The look on Sunset’s face was, more or less, what Twilight had expected to see in the wake of the news. The crimson-and-gold haired woman that peered at her from the computer screen before her could only recoil, mouth agape and looking absolutely appalled.

“She disowned you?” Sunset echoed, the revelation so absurdly horrid that it had to be repeated to even be truly believed. “Your mother actually disowned you?”

“Yeah. According to my Grandpa, she’s thrown out all my photos and anything of mine that was still at the house,” Twilight added, her voice little better than a dull, flat monotone. “Even that old doll of mine that was a family heirloom- all in the trash.”

“That is- Twilight- unbelievable,” Sunset murmured. It was a rare occurrence for the fiery woman to be at a loss for words, especially when her tongue had the predilection to raucous language. The sheer shock of the conversation had stunted her vocabulary. “Twilight, I am so sorry. I don’t know what else I can say- I am so sorry.”

“Yeah.” Ever since she had returned home, Twilight had felt flat. Too tired to spare emotion or had become overwhelmed, she couldn’t tell the difference. It only felt like the world had been burned black and she now living in the midst of the wreckage.

“How’s- how’s Cadance taking all of this?” Sunset asked. “It must have been brutal for the both of you, if she’s who set your mother off.”

“I don’t know,” Twilight answered baldly.

That made Sunset pause. “What do you mean you don’t know? Haven’t you talked to her about this?”

“We haven’t said much to each other since we got back,” Twilight reported, the response eliciting a grunt of disbelief from her friend on the other end of the line. “There’s nothing to say.”

“Nothing to- Twilight, you’re literally an understudy for a psychiatrist right now. You know how big a deal communication is, how have you not talked about this?” Sunset demanded to know. “Cadance probably wants to hear from you, you know that- right?”

“There’s nothing to say,” Twilight repeated, her voice not even rising to match Sunset’s growing emotions. “It’s just what is.”

Sunset looked very keen on arguing that point right then and there, but an intake of breath seemed to help her think better of it for the time being. “OK, fine. Another time… Twilight, are you gonna be- I dunno, coherent? You know, not permanently crushed or something?”

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie, OK? Please tell me you’re not saying that sort of crap to Cadance.”

“We’re not saying anything,” Twilight said.

Sunset was trying her best, searching hard for some solution or word of comfort that could be said to make this better, to try and stop the wound from continuing to bleed. “Is… Twi, is there anything we can do to help?” she asked. “Want Pinkie’s family to adopt you- we become in-laws?”

“I’m fine.”

“Liar.”

“I gotta go, Sunset,” Twilight replied.

“Liar again,” Sunset countered. “But I’ll let you go. Let me know if you need anything, alright? Please?”

“OK. Bye.”

“Take care, Twilight,” Sunset replied, giving a single, sad smile before her face disappeared in a void of black as the video chat ended.

And the absence of conversation let the void within Twilight’s mind return to its voracious hunger, the beastly thing no longer distracted by word and thought that required focus. Twilight sighed, looking around her small office; technically, she wasn’t supposed to have one. Principal Celestia had renovated a small storage area into a place of privacy for her when she had taken the position, and it was a welcome thing- especially now, when she so desperately wanted to be alone. Like she would always be, from here on out.

Shining Armor had actually called her first before she could present the news to him, demanding to know what had caused his mother to command he cut off contact from his only sibling. She’d tried to explain it as best she could, but felt limited in what knowledge she could divulge; anger had burned bright when she had been confronted by her mother, but now that she was detached from it… to share such a humiliating secret regarding a parent seemed cruel. Besides, what had come the very next day had left no innocence. Shining had been sympathetic when listening to his sister’s explanations, but could offer no remedy- he had seen the dysfunction their parents could conjure far earlier on and had wisely departed to far corners of the world in search of a better life.

Her father had been of little use, though she had been more honest with him as to the intricacies of the heated conversation. Too embittered by the divorce and the unhappy years he had spent alongside Velvet had turned him into a poor listener, and more eager to give air to his own grievances. Was it news that put Twilight Velvet in a bad light? Good, and here were ten more stories that would smear her name. Twilight had regretted the phone call almost from the moment it had begun, and tried to find a way to end it. A quick question as to where he was now had done that well enough.

