The Handmaiden

Twilight wiped her brow, a healthy sheen of sweat shining from her forehead as she slaved over her cauldron, the length of red ribbon tied around the handle distinguishing it from the cauldron that held Sweetie’s potion. Twilight had been instructed by Sweetie that it was now time to add the additional dose of venom, and so she did, allowing the potion to simmer and cook the toxins out. It was her intention to add the venom and then return to the library for her research and studies, but something stopped her. Her curiosity refused to release her from its grasp, a sensation the Empress encouraged in Twilight. The desire to know more than they do was the mark of a true mage, so said the High Queen.

“Hm… Perhaps fifty?” Twilight returned to her desk, weighing out another twenty-five grams of marsh mallow root. Over the past hour, she had been slowly and incrementally adding small amounts of marsh mallow root to the brew that Sweetie had concocted all those years ago. She took great care to copy the exact specs of the potion, duplicating the recipe to the letter. Yet, after adding twenty-five grams of freshly pulled marsh mallow root, Twilight wasn’t getting any sort of violent reaction. Even this amount of root would be borderline impossible for Sweetie to overlook, even if she was distracted. How could anyone, nevermind an alchemist as gifted as Sweetie, miss double that amount?

With a hushed, whispering incantation, Twilight sent her marsh mallow floating through the air, gently lowering it into the bubbling vat and immediately readying her arcane barriers. For a moment, nothing happened, and then, the potion began to froth. The muddy liquid bubbled and bellowed angrily, growing thicker as it ran up and over the lip of the cauldron. The potion pooled on the floor, much to Twilight's disappointment.

"Fifty grams and still…." Twilight watched the concoction as it went through its reaction, lowering her barrier once she was absolutely certain the cauldron was no longer bubbling. She turned away and returned to her research, adjusting her notes on the potion. "Not fifty grams either… How could that much marsh mallow have made it into her cauldron?"

The sound of descending footsteps interrupted Twilight and her studies, and she quickly collected her notes and papers, compiling them into a neat, orderly stack. She had barely managed to get her papers in order before the source of the footsteps flowed into the cellar; Chancellor Rarity, as prim and proper as ever, with a small tray of soup, bread and water on her hand.

"Something told me I'd find you down here," remarked the chancellor. "It seems my sister has been rubbing off on you."

"Just trying to keep myself busy. I get restless without anything to do." Twilight nudged her papers aside, letting her eyes fall on the tray Rarity held. "That wouldn't happen to be meant for me, would it?"

"The Empress would be incredibly cross with me if I let you starve yourself. The kitchen hasn't seen you since yesterday morning." Rarity set down the tray beside Twilight, gently nudging it towards her. "Eat. The kitchen staff went out of their way to make you supper, and it would be rude to let it go to waste."

"That was incredibly kind of you. My gratitude." Twilight grabbed up her spoon and prepared to take a bite, pausing for a moment. She stared at the soup, a thin broth composed of leeks, floating with chunks of parsnip, potato, carrot, and turnip. Nothing out of the ordinary, it was a soup Twilight had enjoyed many times over, and yet still, she hesitated. Slowly, with a shaky hand, Twilight set her spoon down, unable to take even a sip of her soup.

"What is it? Too hot?" Rarity rolled her eyes. "I'll do a lot, but I won't blow your soup for you."

"It's not the soup, Chancellor," said Twilight quietly. "I… Nevermind. Thank you for the meal."

"Sparkle. If there's something troubling you, then it is my job to see that it is handled. As you know, I take my job very seriously." The Chancellor cleared her throat, sitting atop the desk at which Twilight worked. "So please. What is it?"

"I… I miss her, Rarity. I really, really miss her." It wasn't in Twilight's plan to let this spill out of her, but once the words began to flow, there was no stopping them. "Everything feels so bizarre without her around. For so long, I've been by her side, through thick and thin, and now… She feels so far away."

