Dreams of Forever

"Mmm, these are delicious, Pinkie Pie!" Applejack hummed in delight, biting down on another pancake.

"Thanks! Twilight spent all night helping me pick the flavor! I kept thinking we'd found the right one, but she insisted I make even more to try." She began stacking her plate with more pancakes. "And more. And more and more and more and more! It was like she never wanted to--"

"Leave?" Fluttershy filled in.

"Exactly!" She took a huge bite of her pile. "Eventually we ran out of time so we just went with every-berry-any-chip-surprise!" She leaned over to Rarity while Duskwing continued. It had been several days since the elements went on their map adventure, and in the time since, Duskwing had noticed some unusual behavioral patterns of his marefriend. While he initially chalked it up it just being how she was, the fact that her friends noted that it was different did give him some more context.

"She's been tiring herself out with literally anything. She was up pretty late last night too, don't know what she was doing but it certainly wasn't sleeping. Hay, she even asked me out to dinner tonight on a date! I don't know what's up, but she's not very keen on sharing her reasons."

The snoring from Twilight turned all heads to her. "Up all night, huh? Is that why she's so, uh... out of it?" Rainbow devilishly smiled over to Duskwing.

"Not in the fun way." He clarified. "Hasn't gone a night since she returned without going off with one of the Queen's Guard in the late evening and returning back past midnight."

"It's not like she's bucking Dawny either." Somnia added. "He's just as worried about her nightly walks when she goes from place to place, checking and rechecking how things are."

"Somepony is avoidin' somethin'. Soon as she wakes up, we're gonna find out what." Applejack declared as Pinkie coughed out a measuring spoon onto her remaining pancakes.

"I win!"

"Huh?! I'm pancake! I mean, awake..." Twilight gave an embarrassed smile to her friends from underneath the pancake stuck to her horn, Somnia holding back her snickering.

"Uh, Twilight? Is there somethin' you wanna tell us?" Applejack asked gently.

"You know how much we appreciate all you do for us, and we simply adore having you around... but we worry you might be *ahem* avoiding something else?" Rarity gave an understanding smile.

"Oh, has it been that obvious?" She looked down at the table. "I've been... the thing is... I know it's silly, but I... I've been avoiding... this place."

Rarity gasped. "Why in Equestria would you want to avoid such a gorgeous castle?"

"Yeah, this place has everything!" Pinkie got up and looked to the ceiling above. "Big tall ceilings that make you feel tiny!" Then to the floor. "Shiny new floors that are cold to the touch! Brr!" Then to the hallway. "And it even has loooong empty hallways!"

"The castle is amazing. But it just..." She sighed. "It doesn't feel like home."

Home. Somnia scrunched up her nose. It made sense on the face of it. If she was also being honest, she only felt at home around her friends and family, not any particular place. Excalion's Tower was impressive, monstrous in scale and beauty, but did she ever feel at home there? Did anypony who lived there actually see it as home, or merely the place where their family was?

"I could keep her busy all day." Duskwing suggested, snapping Somnia from her remembering session. "It will be good to have a second date after leaving off on such a sour note at the Equestria Games."

"Oh, no! Did I miss the pancakes?!" Spike walked into the dining room carrying a Rarity plush, heading over to the table to crawl up on-top to grab a few pancakes to eat. "I sleep like a baby under that cold, cavernous ceiling."

"Spike, I'm so glad you're here!" Rarity walked over to him.

"Really?"

"Yes! You can help us with making this castle feel like a home while Twilight's on her date. It is where you are living too, after-all." She nuzzled him.

"Hehe, yeah, sure!"

"I'll deal with the library and study!" Somnia declared, jumping down from her seat and trotting off. Duskwing got up and moved over to Twilight to whisper in her ear:

"Might want to have a shower before we head out. Kinda got a bit of syrup on your everywhere."

"Sooo... what did you have planned?" Twilight asked uncertainly as they walked through town, seemingly aimlessly.

"Your friend, Rarity, I think, suggested the spa. Didn't sound too bad to start with. Get us nice and relaxed..." He draped a wing over her back. "Get us in the mood for something more romantic."

"You're such a stallion." She snorted with a giggle.

"I was thinking we go to the spa, then we do something fun. How do you feel about swimming?"

"Sounds good to me." Twilight laid her head on his shoulder.

Far behind both of them, Dusty let out a deep sigh. It would be a long day protecting the two lovers, with nothing to do but watch for threats and sulk about never having a special somepony. Maybe one of the other Queen's Guard would have something to say, although she doubted it.

Between the parasitic playcolt changeling, the workaholic introverted unicorn, the foal-fiddling thestral, and traumatized asexual griffon, there really wasn't much hope any of them would have any good recommendations. It actually sounded ridiculous, but perhaps asking Somnia was the best option, despite her being a literal rape victim.

Or Rarity. Definitely Rarity. The filly would probably try hooking her up with somepony equally as insane as she is, the guardsmare shuddering at that possibility. Putting a hoof to her ear: "Love, can you watch the love birds? I have some personal business I would like deal with."

