Thorax was a stressed changeling.
It had been moons since Queen Chrysalis was banished, yet the hive was still far from stable or peaceful.
For generations, the changelings had lived in a militaristic society, each drone doing their part like a cogwheel in a machine. Warriors provided protection and kept the order. Infiltrators spread across Equestria to steal love from unsuspecting ponies and bring it back home. Workers took care of the young and maintained the structural integrity of the hive. And finally, the Queen ruled with absolute authority.
But now, all this had changed. The changelings willingly gave up their edge. They revealed and called back all their infiltrators. And, with that move, they had lost their primary source of sustenance.
Even the reformed changelings could not survive indefinitely by feeding only on the love of other changelings. In time, their magic would weaken, and hunger would return. They still depended on the love of ponies; their metamorphosis just changed the means. Unfortunately, the internal turmoil of the hive thwarted their efforts to make pony friends.
The new chain of command was inefficient and disorganized. The hive was always on the brink of rebellion: First, there was a constant fear of Queen Chrysalis returning and taking revenge on the ones turning their backs on her. Second, the lingering hunger made even the most pro-reform changelings second guess their views. And third, a group of renegade changelings still followed the old ways. Just last week, four of them deserted the hive to find Chrysalis and repledge their loyalty to her. They were caught two days later near Clousdale, forcefully extracting love from a group of pegasi.
It was no wonder that the ponies were not exactly thrilled by the changeling's reform. Even though the Princesses of Equestria had assured their support of improving relations, the current situation was not much better than a ceasefire. Mistrust towards the shapeshifters remained commonplace, with a few notable exceptions like Princess Cadance, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and their friends. Unfortunately, their love was insufficient to feed the whole hive properly.
Thorax, the new ruler of the changelings, found himself in the middle of this mess. Mere months ago, he had been just a rogue infiltrator exploring and experiencing pony life from a new angle. Now he found himself catapulted to the front of the whole pack. The responsibility on his shoulders was overwhelming.
After the months of unrest, the time had come to ascertain the status of pony–changeling relations: The first day of Thorax's diplomatic visit to Canterlot. He left most of his inner circle at home, hoping that the hive would endure his absence. Only two other changelings accompanied him, serving as bodyguards and scribes.
It was not a surprise that Canterlot was in full alarm for the duration of the visit. Royal guards doubled their patrols across the capital. One could even have noticed that the number of unicorns was exceptionally high amongst their ranks. The ponies were not taking the risk of yet another changeling attack. The mistrust lingering in the air did not help Thorax's anxiety.
The negotiations did not go well for him. As empathetic and understanding Princess Celestia was, she and her advisors were genuinely concerned about the ponies' fear and prejudice towards changelings. The inner struggles of the hive did not help to dispel that. The only notable achievement of the day was Celestia's promise to have Twilight organize a delegation. Maybe, if more changelings had experienced genuine pony friendship from first-hoof, adapting to a new way of life would become less challenging. Hopefully, the proposed visit would also help reduce food scarcity and persuade more renegades to change.
There were still numerous unresolved questions, like improving long-term relations and getting raw materials. Thorax did not have much to offer. The changeling hive was in the heart of the barren Badlands, and their economy had relied on stealing or forcefully taking goods. They had virtually nothing to trade and had no experience in farming, mining, or manufacturing.
In short, they were all at Celestia's mercy.
By late evening, the formal negotiations between the parties had ended. Princess Celestia offered tea and a chance for a more casual face-to-face in one of the tearooms in Canterlot Castle. It offered a friendly atmosphere with dim lights, warm colors, and comfortable furniture that Celestia hoped would help put Thorax at ease.
The princess lightly leaned to her side in her armchair and levitated her cup to her lips. She was mostly inhaling the bitter liquid, taking only small sips and appreciating the aroma. Even with her relaxed form, Celestia held her regal composure, radiating her trademark serenity as always, and in stark contrast to the troubled changeling in the opposite chair.
Thorax held his own cup in his hooves and took a sip. The citrusy smell filled his nostrils, the warm liquid offering some comfort. It was way too late for tea, but he didn't mind. Maybe the caffeine would help him gain more focus. His thoughts were a complete train wreck after the events of the day. He felt lost and incompetent. He was no politician.
"Thorax," Celestia began. "Since I learned of the changelings, I've been curious. Why do you depend on the love of ponies?"
"It's food for us, princess," Thorax said, staring into his teacup.