Sunset had been a good person to talk to about it, one of the few who might understand what Twilight was now enduring. It wasn’t as though Sunset truly had any connection to her old friends, family- any of her old life at all. She’d been sympathetic, helping to soothe the dulled ache that had settled on her chest like an iron weight. Sunset, the only one of that old friend group who had been her intellectual equal, had told her everything she’d wanted to hear- and needed to hear, too. Even though she hadn’t liked it.

Talk to Cadance. Of course that was her most critical, most unwelcome piece of advice. It wasn’t as though Twilight hadn’t thought of that herself or anything- she just couldn’t bear the conversation that would come. Cadance would be warm, sympathetic, infinitely kind and caring. She’d be there for Twilight in a way no one else could be, and the loss of blood lineage would only spur her love for Twilight to deeper depths. It would be so wonderfully welcome, and so thoroughly undeserved.

The beautiful face of that marvelous woman shone in memories that played across her mind and she felt a new twist of the knife. The whole trip had been a horrible, horrible idea. Twilight should never have let Cadance convince her it would work, that Velvet would be as forgiving as Cadance would be to her. And who had paid the highest price for it all, the hope and thought that bridges could be mended? Cadance. Poor, sweet, beautiful Cadance, absolutely raked over the coals and humiliated for nothing more than being present- yes, the venom Velvet held for her had genuine merit, but that was a different Cadance, a different life! If her mother could be freed from her alcoholism and grow, couldn’t the woman Twilight loved find help and healing? She was older than Twilight, yes- more sensuous, more desiring of physical affection. But none of those made her bad, they were what made her so appealing to Twilight in the first place! That old fear of a boring life, of growing old… it had been tossed to the wayside so Twilight could have room in the gorgeous woman’s heart. She made Twilight feel so safe, and Twilight’s repayment of that love had been to see her crucified.

What a wretched girlfriend she was. Twilight could take her mother’s abuse, she could endure her grandmother’s scorn. But they had clawed and belittled the one thing, the one person that she held more dearly than anything on earth. Cadance was the one who would always giver her butterflies, set her blood afire, would always be the one for which she longed- and it had been Twilight’s fault that she had even been in that situation at all. Damn you.

A vibration across the table, emanating from her cell phone. She was needed, work was to be done. With a sigh and an attitude that wanted no part of it, Twilight Sparkle the Motherless rose from her chair in the midst of a makeshift office and continued her façade of a normal life.

No one at Canterlot High was happy in the last weeks of the school semester. Christmas coming on the horizon seemed all too far away, especially in the tail end of November that had yet to be completed. Fights were common, and so were breakdowns under the pressure of exams. Twilight was being kept busy, and she was grateful for it. It was hard to mourn the loss when you had no mental capacity to focus on it. Every argument she had to help defuse, every student who believed they couldn’t succeed were all welcome distractions. She would relish them if she had the feelings to spare.

When Twilight returned home, she was disappointed to see Cadance’s car already in the garage. Had she left early specifically to be here for Twilight when she arrived home herself? Now she stared at the door with apprehension; to go inside would be to deal with the person she had helped wound.

“Twilight! You look practically frozen,” Cadance said, wearing a cream-colored sweater and sweat pants as she walked over to greet her girlfriend. “Come here, let me grab your things for you.”

Twilight braced for the unwelcome greeting and could not bring herself to meet it in equal measure; Cadance’s kiss of greeting may as well have been granted to a corpse. “You’re home early,” she said.

“Yeah, I know. Mean to do when exams are coming up, right?” Cadance replied, ridding Twilight of her scarf and hanging it gently in the nearby coat closet. “I wasn’t feeling all that well again and decided to head on home, so I’ve got some soup working in the kitchen. I figured we could both use something hot.”

“Thanks, Cadance,” Twilight said, slipping off her shoes and making to the stairs.

“Hey, Twi- wait a minute,” Cadance protested, holding Twilight by the hand and trying to pull her back for an embrace. “Are you OK, was work rough today? You look exhausted.”

“I’m fine, Cadance,” Twilight said.

“You’re sure?” Cadance pressed, trying to remain upbeat. “You look like you haven’t been sleeping much.”

“I’m fine, Cadance,” Twilight said, freeing herself from her girlfriend’s grasp and turning back to the stairs, not daring to look back. She knew she was being hurtful, but it wasn’t as though that were anything new.

