It had been a long two years since the Storm King declared war on Equestria. He had shown up unannounced headed by his commander Tempest Shadow with a fleet of airships. He had thought Equestria weak, a month at most to conquer our lands.

But he had underestimated us.

Or rather he had underestimated Luna.

As I swung my halberd forward, slicing the head off a storm guard, his gore splashing across the front of my body, I thought back to the day Luna first appeared on the battlefield.

We had fought valiantly, but the Storm King was gaining ground. The lack of experience and proper guidance from the higher ups had led to our fellows becoming enslaved, our armies battered, and our lands besieged by the more technologically advanced storm troops.

This had only worsened as ponies switched sides and sold out their own in an effort to save their own hides. A crippling betrayal.

Utter chaos had consumed our homeland. The Storm King had arrived at our doorstep, and we were losing more ground as the days wore on. The war was soon to be over, and we would be the losers.

Then Luna entered the field.

She had been dressed in obsidian armour that day, a longbow strapped to her back, a determined look on her face. She had looked out at the Storm King’s troops as they jeered at her, taunting her for her inadequacies, and scoffed.

Unstrapping the bow from her back, she had pulled the string taut. A single arrow of pure magic had formed.

The arrow soared through the air on release until it burst into a cloud of arcane bolts. An entire battalion of enemy soldiers fell to the mare once known as Nightmare Moon as each pierced through the enemy’s armour and punctured directly through their hearts.

In mere moments, the war torn landscape was made quiet. Before long a rousing cheer echoed across the land.

Good fortune returned to us as we quickly obliterated the forces of the Storm King. Luna had taken over as the sole leader of the military and employed vicious strategies to decimate the Storm King’s forces.

As the fervour of success swept across the populace, the ponies supported their Princess even as she pushed the moral boundary of our nation further and further away. By the time we had reached the home of our foe, Luna hardly resembled the mare who had been brought back by the Elements of Harmony.

She appeared closer to her old self. A hardened warrior that had existed some thousand years prior, before the Nightmare. A Princess that had ruled not during relatively peaceful modern times, but in the tumultuous past.

These warning signs were ignored, however, as victory was within our grasp and the ponies cared not the how only about the when. We had willingly embraced the benevolent despot who led us, and long since chosen to ignore the potential consequences of what we were allowing ourselves to become.

I stood before the doors to the Storm King’s keep, ignoring the bodies of my foes who I had slain without a second thought.

One push and the doors swung open. I stood on the threshold of our victory and our defeat.

We would conquer the Storm King.

But in the process we had sown the seeds for turmoil to follow us for many decades to come.

Like everyone else, I chose to ignore the consequences and simply focus on the present.

There would be plenty of time to handle everything after we won the war.

Even if it was too late to do anything about it.

“Hey, Flash, do you have the ice boxes ready?” Shining called out.

“Got them ready this morning before we started, Captain,” Flash replied with a mock salute.

Beaming, Shining leaned over and kissed Flash on his snout with a hearty smack. “That’s my guy.”

“Always,” Flash answered with a spattering of giggles.

With a smile still affixed to his face, Shining grabbed the detached foreleg from the mare he had just finished cutting up with a hacksaw and tossed it to Spike who was lying down in his shipping crate.

Having rolled his eyes at the previous display, he snapped up the limb in his teeth and began to rip it into strips, chomping down on each morsel with a feral vigor.

“Do you need me to grab them now?” Flash asked.

“Yeah, we need to send them off to the Canterlot Central tonight if we want them to be delivered fresh enough to use. Also, because we should, you know—” Shining waved a hoof at the open carcass of the mare, her remaining organs still pulsating, “keep good hygiene standards of whatever.”

“Alrighty.” Flash opened a nearby cabinet to reveal rows of blue bins lined with plastic bags and packed with ice. A cooling enchantment carved into the side hummed with power. “Hey, Captain?”

“Yeah?” Shining answered as he prepared his surgical knife.

“What did this one do? I can’t remember if you told me or not.”

“Nothing too crazy,” Shining said distractedly as he began to cut the ventricle tubes holding the heart in place, “basic war crimes. Selling information to the enemy, arms dealing, yadda, yadda.”