"I know, Thorax," she said. "But what would be the true meaning of that? I do know that changelings feel love. I've witnessed you express love towards your hive numerous times today. If you have such strong devotion, why do you need pony love?"
Thorax put down his cup, but still didn't look at the princess. "Of course, we feel love. We're not heartless monsters." He finally looked at Celestia. "Our dependence on pony love relates to magic."
Celestia blinked. "Magic?"
"Indeed. Changelings, reformed or not, cannot produce magic on their own, but ponies and other sapient magical creatures can." Thorax adopted a wry smile. "I think you can guess where this goes."
Yellow aura enveloped Celestia's teacup as she levitated it to the front of her face. Rotating it in the air, she studied the painted porcelain with a knowing half-smile before glancing back at Thorax. "Our love is entangled with our innate magic. Is that it?"
Thorax nodded. "The love of ponies is full of magic, and the only way changelings can live is to feed on that magic, whether by deception, force, or sharing their own love and benefitting from the reciprocal. I prefer the latter."
"I bet Twilight would love to study your kind more," Celestia said.
Thorax chuckled. "I'm sure she would. The truth is, other positive emotions work just as well: gratitude, admiration, awe, and lust."
Raising her eyebrows, Celestia cast a questioning look at Thorax. He went on.
"You know, in the past, it was especially beneficial for changelings to impersonate celebrities, public figures, or popular ponies pursuing the casual romance. The bigger the influence, the better. Targeting royalty like Princess Cadance was only an ambitious next step."
Celestia hummed as she took a sip from her tea. "An ambition that failed."
"After the scandal at her wedding, changelings had to back down. All of a sudden, our existence was widespread news. Ponies became paranoid." He looked down again. "I didn't blame them. In the end, infiltration shifted towards low-profile targets: Friends or lovers of ordinary ponies."
Celestia's teacup landed on the table with a cling. "Lovers?"
Thorax opened his mouth to elaborate, but the single-word question made him halt. Something clicked in his brain. And then he immediately kicked himself mentally. A part of his old infiltrator training came to his mind: "Equine courtship and copulation." But why in Equestria would something like that come up in a diplomatic discussion? He shuddered.
Yet, at the same time, a nagging thought surfaced in his head. Maybe this was something that ponies could be interested in? After all, changelings did pursue intimate relationships with ponies until the recent past. Not for any noble reasons per se, but infiltrators held a specific skillset. Perhaps he had something to offer after all.
Thorax raised his teacup and downed its contents with a few big gulps. Celestia waited while he put his empty cup on the table.
"I can elaborate, Princess, but please allow me to ask a question first. What is the ratio of sexes in Equestria?"
"It is two to one, mares to stallions. This is one of the reasons why so many mares live alone." Celestia's expression became puzzled for a moment. "How does this relate to your earlier remark?"
"In our hive, the ratio is the opposite. This gave us an advantage when we dealt with our 'prey'."
"I don't follow.".
Thorax shrugged. "Bear with me just a little longer, princess. Have you ever heard of the Harem of Sultaness Arelia?"
Celestia looked sideways, her eyes staring into space. "I have. They were a group of stallions living in the royal court of Saddle Arabia centuries ago. They had legendary skills in, well, making love." Her gaze returned to Thorax.
"History tells us that they were held in such high regard that the Sultaness almost started a war over them. But that's not the most interesting part of their story." Thorax straightened his back and lifted his gaze, looking directly into the eyes of the Princess. "The interesting part is, they were all changelings."
Celestia gave a slow nod as she processed the information.
"For us, they are not just some historical figures," Thorax continued. "They made it to the bedroom of the ruler of Saddle Arabia, and with that, they gathered admiration, fame, and plenty of physical love. They are the curriculum of infiltration and courtship."
Celestia shifted her weight, her body tensing up. Thorax just shook his head.
"Don't be alarmed, princess. That is not how I lead my changelings. You already know that I discourage deception. My point is that our hive has hundreds of drones trained—" Thorax cleared his throat "—to have sex with ponies."
Celestia sighed. "This is intriguing, Thorax, but my little ponies fear changelings. You cannot expect them to just jump under the covers with a changeling, even if something like that happened in the past."
"I know, I know," Thorax admitted. "But this would help with our problems, wouldn't it? Lonesome pony mares might find their soulmates amongst changelings."
Celestia ruffled her wings a little and glanced sideways.
