A few droplets from the stray rain clouds above matted the filly’s fur as she stood over the patch of dirt. It had been weeks since the plot was dug, and the grass regrew over where the soil was disturbed, only a small series of rocks denoting it. Those who traveled into the Everfree Forest wouldn’t recognize it as anything out of the ordinary, hiding the grim nature of the light mound of dirt.

As she bent down to place the flowers she had brought, Somnia let go the breath she was holding with a deep sigh. “I’m sorry this happened to you. We all make choices in life, and we both made ours.”

“A little hollow when you think about it.” Dusty muttered from the clearing entrance next to Shield.

“Hollow only if I didn’t feel bad about it.” She stood back up and stared back down at the grave. “I don’t know who they were, or what life they lived, only that their life was taken on my orders. They were only following their own, and hadn’t hurt anypony as far as I am aware.” Somnia turned back to her two additional companions. “Taking a life should never be done lightly, even if it is a necessity.”

“We have their things ready for inspection back at the castle, if you’re finally up to ending this chapter.” Shield said as his queen walked back toward them.

“Yeah. Let’s get this over with.” She led them back out of the Everfree Forest toward the town, passing the cheerful ponies contrasting the sour mood between the three of them. If Celestia read the letter she sent, the chariot would arrive shortly. The trio entered the castle, making their way to the guard’s ‘break room,’ Shield taking out a box and placing it down in front of Somnia. Quickly sifting through the contents, she sighed at the picture of them and their special somepony together, both smiling without a care in the world. Corporeal Geode Mason of the Lunar Guard Special Operations division, killed in action doing what they believed was in the interests of Equestria.

Somnia put the items back inside the box and sealed it shut, Shield carrying it with them as they went back outside the castle. The gilded chariot had indeed arrived, along with Princess Luna as requested.

“Somnia, care to explain why you wanted me awake so early in the day?” She asked with both annoyance and tiredness in her voice.

“We’re going to Bronclyn.” Somnia said as Shield put the box next to Luna and got on with the filly. “We have something we need to do.”

“I still don’t know why you needed me here. And what’s in the box?”

“Reminders.” Somnia answered at a lower volume before raising her voice again. “Guards, take us to Bronclyn as quick as possible.”

“Belay that order. Why did you wake me up?” Luna glared down at the foal.

“I told you to get your spies out of Ponyville. I mentioned three because I knew you had a fourth in deep cover. You didn’t get rid of them, so I did. Guards, to Bronclyn!”

The lunar princess scrunched up her face and turned from the young queen as the guards lifted them into the air toward their destination. The fields and forests of central Equestria passed beneath them, disrupted by a sporadic farmhouse or cottage among the wilderness. Canterlot passed by, Somnia sparing a quick glance at the support structure before it was already behind them.

A few hours of tense silence later, they touched down in front of the city hall, Shield entering inside to get the information they needed while leaving the two princesses to stew. Somnia looked around at the concrete and brick buildings that made the city, only able to see down the street in either direction until the street turned. It was pretty ugly, but she could see certain ponies enjoying the novelty.

“Why did you have to kill them?” Luna hissed through her teeth. “What compels a pony to kill another?”

“I don’t know. What compels a pony to plan and carry out a foalnapping?” Somnia turned her gaze up to Luna. “What compels a pony to let a foal be raped until they bled from their vagina? What compels--“

“I get it.” Luna put her hoof over Somnia’s mouth, closing her eyes at the mental imagery. “Just... let me handle this, alright?”

A few minutes later, Shield came out and showed the guards the address before they set off once again. Touching down in front of a small apartment block, Luna and Somnia dismounted with the box in the elder princess’ magic. They went to the third floor, down the hall to room 309.

Somnia didn’t hesitate to knock on the door, backing up a step to fall in line next to Luna. Neither turned their eyes from the door, both preparing for what was to come. A minute later a mare answered with a smile, one that quickly faded as she saw the saddened princesses.

“No... No. H-He promised...” She teared up, face scrunching up. “H-He s-said...”

