Internal Flow

Twilight lied awake in tormented agony. Despite everything she had experienced since coming to Ponyville, nothing was able to cleanse the darkly incestuous thoughts from her mind. She could recall the time they first pervaded her skull. It was around her thirteenth birthday. Near the end of the night, her family had gathered around for cake and ice cream, as was tradition in her home. While Shining Armor roughhoused with her, she began to feel the heat emanating from his body. It brought her a deep level of security and comfort previously unknown to the mare. His strength and charm summoned feelings from within her better left unspoken. Then again, maybe that was the source of her suffering. The overwhelming terror of being seen as a depraved monster is what truly kept her quiet. If she were to ever have any hope of overcoming her demons, she would need to come clean. She couldn't tell Shining, though; not yet...

After finishing breakfast with Spike the next morning, Twilight packed her satchel.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to see princess Celestia about something important. Can I count on you to watch over the castle while I'm gone?"

"I've got you covered?"

"Thanks."

Twilight gave her assistant a kiss on the forehead before flying off.

Twilight entered through the double doors of Canterlot castle. Her mentor greeted her with great delight. It made it all the more difficult for Twilight to speak to her.

"Oh! Twilight! What a pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting you to drop by today!"

"..."

"You look distressed. What ails you, my student?"

"We can't talk here..."

"I see. Please, follow me."

The sun raiser led Twilight to her chambers, where two guards were standing watch.

"At ease, men."

Both soldiers stepped aside to let them through.

"I suspect what troubles you must be serious."

Twilight's stomach churned. She felt ill.

"I...I'm in love with a married stallion..."

"That is quite the predicament. Have you discussed this with the couple?"

"I can't..."

"Why not?"

"Because...The stallion is...Someone I'm close to..."

"Shouldn't that be all the more reason to be honest with him?"

"No...What I mean is...He's...Someone of blood relation..."

Celestia's expression transformed into one of horrified shock.

"Oh my goodness..."

"It's Shining Armor, okay!? I'm in love with my own brother!"

Twilight paced around, trying to control her urge to scream.

"What am I supposed to do!? It's sick! It's wrong! This is all wrong!"

"Twilight, calm yourself at once!"

The unusual authority in Celestia's voice was enough to snap Twilight back to reality.

"How am I supposed to be calm at a time like this!? I just told the most powerful pony in all of Equestria one of the worst secrets I could have ever confessed just so I could hope for leniency!"

Celestia sighed and used her magic to place Twilight on the bed. Twilight was shaking from the anxiety and self-resentment.

"This is indeed a most unsavory development as well as an unexpected one. In hindsight, I should have seen this coming."

Twilight sniffled.

"What do you mean?"

"Come now, Twilight. You know as well as I do most of your time has been spent alone with your studies."

"But...I'm not alone. I have Spike and my other friends."

"Yes, that's true, but they can't fill in for a romantic partner. There are separate parts of our lives that do not mesh together."

"So, you're saying because shining is one of the only stallions I interacted with on a regular basis, I didn't have anyone else to direct my attraction towards?"

"That is correct."

"Then...How do I fix this?"

"Your personal growth has been severely stunted by years of isolation. I admit, even I was unaware of the amount of damage it caused you. However, I believe I have a solution."

"What?"

"How familiar are you with martial arts?"

"You mean the sport?"

Celestia shook her head.

"While modern incarnations have been reworked into competitive events, traditional martial arts were developed explicitly for warfare. Our soldiers are somewhat skilled with their usage, but none of them have yet to unlock their true potential. Even Shining does not comprehend their real power."

"I always thought they were just fighting styles people trained in. The way they're presented in Spike's comics, they always seemed more like power fantasies."

"I was alive during much of their creation. Those who mastered them were far more than mere fighters. They were both gentle and terrifying forces of nature."

"Were they really that strong?"

"Even I dared not challenge them."

"How would martial arts training help me with Shining, though?"

"Martial arts are essentially philosophy in action. To truly master them, one must undergo great spiritual and physical transitions; pilgrimages of self-discovery, if you will."

"You mean completely reshaping my being?"

"Precisely."

"I don't know. It sounds so strange to me."

"Then allow me to pose a question for you: Is there any logical reason not to try?"

"I...I suppose not."

"Then you have your answer."

Twilight composed herself and stood on her legs. Without her knowledge, they had stopped trembling.

"When should I start?"

"When you're ready, although, I recommend you allow yourself time to recover today."

"I understand."

"I'll arrange a room for you. Come see me tomorrow morning. I may know where your first instructors reside."

Celestia left the room, entrusting the guards outside with specific instructions.

"Please, do not repeat what you have heard to anyone. Her progress must not be impeded."

"Yes, your highness," they responded simultaneously.