The voice of Thorax became wishful. "Like ponies, we also thrive for love and care. We would get love from our partners, and in return, we could make their fantasies come true. A changeling can be a full-sized Saddle Arabian stallion one day, an athletic pegasus the next, and take their natural form on the third. You know how I disagree with the original purpose of our training, but this might be the only thing I can offer now." He sighed. "Princess, please give it a thought."
Celestia turned her gaze back towards Thorax. "This is quite unusual." Her voice carried a hint of uncertainty. "I need more time to consider all the implications. For now, let's say that I am interested in your offer. Would your subjects agree to such an arrangement?"
"I think so," he said. "Well, after giving them an opportunity to learn more about friendship and honesty. I'm sure infiltrators miss being around ponies. Most of them spent years posing as ponies loving other ponies." He cleared his throat. "But, this time, we would be changelings loving ponies. No more deception."
"I envy your optimism," said Celestia quietly.
"Well, you've mentioned my passion for my hive." Thorax smiled. "But I'm also excited about our friendship with ponies. I hope some of that will eventually rub off on my changelings, and that they will learn to love ponies. As equals, or at least devoted lovers, like our predecessors in the Harem. We only need to be given a chance to show our love."
Celestia didn't reply. With a deep sigh, she sat back in her chair. Thorax could not help but notice her demeanor shift through their conversation. She flicked her multi-colored tail, something obviously troubling her.
For the next few minutes, they sat in silence. Celestia was lost in her thoughts. Thorax kept glancing at her face every few seconds. He really wanted to know what went on in her head.
And then, the realization hit: Celestia was in power for over a thousand years. There was no doubt that she had met Sultaness Arelia, who could have offered a taste of the Harem. Celestia might have already experienced the art of changeling love-making. This was not just the matter of Equestria. This was the matter of her. What if what Thorax presented was not just a hypothetical scenario, but it could become a reality, right here and right now? Her words rang in his ear: "Let's say that I am interested in your offer." Maybe he could offer himself?
Thorax let out an almost inaudible grunt. He resisted the urge to face-hoof. What was he thinking? Seducing the ruler of Equestria? The semi-goddess princess, on whose trust everything hinged? This was crazy!
And yet, somehow, the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. The two of them were sitting in the middle of a diplomatic discussion. Most ponies were at home by this time of the day, spending time with their families and loved ones.
But no loved ones were waiting for Celestia. The princess, who was adored by all, went to sleep in a cold bed every night. And Thorax knew the overwhelming feeling of responsibility, even though he had only been in charge for a few moons. When every pair of eyes were set on you, you could not just go out and get laid. The idea of a ruler sleeping with their subjects just felt wrong to Thorax. But, he was not her subject.
Thorax lifted his head to look into Celestia's eyes. Their gazes met, and at that moment, he could feel the mare behind the regal mask: A lonely mare whose status bore so much weight. And the one who just reminisced a glimpse of excitement she had many years ago—with his kind. Maybe he was the one to take her loneliness away?
Thorax felt his pulse rising. He cleared his throat. "Do you know what the secret of Arelia's Harem was? I think they were honest about their passion for the Sultaness and her… companions. They figured out that the truth is more powerful than any deception could ever be."
Celestia's eyes sparkled, but she remained silent.
Thorax held his gaze and leaned closer. His voice turned low. "You know, I was also an infiltrator. And, I've learned everything about the needs of ponies: How to be there for somepony, how to touch, care, hug, and love. To be a compassionate partner, a tender lover, or just a warm body to hug tight on a lonely night. And—" Thorax swallowed as he leaned even closer to Celestia, his voice becoming a whisper "—I know all the Harem's secrets about the art of making love. Since I've been around ponies, all I—"
"Yes," Celestia blurted out, interrupting the changeling. He cocked his head, trying to make sense of her sudden outburst.
Without warning, Celestia leaned all the way in and kissed Thorax. Her sweet, delicate lips met the changeling's fangs, carrying the tang of tea.
Thorax froze before leaning into the kiss. Their tongues briefly met between Celestia's soft lips, making her hum with delight. Without breaking their kiss, the changeling stood up and stepped next to the royal alicorn. He raised his foreleg and laid his hoof on her back, caressing the spot between her wings. Celestia gasped at Thorax's tender touch.
He pulled his mouth away from her lips and moved towards her left ear, planting small wet kisses across her muzzle. He traced her ear with his forked tongue, carefully nibbling on it and letting his fangs run over the delicate skin beneath her pale coat.
