stroke that bounced their hips against the bed.

‘Soon, one small thrust becomes two. After two, perhaps another few…’ Novo mentally sing-songed and had to clamp her beak shut to keep from laughing outright. She was feeling giddy and drunk on excitement, love, and lust all at the same time. Celestia underneath looked messy maned and was blushing pink all along her body. Whenever her eyes opened to look at her, Novo couldn’t help but pump all the stronger at the adoration she saw in them.

With no breath from either of them to spare for words, the room was loud with the sound of their lovemaking. From the constant rattle of the headboard to the wet squish of penetration and the hot clap of her balls landing on Celestia’s rear.

Novo’s shaft felt thick and laden, and all her instincts spurred her on with the sense of impending urgency from that twitchy length. She needed to thrust, she needed to get as many in as she could. Before... before…

“Celeste,” Novo managed out between panting. “I… It… I am going to… s-soon. I need to p-pull ou—”

Suddenly, it was as if she'd sprung a trap. Celestia’s fores gripped at her in a hug that pinned her flat while the sexual tightness smothered her shaft.

“Inside,” Celestia moaned.

Novo gasped and spread her wings in panic. “Sun and Stars, it’s… it’s real!” she exclaimed. She was starting to flare out at the tip, and her balls drew up tight.

Celestia shook bodily underneath. “In-Inside,” she repeated with a waver in her voice. Now, Novo felt the clench of that tunnel break up into spasms as Celestia fell into a second orgasm. “P-please,” she said breathlessly.

Rationality and emotion pulled on either side of Novo. For one heartbeat that lasted an eternity, she was poised to either pull away or push forward. Love won, and she threw herself forward as hard as she could. Her claws grabbed at Celestia’s barrel with her own tight hug, and a cry left her throat to chorus with the alicorn’s calling moans.

Had Novo’s shaft been out in the open it would have been loose bobbing and weaving as it sputtered. But in the clench of Celestia’s body, she was aimed and held. Each thudding feeling of seed traveling down firing out into the core of her lover underneath her. Celestia bit at her neck again, but Novo hardly noticed, her world narrowed to the sensation of pleasure. Her own maresex clenched under her tail, mirroring the masculine half’s orgasm that left her trembling with seesawing aftershocks.

The moment passed, and the thuds ebbed to twitches and Novo slumped, beak open and trying to catch a breath. Focus came back sluggishly. Physically and emotionally she felt wrung.

When her wits returned to her, Novo glanced downward and haltingly drew back. She was softening from her iron-hard state, but even then Celestia’s sex clung to her. Those lips tented outward before the raunchy pop of the flare pulling free. With it came the showy excess of her cum. It spilled out of that tunnel in a gooey fall that had Novo’s cheeks burn in a blush. There was so much! She had been so eager to size herself and here was the consequence to her pride: A drippy splatter that connected cock and cunny with strands of sticky evidence.

The golden glow of magic outlined Novo’s maleness and straightened out her softening member before pulling it forward and back to the folds. Novo obliged nearly on reflex alone, giving a thrust forward to dip back into the creamed tunnel. The hot feeling doubled by the tickle and smear as their loins met in a messy drag.

When Novo looked up, Celestia wore a tired smile as she leaned back against the pillows, lit horn winking out.

Tentatively, Novo reached to stroke a claw along Celestia’s cheek. Still feeling guilt nibble at her. “Oh, Celeste… what have I done to you?”

That got Celestia to peek one eye open and laugh. “Something that should have been done ages ago.” She turned her muzzle to kiss at Novo’s clawfingers. “Sorry for making you wait.”

Novo blinked and fell to laughing herself despite her worries. And with that laugh, the anxiety left her, and she rested her head against Celestia in a happy sprawl.

Celestia laid back in that inner warmth. It felt sweet and lingering, comparable to having a bowl of hot soup on a cold winter day. Not to mention the happy presence of her lover still tucked inside. They were a little sloppy like this to be sure, but she found that liked the mess.

With that sense of contentment, she watched Novo who rested with an ear to her chest and foreclaws hugging her barrel.

“What are you listening for?” Celestia asked, eventually.

“Your heart,” Novo replied before looking up. “It’s like the tide.”

Celestia raised a brow, catching the coy note in Novo’s voice. “Oh?”

“Mm-hmm. It’s strong and soothing,” Novo’s beak corners rose in a wide grin. “...and it’s mine.”

Celestia burst out with a laugh and reached with a hoof to tousle Novo’s headfeathers. She didn’t argue the point. She didn’t want to.

Novo playfully stuck her tongue out at her before resting her chin on Celestia’s sternum. “What we did… what if it does…?”

Celestia turned her tousle into a petting. “Then it would be our miracle together.” She let a pause hang in the air before she continued, “And if it doesn’t. Well… we’ll just have to try again, won’t we? Perhaps you could make me a hippogriff next time.”

Inside, Celestia got the honest reaction to her suggestion when Novo’s shaft stirred and hardened up.

A moment later Novo chirped her pleasure, though her brow knitted. “You're so important. It’s not something you could hide.”

“I suppose not. I should set an example that after a night of partying and seducing a partner to bed, a mare ought to do the responsible thing and… offer her hoof.”