“Pretty subpar compared to some of our recent acquisitions,” Flash commented as he took out boxes from the cabinet and placed them in a line on a nearby table.

“They can’t all be the most monstrous ponies in existence. Eventually, the well runs dry and you’re just left with the dregs.” Shining took out the heart with his magic and placed it gently on a nearby table. He then began work on the lower intestines, clipping obstructing bones and tissue. “It’s not like there’s an infinite supply of war criminals.”

“So, we’re getting to the end then. We don’t need to harvest bodies since I’m sure Spike would prefer not to eat meat off a pony—” Spike roared in agreement “—and with your research, we’ll soon be able to grow organs. Plus with how many new donors are signing up—”

“What’s your point, Flash?” Shining yanked out the intestines, a frown marring his features as he dumped them on another table. Small sparks shot off from the glow of his magic signifying his irritation. “None of this is new information. You don't usually dance around a point, so get to it.”

“I’m just trying to talk you through things.” Flash shot a worried expression towards Shining, hesitation colouring his voice.

“Talking me through what?” Shining hissed out through clenched teeth.

“What’s next,” Flash said.

“Next what?” Shining stomped a hoof on the floor and turned to Flash snorting angrily. “You’re being annoyingly vague. What are you—”

“Next after this, Captain!” Flash swept his wings encompassing the warehouse. “The well runs dry, and when it does, we can’t keep doing this. So, what are you, me, and Spike going to do?”

Looking up from his meal, Spike swiveled his head between Flash and Shining, a look of concern on his face.

Shining stared at Flash. His breathing became heavy, and his eyes shrunk to pinpricks. He was tense, his body wound up tighter than a spring. Flash braced himself readying for the inevitable storm to come.

“I…” he started, “I don’t… Why are you bringing this up?” he shook his head, his expression returning to its prior irritation. “There are still criminals to track down. We’re not done yet.”

“But we will be even—”

“That’s not now, though!” Shining interrupted, “we don’t need to think about …” he trailed off, his breaths quickening, “change. We still have plenty of monsters to kill.”

“Of course, Captain,” Flash said softly, his wings held up with a gentle smile on his lips. The image of reassurance. “I just thought it would be a good time to talk over our options.”

“That’s not necessary!” Shining barked, “we’re running low but not enough to have to talk about this. Why are you even bringing it up?” Shining’s eyes went wide in panic, his ears pinned to his head. “Wait, are you thinking of leaving me?”

“No,” Flash replied firmly.

“You are!” Shining accused taking a step back away from Flash, “you’re just easing me into it, so you can let me down gently.”

“No, I’m not,” Flash said, “I’m just worried because you never talk about the future.”

“Because we don’t have to! We’ll just keep going and… I don’t know, we’ll still be together, right?”

An uncomfortable rumble caused Flash to look in Spike’s direction. He was looking pleadingly at Flash, his eyes begging Flash to fix this.

Flash refocused on Shining and opted to open his wings invitingly. Shining hesitated, unease and panic causing his movements to stutter. After another moment, he dashed forward and buried his head in Flash’s breast. Flash wrapped his wings around Shining’s withers as he shook in place.

Stroking the back of his head with a wing and softly humming, Flash buried his muzzle in Shining’s mane. He took in the scent of chemicals and dried blood. “I promise I’m not leaving, Captain.”

Shining’s response was to bury himself deeper into Flash’s embrace.

A roar from Spike interrupted their moment. Both stallions pulled apart and looked at Spike. Spike jerked his head to a spot behind them. They turned toward the indicated direction and saw a pegasus guard standing nearby with a bored expression on his face.

“The Princess has requested your presence,” the guard said in a monotone voice. He looked them over. “Though, you seem preoccupied.”

With a mischievous grin on his face, Shining rubbed Flash at the base of his dick with a hoof, who yelped in response. “Yeah, we were. You don’t mind two stallions getting it on do you?”

The guard looked to the dissected mare nearby then the massive undead dragon who had buried his head in his claws. “Comparatively, no.”

“You sure?” Shining quirked an eyebrow as he moved his hooves down to Flash’s ballsack.

“S-Shining,” Flash moaned as his sheath began to lengthen up against Shining’s belly.