Thorax pushed his foreleg down a little harder, massaging the sensitive nerve endings at the base of Celestia's wings. Her breathing became quicker, and her body started to tremble under his firm touch. Thorax slowly worked his leg up her back until he was running his hoof through the multi-colored swirl of her mane. Celestia leaned into the changeling, nuzzling his neck. Thorax pulled her into a tight embrace. Their breathing synced up, both of them letting out deep sighs.
Thorax glanced down at the royal mare pressing against his body. Her soft coat felt nice on his smooth chitin plates. Her warmth seeped into his body as the sweet smell of her mane filled his nose, making his heart beat faster.
There was no denying that Thorax had always hada thing for ponies. And, without a doubt, Celestia was one of the most beautiful ponies in Equestria. She was the gold standard, against whom all other beautiful mares of Equestria were compared. Thorax let his gaze wander freely over her, admiring her pristine off-white coat, well-toned body, round rump, and magnificent wings. Her flowing, multi-colored tail flicked with excitement, yet her delicate features emitted gentleness as she nuzzled his neck.
Thorax gulped, his face turning hot as he prepared to take the final step. His muzzle touched Celestia's ear as he whispered, "Let me make you the happiest mare alive."
Instead of saying a word, Celestia lifted her head, once again seeking out his kiss. She was blushing. The changeling bent down, her warm breath pulling him closer and closer. When their lips finally met, Celestia let out a small moan. Thorax could have sworn that the princess held a literal fire inside her body as droplets of her innate magic seeped into him. The taste of her pure magic was beyond anything he had ever felt. She was truly one-of-a-kind.
Their tongues met in a sensual dance. Celestia wrapped her forelegs around Thorax's neck and pulled him back into the armchair with her.
Thorax broke their kiss, panting and utterly failing to mask his excitement. He moved his head down and licked her neck, taking in the intoxicating taste of the skin under her coat and feeling her excited pulse through the blood vessels in her neck. Deep inside his mind, a changeling predator howled, "Feed! Breed! Possess!"
His head went lower, kissing and licking Celestia's neck and withers and giving an occasional playful bite. He moved his snout to her right wing and raised his foreleg to caress the left one. Celestia quivered as he nuzzled her primaries, pushing herself deeper into the chair.
Thorax gently turned Celestia sideways before ducking his head down to trace her cutie-mark with his lips and fangs. His hoof wandered towards her inner thighs. She moaned softly, her body trembling under Thorax's touch after being denied such contact for so long.
The smell of a mare's excitement hit Thorax as Celestia's flicking tail flung tiny droplets of her arousal into the air. He moved his snout towards the source, taking in her incredible scent. He let his forked tongue twirl around the base of her tail. The multi-colored hairs were soaked with her wetness. Thorax found himself drooling.
He called upon his magic and changed just one part of his body. Under his chitin-plated abdomen, a dark gray stallionhood appeared. He went for an almost perfect copy of a Saddle Arabian stallion's member but added his unique twist to it: A thick knot near the base of its shaft. Knowing a little about the anatomy of diamond dogs could be beneficial, he thought.
Thorax shifted his body to the side. He took Celestia's hoof and guided it toward his erect penis. Her touch was light, almost timid. She carefully explored the stiff member while he caressed her flank and inner thighs with his hooves, lips, and tongue. Celestia quickly became more engaged, lightly stroking Thorax's penis. He grunted, enjoying her touch.
After a minute or two of mutual caressing, Thorax gently pulled Celestia off her armchair, motioning her to turn her flank towards him. She abided, turning her backside to the changeling and face to her chair. She tucked her tail between her hind legs at first, but soon flagged it high to reveal her wet marehood. Thorax could feel the heat radiating from the princess's nether regions and licked his fangs in anticipation.
Celestia trembled in excitement as she felt Thorax's breath on her marehood. She bit her lower lip, trying to stifle her moan as Thorax's lips hit home. Being trained in the ways of loving ponies, he quickly found her clitoris while his lips and fangs traced her vulva. Thorax teased her, purposely avoiding her entrance and focusing on the other parts of her marehood.
Celestia spread her wings and let her head fall back so that her mane flowed out behind her. She tried to press her lips together to quiet her moans. Her muscles tensed as her ecstasy was building up.