“I’m so sorry.” Luna gave her the box. The mare didn’t even open it before falling onto her haunches, bawling into her hooves. Both princesses continued to stand as the mare wilted in front of them, falling to the ground as she let loose the grief, forming a small puddle for all she lost.

“H-How?” She looked up between the blubbers. “H-How did h-he...?”

“That’s classified. We can have his remains brought to Bronclyn so that he may be buried closer.” Somnia said as simple as possible.

“L-Leave me alone... I-I don’t want to see a-anypony...” She slammed the door shut, her crying only intensifying on the other side as she wailed for the loss of her lover.

Luna led Somnia back outside to the waiting chariot, both mounting into their seats. Once they took flight, she asked: “Where are they buried?”

“The Everfree Forest on the way toward your old castle. Small clearing, can’t miss it.” Somnia answered, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. “Tell the team to inform Isirilas when they enter that they’re looking for the grave. They’ll show them to it.”

“They didn’t have to die.”

“They didn’t have to spy on me either.” She paused a moment to take a breath in through her nose. “I gave you a chance to save them, but you didn’t listen. And now, a pony is dead, and another is heartbroken.”

“What’s wrong with you?!” Luna snapped at her. “You order a pony killed and buried away in the forest for weeks without anypony knowing! They could have lived! You could have told them to leave town!”

“A message needed to be sent.” She turned her gaze back up to her fellow princess, voice as calm as the sunny skies above. “To you, and to Celestia. Leave me and my family alone. But maybe you will answer my question now: Why did you do it?”

“Why did I do what?! Spy on you?!”

“Why did you have me foalnapped and raped?” Somnia asked with as little venom as she could muster. It was difficult to hold back the emotions, the pulsating heat threatening to boil over from her chest, but she didn’t want to let them get the best of her.

Luna’s face turned a shade of deep red. “How dare you! How dare you suggest I would ever even consider doing something so vile and cruel to a foal!”

“Luna, I know about your instruction. ‘I don’t care what you do. As long as it isn’t permanent and you don’t kill her, break her however you see fit.‘“ She blinked back the forming tears. “I know you regret what they ended up doing because of your order. You don’t need to hide it from me. I already know the truth.”

The lunar princess turned away from Somnia, holding back her own tears. She kept silent for a minute as she mulled it over. There was no point in denying it, Somnia knew. “C-Can I tell you another time? I-I can’t look at you right now after what we just did.”

“Yes, you can have all the time from now until the end of the year. If you haven’t told me after that...” She left it open-ended for Luna to fill in, turning back to the forests that passed beneath them.

The rest of the flight passed in dead silence, much like the ride to Bronclyn. They landed back in Ponyville around dinner time, Somnia and Shield both dismounting and heading straight for the dining hall while Luna returned to Canterlot. The filly simply sat with her head on her hooves, staring to the kitchen doors where Shield prepared dinner, trying to sooth the burning sensation surrounding her heart.

“Heya, kiddo.” Duskwing trotted in with Nightwind. “You’re here for dinner early.”

“Nothing better to do.” She mumbled, keeping her eyes firm on the doorway.

“You alright? You look kinda sad.” Nightwind asked from next to her, putting a foreleg around her shoulders.

“I had to tell somepony their special somepony was dead. Yeah, I’m a little sad about that.”

“Yikes. Princess business?” Duskwing asked as he sat across from her.

“Kinda. But also closure.” She straightened up in her chair, clearing her throat to move hopefully onto another topic. “What have you two been up to today?”

“Uncle Duskwing was showing me how to write. It was super boring.” Nightwind let out a groan.

“But super important as well. You’re getting better, just need more practice.” He smiled over at his nephew for a moment before returning his attention to Somnia. “Hey, we were thinking after dinner that we could go swimming. Your mom’s out of town until tomorrow, so that’ll give us time to hang out a bit more. Sound fun?”

“Yeah, anything to take my mind off of earlier.” She gave a small smile back at her dad. Swimming. How bad could that be?

Ducking his head beneath the water, Duskwing saw Somnia was swimming through the water like a fish, using her wings and tail like flippers, hooves held to her body or together to maximize her aquadynamics. He poked back above and swam in her general direction, hoping to intercept her. The sun was falling toward the horizon already, and he didn’t want to swim when he couldn’t see both of the foals.