Dinner was a genuine attempt by the older woman to try and revive Twilight’s spirit, Cadance’s skills in the kitchen never something one could scoff at. The chicken soup was wonderfully hot and the broth flavorfully rich. The company was also wonderful, Cadance bright-eyed and all smiles as she tried to prod Twilight into life once again. Every word spoken from the beautiful angel’s mouth was said in kindness, born from love that was so freely given. It was an earnest attempt, and would have worked on anyone else. Twilight Sparkle, however, had no heart for it. Every word she tried to speak seemed to be like a weight in her throat, too heavy to push up and out- yet each word left unsaid only added to her growing guilt, which made it all the more difficult to speak. Useless. Absolutely useless. She doesn’t deserve this, having to deal with your bullcrap.

“Twi?” Cadance asked softly as she took her plate to the sink, pausing beside her young companion. “Are you gonna finish yours, or..?”

“I’m good, Cadance,” Twilight said, watching with an unhappy stomach as the half-finished bowl was taken away and tossed aside. Another jab of guilt: Cadance had worked hard on that meal, made it for the both of them.

The shower helped accelerate the realm of thought, but Twilight still came to no conclusion, no sum of her troubles. She felt cursed, beset by a spirit that held to her mind with its tight, serpentine coils. When she sat in her bed to read, she couldn’t concentrate and all the words passed by before her without one of them being recognized. Then she felt the soft, tender touch of Cadance’s hand coming across her body to caress and care, the silken smoothness of her nightwear that was so easy to toss aside-

Twilight gave a small shake and Cadance’s grip disappeared. “Not tonight, Cadance,” Twilight said dully. “I’m not feeling it.”

“Of course. It’s fine, Twilight,” Cadance replied, not an ounce of bitterness or sarcasm in her words, but instead a soft sympathy. “I’m… right here if you need anything, OK?”

“OK.” Twilight flipped off her light and turned in the hopes of finding sleep, but knew it would be a long time before it came- if at all.

“I’m sorry if I’m being quick about everything, Twily. Your mother’s been prone to screaming enough this past week enough, if she catches me talking to you-”

“It’s fine, Grandpa,” Twilight replied, more guilt being piled upon her shoulders. She had been a burden to him as well, another person whose life had been made worse by her choices. “I can let you go, if you want.”

“It’s fine, little one. Don’t worry about me, I’m far meaner than she is,” Warrior said. “I saved what I could from the trash, but I’m afraid it isn’t much. I have the neighbors holding onto it right now, as soon as I get the chance to send it along to you, I will.”

“Grandpa, none of it is really all that important,” Twilight said. “You don’t have to go to all that effort for me.”

“I don’t have to do anything, Twily. But you’re still my granddaughter, so I will,” Warrior countered. “I do what I want for those I love.”

“… Fine, Grandpa. Thank you,” Twilight said at last, relenting to his wishes.

“You’re very welcome,” Warrior said. “I’ve got to be off, but I’ll keep you updated. Your mother may not stay angry forever.”

“Mhm.”

“Tell Cadance I said hello, will you?”

“Mhm.”

Warrior seemed to make to end the call, but gave a small sigh before adding, “Don’t let them rob you of her, too.” And then silence.

Another relationship that had been ruined by her foolishness. The single person in the entire family that had loved her unconditionally. Her Grandpa, the best man she’d ever known- now speaking to her as though screaming his words from the other side of an impassable canyon. Any defense he’d produce on her behalf would bring him further hurt, even from his own wife- her grandmother, who now hated her. Saw her as something ruined.

Twilight left the house not long after, retreating again to her miniscule office and trying to tend to what work needed to be done. There would be plenty, if last week was any indicator. Tirades and tears, wearied spirits and bruised egos that fed into the fire. Plenty of misery that would not be of her own making.

The knock at the door came unexpectedly. If anyone had ever needed her, they’d always made sure to call first. Who on earth was coming to speak to her in person?

She’d have to find out. “Come in,” she called, that miserable monotone still holding tight to her emotions. This was not to be a pleasant experience. Likely some young freshman who’d never had exams this difficult, or someone who’d just been broken up with-

“I hope you don’t mind,” Principal Celestia said as she slid through the door and closed it quietly behind her. “I’m not intruding on anything, am I?”

The Princ- her boss! Twilight scrambled, rising from her seat and offering what little she had to her unanticipated guest-

Principal Celestia raised a hand in resistance, trying to bring the young woman to a halt. “Twilight, it’s quite alright,” the older woman said gently, motherly instinct on alert for what could be tended to. “I merely wanted to see how you were doing. Dr. Mendel mentioned that you seemed a bit distracted for a while now. He was beginning to worry.”