Thorax intensified his tongue's work on Celestia's clitoris, taking full advantage of its dexterity to drive her to ever-deeper bliss. He raised his hooves to Celestia's rump, pulling her butt-cheeks to allow him more access. The mixture of her nectar and Thorax's saliva trickled down on her inner thighs.
Celestia's breathing became erratic. Thorax pressed his tongue with full force to her clitoris. Celestia drew a deep breath, and with a whinny, finally exploded into bliss. She pressed her forehead hard into the chair cushion as her body convulsed and her winking marehood sent gushes of her arousal splashing over Thorax's muzzle.
Thorax sat back in awe, looking at the beautiful agony of the pony princess. Seeing her like this was breathtaking and extremely arousing at the same time. With great enthusiasm, Thorax licked her juices off his own face.
Celestia's orgasm finally hit a decrescendo. Still gasping for air, she raised and slowly shook her head from side to side, trying to clear her head after the mind-melting orgasm she'd just had. When she'd regained her composure, she folded her wings and righted her posture, making herself stand firm with her hind legs spread. She looked back over her shoulder, panting with excitement. She flicked her tail in an unspoken Come-hither.
Wordlessly, Thorax stood up and took a few shaky steps towards the princess. His heart was beating in his throat. He was excited, aroused, and nervous beyond imagination. It was of no wonder: The Princess of Equestria was inviting him into her body—the most sacred place any mare, let alone a mare as sacred as her, could offer.
Thorax felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff. He just needed to let himself loose and let his training guide him. But for the moment, he was hesitating. His mind tried to catch up with the implications of what he was going to do and with whom.
He looked at Celestia again, took in her parted lips, listened to her excited panting. He could almost feel her hot breath on his own lips. Her mane became messier by the minute. His gaze wandered over her round rump and dripping wet marehood. Then he looked her right into the eyes. Love. Excitement. Lust. A mare unparalleled.
Thorax took a leap of faith.
He reared up and mounted the princess, holding down her wings with his forelegs and taking control of her. He probed around with motions of his hips until his stallionhood found her entrance before slowly, gently pushing his way inside.
Celestia gasped in either pleasure or pain. She was incredibly tight for a mare of her size, and it left Thorax wondering how long could it have been since somepony had made love to her.
Thorax grunted as he pushed in deeper, making the pony princess tremble. Once he reached deep enough, he paused, allowing their bodies to adjust to each other. Celestia's walls felt tight, moist, and amazingly warm around his member. Thorax bent forward and nuzzled the back of her neck, savoring the touch of her soft coat against his snout.
He slowly pulled his member halfway out, just to push it back in the next moment. He set a comfortable pace, just slow enough to make them feel every slight tremble, every pulsation of a vein, every petite clench. With each thrust, Celestia let out a whimpery moan.
She became wetter, helping Thorax slide in and out easier. Even so, he held back, keeping his relaxed pace. He ran his hoof through her wing and down her side till he arrived at her cutie mark. He traced the magnificent symbol of the sun before letting his hoof wander lower to the curves of Celestia's thighs.
Celestia began to push herself backward to meet Thorax's thrusts, helping him go deeper. Her moans became louder and more ecstatic. She gave a little stomp with her right foreleg each time Thorax thrust into her. He could feel the pressure building up in the mare under him, her walls squeezing down on his stallionhood. He grunted as his stallionhood flared inside her tightening walls, his own climax nearing. His balls twitched slightly.
Celestia pushed back against him, hilting the changeling ruler inside herself except for his knot. She arched her back and let out a high, almost filly-like scream as she reached her climax. Her marehood clenched down hard on the changeling's penis as her body started to shake, making Thorax hold on tighter.
Thorax grunted under strain as he resisted the mare's orgasmic contractions milking his member. He could taste the bliss of the struggling mare, the waves of pleasure spreading from her insides to her whole body. He saw stars, his head spinning as he fought with all his will to not explode into her inviting womb.
Moaning, trembling, and panting hard, they rode out the princess's orgasm together. Her warm juices flowed down the entire length of Thorax's member, the proof of their union dripping off his knot.
After a minute, Celestia's climax faded away. Thorax took deep breaths to regain his senses and looked at the trembling mare under him. Her body was sweaty, and his grip had ruffled her carefully preened wings. But he was not done yet.
He pushed Celestia a step forward, making her kneel on her armchair to allow him to go even deeper. He started to thrust again, this time with a much more vigorous speed, making Celestia cry out with each thrust.