A splash of water made impact with his back from behind, the filly startling him with a hug. “I win!”

“Geez, don’t do that!” He yelled back as he disentangled from her. “How’d you learn to swim so well?”

“I’m part seapony, remember?” She said with the utmost pride. “It’s normal for me to swim well.”

“Well, isn’t your mother also part seapony? Why doesn’t she swim as well?” He asked as they waded back toward the shore where Nightwind had collapsed from exhaustion.

“She needs to cast a spell to access that part of her, but I’m a true alicorn! My wings, tail, and fur are perfectly suited for swimming.” She did a lap around him as he went. “It’s not surprising she didn’t know. I wonder if Luna knows she’s part seapony...”

“Well, we probably shouldn’t swim at night. It’s not easy to see underwater without goggles.”

“Aww. Okay.” She smirked on the pass around. “Wanna race to the shore?”

“You’d win by a landslide.” He let out a small laugh. “Alright, you’re on!”

“Three two one go!” She sped off, reaching the shore within seconds. “I win!”

“Yeah, you do.” He made his way over and got out next to her. He could see her tail had naturally parted into two fins, clumping itself together and smoothing out. The water also clumped her mane onto her body, and oddly wasn’t messy, the filly shaking the water off of her and onto him as her fur fluffed up. “Are you sure your special talent isn’t for competitive swimming?”

“Nah, that would be like yours being for hunting really well.” She giggled, heading over to her colt. “Nightly~! It’s time to go~!”

“Ugh.” He sat up. “Mental note, don’t challenge you on anything.”

“You’d never win.” Duskwing helped him up. “She cheats with her magic.”

“Does it look like my horn is working?” She pointed to the spike atop her head. Duskwing raised a brow and moved over to her, tilting her head slightly.

“You have a notch in the back of your horn. It’s like it’s--“

“Growing a second horn?” She giggled. “That’s my nature horn from being part kirin!”

“Huh. I’ve never seen a kirin before. I wonder what they look like.” He rubbed the back of her horn as he regarded the extra bit. Shifting his gaze onto her back, he could see a darker section of coat seemingly only revealed when wet or parted that ran from neck to tail. Actually, it became apparent now that the fur on her back was thin compared to elsewhere. Another kirin thing? He considered, although he didn’t have any examples of what a ‘kirin’ even was.

“Probably won’t see them for a while. They were very isolationist, even in Excalicorn.” She pawed at him. “I’m hungry. Wanna get a sunset snack?”

“Sure, why not?”

The three made their way over to The Hay Burger without delay, Duskwing getting the food while Somnia warmed up Nightwind at the table. Once Duskwing set down the food, the filly made no hesitation in grabbing her three hayburgers and extra large fries to consume them with vicious abandon. By the time he took his first bite, she had already eaten nearly half of her first burger.

“Damn, slow down. You’re going to choke on it if you keep going like that.”

“That’s what I said last weekend.” Nightwind provided a coy smile to his marefriend.

“That was because you were all stwessed out.” She pushed a hoof to his chest, swallowing another bite. “And you seemed to enjoy yourself.”

“What? You two already getting into that stuff?” Duskwing sipped from his cup of orange juice, a blush coming over his nephew’s face.

“She suggested it!” Nightwind pointed back at his lover. “A-And I wasn’t going to turn her down...”

“I’m not mad, y’know.” Duskwing shook his head, the smile on his face growing. “What you two do on your own time is up to you as long as you don’t get her pregnant. By Luna, that brings back memories...” He took a moment to think of one in particular. “I was a little older than you two, had gotten my cutie mark after helping the old hunt leader with organizing the next night’s route. His daughter, I forget her name, came on really strong. Probably in heat, don’t know, but she was really persistent. I ended up giving her a kiss, but she kept at it until I went back to her dad’s place to... help her, let’s say.”

“Oooo, what happened next?” Somnia asked, leaning forward.