Novo’s expression ran the gamut from mild confusion to eye-widening shock when the meaning dawned on her.

Celestia held her breath and waited. She prided herself on her ability to read a pony. But now would be a gamble, perhaps the largest she’d ever made.

“Y-You—” Novo started then stopped, her beak working silently as she choked on the words. She took in a deep breath and finally asked, "You want to be a queen that badly?” She smiled then, a shaky one with watering eyes that Celestia thought was the loveliest thing she’d ever seen.

“I imagined I would become an Empress if I am going to have a queen underneath me,” Celestia teased back, her own voice breaking in the middle with a few of her own tears falling away.

“I-I’m on top of you, though,” Novo giggled. She sounded nearly like Skystar.

Celestia squeezed around Novo’s middle and with a push, rolled them both over. Her alicorn strength made it an easy tumble. “There. Now I am the top one.”

Novo didn’t fight her, only reaching with claws to stroke at Celestia’s mane and leaned her wet cheek to Celestia’s own tear-stained one. “Oh, Celeste…it would change everything. Even the world? Are you sure?”

“Not all change is terrible. I am reminded of it every day when I see my sister. Or when I see a creature like Discord with Twilight’s friends. I even had tea with Starswirl just last week and bought my grand niece Flurry Heart a gift before that. These years are filled with a kind of color and vibrance that I never thought possible in all those decades before. I am not afraid to win some happiness for myself and for you, not anymore.”

Celestia nudged Novo’s beak with her muzzle. “Now, change into a seapony. I need to kiss you.”

“Isn’t that bad luck, before?” Novo remarked while the pearl’s magic swirled around her to change her shape.

Celestia answered Novo with a kiss, pushing the seapony’s head to the pillows with a forceful mash of lip to lip. She’d been eager for this, hungry like a changeling for the opportunity. She applied all of her memory of Prench habits and worked her tongue along the other.

Novo sounded out a low note in her throat, a muffled kind of trilling that Celestia smiled over.

Elsewhere, Celestia felt the other curious change in Novo’s body. With the tubular seapony tail, her thighs straddled it like a body pillow. The extra squeezing helped with the difference in the seapony’s shaft which was now slender, curved and all the more squirmy within her.

Novo shook and broke away from the kiss to voice a strained cry while her flukes curled to swat at Celestia’s hindquarters.

Celestia rose slightly in a sitting posture, hooves on Novo’s chest while she parked her flanks square in the lap. She leaned her weight against and thought it a kind of poetic justice for all of Novo’s teasing. Even if it meant Celestia had to shiver under the repeated jabbing thrusts.

“You… mmn... need to say it,” Celestia murmured as she reined back her building excitement.

Novo blinked and looked up at her, her glowing head bobber falling between her eyes. “I do?”

“Well, that too. But not yet,” Celestia replied with a grin.

That earned her another confused look before Novo let out something between a groan and moan at the wordplay.

“Three words. I’ve been waiting the whole night for them,” Celestia prompted and squeezed her thighs and insides for emphasis.

Novo gave her the most muscular buck upward yet, and Celestia’s resolve was tested as a patch of scales on that seapony belly gave her a thrilling drag on her spread sex. She bit her lip and squeezed all the harder on that slippery shaft twitching and twisting inside her.

“T-Tyrant…!” Novo gasped.

“Yes. Now say it,” Celestia demanded, though she knew she’d won when she felt the steady pulse of heat fill her again. The joy from feeling Novo spurt bringing a merry tumble into her own orgasm soon after.

“I love you,” Novo admitted into Celestia’s mouth when they kissed a second time.

Epilogue

“So you just boil water in this and put the little bags in?”

Celestia returned from the balcony after starting the sun on its upward path and found Novo —now as a hippogriff— fussing over her coffee table’s tea service.

“You steep it, actually. Have you not had tea before?” Celestia asked, amused. “Teabags are good for beginners.”

“I’ve had tea before, just not this kind,” said Novo while she lifted the small bag in a pinch of fore and thumbclaw. She made a very deliberate dip with it into the kettle’s water which soon changed color. “Oh, would you look at that. Squeezing a mackerel is so much tougher.”

“Squeezing a ma—” Celestia began to ask when a scrambling sound came from the bedchamber doors. “Yes? Hello?” she called.

The large sun-marked door opened and the wide-eyed muzzle of Raven Inkwell appeared. “Princess! We saw the sunrise, you're here!”

“Where else would I be, my most observant assistant?”

Raven adjusted her glasses as she entered and stood at attention. Muzzle raised and prim enough to balance a book on her hairbun. “The guards said you were at the old palace, but nopony there had seen you and then the sun didn’t rise on time…” she gave a nervous glance over her shoulder. “There’s a situation.”

“Is there? I haven't seen any cannon fire in the streets which is an improvement from yesterday.”

“It’s the visiting Queen she’s mis—” Raven blinked at the sound of the teakettle pouring and finally peeled her eyes away from Celestia to notice the hippogriff at the table.

“She’s here,” Raven said dumbly.

“If only all our problems today could be solved so quickly,” Celestia cheerfully replied.