"I know you’re very busy, Sparkle, but you can take a day off to see her," sighed Rarity, rolling her eyes. "I’m perfectly capable of keeping things in check while you take a trip to Golden Oak and—"

"I used to hate Celestia. Fear her. And now I don't know what to do without her. I know she'll be back, but what if I can't make it that far?" said Twilight, grimacing as the words left her mouth. The chancellor clearly thought she spoke of Pinkie, and things would surely be simpler for Twilight if she was. Instead, she was in this unsteady limbo, her feelings for the Empress undefined and uncertain. Her eyes were heavy with tears, but she did not cry openly. Not yet. "I was nothing before meeting the Empress, and then she made me into something special. Without her… I'm right back where I started. A small, stupid girl, easily forgotten."

It went quiet for a bit, neither woman saying much to the other. Twilight shrunk away, turning her eyes down to look at her tray. Instead of responding, Rarity reached over to Twilight's tray and ripped a hunk free from her roll. The Chancellor dipped the bread into the handmaiden's soup, chewing it thoughtfully before, finally, she spoke.

"When I first met the Empress, she came to test me," said Rarity slowly. "To determine if my magickal abilities were worth training. The Empress watched me for thirty minutes as I tried to move a small stick with sorcery, but I could not. My parents were humiliated, and with each passing moment, I could feel my stomach twisting more and more. Once it was clear that my magick would not be awakening any time soon, the exam was called off, and I broke into tears. The Empress, she approached me, and grabbed me by the hand. 'Your dress', she said. 'It's beautiful. Did you make it yourself?'. I told her I had, and she just smiled and nodded her head. She asked if I'd like to make her a dress as well, and of course I agreed. She kissed my hand and pointed to that stick. 'Move it'. At that moment… It felt like the easiest task I had ever been challenged with. My mana flowed, and I launched the stick across the room."

Rarity sighed, crossing one leg over the other as she finished her bread. She dabbed at her eye with her handkerchief, taking a moment to compose herself before carrying on. Twilight watched her from the corner of her eye, nibbling on her roll as the Chancellor opened up in a way that she hasn't ever before.

"That was one moment in my life. An important moment, of course, but just one moment," said Rarity. "One moment when the Empress propelled me to be more than I thought I could be. And while I devote my entire existence to the Empress, it would be foolish to say that I had nothing to do with it. You are responsible for who you've become, Sparkle."

The Chancellor pushed herself to her feet, gently patting Twilight on the shoulder. Another spell of quiet descended onto the two, before Rarity kissed the sun and departed from the potions cellar. It wasn't until she was gone did Twilight properly attend to her soup, sipping the warm broth down in the relative quiet. She sighed and, her hunger outweighing her paranoia, she grabbed up her bowl and sipped her soup directly from the wooden dish.

"I wonder if I have time for a nap…" murmured Twilight. She grabbed her water and took a sip, snorting to herself. "Thanks for lunch, Ms. Rarity, but would it have killed you to bring wine?"

"Sparkle!"

Twilight jumped out of her seat, immediately on high alert. Before she could even make a step for the exit, Chancellor Rarity came scrambling down the steps, a hysterical grin plastered across her features. She stopped halfway, eyes wide and body all but trembling with excitement.

"Rarity?" Twilight lowered her guard, but only just. "What's going—"

"She's waking up."

Twilight froze, her mouth hanging open halfway. It took her a moment to collect herself, but when she was all steady, Twilight took off. She jolted past Rarity, who followed close behind, and bounded her way up the steps. The two scrambled through the halls, scampering madly in pursuit of their mistress.

The handmaiden, being younger and generally more spry, made it to the door first, where a pair of Daybreakers stood in wait. They seemed more alert than in part weeks, as if aware of their mistress' return. They turned their masques to Rarity, letting out an unsavory, unsettling growl in the chancellor's direction. Ordinarily, Rarity was likely to complain about her treatment, but she seemed disinterested in such petty things at the moment. Instead, she pushed Twilight forward, nudging her to the door.

"Make certain she's okay," said Rarity. Twilight nodded, gripping the door handle, and turned one last time to the Chancellor. She kissed the sun in Rarity's direction before pulling open the door and stepping inside.

The door clicked shut behind her, and Twilight was overcome with emotion. Relief at seeing the Empress sitting up, looking off into the distance. Fear that the High Queen would be unhappy with her and how she had run the kingdom in her absence. All this and many other feelings that Twilight couldn't put into words. Instead of trying to, she simply cleared her throat to attract the Empress' attention. Celestia's gaze jerked towards the door, her expression alert, perhaps even on edge. When she saw who it was that was awaiting her, the Empress smiled, shaking her head and laughing almost without control.