“We spent some alone time kissing, touching, and eventually she turned her rear to me and shoved it in my face.” He laughed out loud. “Didn’t have a clue what to do next! Kept poking at it with my hoof until she gave me a quick demonstration. Anyway, we didn’t talk much after that. Her father grounded her and he banned me from assisting with the hunting team or even talking to her. She tried propositioning me when we were older, but I had moved on.”

“Aww, that’s not a good ending.” His daughter laid her head on her hooves.

“If you want a good ending, ask your mom about her first time.” He winked at the filly before turning back to his nephew. “But I want you to know it isn’t about the sex. Sure, the sex is a nice bonus, but it’s the comfort with one another that matters more. If you’re comfortable with somepony, and they’re comfortable with you, then that’s somepony you’ll want to hold on to.”

“Hmm...” the colt mused to himself while they finished eating. He poked the mustard on his plate with a hay fry before asking the question on his mind. “What is heat, anyway?”

“You know when all the stallions go camping around Nightmare Night?” His uncle’s grin expanded. “We’re avoiding the mares because that’s heat season for batponies. The husbands usually stick around if they want foals, but otherwise we bug out. Mares can have smaller heats throughout the year, usually every few months, but they are most fertile and active during heat season. I don’t know, maybe it’s some old leftover from our past.”

“I don’t get heat.” Somnia added. “Well, I don’t have a season, at least. I’m always in heat in one form or another!”

“That... explains a lot, actually.” Duskwing gave a brief chuckle. “Your mother said she was having trouble with her urges since becoming an alicorn.”

“Has she been enjoying them?” She stuck out the tips of her tongue with a suggestive grin.

“Since I got her pregnant, and she stopped taking the anti-heat pills, yeah, I think she has.”

“Eww.” Nightwind finished his fries. “Can we move on to another topic? I don’t want to hear anymore about you and my aunt rutting.”

“Hey, it’s a part of life. Gotta get used to it sometime.” Duskwing shrugged, finishing the last bite of his burger.

After realigning the plate, Somnia finished the strap work for the body, tugging on each to make sure they were snug. One down, four more to go. As she stepped back, she did one last look over her living poniquin. “Take it off and put it back on.”

Dawn undid the locks and remove the armor, all the while being carefully watched by Somnia. Once he slipped out of it, he slung it back over himself and reversed the process. Four minutes, two to take off, two to put on. Exactly how she expected it to be.

“Any problems? Pinching, too tight, too loose, or rubs wrong?” She walked around him and checked the different parts. All straps were done up underneath, plates how they were supposed to be...

“Nope. Much more comfortable than regular guard armor.” He moved one of his forelegs in a full motion. “Honestly, the guard could make use of armor this good if it’s better protection than our standard armor.”

“Probably not fancy enough.” She muttered as she checked around his neck. “You got it on as I showed you, and as long as you take it off and put it on as I showed, you shouldn’t have problems with it.”

“So, is it better protection?” He hit the front plate.

“Better coverage, stronger and lighter materials.” The filly stepped back. “Alright, take it off. I need to finish the enchantments on the locks so only you can undo them.”

He did as he was told, taking off the armor. “I guess I can’t have a boner while putting it on?” He chuckled, undoing the lower half straps.

“Not unless you don’t mind feeling very uncomfortable or pinching it.” She provided him a coy smile, her eyes running over his form as that momentary amusement faded. With a sigh: “I kinda miss having sex.”

“Why don’t you do it with Nightwind? Hay, why not somepony like Caramel? He’s probably horny enough to go with a filly.” Dawn finished taking off the armor and putting it on the stand, turning back to the frowning filly. “Still anxious?”

“Yeah...” she admitted, walking over to him. “I-I just can’t do it.”

“You can, but you feel you shouldn’t.” He leaned down, focusing his eyes on hers. “Do you want me to help? We can go slow, I’ll be gentle. Promise.”

“I-If you wouldn’t mind...” She let out a deep breath, tearing up. Grabbing her hoof, he led her back upstairs and locked the laboratory before taking her back to her room. Shield gave a lazy salute as the two passed, not questioning what Dawn was about to do. The guardstallion made sure the door stayed unlocked as Somnia went over to the bed and... stood there, staring at it.