Oh. Right. More intrusion, unwanted and unnecessary. Twilight exhaled and held her guest’s gaze steady. “I’m fine,” she said. “Sorry I don’t have anything to offer. My coffee pot broke on Monday, I’ve been meaning to get a new one.”

“Really Twilight, I promise it’s all fine,” Celestia replied. She took a light seat on the table and slowly shut the nearby laptop closed so as to silence any potential distractions it could bring forth. “You don’t like people to worry about you, do you?”

So it was to be that kind of conversation. “What makes you say that?”

“A few things. Including the fact that you’ve been upset for several days now and have yet to tell anyone what’s on your mind,” Celestia said. She brought up the subject so casually, keeping the mood of the cramped room light. “I hope you know that it’s perfectly alright to have a bad day. Even a bad few days, if it comes to that.”

“I know,” Twilight said. She didn’t admit it, but there was a flicker of irritation. This didn’t need to happen.

“So, I hope you feel comfortable with telling me what’s going on to keep you so upset. I was hoping I might be able to help you work through it, since it seems to have such a hold on you.”

“I’m fine,” Twilight answered- this time, her blank voice was kept intentionally flat in the hopes of hiding her irritation.

Celestia smiled, resting her chin in her hands as she regarded her young employee. “And you’re sure anyone who saw this would believe you?” she inquired.

“Does it matter?” Twilight asked, politeness now thrown out the window; her tone was less than kind.

“Your feelings matter to many people, if you must be reminded of it.” Celestia’s expression was that ever-present measure of tranquility and compassion, infused by genuine warmth. “You are my friend. You are Luna’s friend. You’re friend to Sunset and Pinkie, and much more than a friend to Cadance. And right now, you have us all wondering why you’ve kept this all to yourself when any one of us would have gladly come to help you.”

Now shame was intermingled with the frustration, Twilight struggling to find the words with which to speak. “I- Celestia, I just- I don’t… oh, damn it all.”

“Don’t what?”

“I don’t- deserve it,” Twilight managed to say.

“What do you not deserve?”

“Help. Or sympathy. Especially from Cadance,” Twilight finally admitted. Like a stone stuck in her throat, a sickness that had begged to be released from her stomach, it was now out in the open. “This was all my fault.”

Celestia sighed, not out of pity or anger. “Cadance called me the other day,” she said. “She didn’t give details, but… she told me enough about what had happened. What your mother did to you… Twilight, I am so sorry. Cadance called to ask me what she could to do help you, but I’m not sure what I could tell her.”

“It doesn’t matter-”

“Yes, it absolutely does matter. Your feelings on this matter.”

“No, they don’t!” Twilight said hotly. “Because it’s all my fault that it happened in the first place! They just- they blamed Cadance for everything! That’s not fair, it’s not some- it all happened because of me!” The young woman moaned in her misery and slumped over in her chair, looking down at the floor in the hopes it would swallow her whole. “Why did I think it would actually work? That going up there was even a good idea?”

“Because you believed people would choose to do the kind thing,” Celestia said. “And just because they didn’t does not make you wrong. The words they chose to say, what Velvet chose to do- not one moment of it is your fault. Do you understand me?”

“But I took Cadance up there!” Twilight tried to explain, “I thought that it might actually work out, and- now look what happened!”

“I know. And Twilight, I’m sure it hurts,” Celestia said. “But don’t hurt yourself because of what others chose to do. Let the people who love you be there for you when it really, really hurts. They want to be- and never mind what is ‘deserved’ or not,” she added, noting Twilight’s inclination to protest. “Now, I’m going to let you go for the day-”

“What? But I’m fine!” Twilight cried-

“And you’re going to get some rest. You’re clearly exhausted and you’ve had a rough holiday season. You need rest, and you need to let your girlfriend help you with that. Come back tomorrow afternoon unless otherwise requested, am I clear?” Celestia’s appearance was still warm, friendly as it always seemed to be- but to mistake the forceful authority in her voice or the intensity in her burning gaze would have been impossible. The order was not something to lightly disregard.

“Yes, ma’am,” Twilight muttered, albeit with a scowl. She could have easily continued to argue against this, yet she rose from her chair and made to the exit- only to be momentarily halted by a quick, tender hug from the caring principal, holding the dejected, frustrated woman as though she were her own unruly child.

“I’m truly sorry, Twilight,” Celestia whispered, and her voice gave suggestion to the presence of tears. “Velvet’s wrong- I hope you know that.”