"Is there something funny?" said Twilight nervously. Out of respect, Twilight removed the diadem from her head and gently deposited it onto the bust atop the Empress’ dresser. She had no claim to the crown any longer, for the true Queen had returned, at last.

"Funny? Not in the traditional sense," chuckled the Empress. "Only… I was not sure I would see you when I awoke."

"I would never be so busy as to miss your return."

"You misunderstand. It is… irrational. I knew that I would not be gone longer than a few weeks, and yet… I still feared the worst."

"Fear? What could you have left to fear?" Twilight took a step before stopping herself. Now was not the time for such things. "I should tell Chancellor Rarity that you are awake. She will want to see you."

"And what if I do not want to see her right now?"

"I… Well." Twilight smiled and bowed to her queen. "In that case, you will not see her."

"What if I only want to see you?” asked the Empress. Twilight nodded, and crossed the room until she was just beside the Empress. Celestia’s breathing seemed to increase, as if on edge, which was as surprising as it was unsettling. For as long as Twilight had known the Empress, it was very rare for her to get flustered. And yet, here she was, all but blushing as her generous chest heaved with excitement. “And… What if I want to see… More of you.”

It was simple to say no. Celestia had made it clear that she respected Twilight’s wishes and would not force her to do these sorts of things if she did not want to. It seemed that even the High Queen of all of Equestria respected the powerful matters of the heart. And yet, Twilight did not refuse. She tried to rationalize it, to convince herself that she was just taken aback by the sudden request, that her heart still belonged to Pinkie. Even still, what was irrefutable was that it had been quite a while since Twilight had felt close to anyone, since she had been physical and intimate. She was lonely, unfulfilled, untouched since that night of hell a year or so previously. Twilight didn’t want this. Twilight needed this.

With a slow, steady hand, Twilight reached to her shoulder and pushed aside the strap to her gown. She slid her arm out, staring the Empress down as she freed the other arm. Celestia’s breath hitched and, with a small smirk at the level of power she suddenly possessed over the most powerful woman in existence, Twilight let her silk dress fall to the ground. With a snap of her fingers, Twilight undid the clasps of her simple brassiere, dropping the garment to the floor atop her dress and presenting her soft, perky breasts. Celestia’s nostrils flared, like a beast preparing for her kill, and gave the nod for Twilight to continue; The handmaiden grabbed her plain white panties and slowly slid them down the length of her slender legs, stepping out of her undergarments and standing before the Empress of Equestria entirely nude, for the very first time.

“In that case, you will see as much of me as you desire,” said Twilight. Celestia sat up straighter, allowing her sheets to drop and bare her own ample chest. She reached forward and, with physical strength betraying her elegant, womanly figure, groped Twilight’s breast. Though powerful, there was an undeniable tenderness to her grip.

"And what if…" The Empress' voice was low and husky, more akin to a growl than proper speech. "What if I want to do more to your body than simply admire its beauty?"

Twilight gently pried the Empress' hand from her breast and bowed in her direction before turning to the door. She slowly marched across the room and grabbed the doorhandle, flashed the Empress a warm grin, and cracked the door open. She hid a majority of her body behind the grand oak door to preserve her modesty and peeked out into the corridor. Rarity seemed concerned, clearly not having taken her eye off of the door since Twilight had entered the Empress' chambers.

"Sparkle?" asked the chancellor. "Is everything—"

"The Empress is well. A bit lethargic and in need of more rest," explained Twilight. She shimmied behind the door a bit more completely as Rarity leaned in, desperate for a peek at her Empress. "She says she does not want any visitors at this time."

"No visitors? But you…"

"I am the sole exception, according to her. I'll take good care of her."

Twilight shut the door before Rarity could properly respond, deciding she'd deal with the chancellor's indignation at a later date. She simply stood there, waiting for the recession of Rarity's footsteps. When Twilight was sure she heard the clicking of Rarity's heels disappear, she stood up a bit straighter and swallowed her heart back down before addressing the High Queen.

"In that case…Take me to do as you wish," breathed Twilight. "Take me, Celestia."