"I'm busy! This floor isn't going to break itself!" The griffoness' voice came over the earpiece.

"You know I can hear you, right?" Twilight added.

"Request granted. Love, replace Dusty on duty. After doing whatever you're doing, please return to me for a brief meeting." Somnia spoke up.

Dusty took a deep breath as she trailed the two. Eventually Love landed next to her and they switched out. Making her way back to the castle, Dusty thought about how she would approach the conversation. Shield pointed her in the right direction, and so she made haste to the dining hall where she spotted Rarity, alone, putting up some curtains.

"Dusty? Weren't you guarding Twilight?" The white unicorn asked, not taking their focus from the task at hoof.

"I managed to switch out with Love." Dusty nervously shuffled. "I, um, was looking to get some advice from you. Romantic advice."

"Oh?" Rarity finished putting up the curtain, turning to face her. "I didn't know you were interested in anypony."

"W-Well, I don't have anypony specific in mind, I was just thinking about it." She quickly added, stepping a bit closer. "It's not easy to watch Twilight and Duskwing together without your mind wandering."

"Ah, I see." Rarity smiled. "You're envious of them."

"W-What?! No! I'm not--"

"It's alright, darling." Rarity sat down at the dining table, motioning for Dusty to do the same. "It's natural to feel envy for such things. I myself have felt envious of other pony's relationships on occasion."

Dusty sat next to Rarity while she continued. "The first step would be to examine why you want to enter into a relationship with somepony. Is it only the envy? Are you jealous of somepony else? Do you feel incomplete without somepony special? There are a lot of questions you need to answer for yourself before even start thinking about finding somepony."

"I-I haven't really thought about that..." Dusty admitted, thinking exactly what her reasons were. She was about the same age as the Elements of Harmony, and none of them except for Rarity seemed to have had a special somepony. As for others her age, she knew that some would pursue relationships within the royal guard, very few going past their service.

"Let's back up. What do your feelings revolve around?" Rarity floated over her stack of curtains to examine for defects while Dusty thought.

"It's just that I've seen so many other ponies in relationships, and they're around my age. I feel like--"

"You're missing out." Rarity nodded. "I've felt the same at times. I doubt there's a single pony out there that hasn't felt like they've wasted time when they could have made more of it. Trust me, you aren't missing anything as long as you have your friends and family. Somepony will come along who you will fall head-over-hooves for, and it may be the most unexpected of ponies. Have patience. Somepony will come along who will see who you really are beneath that armor, and they will accept it with all their heart."

Dusty lightly smiled to her. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Was there anything else I can help you with?"

"No, that was it. I'll think about what you said." Dusty waved back to Rarity as she trotted from the room, mind clearer than when she entered.

Next stop, Somnia and whatever talk she has planned.

"That was a great suggestion. I'm going to have to thank Rarity when we get back. I feel totally relaxed." Twilight calmly walked out of the spa with her coltfriend, both satisfied with their service.

"You still feeling up for swimming?" Duskwing laid his wing across her back.

"I'm actually a bit peckish. Do you think we could grab something to eat?"

"It's your date as well, y'know?" He booped her nose, getting a scrunchy face. "D'aww."

She giggled. "How about the Cafe Hay? Have you been there yet?"

"I haven't been to anywhere in town except Sugar Cube Corner."

"Oh, right." Twilight bit her lip as she led him in the direction of the cafe.

After a minute of walking, he spoke up again: "How's it being a single mother, anyway?"

"Probably about the same as being a single father." She nudged him. "Nightwind seems very well behaved."

"He doesn't want to get in trouble." Duskwing sighed. "I regret not getting him a proper education these past few years. It's been hard to raise him like a son, especially since I had to deal with the death of my brother and community service at the time."

"It sounds like you were making the best of a bad situation." Twilight replied. "You couldn't have done anything better."

"That's the thing, I could have. I could have moved away from that poor excuse of a town, start a new life somewhere else in Equestria."

"Maybe, but you would be leaving all your friends behind. I've been receiving letters about Hollow Shades, ponies telling me what it was like before and what they are hoping to do in the future. Whenever they mentioned you, it was always in the highest regard." Twilight laid her head on his shoulder. "Don't downplay the impact you had. They care about you, because you cared about them when there was no hope in their future."

"Hey, we're supposed to be having fun, not talking about all this heavy stuff." He leaned his head onto hers.

"I've been thinking about everything that's been happening lately. Both of our lives have taken quite drastic turns, and maybe talking about it will help us cope with the changes."

"Yeah, I'd be alright with that." Duskwing untangled himself from Twilight as they approached the cafe. "So do we just sit and they serve us? Or do we need to check in?"

"How's it--" Somnia stopped in her tracks as she gazed upon the utter chaos that was the throne room, whispering to herself: "Plan B, I guess."

"Somnia! H-How do you like it?" Rarity nervously smiled to the filly. One glance at Spike's shaking head told her everything.

"You have no idea what to do, do you?"

"No..." Fluttershy sighed.

"Why don't you cut back on the everything? Maybe take out a few stuff each?" She suggested, trotting over to Twilight's throne to sit down on. "I'll watch."