“How do we begin?” He asked as he walked over to her.

“I-I don’t know.” She whimpered, closing her eyes.

Lifting Somnia up, he positioned her on the bed so that he could look into her eyes, face-to-face with the crying filly. “Is this alright?”

“J-Just...” She used her hooves to cover her face. “Put it in.”

He took his time to rub his member out of its sheath, getting it extended to thrust slow against her. She whimpered with every pass, keeping her hooves over her eyes as he rubbed his dick along her dry marehood.

“It’s alright, I’m not going to hurt you.” He grabbed one of her hooves, taking it from her eyes, her opening it up to stare at him, pupil a mere pinprick. “You’re safe with me. If it’s too much, say the word and I’ll stop.”

Using his hoof, he parted her lips before her hoof shot down and grabbed his own. “S-Stop. G-Give me a minute.” She began breathing in and out as Dusty and Shield had showed her, her lover moving back to give her some room. His member retreated into its sheath as the minutes passed. Every breath he saw her take was another that made him feel that much more uncomfortable. “T-Try with only your hoof.”

His hoof moved around the edge of her marehood, going slowly as she kept her exercises going. He could hear her heart pounding with his face close to her own. He didn’t need Somnia’s ‘soul-sight’ or whatever she called it to see that she was terrified.

“L-Let’s try again.” She moved her hoof down to his sheath and began rubbing it to come out. “I-I think I’m ready.”

“You sure?” He asked, helping her get it out. “If we need to try another time--“

“No. Now.” She looked down at it and shuddered, her hooves shaking as he positioned it against her. “P-Put it in.”

Parting her lips, she let out a squeal before using her foreleg as a gag, biting into it through the skin and drawing blood. He pushed into her at a sluggish pace as she cried and shook her head, but kept the foreleg locked in her mouth.

After about a quarter, he pulled back out and repeated. He repeated a few times until she removed her bloodied foreleg from her mouth and pushed him away; him stumbling over and falling onto his back. As she laid against her bloodied sheets, she cried and whimpered while he got back up, sitting close to her grooming table. And as he watched her shake and weep, his stomach turned by just how much it was hurting her.

After a few minutes of crying, she motioned for him to come back over. “A-Again.”

“I can’t.” He shook his head. “I can’t stand seeing you like this, Som. I’m not a sadist.” He got up and came back over to her, kissing her forehead and rubbing a hoof on her cheek to clear away some of her tears. “Let’s try again tomorrow, alright? That’ll give you some time to rest.”

“Y-Yeah. Okay.” She nodded, biting her lip. “Can you tell Shield to come change my bed sheets?”

“Of course.” He trotted from the room, and a few minutes later, Shield came back with some clean sheets. She sat at her writing desk while he changed them, taking slow, deep breaths.

“Somnia, do you need to talk to somepony about this?” Shield asked as he finished up putting on the new sheets. “I can go to the doctor and talk to them about setting up an appointment with a therapist if you aren’t comfortable asking.”

“N-No, just leave me alone.” She said back under her breath. He left her be, Somnia returning to her bed and collapsing down on it.

With a great sigh, Twilight opened the door to her room and dragged her bag inside. No magic was a pain in the flank and required telling her friends she had a horn condition with the new ring attached to it. She decided to tell them the truth when they’re grooming their pets at Rarity’s boutique in about two days. A nice, calming environment while they were all together. No rush to get it done. Not like she was going to get any less pregnant.

Collapsing down on the bed, Twilight hugged her special somepony close, stirring them from their sleep.

“Hey, you. How was your time in Canterlot?” He yawned, snuggling back into her.

“It was good.” She let out a satisfied sigh of relief. “Made up with my old friends.”

“That’s good.” He chuckled, petting her mane from her face to stare into her eyes. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“I’m glad to be back.” She scooted closer and kissed her husband for a moment. “We probably need to talk about the baby.”

“That can wait until morning.” He licked his lips. “Unless you want to try for another?”

“It doesn’t work that way.” She scrunched up her nose and rubbed it against his. They both gave a short laugh, settling in for the rest of the night. Duskwing laid a wing over her as she snuggled into him, content in the embrace.