An otherworldly force grabbed Twilight around the middle and lifted her nearly a foot off of the ground. The Empress' magick held her tightly before dragging her across the room, dropping her onto the High Queen's bed. And, in a flash, the Empress descended upon her. Celestia kissed her deeply, enforcing her will down onto her handmaiden. Twilight had no response or rebuttal, nothing for her to do except be kissed by her mistress, nothing but melt into her powerful grasp.

Celestia moved her attention from Twilight's lips to her tender pink nipple, suckling her breast with enough force to make the handmaiden moan. Celestia laughed at the sound, like music to her ears, and changed the tune with a sharp, firm bite. Twilight shrieked, jerking away from the Empress and holding her chest. Her breathing turned ragged at the sight of the angry red bite mark on her breast.

"Y-you bit me," gasped Twilight. Celestia smiled, then ever-so-gently placed a kiss on the spot that her teeth had sunk into Twilight's flesh.

"I did," said the Empress. "Did you enjoy it?"

"It hurt like three hells."

"That is not the question I asked, my dear." Celestia kissed Twilight's other breast, feeling the handmaiden tense as she brought her teeth near her tender flesh. "If I do something that you do not enjoy, Twilight Sparkle, please let me know. I will not repeat those actions."

"No, no. I was just… startled, I suppose," breathed Twilight. The bite had taken her by surprise, but to say the sensation was wholly painful would be a lie. "You're very… intense."

"I have waited so long to have you, Twilight Sparkle," breathed the Empress. She brought her lips forward and pressed a kiss on Twilight's neck. "So forgive me if I appear a bit… insatiable."

"If I cannot satisfy you, then I am failing to do my job." Twilight pulled away and slid down the Empress' body, planting kisses down from Celestia's breast to her belly to her pelvis. "I will make you wait no longer, your Greatness."

Twilight kissed between the Empress' legs, using her tongue to slither into Celestia's folds. Celestia moaned at Twilight's ministrations, quivering slightly with each flick of the handmaiden's tongue. Twilight herself merely smirked, chuckling as she worked. For a woman with such a reputation for harsh cruelty and savage power, she certainly reacted to pleasure the same as any warm-blooded woman. Furthermore, the Empress tasted so sweet, a saccharine flavor that coated Twilight's tongue as she explored her mistress with it. After giving it some thought, Twilight realized the taste was reminiscent of honeysuckle.

Powerful limbs wrapped around Twilight's head, pulling the handmaiden closer and closer to the sun itself. The Empress moaned a powerful, melodic moan, her body trembling and tensing from Twilight's dexterous tongue and soft, gentle lips. Her moans grew louder, more uneven, reaching a fever pitch when Twilight Sparkle, once a filthy slave and now a noble mage, licked the Goddess of Equestria to climax. She smirked to herself as she retreated, no doubt to give her partner a brief reprieve, although no such thing was necessary; As soon as Twilight began to pull away, Celestia grabbed her tightly and turned her over onto her back, looming above the handmaiden and forcing herself down onto Twilight's eagerly obedient tongue.

"I do not recall giving you permission to stop," growled the Empress. "You spoke of satisfying me. I hope you intend to follow through in those claims."

As if rising to the challenge, Twilight set her tongue back to work, reaching up and grabbing the Empress' wide hips tightly. She could feel the Empress' warmth beat down on her, her weight bearing down onto Twilight as her curvy, sensual body trembled with pleasure. There was no escaping Celestia's divine essence, her scent and her taste forcing themselves onto Twilight from above. Perhaps surprisingly, Twilight sought no such escape. There was a strange amount of fulfilment and enjoyment to being beneath the High Queen, in the most literal sense possible. Everything from her floral scent, to the gentle pressure Celestia exercised as she pushed her nethers down forcefully against Twilight’s mouth, to the melodic, shuddering, almost desperate moans of the Empress, sent a shiver down Twilight’s spine and a blossoming warmth in her very core.

“Good girl… Good girl…” Empress Celestia rocked her hips, bouncing on Twilight’s tongue as yet another orgasm descended upon her. She doubled over, her pelvis quivering as she gripped Twilight by the hair and held her still, enforcing the echoing waves of her climax onto her loyal handmaiden. Even as she came, the Empress still remained powerful, imposing her power onto her servant, her lover, her handmaiden. Celestia let out a tired, contented, satisfied breath before rolling herself off of Twilight’s face and laying flat on her back. Twilight glanced over to her mistress, watching the gentle rise and fall of Celestia’s ample chest as she took in deep, ragged breaths.