Everypony except Rarity started taking things out of the throne room while she and Spike watched from the thrones. It looked horrible, it smelled horrible, and worst of all, her mom wasn't going to like it.

"I tried telling them, but they didn't want to listen while they were singing." Spike muttered to his sister.

"I still can't believe they thought this was a good idea. I knew they were going somewhere else for this, but I didn't actually know how bad it was going to turn out in round one."

"Come on, Rarity. Everypony has taken somethin' out except you." Applejack commented from next to the white unicorn.

"Ooh, I know! I simply can't decide."

Rainbow flew up to a picture of the six posing atop clouds. "How about this?"

"No! Not that! Anything but that!" She shrieked.

She flew over to the hanging flower baskets. "How about these?"

Rarity pouted. "Oh, but those brighten up the whole room! They're my favorite accent!"

"Then let's lose the curtains! The room wouldn't need brightening if they weren't making it so dark!"

Somnia put a hoof to her ear and whispered. "Hey, mom, after swimming, I've setup reservations for you two at Chateau Dainty. It has things both of you like."

"Thanks, but why?" Her voice came over the earpiece.

"It had good ratings, and both Pinkie and Rarity recommended it. Have a good time, I'll see you later. Love you!"

"Oh, alright, thanks! Love you too!"

"Seems a little out of the way." Spike mumbled over to her.

"It's supposed to be. They won't cross paths with us while we work on plan B."

The other elements began taking other pony's things out of the room, de-cluttering the throne room at an accelerated pace as it became a vicious cycle of 'you take one of mine, I'll take one of yours', and a few minutes later the room looked exactly like it did at the start.

"There! Now nothing is cluttering the castle!" Rarity declared annoyed.

Rainbow sighed. "You're right. There is literally nothing cluttering this castle."

"What do we do now?" Fluttershy asked hopeful somepony would have a good idea.

"Now you think about what you are trying to do." Somnia spoke up. "What are you trying to do here?"

"Make this a home for- Oh..." Applejack cringed, the rest catching on to what she was talking about.

"Maybe we're all a little guilty of making ourselves feel at home instead of Twilight." Fluttershy admitted.

"Come on, y'all. We just need to think about Twilight. What was it she'd loved about livin' in the Golden Oaks Library?" AJ turned to the group.

Fluttershy pouted. "Oh, everything! The books, the smell of books, the joy she felt from organizing books..."

"Don't remind me." Spike deadpanned, getting a giggle from Somnia.

"Give them a minute, they'll come up with something non-book related." Somnia whispered to him.

"Remember the time it got blown up to smithereens?! Wait, no, that was the worst." Pinkie gave a deep sigh.

"We had a lot of good memories there, though. That's what made the Golden Oaks Library home." Applejack thought a bit more on that point, Somnia nodding in approval with the line of thought.

Each of the elements agreed with the sentiment right before Applejack gasped: "That's it!"

"Finally!" Somnia hopped down from her seat. "Let's go already!"

"I didn't even say what I meant!"

"We can't waste anymore time, you can tell everypony on the way there!" She trotted from the room followed by the rest of the group. They traveled into town towards the old husk of the Golden Oaks Library, Applejack giving the other elements the rundown of the plan. Waiting for them with several shovels and axes on the inside was Dusty, exactly as Somnia planned.

Applejack sighed at the sight of the burnt out husk. "Maybe my plan won't work after all."

"Of course it will, darling." Rarity comforted her. "I can see it! You and Fluttershy stay here. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, you come with me. We're going shopping! We'll meet back at the castle."

The three trotted off before Dusty came out of the ruins with the shovels and axes. "Got them like you asked, Som. Mind telling me what we're doing now?"

Somnia smiled to Applejack who started what she had been anticipating since she woke up this morning:

~It's not the things that ya gather 'round~

~It's not how much you own~

"I have to admit, this food is fantastic!" Twilight moaned with another bite of her grilled veggies. "I can see why Pinkie and Rarity recommended it."

"For something not pony-flavored, it's pretty good." Duskwing chuckled, getting a playful glare from his date.

"Oh, and what does pony taste like?"

"Depends. Not sure about stallions, but mares--"

"Shush you." Twilight held back her laugh, putting a hoof over his mouth. "There's foals around!"

"They can't hear us. Besides, it's not like we're celebrities."

"Maybe not you." Twilight took another bite of her meal. "I didn't realize how much swimming would get me hungry."

"Told ya it would be fun." He sat back in his seat and took a quick look around. Other ponies paid them no mind, either too busy with their own special somepony or family.

"Do you ever feel a bit self-conscious about the looks ponies give you?" Twilight asked, her smile faltering as she picked at the remains of her meal.

"Sometimes, but you can't let it get to you." He shrugged. "Nothing you can do about what you are. Just gotta live with it, and if other ponies don't like it, buck 'em."

"No, I mean--" She sighed, turning her gaze from her meal to his eyes. "I mean you and me, together."

"Have they been giving us looks?" He raised a brow, leaning forward a bit.