Twilight felt a stinging in her eyes and tried to ignore it. She felt exhausted.

The empty house was darkened and left dull when Twilight arrived, she throwing her things aside and stripping down to her underthings before slithering beneath the unmade bedsheets. To her great surprise, it took her only a short time to fall asleep; when she awoke about an hour later, her mind was fuzzy and dim. She could have gone longer.

She took to some small tasks around the house. Laundry needed to be washed; dishes were put back in the cupboards; the bathroom trashcan was emptied into the large wastebin in the garage. After she had done the usual chores, Twilight felt another wave of sleepiness invade her being, and the collapse on the couch helped her drift quickly away to another bout of needed slumber.

The sound of footsteps on hardwood made her awaken again, albeit far more peacefully. Her eyes opening to dim light that poured down from the ceiling above, she twisted about from her place on the couch to see what the source of the sound was and found Cadance gently putting her things atop the dining room table. “Hey,” she croaked.

“Hey! Sorry, did I wake you?” Cadance said hurriedly, coming over to Twilight’s place on the couch and kissing her check, surprised when the young woman did not recoil from the affection. “I was trying to be quiet and I guess I messed up.”

“You’re fine, Cadance,” Twilight said thickly, sitting up on the couch as she tried to rub away the sleep from her eyes. “It’s probably best I woke up, anyway, or else I wouldn’t be able to sleep through the night.”

“Still, I’m sorry. You looked like you could’ve done with a few more hours, honestly,” Cadance said. “OK if I sit down?”

“Yeah. Sure,” Twilight said. She tossed her blanket aside and made room for her girlfriend, the two woman sitting beside one another yet with enough buffer space in between them to remain separate. Twilight could feel the surface tension of that space, its pushing and prodding against her form either a result of her own movement or the eager itchings of Cadance.

“Twilight?” Cadance’s tone was tentative, almost fearful. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” Twilight said. Her tone was no longer the flat, dull sound that echoed from the rocks, though not yet filled with the life she so thoroughly possessed.

“Are-” Cadance was struggling already, trying to keep tears from choking her words to death. “Are you mad at me? I know what happened at your mother’s place was because of me.”

“What?” The mere suggestion of it was beyond shocking; the idea that Cadance believed it to be her responsibility was the last thing Twilight had expected to hear.

“I’d- well, manipulated her. And used you to hurt her,” Cadance said weakly, the tears now falling along her beautiful face and staining through her makeup. “So of course it’s my fault. I’m just sorry that it hurt you-

“What? Cadance, no!” Twilight cried, horrified that such a sweet, caring woman would dare to think such a thing. She broke the tension space and held Cadance’s hands tightly, trying to give pressure to the feeling. “Cadance, I should have stopped it, I- could’ve talked my Mom down but I didn’t and made it worse, and- and they blamed you for everything like you’d done something wrong! It was always my fault, ever since I kissed you in your office and- and-” the willfull voice of Twilight broke, strangled as the violent wave of vicious emotion turned to strike down her riled spirit that had been made vulnerable through sleep. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything because she was absolutely worthless-!

“Twilight, you will not blame yourself for this. Not once did you ever, ever do anything wrong!” Cadance said fiercely. “What your mother did to you –what I did- are not because of anything you did wrong. Don’t you ever believe anything else! I love you too much to think otherwise. So please, just- just… I’m sorry. I wish I could change everything.”

The argument could have gone one forever. Twilight hated the thought of Cadance taking the blame for what had transpired, that all the hurtful words Velvet had said were something she deserved; Cadance, in perfect balance, refused to let Twilight know an ounce of guilt for trying to mend burnt bridges. Instead of an endless back-and-forth, the two simply became overwhelmed and wept together, the misery of past transgressions and current pains more than what they knew to bear alone. The hurt did not lessen as they sat there on the couch together but instead became all the more raw and vicious, burning until it seemed that grief would be too difficult to endure. Yet, as they allowed the fury of its wrath to burn all the way through, in its wake came a small sense of comfort that came in the form of the comforting touch and love of the other, not yet enough to bring peace and resolution to the tribulation, but –for now- to dull its edges.

And for Twilight, that was more than she could have hoped for.