“Good girl…” repeated the Empress. She reached over and stroked a hand through Twilight’s hair, smirking with a glowing satisfaction. “I needed that dearly. I am a bit embarrassed to admit it but… It has been a very long time, indeed.”

“Hm? Why so long?” Twilight sat up and attempted to reposition herself to face the Empress; Instead, Celestia grabbed her by the arm and pulled her close, holding the handmaiden close to her bosom. “You’re stunning, not to mention the Empress of all of Equestria. Surely you would have no trouble filling your bed.”

“I am incredibly picky. Not just anyone is good enough to pleasure me.” Celestia shared a laugh with her lover, and she idly groped Twilight’s comparatively smaller breast in her left hand as they lounged in bed. “Aside from that, do you have any idea how many dalcops I’d need to execute for running their mouths, bragging to their friends that they ploughed the Empress?”

“I suppose you have a point.” Twilight hummed at the slightly electric sensation of Celestia’s elegant fingers against her nipple. “If you do not mind my asking… How long has it been, exactly?”

“I’ve not exactly kept count of the days since I was last fucked,” said Celestia, though her smirk never faded. “I can say for certainty that it was not since my last handmaiden. Long before you were even born.”

“Do you only have sex with your handmaidens?”

“These days, it’s a necessity. Who else can I trust?” Celestia sat up slightly, releasing her grasp on Twilight’s tit. “Up for a moment. I need to fetch something.”

“I can get it for you, Empress, just—”

“I have not used my legs for some weeks, but I am certain that they still function as they once did.” The Empress slid out of bed, pulling herself to her feet. Though her claim seemed sound, she did stumble ever so slightly as she took a vertical base, though she recovered quite gracefully. “Do not go anywhere. I will return shortly.”

With little more fanfare, the Empress slowly trodded her way to her washroom, leaving Twilight alone with her thoughts. She could scarcely believe what had transpired. She had always been told that the handmaiden’s duties included those many would consider “wifely”, but she never truly believed that she would be called on to perform such acts. It dawned on Twilight that she should feel regret, disgust in herself. She had sworn her body to another, and with just just a bit of convincing, she betrayed that oath.

No, Twilight knew that it would be unfair to blame her. So much stress, so much fear, to expect anyone to shoulder such a burden alone would be preposterous. Twilight knew in her heart that she loved Pinkie, more than life itself. Indeed, this was all for Pinkie, in the end. She did all she did, pleased the Empress however she could, all to ensure Pinkie’s eventual freedom. This, the sticky, sweet nectar that clung to her chin and tongue, that was just a part of her duties. Taking pleasure in her work was acceptable. Twilight knew that Pinkie would agree.

“Are you ready, Twilight Sparkle?” The Empress’ voice jostled Twilight from her musings, and she jerked upright in bed curiously. Celestia carried nothing in her hands, but in the grasp of her sorcery she toted a small wooden bucket of steaming water, a clean rag, and a basket containing various bottles of coloured liquids and a single, pristine razor.

“Ready? Whatever for?” asked Twilight. She squeezed her legs together, watching anxiously as the Empress approached. “Does her Greatness demand more satisfaction?”

“Hm. Perhaps soon, but for now… I do not fancy the idea of being a selfish lover. If I am to feel pleasure, then it is only fair that you should, as well.”

“And the basket?”

“You cleaned up into quite the lady, but there’s one area in which your grooming has been subpar.” The Empress pointed down, between Twilight’s legs. The handmaiden blushed, glancing down and quickly covering the offending area of her body with her hands. She began to apologize, stopping with a wave from Celestia’s hand. “It is not anything to be ashamed of. You had no way of knowing I desired this of you. That said, if you are to be sharing my bed… You cannot do so looking like some untamed creature.”