Morning came soon enough for both. They got ready and went to breakfast where a miserable Somnia and snoring Nightwind weren’t the chattiest bunch. It hurt Twilight to see her daughter so distraught, but she knew that asking would only result in being yelled at like usual, and Duskwing knew better than to try after she blew up at him the last time. Both foals left early, Somnia not even finishing her meal while Nightwind had to rush to get to school. After breakfast, the two adults retreated to the upstairs living area in order to have some alone time from the world.

“Ahhh.” Duskwing sighed out as he settled into the large comfy chair Somnia ‘donated.’ “I can see why she liked it so much. You gotta show me that lab of hers someday.”

“I’m sure she’d be willing to show you if you would just ask her.” Twilight laid on the love seat, rubbing her belly. “Are we just having the wedding here?”

“I was thinking so. Already got the seamstress, after-party planner, and wedding planner. We just need somepony to administer the oaths and we’re golden.”

“Let me guess, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Pinkie Pie again?” She raised an amused brow.

“Close. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Amethyst Star. Met her back at Cranky and Matilda’s wedding. Thought it would be for the best to get her to handle the decorations and catering. Something small, maybe enough for up to thirty ponies.”

“Speaking of... who are we inviting?” Twilight rolled over onto her back to stare at the ceiling. “You, me, the three kids, my five friends, Cadance and Shining Armor, my parents, the other princesses... That makes sixteen. Who else?”

“I was thinking Amethyst, Lyra, Bon Bon, the Queen’s Guard, the CMCs, and Windbane from Hollow Shades.”

“Windbane? Why her?”

“She’s an old friend of mine.” He bobbed his head to the side. “And I promised to make her my best-mare if I ever got married.”

“Alright, so that makes twenty-eight. One more spot if we include the minister.” Twilight tapped her belly in thought. “The mayor?”

“Nah.” Duskwing considered their options. There weren’t many other ponies that he knew he would be willing to invite. Excalion, Grar, and the little devil bunny of Fluttershy’s were givens. “Discord?”

Twilight winced. “Really? Do you really want him to come?”

“Isn’t he Fluttershy’s coltfriend or something?”

“No, they’re just friends.” Twilight thought a bit more. If she was going to invite one of her Canterlot friends, she might as well invite them all. But there was only one spot...

“Big Mac?”

“Yeah, alright. Big Mac is fine.”

“Now that’s out of the way...” Duskwing got up and went over to the love seat, pushing Twilight up as he positioned himself so she would lie against his belly. “I guess we need to talk about what we’re going to do about our incoming loaf.”

“I want to find out their sex at birth. Somnia already spoiled me on what type of pony they are, so I want to keep a little surprise for then.”

“Oh? They a bloodsucker?” He picked up her hoof and gave it a lick.

“Gross!” she batted back at him over her shoulder. “Maybe they are. Guess you’ll need to find out at the baby shower.”

“Guess I will.” He gave a chuckle. “What about names? I would like a colt to be named something like... Something Skies, if they’re a thestral or pegasus.”

“That means I get to pick the filly name.” Twilight stuck out her tongue at him. “I was thinking Midnight Miracle. Combines my modern family tradition of naming after times of night with my old name back from Excalicorn.”

“Didn’t we buck around midnight?” He rubbed her belly. “Seems awfully appropriate, given we didn’t expect to conceive.”

“It’s perfect.” Twilight grabbed his hoof and held it to herself. “I just hope it’s a filly, otherwise we’re trying again.”

“And again?”

She turned over and crawled up on him, a suggestive smirk on her face. “Am I just your baby maker?”

“Depends. How many do you want?” He pulled her up to straddle him.

“I don’t really know. I mean, we’ve already had three.” She rubbed his chest, moving her hips back and forth to entice him. “How about another three?”

“Make it five and we got a deal.” He lowered his hoof to her teats to stroke.

“F-Four.” She moaned out.

Kissing along her neck: “Four it is.”

Author's Note

Heyya vs Heya: What do you prefer? I'm preferential to Heya myself.