"Maybe if you'd pay attention, you'd have seen it today." Twilight cast a brief glance to another table, the occupant averting their gaze. "A lot of ponies don't like the idea of dating outside of the three tribes."

"Again, I say buck 'em. We're both ponies. It's our choice who we date, nopony else's."

Twilight winced. "Is that true for us? You're royalty too, simply by birth. You were ordered to move to Ponyville, you probably wouldn't have had the choice of dating me or not if Celestia decreed it to happen."

"Having doubts about us?" He gently stared into her eyes, placing both of his hooves over hers. "Remember what the kid said, you have a choice too. I'm fine with pursuing us if it means a better life for others, that's why I'm not arguing against being forced to do things against my will like moving to Ponyville or dating you." Duskwing stretched his legs, adopting a slightly less serious expression. "Not that I would complain about dating the fourth most desired single mare in Equestria."

"But are you- Wait, fourth?" Twilight furrowed her brow in confusion.

"Cosmare's stallion survey. You were behind Captain Spitfire, Princess Luna, and Countess Coloratura." He chuckled. "And one ahead of Princess Celestia."

"Why have I never heard about this?" She sat up, her mind pondering the implications. "Is that why I've been receiving those creepy love letters since becoming a princess?!"

"I mean, I voted Princess Luna--" He got a playful slap to the face with Twilight's napkin. "Hey! Don't blame me, we hadn't started dating!"

"I didn't know you read trashy magazines like that. What other secrets do you have?" She narrowed her eyes at him with lighthearted suspicion.

"I'm blacklisted from joining the royal guard. Criminal record, and all that business."

"Did you even try?"

"No, but I looked up the rules for somepony else who was interested in joining. Sent a letter to the guard asking about what you needed to qualify. I was one of the few batponies that was able to afford ordering newspapers, magazines, and books consistently from out of Hollow Shades." He sipped from his wine glass. "I'd collect them for the month and skim through them before leaving them in the bar for others to have a look. Only Batty Mag and Cosmare were consistently provided for the town, though."

"I've got to introduce you to my brother." She quickly caught herself as he smiled. "My FULL brother, Shining Armor. He'll probably try giving you some talk about not hurting me or he'll 'bring down the hammer'."

"I thought you never had a coltfriend before." He smirked.

"I didn't! I was doing a group project with a colt from school, and Shining scared him off!" She pouted.

Duskwing laughed. "I don't think it will be a problem. I'm actually older than him."

"If he is anything like me before I met you..." She shook her head. "AND you have a criminal record!"

"It'll be fine. He'll come around if he isn't already used to us bats from serving in the guard."

"Any family I should know about on your side?"

"My brother is dead, but you already knew that." He rubbed his chin. "Maybe my cousin? I don't know, there isn't really anypony I can think of off the top of my head. My mom would probably like to meet you if she could remember me for two minutes."

"Oh... Does she have--"

"Yeah. Mind is rotting away in some care home in the Griffish Isles."

Twilight blinked. "The Griffish Isles? I thought she was a thestral like you."

"Nah, she's..." He sighed, looking away. "She's from Zebrica. Immigrated to the Griffish Isles at a young age. Met my dad during the 966 Equestria Games. He wasn't competing, was just there for work. Bumped into each other at the concession stands and hit it off. After dad died, she tried her best to care for us, but then the memory problems got worse."

"Zebrica... She's a zebra I take it?" Duskwing cringed, hesitantly nodding. His marefriend noted how much he hated to admit it but let it go for now. "My mom and dad are both unicorns, and I never met my grandparents but I assume they were unicorns as well based on the genealogical research I did a while back." She gasped. "I completely forgot! I need to introduce you to my parents!"

"A bit premature, isn't it?" He chuckled, lightly smiling back to her as he got back into a better mood.

"Didn't you hear what Somnia had said? We're due to be married in a few years if we don't break this off, and everypony else knows about us!" Twilight had leaned forward to drive it home. "I don't know why my brother and sister didn't write to ask me about that, but my parents have been asking to meet you since the news broke!"

"Well, shit..." He muttered, smiling as he shook his head and turned back up to her. "Probably not a good idea to tell them we already had their granddaughter, right?"

"This is serious!" Twilight sat back down. "We need to get you to Canterlot sometime to meet them!"

"Isn't the Grand Galloping Gala coming up? Will they be there?" He suggested.

"I... I guess I could give them tickets to attend." It was a good idea. Attend the gala as a couple, meet the parents, probably have more than a few drinks... No, bringing the parents wouldn't be a good idea in that situation.

"Somnia was right." She snapped back to reality, casting her eyes over to Duskwing smirking at her. "You do need to get laid."

She slapped him on the face with her napkin again, slumping back in her chair with an embarrassed blush.

"PUSH!" Applejack called out one last time as they tipped the root cluster into the cart.

"I... I need a break..." Dusty leaned against the cart, giggling as Somnia just decided to collapse to the ground.

"We need to get this back to the castle. Thanks for the help everypony." Fluttershy thanked the critters she brought over and the additional two ponies. Dusty and Somnia waved off Fluttershy and Applejack, the filly speaking up once they were out of sight.