“I-I see… Well, Empress, I… You see, I’ve never… Shaved down there…” gulped Twilight. “Or anywhere, for that matter. I don’t exactly know how…”

Celestia nodded, as if she had expected such a response, and she set her bucket onto the floor, her basket on the bed beside Twilight. She sat between her handmaiden and her basket, quickly submerging the rag in water. With a gentle, coaxing touch, Celestia spread Twilight’s legs and washed between her legs with warm water. Next, Celestia produced a bottle containing some pink potion, a dollop of which Celestia poured onto the unwanted hair on Twilight’s body. The thick liquid frothed and foamed on contact with the hair, and it brought with it a warm, tingling sensation that seemed to be growing uncomfortably intense with time.

“Er… Empress?” Twilight fidgeted in place, her legs twitching in discomfort. “Is it meant to burn?”

“That is expected, yes. The burning is simply the potion working its way to your skin, to prevent the hair from growing back when we do not want it to,” explained Celestia. She brought her razor forward and slowly swiped it through Twilight’s hair. “Do not move. I do not wish to cut you.”

“Did you do this for your last handmaiden?” asked Twilight, her jaw clenched ever so slightly. The Empress hummed curiously as she worked, removing another swath of hair from Twilight’s nethers.

“Hm? My last handmaiden was a noble woman, and so she was prepared for—”

“I meant the other thing. How you said you would return the favor?”

“Ah. As I said, I find it poor manners to not reciprocate pleasure, if possible. Surely I rewarded her performance in the past.” Celestia hummed to herself as Twilight tensed, chuckling darkly to herself. “Is that not the answer you desired?”

“I did not desire any one answer for another,” said Twilight, thoroughly unconvincingly. “I just fancied the idea that perhaps this may have been… Special.”

“Worry not, Twilight Sparkle. All of this, you especially… Plenty special, in my opinion.” There was a knock on the door, just as Celestia cleaved the last few fibers from Twilight’s body. She sighed as the knocking continued, and so Celestia quickly wiped away the remaining pink suds with her rag before gesturing to the door. “Perhaps you should see to that?”

“Of course, m’lady.” Twilight jumped up, glancing down at her newly smooth mound and smirked, the strange sensation of wind against her bare skin oddly enjoyable, then quickly redressed herself. After a brief bow to the Empress, Twilight all but skipped to the door, pulling it open slightly to see who dared disturb the High Queen. Naturally, it could be but one person who would do such a thing.

“Sparkle? What is going on?” demanded Chancellor Rarity, just barely containing the fear and concern on her features. “The Empress, is she okay? You’ve been in there a while, and… What in three hells is on your face?”

“The Empress is fine,” said Twilight, quickly turning and wiping the evidence of Celestia’s pleasure from her chin. “You really needn’t worry, she’s just—”

“Famished, positively famished.” The Empress slid into view behind Twilight, stooping down and using the handmaiden’s body to hide her own nudity. “Hello, Rarity. I assure you, I am more than fine.“

“Oh, thank the Goddess, Empress Celestia!” Rarity bowed, all but prostrating to the High Queen. “I was so terribly worried, I thought… Well, I’m not certain what I thought, but I am so very relieved to know you’ve awakened safely, I—”

“In case you haven’t noticed, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle was just helping me out of the bath. If I am to be mingling with my underlings, I’d prefer to do so in a silk robe, at the very least,” said Celestia. “Twilight Sparkle is going to assist me as I get dressed. In the meantime… That comment about being hungry was not meant to be taken in jest. Oversee the kitchen and ensure they put together a feast appropriate of my return. Tell them to cook until they’ve run out of hens to roast and fish to fry. I will send Twilight Sparkle to alert you when I am ready to eat. Oh, and blueberry tarts. Ensure there are plenty awaiting me.”

“Yes, your Greatness! Right away!”

Rarity ran as fast as her legs could carry her, eager, desperate to obey her Empress’ commands. Celestia sighed, shaking her head at the display before rising upright and closing the door with a wave of magick. The Empress cracked her neck and stretched out her arms and legs before slowly returning to her bed. She crossed one smooth, slender leg over the other, putting on a grin that one would expect of a predator to their prey.

“Truly, I am beyond famished. I desire a snack.” The Empress narrowed her gaze on Twilight, who’s face lit up like a bonfire upon the High Queen’s beautiful magenta eyes passing over her. “You should do nicely.”

Twilight could do nothing but smile at those words, and she slowly slid her arm from her dress as she approached the insatiable ruler of the lands.

“I only hope you find this snack to be satisfying, m’lady.”