Some days still felt dull and dreary. It would not ever again be the same, of that Twilight was certain. But the more she reached out for comfort, the more she was to find it. Celestia and Luna treated her as though she were their eldest child; Sunset and Pinkie were like the sisters she had never known. And Cadance…

Twilight saw the movement in the bathroom and she turned from her place at the dresser to take notice; Cadance was readying herself for the day, a small razor combing delicately at her flawless skin as she sat there on the side of the bathtub. It was a normal part of routine, an unremarkable event of morning preparations that go so easily unnoticed when looked upon in hindsight. But that small movement that had caught Twilight’s eye now kept her transfixed, unable to be torn away from the fair form of Cadance- it would have been impossible to do otherwise. Soft skin that gleamed like polished gold when under light; delicate hands that begged to be held tightly; beautiful breasts that were only barely hidden beneath a simple bra; plump lips that needed to be kissed; lavender eyes that glowed like jewels…

“Hey, you!” Cadance said brightly, giving a wave when she found Twilight staring at her. “Something caught your eye?”

Twilight wanted to blush- but why should she? It wasn’t as though her attraction was a secret. Instead, she looked over at Cadance and decided she needed to do something in response. Cadance had been so bright, so steady a pillar for her ever since they had returned home. How could she have let it go unnoticed?

“Earth to Twilight! Wake up, silly!” Cadance teased, her lavender eyes twinkling with mischief. “You’ve gone too far down the rabbit hole and it’s not even eight in the morning.”

“Got stuck thinking about you, that’s all,” Twilight said, and glad to feel the genuine attitude behind it. “I can’t decide what about you is prettiest.”

Cadance giggled, rolling her eyes. “Oh, hush,” she said, though she was smiling through her redness.

“I want to say it’s the eyes,” Twilight continued now walking forward towards her admiring lover. “But I do love your breasts. The touch of your skin…”

“Oh, do you?” Cadance asked, amused and thoroughly pleased. “I wish you’d told me sooner, I never knew-”

“Or how much I love your lips,” Twilight whispered, leaning in so close that her balance was kept by a hand on Cadance’s thigh. “Because you let me kiss them-”

It didn’t matter who closed the gap, only that the softness of Cadance’s luscious lips were pressed happily against hers, not with the hesitancy that was born by reluctance, nor was it the slavish actions of overeager lust; this kiss was comfort and happiness, glad to be given- and that meant love.

Or maybe not. Twilight finished the first kiss, but her senses told her that she needed to grant another, this second gift of affection just as pleasantly met by Cadance’s desire for physical pleasure. Twilight’s hand left its place on Cadance’s leg and came upward to caress her cheek, a third kiss not even enough to satisfy the itch that was slowly being uncovered.

Cadance placed a hand on Twilight’s exposed breasts, giving one a gentle knead. The next kiss was more fervent, less gentle. The older woman leaned in deeper, trying to drink in more of Twilight’s kisses, the two women now being taken in by the sensuous outpouring-

“Mmm…” When Twilight retreated from Cadance’s touch, she was disappointed with herself. The moment had been going so well, the touch of Cadance’s lips more than welcome. Each breath she took was rather hurried, she feeling an intensity in her chest that the beautiful woman before her was clearly aware of, and more than happy to indulge.

“I missed you,” Cadance said sweetly, licking her lips in anticipation, “Mind if I let you know just how much?”

Twilight smiled and made to lean in- and her eyes caught the clock leaning against the mirror that read a quarter till eight. “Holy crap I’m late!” She shrieked, rushing back to the dresser and grabbing the first outfit she could put her hands on-

“Wait, Twilight!” Cadance protested, looking as though she’d been robbed. “Oh come on, babe, that’s not fair!”

Twilight didn’t even have time for a response. Haste drove her downstairs where she dressed in a rush, grabbing a quick cup of coffee before running out the door in the hopes that her absence wouldn’t be too deeply felt. It wasn’t until she had come to the hours of late morning and the pangs of hunger began their assault on her empty stomach in earnest did she find the capacity to recall the events of that morning. She, the one most dedicated to rigid structure and order, had left Cadance in her most aroused state. And worse, she’d left her unsatisfied- a terrible teasing that must have been hard for the affectionate woman to endure. Twilight wanted to make it up to her. Not just for her neurotic rush that morning, but the many days before. Cadance deserved something special in return for all the patience and unrequited love she’d been giving Twilight. It was only going to be a matter of what exactly she’d do that was the question. It needed to be a bit more off the beaten track, something unexpected that Cadance would want.

And when Twilight conjured up her idea, her worry was only if she had the talent to pull it off.