"We're not done yet." She groaned, pressing a hoof to her ear. "Shield, Scuttle, go wake up Dawn and come over to the Golden Oaks Library with him. And bring two carts."

A few minutes later, the three guards arrived with the requested carts. "What's this all about? It's almost time for my shift." Dawn questioned.

"We can get to the basement now." Dusty did a few last stretches. "We need to get the stuff out of there before somepony stumbles on it or it rains."

The next hour they combed across the ruined basement, Somnia pointing out exactly what they needed to grab. The furnace was partially crushed, meaning that only small pieces could be retrieved. The alchemy setup was surprisingly intact, along with the pre-made potions and ingredients. Unfortunately, all the enchanting equipment and electronics were crushed by the debris.

While the others were carrying the stuff over to the carts, Somnia passed up the experimental potions which thankfully hadn't broken. There was one last thing she needed to collect before leaving the ruins behind forever. Moving over to the locked drawer underneath the experiments drawer, she felt around the side to press a particular part to unlock it. Within, she took the box with her name on it and accepted Shield's levitation back to the surface.

"What's that for? Another experiment?" Scuttle asked curiously as Somnia lazily tossed the box into the cart.

"No, but it is helpful to my experiments." She started walking back with the others. Before bed, she had a few last things she wanted to do, but right now she needed to get the stuff unloaded into the lab.

"Damn..." Duskwing winced as the two stood before the remains of what was the Golden Oaks Library, a massive hole having been dug at the side to access the basement.

"I really miss this place. I had so many wonderful memories here with my friends and Spike." Twilight looked over the charred remains, leaning her head onto Duskwing's shoulder as he wrapped a wing around her.

"Some things come, and some things go, but those memories carry on. All you can do is accept that it happened and move forward. My mom told me a short poem when she started losing her mind, something to remember her by. *Ahem*

The past stays still
Yet we continue to mill

Carrying through the memory
Our serene and beautiful history

Standing firm against pains
It is the breaker of our chains

Even if the universe revolts against forever--"

"We will always be together." Twilight finished, turning up to him with wide eyes. "T-That last part it's--"

"An old phrase passed down in certain Zebrican cultures." He raised a brow. "How did you know it?"

"Somnia mentioned it when she--" A faint memory tickled the back of her mind. Barely noticeable, but from the look on Duskwing's face, he was experiencing it too. Then the feelings became all consuming as it came back to her, both of them holding onto one another, staring into each other's eyes, exactly like this moment. The pounding against the massive metal doors, the alicorn guards surrounding them with steely expressions, the fear she had for her foal's safety, for the survival of all existence. How much she truly loved him as they faced down death. Together.

"M-Mystic, there's so much I still want to tell you." She repeated the vague whispers, her eyes forming tears.

His face turned up in a gentle smile, exactly like the memory. Her heart fluttered lighter than at any other point as she stared at her husband, knowing that no matter what he said or what happened, she loved him as deeply as he loved her. She really was his, and he truly was hers. "You can tell me later. Because even if the universe revolts against forever..."

Somnia whispered the last half to the memory crystal, smiling to herself.

It isn't exactly a happy memory.

It's the oldest one they will be able to remember clearly. They deserve to relive that part at least, not the whole dying part.

"Are you done with your crystals, darling?" Rarity peeked over her shoulder to see the crystal she was cradling, the unicorn's face contorting at the scene of Twilight and Duskwing fearfully huddled together surrounded by stoic alicorn guards. "What is that? Twilight's mane is sparkling similar to Celestia, and Duskwing never saw the library."

"It's not from the library. It's from the Fall of Excalicorn. Their last moments together before the end." She turned up to Rarity, tears at the corners of her eyes. "They spent millennia together. They both loved each other more than anything in the world except maybe their foals. Even at the end, they held out hope, that love would be enough to preserve their memory of each other. T-They were right." She sniffled while wiping the tears from her eyes, giggling to herself.

"That's..." Rarity covered her mouth, releasing only to hug Somnia. "That's a wonderful memory. Twilight and Duskwing will love to see it."

They finished hanging the different memory crystals atop the root cluster, each of them satisfied with the work they had done. Somnia had to admit, it looked just as beautiful as in the dream. The group made their way to front hall chatting with one another about a job well-done. Just before they got there, the doors opened and two ponies stepped inside, embraced with each other.

"Welcome home!" The other elements called out, running up to the two.

Rather than say anything, Twilight brought her friends into a hug. "Love you all! You're the best friends I could have asked for!"

A few confused looks were passed between the elements. "Ya haven't even seen what we did yet." Applejack replied.

"I was wrong. Home isn't a collection of things. It's the memories we make, the friends and family we surround ourselves with. You can be at home anywhere, as long as you are with those you love." She teared up, bringing them back into the hug.

"I think you'll love what we did then." Rarity grabbed her hoof and led her in the direction of the throne room. Duskwing fell to the back of the group with Somnia.

"Hey..." He whispered down to her. "Thanks for setting me back up with your mom."