Thorax slowly built up more force, pushing almost the entire length of his member in, his canine knot hitting the princess's vulva each time he thrust. A new wave of heat bloomed in Celestia's nether regions. "More!" she gasped needily, surprising both herself and Thorax.
A deep, feral desire awoke within Thorax—a desire to breed. He almost snarled as his instincts took over his body. Titles, roles, and prejudices faded away, leaving only him and his lover. A fresh burst of adrenaline rushed through his veins, strengthening both his thrusts and his hold on the mare under him.
Celestia gasped again as she felt the change in her partner's demeanor, her tender lover morphing into an apex predator. To be taken like this, used so roughly, and dominated so thoroughly was unlike anything she had ever experienced. She bit down hard on her lip as she let herself be taken to the fullest. Her wings wanted to rise in excitement, yet Thorax held them down firmly as if she was tied down, defenseless. It only aroused her more—finally, she could be just a mare. Not an all-powerful alicorn, not the sovereign ruler of a whole nation. Just an ordinary mare, being loved, being taken, being rutted.
The bare thought brought a desperate moan to her lips. Her inner walls started to tighten once again around Thorax's quick thrusts, the pressure in her abdomen building. She pushed her face into the armchair she was kneeling on, moaning hard into the fabric.
Thorax was panting hard, sweat running down his brow. His member was in full flare, getting ready to fill the moaning mare in his firm grip.
Thorax felt his partner's upcoming orgasm. He made one last conscious attempt to help them reach their climax together: He changed his pace, pushing in until his knot hit her lips and holding himself there, just barely pulling out before pushing in again.
Celestia cried out as her walls clenched down on Thorax's penis. With the aid of half a step forward, he bottomed out, balls twitching as he finally knotted the princess.
Celestia screamed in pain and pleasure at the nigh-vicious stretching Thorax's knot put her through. The knot pushed into her most sensitive areas, instantly bringing her to climax. Thorax let out a deep growl, his wings flaring. His member began to pulse, its tip barely parting the entrance of his partner's womb. He bent forward on instinct and bit the back of his lover's neck, his fangs scratching the delicate skin.
Streams of semen erupted from Thorax's member, shooting right into Celestia's womb. He held her tight in his hooves as they rode their mutual climax together. Soon, the princess was stuffed full of his seed. The knot embedded inside her didn't let a single drop escape. With each additional throb of Thorax's member, Celestia let out a whimpery moan as Thorax completely filled her.
The tides of magic stemming from the royal mare's climax poured right into the changeling's body, pushing his neurons into overdrive. With Thorax's own orgasm added on top of that, his changeling magic overflowed and fed back into Celestia, linking their senses and feelings, the two becoming one. For a few moments, there was no 'Celestia' or 'Thorax,' but the amalgam of their souls dissolved in the pond of their shared bliss.
Soon, the waves of their orgasms died down, leaving the two sweaty and heavily panting bodies stuck together. Finally, Thorax's erection subsided slightly, allowing him to pull out gently. A gush of their mixed juices ran down on their sexes and hindlegs.
As Thorax dismounted Celestia, her legs gave out, and she slid down to the floor. She rested her head on the armchair, her mane hanging in sweaty clumps instead of the usual ethereal flow. Thorax lay down and pulled her in a shaky embrace from behind. The evidence of their love-making trickled from Celestia's marehood, forming a small puddle and soaking into her multi-colored tail.
Thorax held her close, taking in her warmth. Every cell in his body felt vibrant and alive. His nerves sparkled with her magic. He twitched as echoes of their love-making went through him.
Celestia was panting. She was sore in several places, yet her insides felt warm, buttery, and somewhat full. Her body still contained the residue of Thorax's magic. It made her melt into the embrace and relive their magic-infused climaxes over and over again.
Neither of them could say anything for a while. Long minutes had passed by before their shaky breathing normalized and trembling subsided. The only voluntary action they made was Thorax nuzzling Celestia's neck softly.
Finally, Celestia scooted out of the embrace and stood up carefully. Her legs were shaking. Her mane, tail, and wings were a ruffled mess, and her hindquarters were soaked with their various fluids. She took a few deep breaths to collect herself.
Without looking at Thorax, she finally spoke, her words barely a whisper: "I will release the guards, and then, we may leave."
Celestia walked to the door with cautious steps and opened it just wide enough to stick her head out. Her voice was a tad more wavering than usual. “You are dismissed for tonight. Thank you, and good night."