Frustratingly, Cadance had arrived home first. Twilight had wanted some prep time, a way to make her plan feel truly perfect. If Cadance was busy elsewhere in the house, she might still have a chance. Unfortunately, there was no sign of her downstairs when Twilight entered the darkened house, with only the bedroom light filtering down the stairs to give a clue as to her whereabouts. Twilight sighed; she had hoped to make her surprise the first thing Cadance would see when they met, and now it looked as though her plan of payback was not thoroughly shot. She trudged up the stairs in gloom and pushed aside the door to see Cadance resting atop the bed in only her underwear, her hand massaging her clit with fervor-

Lavender eyes met violet, bringing an immediate end to Cadance’s solitary pleasures. Neither of them moved from where they were, both women unsure of who held the right to break the spell.

“Hey,” Cadance said, appearing unusually flustered. “I… thought you’d be back later.”

Twilight’s mind was clocked into overdrive. She couldn’t believe it, of all things- she actually had a way to salvage her idea. Do not mess this up, she pleaded with herself. She let her eyes study Cadance intimately, looking upon that smooth skin that begged to be felt, following the stationary hand beneath panties that appeared already damp; the sight had its effect on Twilight brilliantly.

“Were you thinking about me when you were touching yourself, Cadance?” she asked, the trace of a grin on her face. She let her body be accented when she placed herself against the wall, highlighting the confident, capable figure she carried.

Cadance was not oblivious, more than aware of where this conversation was headed. “Well… maybe just a little,” she answered, at last extracting her hand from the depths of her folds. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Aw… you poor thing,” Twilight remarked, now walking towards the edge of the bed. “Did I leave you unsatisfied this morning?”

You just might have.”

“Could I make it up to you?”

Cadance positively beamed at the question. “Only if you give me your best,” she answered, reaching back down to tear her dampened panties away-

“Not yet,” Twilight said teasingly, raising a hand in protest. “Let me do that… in time.”

It was not the best sort of clothing for what she wanted to do, nor were the actions something she would normally undertake. This was Cadance’s realm, her means of sensual thought. But she would try to do her best.

She kept her eyes on Cadance’s wondrous face, ensuring she could keep track of her reactions- and the first thing to go was the pin in her hair, loosening the braid until her hair flowed down to her waist, she giving a slow shake so as to let it shimmer in the soft light of the bedroom.

Cadance gave a start of surprise when she realized what was happening, her face giving life to an uncertain, yet hopeful smile. Surely Twilight wasn’t actually attempting such a thing!

The young woman wished she hadn’t been wearing pants; a skirt, even a formal one, would have been preferable. But with what grace she could manage she unzipped and began to free her skin from the clutches of the fabric, every movement allowing ample time for Cadance to enjoy the movement. Then she bent over as she undid the buttons on her shirt, allowing what cleavage she possessed to be exposed more and more with each freed button until the shirt was only supported by what lay across her shoulders. “You mind taking this off for me?” she asked.

Cadance’s grin was eager, and she crawled to the end of the bed to pull away her lover’s clothing, one hand tearing the shirt away while the other reached for her bra-

“Ah-ah!” Twilight objected, swiftly putting herself out of reach so as to continue the show. “I didn’t say you could do that.”

Cadance was struggling, looking at Twilight’s nigh-exposed body with the desire to ravish it. Patience was not her romantic virtue.

One hand reached out and held Cadance’s anxious face, pulling her in so close that Twilight’s breath came hot upon her lips. The beautiful woman closed her eyes in hopes of a kiss-

Twilight again pulled back, but only just; her hand took Cadance’s and guided it downwards to her underwear, placing the hand in between flesh and fabric. One finger tried to wriggle its way in deeper, to delve into the slickened depths-

“Just a little longer now,” Twilight whispered. She granted her first gift, a single simple kiss on Cadance’s lips that was hardly enough to satisfy. With Cadance’s help, her panties were pulled down to her ankles- one leg free, then the other raised high, the small reward there for the taking-

Cadance’s hunger was voracious, she taking Twilight’s panties and casting them aside in favor of a better prize, eyes still fixed on Twilight-

She came forward at last and took her place on the awaiting woman’s lap, legs wrapped tightly around Cadance’s waist and giving her such a kiss that she could feel the breath stolen away along with it, stroking tongue probing deeply into her mouth to grace it with tender touches upon its pair- gently, warmly, sensuously.