"I didn't need to. My intervention just made it sooner." She nuzzled into him. "Even if you two didn't meet at Rainbow Falls during the try-outs, you would still have been drawn to each other eventually. Especially after you became an alicorn."

"Uhh, what?"

The two entered into the throne room where the elements were each showing Twilight the different memories they stored.

"It's exactly what the castle needed. And I am ready to make new memories here." Twilight declared, her smile settling on Duskwing.

The pink party pony had seemingly summoned a cake out of nowhere onto her back. "Then let's start right now with a new memory cake! Seven layer what's-that-flavor mystery surprise! These might be chocolate chips, or they might be super-spicy black beans!"

"Let's go to the dining room and get some plates to celebrate!" Twilight left with the other elements, but Somnia tugged her father to stay for a minute.

"I want to show you something." She got up onto his back. "Fly up to the memory crystals."

He did as she instructed, her pointing to one in particular while she continued. "You and mom don't remember naming me, but I dreamed about it years ago. This is what happened."

Duskwing examined the crystal, hearing the faint voices of him and Twilight speaking a language he didn't understand. His alicorn self was laying next to Twilight in a massive regal bed, her mane sparkling as much as her eyes as she watched the sleeping foal between them. He kissed her before kissing their baby, saying something in return. Twilight's eyes briefly flicked to the memory crystal's point of view, smiling.

"Hivils desca Sombra Temperii." She turned back to him, bringing him into another deep kiss.

"Then there's this one." She grabbed the next. "It's from your first date."

He saw a... fair? No, it couldn't be. Leaning closer, he took a more detailed look. It wasn't Rainbow Falls, it was far more populous and lacked the 'falls' part. He saw Twilight coyly rubbing her hoof on his chest, playfully pouting. He dipped her down, whispering something, then kissing her exactly like he did during their newest 'first' date. She even had the same goofy smile. The next, and last crystal from Somnia he had to re-watch, his eyes watering up a bit at the scene.

"That's why we remembered it. It was the last memory we made." He mumbled.

"It's the last one in those days." Somnia corrected, hugging around his neck. "Now new ones are going to be made. Your old life is over. It's time to start anew."

He landed at the door and let her down before they walked over to the chaotic dining room where the others had already started on cake.

Duskwing sat next to Twilight, giving her a deep kiss as Somnia sat next to him. It was going to be a good night.

Twilight flew down from the crystals, landing next to Duskwing and bringing him into a hug. "Guess history repeats itself, doesn't it?" He chuckled.

"Y-Yeah." She wiped her eyes, biting her lip as she stared into his eyes. "I guess it does."

"So..." Somnia spoke up from Rarity's throne. "I wanted to tell you how you first met."

The two sat in the adjacent thrones, eagerly waiting for her to continue.

"Dad had just led the thestrals to revolt against the Harmonic Empire, being crowned as their 'king'. Rather than send in the military or go herself, my grandma sent you," she nodded to Twilight, "to talk to your brother and reason with them. He wanted for thestrals, changelings, and kirin to stop being treated as second-class citizens outside of the city of Excalicorn. For context, both of you were due to marry other alicorns outside of the royal family since the Grogar and the queen didn't believe your genetics were pure enough for what they had planned.

"While in the mountains, you two had a confrontation where mom essentially validated the views of other ponies about batponies."

"I can see where this is headed." Duskwing smiled to Twilight who returned it with a giggle of her own.

"Mom ranted and raved to the queen, but found no sympathy. Instead, the queen ordered mom to live among the 'breakaway' thestrals for a year, to see what life was like for them. She was hesitant at first, but carried out the orders anyway." Somnia bit her lip. "You two found time to talk in the makeshift palace on a balcony when mom was crying about her assignment."

"I wasn't very mature, was I?" Twilight smiled at her daughter.

"No, you were pretty foalish before you met dad." Somnia admitted. "The two of you hit it off, getting to know each other over the next few months. Before the year was up, dad invited the queen for a summit to reintegrate with the empire on one condition: Your hoof in marriage.

"Your first date was at a grand fair the queen put together for different kinds of ponies to actually meet thestrals, changelings, and kirin. She kinda had to drag a lot from their homes against their will, but it worked out. Two marriages happened and six foals were conceived in that day." Somnia giggled. "My sister, Stellar Shimmer, was born about twelve months later."

Both of them blushed, turning to each other. "Guess we got along a bit too quickly back in those days." Duskwing nervously chuckled.

"I thought alicorns had trouble conceiving." Twilight turned to her daughter for an explanation.

"Not always." Somnia rubbed the back of her neck. "It was a bit of an unusual situation. You had been dating for a year, and you couldn't exactly keep your hooves off each other after that night on the balcony. I mean, you really did love each other more than anypony else. The fair acted like a catalyst, pushing both of you over the edge to conceive the following night."

"B-But we haven't--"

Somnia stopped Twilight with her smug grin. "How many times have you kissed or felt each other up since meeting? I remember what you two got up to in Hollow Shades at that party. Weren't exactly subtle about it. Sure, you two hadn't bucked until that night, but you still were quite physical in other ways."