Raven fumbled in place before crouching on her forehooves in a bow. “Your majesty… majesties. My apologies!”

“Hello,” Novo said distractedly as she meticulously added sugar to the cup and stirred. “Did you need me for something?”

“It’s… Princess Skystar she’s—”

Novo’s head snapped around. “She’s what?”

Raven cringed at the pinning raptor glare, but before she could respond she had to stoop again when a blue and yellow feathered rocket flapped over her and zipped at Novo.

“Mom!” Skystar cried as she clung to Novo’s front. “You’re alright!”

Novo chuffled and combed over Skystar’s mane with her talons. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I couldn’t find you anywhere!”

“Funny. Usually, you’re the one trying to hide from me.”

“It’s just that you were gone! Like gone gone, like super no-pony-or-griff-saw-you-for-hours-and-hours gone!” Skystar’s eyes turned up in worry. “Where were you?”

“I was rolling in the hay with a pony,” Novo noted dryly. “Sound familiar?”

Skystar’s eyes fell to pinpoints, and she blanched. “H…How did you know?”

“I’m the queen. I know everything. Especially when you’ve been misbehaving.”

“M-M-Mom, it wasn’t like that. I mean I know you said I was grounded, but I didn’t fly at all. I just walked the whole way there. Well except for the parts I couldn’t, but that wasn’t like a lot of flying. That was just a little flying, more like a flutter and fluttering doesn’t count as flying it’smorelikejumpinglotsoftimesreallyreallyfast—”

“Enough!” Novo interrupted firmly.

Skystar cowered in place with her feathered ears splayed. “Are you going to double ground me?”

“Worse,” Novo intoned. “I’m going to give you a job.”

“Aieee! Not that! Anything but… that?” Skystar shrieked before her panic diffused halfway. “Umm... what?”

Novo smirked. “It’s about time a princess like you had one. I’m making you our diplomat to the ponies. Every time I visit here or the Princess visits us you’re going to help.”

Skystar straightened from her slouch and looked on with curiosity. “Help how?”

“Oh, decorations, food, arrangements, and the rest. I expect you to work closely with the pony ambassador,” said Novo before glancing over to Celestia.

“Pinkie Pie has done wonders with the Yaks, and I can think of no better pony who would also make a splendid delegate to the hippogriffs,” Celestia said with a smile.

Skystar’s eyes sparkled. “You mean I’ll get to see Pinkie all the time? That’s gre—” she paused, and her expression fought itself as she remembered she was being punished. “— I mean… ohhhhh nooooo.”

Novo couldn’t help but laugh at Skystar’s exaggerated frowny-beak and leaned to give her forehead a peck. “Go share the good news with your pink friend, mmm? She ought to know, we are going to be visiting plenty enough when they build that new train track.”

Skystar hugged at Novo’s neck and nuzzled happily. “Thanks, mom!” She splayed wings and turned to flutter off but hesitated. “It’s… uh... nice to see you smile.”

“Eh? What’s with you? I smile plenty.” Novo made a rather ferocious grimace full of beak teeth.

Skystar raised her claws up to cover her own beak and giggle. “L-Like that. You’re happy again.” An expression of fear struck Skystar suddenly, as if by pointing it out, Novo would remember to be unhappy.

Instead, Novo shook her head and chuckled. She glanced again over at Celestia. “A friend helped me shake some of those blues. I have a lot to look forward to now.” A grin returned to Novo. “You too in fact, why you might get a surprise around your birthday if we are lucky.”

“Aww but that’s months away!” Skystar complained. “Can’t it be now?”

She pouted when Celestia and Novo shared a long hearty laugh at her. “Fine, be that way! I’ll find out, you’ll see!” Skystar blew a raspberry and flapped towards the door, passing a heavily blushing Raven who followed her out.

“I suppose if she did the whole world would know by then,” Novo chuckled.

“It might happen sooner than you think. Raven was looking at the bed,” Celestia replied.

“Oh drat. Would she talk?”

“No, but the maids might. Gossip has its own kind of magic that has it finding its way to the loosest lips.”

Celestia turned to the balcony to perch her hooves on the railing. The morning crowds were starting to amble out in the courtyard below, starting their day now that she’d raised the sun.

Novo stepped in close beside her in a shameless brush of shoulder and flank. With a claw, Novo reached to take her hoof. “Pity. I wanted to get to the jewelers first. Maybe something coral themed.”

“Like I wouldn’t bury you in gold and amethysts before that,” Celestia teased. “You could do with a collar.”

Novo eyed Celestia’s neckpiece. “Like yours?”

“No. This is a peytral. I mean an actual collar for you.”

That drew a snort out of Novo, but she leaned close all the same. Celestia opened a wing and hugged it around her lover’s shoulders.

Distantly, there was the rare sight of one of the pegasi guards starting his patrol. He did a double take at the balcony and nearly flew into the tower.

“Are you nervous?” Novo asked quietly as she snuggled underneath the wing.

“Immensely,” Celestia replied, her eyes following a pair of ponies on the ground as one turned and pointed up at them. “But you said it yourself. There is much more to look forward to now. We’ll do it together.”