“And this last one,” Twilight whispered, pulling back so her chest could be clearly seen, “is all yours.”

Cadance breathed a sigh of happiness and pulled Twilight’s bra away with her teeth, so great was her energy. Petite breasts were the focus of her attentions and she tended to them lovingly, a soft tongue swirling about the nipple until she felt it start to harden. One nibble, then one more. Twilight’s breasts were not the majestic mounds that she possessed, but they were part of Twilight, and she loved them deeply because of it-

“Sorry for this morning, Princess,” Twilight said softly, gently turning Cadance away from her ravishings and bringing those delectable lips to meet her own for a string of kisses, kisses full of love and desire and all needed feeling. “And for making you wait longer than that, too.”

“I still love you, anyway,” Cadance whispered, returning with a kiss of her own- this one sloppy, flavorful as she pressed a slickened finger against Twilight’s outstretched tongue. “I missed you.”

“You certainly will,” Twilight assured her, pushing Cadance down onto the covers and setting to work. She lavished kisses on Cadance’s lips until their tongues danced together in dripping harmony, the two women licking away at each other in kisses and coos and sighs of lust. One moment of suckling on that tongue was enough for now- her love had further places to attend to, lips drifting down shivering skin and pausing at Cadance’s splendid breasts that cried out for her devotion. She’d loved those breasts from the moment she had first held them, and loved them even still; mouth kept busy with nibbles and licks that made Cadance gasp from just the proper amount of pleasure and pain, the other breast cared for by Twilight’s hand that grasped and flicked at the nipple. One twist, ever so gently, and Cadance gasped. Another in the opposite direction and she induced a cry-

“Oh my god, Twilight,” she moaned. “What are you waiting for?”

“For you to beg, Princess,” Twilight teased, leaving the adored breasts to lean just above Cadance’s open mouth that begged for another kiss. She dangled her tongue like an outstretched candy and was unsurprised when Cadance lunged for the succulent, pink morsel and sucked it madly. The sensuous, lovesick woman was absolutely desparate.

“Twilight, I swear, if you don’t get down there- please!” Cadance cried.

It was all that Twilight needed, she sliding down that smooth skin in a heartbeat and ravaging the soaked pussy with all the love and desire she could possibly hope to offer, Cadance crying out in delight from the very first touch of Twilight’s tongue against her clit. Too long had she been left hungering, unsatisfied; patience in the face of Twilight’s mourning had done little to slake her thirst for the young woman’s love, her physical need for it. As Twilight’s mouth gave vicious, wonderful kisses to her lower lips, when tongue explored deep and fell like a hammerstroke, Cadance was in ecstasy yet again. The woman she loved was back with her once more, and it did not take long for her to find that sweet release she craved. One deep, delighted moan and she felt a wave of pleasure ignite her body with the orgasm, the juices flowing outwards into Twilight’s open mouth, the splatter falling across her face and onto the bedsheets below. Still Twilight did not stop, although slowing her efforts so as to match Cadance’s squirming. The tonguework now was smooth, gentle so as to give each new wave a unique feeling all its own. It had been missed, and was a welcome return to form.

Twilight felt a glow of pleasure as she surfaced from between Cadance’s legs and heard the gasps. She had only departed for a short period, but their absence of physical connection had been long enough for even a short bit of play to satisfy. As Twilight crawled up Cadance’s naked body, a string of kisses along that sensuous form to guide her way, she resolved that it would never be such an absence again. Her grief, and her emotions, would not keep her away from such comforts any longer; she would find shelter and strength in Cadance the next time around, the dearest member of her makeshift family that she had. Kisses from soaked lips graced the beautiful woman’s sweat-laced face, and for a moment the two women could do nothing but hold one another and allow their kisses to fill the void.

“Did you miss me?” Twilight asked, leaning down and resting beside her magnificent lover. She could look on that beautiful figure forever and never tire of it…

“For so long, Love,” Cadance whispered happily. “Next time… let me be there with you. For you. OK?”

“I’ll- I’ll try, Princess,” Twilight replied. “I’ll do my best.”

“Is that so?” Cadance asked, suddenly pinning Twilight to the bed as she balanced her naked form above the younger woman. “Mind if I put that to the test?” One kiss that was not gentle, a nibble on the neck-

It was to be a very busy afternoon.

Author's Note

Can't be sad forever. Not when you're still breathing.

... Can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish this story had more views. I actually like this one. Don't mind the dry-bitching.

Keep reading, if you want.