"What about you and your brother?" Twilight followed up. "Do you know how we... made you?"

"My brother, yeah. Not me though." In fact, nothing before experiencing the world around her after the experiment seemed to be related to her. Not surprising given her old life was erased, but she never really did try thinking back to what the inciting incident for her was, if there was one.

I have a good idea of how Somnia was conceived, but that isn't a good story. Actually, it's a horrible story, with a lot of crying and blood.

"You mean--" The blood rushed from Somnia's face as she realized what he was referring to, putting her hooves over her mouth. Twelve months prior to Grar's experiment... "Oh buck."

"That... probably should be told another time." Twilight agreed. Just from the sound of it and her daughter's reaction, it sounded on par with Grar's attempt to make Somnia a Grand Councilor. "So, your brother?"

"Huh?" Somnia shook her head. "Right. He was conceived a few hundred years before me. Dad had gotten back from the Scorcher Paradise on a 'diplomatic' mission." She air quoted. "He had been kept locked away for a few years while they tortured and--"

"Skip to the conceiving part." Duskwing facehoofed.

"Oh, mom missed you a lot. She wanted to have a second foal in case you died while off on missions. Nightflame Sparkle came a few years later after bucking nearly every day." She shrugged. "Not a very complicated story behind that one."

"If your own father getting tortured doesn't concern you, what could have been done to conceive you that is so bad?" Duskwing had to ask.

Don't. Please don't. I don't want to relive that mess again.

"C-Captain Entropis." Somnia closed her eyes, scowling at the memory. "He turned against the empire. He unleashed his spawn on Excalicorn after assassinating my uncle." She shook her head. "You were away on business, dad. He..." She didn't want to relive the dream, but it never went away. She had to accept that it happened, that it would never go away.

"H-How many ponies died?" Twilight asked concerned.

"Fifteen million..." Somnia said somberly. "Eight million killed just to drive them out of the city. Another seven million purged due to insanity, and that doesn't include the six million foals terminated in the womb. Another million would die the next few months while the remaining creatures were hunted down across the continent."

They both stared in stunned silence as Somnia continued, tears falling down her face. "Mom was raped by at least four breeders and Captain Entropis, but that's not how I was conceived. The entire military might of the empire descended on the city with dad and grandma, but Entropis escaped, eventually returning to serve again by the queen's orders. A few weeks later after mom recovered, she declared to never let something like that ever happen again. That no malevolent entities would try being reformed, that none would be allowed to live should they be found. That the type of suffering experienced by Excalicorn needed to end permanently. I probably was conceived not long after."

Miracle Spark made the declaration to the Ascended themself before the Crucible of Harmony, which I recorded in my notes. Later examination by Excalion, under the nose of my lesser half, revealed that it was likely that declaration why Somnia was conceived, and why she is ascendant where all other alicorns born or made weren't. It is probably also why my experiment worked. The Ascended payed attention to mortal affairs for once, that Somnia and my parts were as unwitting pieces in a greater plan.

I can't know for certain, as anything related to the old Somnia was erased from reality, but it is a pretty good assumption based on the timing, being about eleven months prior to my experiment.

"When I'm old enough, I'm going to corner that monster, and I'm going to erase them from reality for all the suffering they represent!" Somnia growled, shaking with unkempt rage.

"Shit..." Duskwing muttered. "Wasn't expecting that."

Twilight swallowed, her throat having dried up. Fifteen million plus twenty-six million... Over a third of the city's population wiped out, not counting the foals. And what they did to her... Did the rest of the city experience that? Her face contorted in horror at the realization. Six million foals...

The filly let out a ragged sigh, opening her eyes. "Anyway, that's how you two met and your foals were conceived. Nothing can change the past, but we can learn from it." She locked her eyes on her mom. "Watch your friends carefully. I can't guarantee they won't betray you at some point."

With that ominous warning, Somnia got down from the throne and walked out of the room to leave the two adults alone.

"Well, that was kinda a downer." Duskwing laid on Twilight's bed, smoothing out the sheets. It was nice to finally be in the 'master bedroom' for a change. Also nice to finally graduate from the 'rare' sleeping together to the 'permanently' sleeping together phase, and increases the chances of that sleeping together to take on its other meaning.

"I can't believe ponies could suffer on such a scale." Twilight shook her head, pacing back and forth.

"Come here." He motioned her over, Twilight reluctantly going over to sit on the bed only to be pushed into a laying position next to him. "What did she say? Nothing can change the past?"

"Right." She breathed out as she looked to him. "We can only go forward and learn from it."

They laid in silence for another few minutes before Duskwing spoke: "Did you really mean what you said about being a celestine?" He slyly smiled to her, getting a blush and punch to the gut. "Ow..."

"Don't you think it's a little soon for that?" She scooted a bit closer. "We've only had our second date so far."

"You didn't seem to complain about the kisses in Hollow Shades or at Rainbow Falls." A little closer.

"Kisses are a bit different to... that." She playfully scoffed.

"Different to what?" Closer.

With their mouths less than a hoof away, Twilight's breathing became more ragged as she stared into his eyes. "I-I've never done something like that before."