Thorax heard the two royal guards march away in unison. Celestia sighed. It was unlikely that the guards had not heard them, or that they had not smelled the scent of sex that permeated the room, but she trusted their discretion. He stood up and slowly walked to the princess. She turned her head towards the changeling, her expression blank.
"I will retire to my chambers and rest. We have a lot to talk through tomorrow," she said.
Thorax's expression became puzzled for a moment. Then, he nodded in reply.
Celestia stepped out and started down the corridor, only to stop after a few steps. She was still trembling as she looked back at the changeling ruler standing at the door. Her voice turned soft. "Say, Thorax. Can changelings procreate with ponies?"
The question made Thorax's eyes go wide. He opened and closed his mouth, but no words came out. He coughed once, finally composing himself enough to speak. "Yes, they can… if their magic is strong enough," he said, looking right into Celestia's eyes.
She turned away, hiding her expression from the changeling.
"I see," she said. "Good night."
The full moon shone over Canterlot. Thousands of stars filled the sky, not a single cloud disturbing their cold light. The night was serene and picturesque—a true gem amongst late fall nights, despite the unexpected drop in the temperature. Winter was already baring its teeth.
A single pony flew with majestic grace. Thousands of small bright globes filled the sky around her, each shining with a set of moving images. The pony danced around the globes, touching and turning some of them. From time to time, she slowed down to take a closer look at one. These stops often made her giggle. She didn't mind the chilly air—the dreamscape was her domain, after all.
Princess Luna enjoyed quiet nights like this. Most of her subjects had pleasant dreams and a good night's sleep. She hummed a tune softly as she went on with her watch. Equestria was at peace.
A small jolt came from nowhere, running through her body and making her freeze. Somepony was having a bad dream! Luna turned to look for the one in her need. Her eyes scanned over thousands of dream-globes in just mere moments—a daunting task for the unversed, but not for the Princess of the Night.
She saw something in the corner of her eye. "There you are!"
She glided through the sea of dream-globes towards her target. She could finally see the culprit, a distressed globe with a murky, greenish glow.
"Ah, it is you again." Her voice rang with disappointment. "You do not belong here."
The globe hovered towards her. It was shaking. Curiously enough, this one had no images inside that Luna could see.
"You are not my subject, little one. I have no authority over you. Please go home."
She turned and flew, leaving the trespasser behind. She already knew what was going to happen. This was one of those nights. She looked back, only to see the green dream-globe following her.
"Please, stop." Luna frowned. "I don't know who you are or why you are following me. Go away!"
The globe did not seem to listen. It just hovered closer to her. Luna bit down on her lip, a low grunt escaping her chest. Her dark blue aura enveloped the persistent dream-globe. "I am sorry, but I will dispel you again."
A chilly sensation ran down her spine as her spell formed. She knew well that dispelling a dream would make the dreamer wake up terrified, shaken, and miserable. It was a 'last resort' type of spell, and she just hated using it.
She focused her magic. Her eyes glowed up as she pushed the globe inwards, trying to make it implode. It churned under her power, emitting a high-pitched whiny sound. Luna groaned as her magical output peaked. A series of hairline cracks formed on the globe's glassy surface.
In the next moment, she dropped the spell. Her magic exploded into thousands of tiny motes and faded to nothingness without causing any harm. She let out a sad sigh. She could not do it. Not again. "I am sorry. I don't want to break you." She raised her hoof, touching the murky globe. "But I don't want you to suffer, either."
Luna called upon her magic again. This time, she chose a different spell. The globe floated right to the front of her face.
I should not do this, she thought. It can be dangerous, and it is against all moral rules to enter the dream of not one of my subjects.
Not listening to her own concerns, she leaned forward and touched her horn to the globe. With a swirl, her world faded away.
oooOOOooo
Luna stepped into the Meeting Hall of the Canterlot Castle.
That's unexpected, she thought.
She saw three figures at the side of the hall—reformed changelings. Two of them were sitting on a bench. Their features were rough and generic, as if someone had not bothered to construct the details of their character. But the third looked true-to-life. He paced up and down, his head low.
"Thorax?"
The changeling ruler stopped and looked up. He was trembling. Upon recognizing Luna, he turned towards her and bowed.
"Princess Luna!" he said. "I am glad to see you."
Luna walked closer to the changeling. "Thorax, what's going on? Why are you here?"
"I would like to see Celestia. Do you know when she will be back? I've been waiting for her for hours."