"Never played with yourself?" He rubbed a hoof on her flank, gradually rubbing closer to her belly.

She closed her eyes as he moved his hoof to between her hind-legs, grazing her teats before moving even further south. "Ohhhh Celestia... D-Don't stop."

"I can do more than that." He kissed her, rolling himself on top as he rubbed her marehood with his hoof. Twilight moved her hoof to his sheath, enticing his shaft from its hiding place. They kept the kisses going as they both built up the desire of the other.

She moaned into his mouth as she opened her legs wider, hoof running up and down his dick. Briefly, she pulled out of the kiss. "B-Be gentle, please."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He brought her back into a kiss, her hoof guiding his member to her wet embrace. Slowly, he positioned himself over her, shaft right against her marehood, rubbing at the threshold.

Slowly, he straightened it out, parting the lips of her pussy. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as he slowly entered, moaning a bit at the sudden fullness within her.

She grabbed onto his neck with her hooves, opening her eyes to stare into his. "O-Okay. T-That's not as bad as I was expecting." She smiled, giggling a bit.

He moved his waist back and forth, thrusting deeper into her with each pass. She panted as she kept her eyes locked on his. "Y-You can go a bit faster. I-I think I'm getting used to it."

And so he did. Picking up the pace, she wrapped her hind-legs around his waist, keeping him from pulling out completely as she moaned and panted under his loving.

He moved his head to her neck, kissing along it to excite her further, and did she ever. Using her hind-legs, she thrust him deep into her, half-moaning half-giggling as he continued to push in and out at a slightly faster pace.

"I-I never thought..." She laughed. "I never thought it would be this good!"

"When's the last time you let the pressure go?" He whispered in her ear, moving back down her neck.

"I- Ah..." She squirmed a bit more under him. "W-When Somnia... gave me... an omni-heal..."

"Princess..." He moved up to her lips, giving a long kiss. "You keep squirming and--"

"You'll what?" She smirked, wrapping her hind-legs even tighter around him to prevent escape, all the while wiggling her hips. "Can't stand going more than a few minutes?"

"It's probably a bad idea." He kissed her again. "At l-least use a--"

She moved her hips back and forth to push him even further. "S-Somnia said that she needed to start early because alicorns have trouble conceiving." Her forehooves brought his body against hers, their faces nearly touching. "If we're going to be a thing, w-we need to start early too."

"T-Twilight?" He nervously chuckled. "D-Don't you think its a little soon for that?"

"Soon for..." She kept moving her hips, the feeling in her building. "G-Go faster. I-I'm almost there."

"I-If I go any faster, we may pass a point of no return." He slyly smiled to her, licking his lips.

"Just... a... little..." He picked up the pace with her persistence on the matter. Soon enough, he could feel his lower half getting stiffer as he continued to kiss all along her neck.

She squeaked out, opening her mouth to pant as she went over the edge, her inner walls clamping down on his member and her back arching. "Woah..." He closed his eyes as his mind started going blank.

His head flared inside of her, semen rushing directly into her womb as he half-chuckled half-grunted with the release. Her body tightened up beneath him shaking a bit to get every last droplet from his dick.

He slowly collected his breath for a minute until she started loosening her grip on him, pulling out of her slowly. Rolling them both over so that they faced each other, he gave one last kiss for her goofy expression.

"Y-You're really cute when you're all tired out."

"T-Thanks..." She giggled, settling against his chest, completely at ease in the loving embrace of her husband.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven.

Twelve.

Somnia sipped from her cup as the chimes finished ringing on the clock in her lab. Putting her cup down, she picked up the Councilor's Orb and examined it.

"Grar, please close off your senses for a few hours, there's something I need to do."

Of course.

With her companion protected, Somnia activated the orb and looked into the temporal field. Her mind wandered to something specific, examining the moment in time from so long ago. With a smile, she deactivated it, placing it back into its box. There would be more experimenting tomorrow. Right now, she was content to sit back and sip from her cup.

After a few minutes, she leaned back positioning her hooves near her marehood, rubbing gently. After a false start, she tried relaxing again, this time taking a large swig from her cup.

Her mind focused on a particular scene, one she always went back to if things were desperate. She tried again, moving her hooves and...

No, not yet. She moved her hooves back to the cup, drinking most of the remaining liquid. She waited a few more minutes, trying to get her body nice and relaxed. Once more, her hooves approached their destination slowly. Her mind kept try to drag her to somewhere she didn't want to be, but she forced down those thoughts with more happy instances. All those memories with the old Nightwind, their times spent together, her night with Broken Dawn and their time in the meeting room, her being brutally--

Screaming at the top of her lungs, she grabbed the cup, tossing it and the remaining alcohol within across the room as she kicked over the chair she was using. Falling to her haunches, sobbing and pounding against the floor.

Her tears falling echoed around the room as she sat and stewed in her own misery.

Buck you, you bucking assholes! Buck you! Buck you! Buck you! Burn in Tartarus you disharmonious shit-stains! She collapsed to the floor, finally having had enough for the night.

Buck you...