Luna shook her head. "I am sorry, Thorax. This is only a dream."
His eyes went wide. "A dream?"
"Yes. It is my duty to protect the ponies of Equestria in their sleep. Your dream called for me, and I've decided to enter." Luna bowed. "I apologize, Thorax. It is unruly for me to enter the dreams of others than my subjects."
Thorax shook his head. "No need to apologize, princess. At least now I know this is a dream," he said while he motioned his hoof around. He took a few steps toward the nearest window, looking at the motionless background of his dream. "I don't think this is the first time I've dreamt this. It's always the same." He sighed. "Your sister never arrives."
Luna blinked in surprise as the pieces of the puzzle in front of her fell into place. Thorax was easy to read by her standards. His nervous quiver and stressed-out posture were a dead giveaway. His slow, deep breaths and frequent sighs carried the unmistakable sign of longing.
Moreover, Luna had already seen this type of dream thousands of times. "Waiting for somepony who never arrives," she muttered to herself.
Was Thorax in love with Celestia? Luna remembered when the changeling ruler had visited Canterlot a few weeks ago, but he and Celestia had seemed distant and professional. Almost suspiciously so, on second thought.
Luna sighed. Resolving bad dreams was her duty, but something like this was beyond her authority. Whatever was going on between her sister and a foreign ruler was for them to address. Unless, of course, the matter would raise concerns for the security of Equestria, but Luna immediately discarded this thought. Thorax was a new ally known to have an outstanding commitment to peace, and she was confident that he could not mislead her in the dreamscape.
Luna took a few steps towards Thorax. She spoke in a quiet, soothing voice. "Have you tried talking with her?"
"Yes. That's why I'm here, waiting."
"I meant in the waking world. You can always just come and visit. You're our ally."
Thorax kept looking through the window, avoiding Luna's eyes. "I— I don't know."
Luna stepped next to the troubled changeling. She placed a hoof on his back. Thorax shuddered when he felt her touch.
"Let me tell you a secret. My sister is quite bad at 'friendship stuff'. If it is only she and her subjects, she is the best princess ever. If it is anyone else, she is lost." Luna closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. "You should not let this pile up inside you. I did the same a thousand years ago, and we all know how that ended. Please, talk with her."
"But I—" Thorax stopped, his voice faltering. He turned his head away from Luna.
She kept her hoof on his back.
Thorax sniffed a few times. After a few shaky breaths, he wiped his eyes, calming himself enough to continue. "What if she doesn't want to see me?"
"Then you can share that feeling with the ones close to you. And, eventually, you will be able to move on." Luna pushed her hoof down on Thorax's back, giving him a supportive squeeze. "I know that you have lots of friends among ponies. You are not alone." Her voice turned serious. "And, you should also think about your subjects. They depend on your integrity."
Thorax held his unfocused gaze for a few moments. A shiver ran through his body, and he let out a long, deep sigh. "You're right," he said. "Thank you."
But, his pained expression remained. He stepped sideways, slipping out from the hoof on his back. "May I?"
Luna nodded and took a few steps back. This was probably the most she could do without interfering too much with her sister's private affairs.
Her horn lit up. "I will leave you be, Thorax." She offered him an encouraging smile. "Take care and sleep well."
"Good night."
Luna yawned as she walked the corridors of the Canterlot Castle. After meeting Thorax, the rest of her night had been uneventful. Her thoughts kept returning to the changeling ruler, making her feel a little low this morning. She disliked when a problem fell outside of her authority, but she hated to see someone suffer.
She glanced at the nearest window. Celestia should have raised the sun already, yet it was still dark outside. Perhaps she had slept in again. This was getting more common lately. Fortunately, Celestia had a little sister who took care of her. And that little sister would not miss an opportunity to rub in her laziness.
Luna grinned in anticipation. She trotted to her sister's bedroom and let herself in. "Rise and shine, Princess Sunnyflank!"
But, Celestia was nowhere to be found. Luna stepped in, only to hear somepony being sick in her sister's private bathroom.
"Sister, are you feeling well?" Luna asked.
The unpleasant sounds stopped. The occupant of the bathroom repeatedly groaned. "I will be ready in a few minutes. Please don't mention anything breakfast-related," Celestia said, her voice frail.
"Very well," Luna said. A moment later an evil grin appeared on her face. "In this case, I will have all the leftover cottage cheese cupcakes."
The only reply Celestia managed to produce was dry heaving.