“Yeah,” the guard replied, “this hardly goes into the top ten most uncomfortable things I’ve seen as a guard.”

“Well, you’re boring,” Shining said with a peeved frown.

“Shining!” Flash pushed him off and glared angrily at Shining.

Confused, Shining looked to Flash blankly before self awareness seeped in. “Shit, sorry, that was… fuck, I shouldn’t have done that. I…” he glanced at the guard then back to Flash, “... didn’t want to be seen as weak.”

Flash heaved a weary sigh, his glare softening to a disappointed frown. “Okay, I understand, but don’t do that again.”

Hanging his head in shame, Shining said, “I won’t.”

Walking around Shining, Flash approached the guard, standing a full head taller. “So, what does the Princess need?”

“She needs a top up on her pills, and she apparently has a gift for you, or rather Spike.”

Spike, Shining, and Flash shared a confused look, before Flash asked, “What’s the gift for Spike?”

“The Night Guard found Garble, and, consequently, we have new vocal cords for Spike.”

They arrived at the palace shortly after leaving the guard behind to handle the packaging of the mare’s organs. Shining had been concerned when the guard had offered to do it until he’d witnessed him cut out the lungs with a precision greater than Shining, which had convinced him that the guard could handle it.

Shining had then grabbed an unmarked bottle of violet coloured pills from a locked cabinet, threw them into his saddlebags alongside several important tools, and left the warehouse with Flash and Spike meandering alongside him.

As was the norm, guests to the palace gave Spike a wide berth. Those who tried to do something were swiftly met by a palace guard that would stress the importance of them being on their way.

Anyone that managed to slip past unnoticed towards Spike was then met by Shining’s glare, which quickly changed their minds.

Flash glanced at Shining as they rounded the corner into the hall leading to the day throne. He walked stiffly with his ears swiveling every which way. He was tense as if expecting an enemy ambush.

“What’s wrong, Captain?” Flash asked.

Stopping abruptly in place, he glanced around warily before he asked, “well… you know what day it is, right?”

“Gloryday,” Flash answered, “what’s so special about that?”

Spike growled in confusion.

“Yes, exactly. It’s Gloryday,” Shining emphasized, “you remember who always visits us today?”

Both Spike and Flash looked at Shining with matching looks of dumbfounded confusion until realization dawned on them. They then both searched their surroundings in earnest, looking for the pony they hoped wouldn’t have found them.

“He wouldn’t know we were at the palace… would he?” Flash questioned as Spike growled nervously. “I mean, he would assume we were either at home or at the warehouse, right?”

“That stallion is blessed with dumb chance. It’s not unthinkable for him to suddenly appear when we least expect it. Remember Dodge Junction?” Flash and Spike both shivered. “He’s like a predator stalking his prey, lurking in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to strike.”

Whimpering, Spike shrunk in on himself, covering his head with his wings.

“We can avoid him this time for sure, right?” Flash said, panic in his voice, “he can’t catch us off guard again.”

“I don’t know, Flash. He manages to find us every week. We’re probably—”

“What are you three doing?”

All three whipped their heads towards the newcomer expecting the pony of their conversation to have appeared. Instead, they were greeted by a pony potentially worse than them.

“Just… keeping an eye out for somepony, Cadance,” Shining said.

Princess Cadance, alicorn of love, put a feather to her chin, a brilliant smile adorning her face. “Well, considering how serious you seemed to be, I would hope it wasn’t me that you were hoping to avoid.”

Fighting off the roiling rage that had flared up at her appearance, Flash answered, “No, we weren’t, but we have to get going.”

“Oh?” Cadence tilted her head to one side, the very picture of innocence. “Where to?”

“The day throne. Princess Luna asked to meet us,” Shining said, discomfort evident by his body language as he shrunk away from her.

“What for?”

“It’s none of your—” Flash started.

“She needs a top up,” Shining interrupted.

A frown graced Cadance’s expression. An ugly thing out of place on the face of somepony that appeared so perfect. “Is she really still using those pills? I had thought she would be better than that.”

Snorting angrily, Flash pawed at the floors readying to retort. He was stopped by a gentle touch to his leg by Shining who had noticed Flash’s irritation. Reluctantly, he calmed down, and opted to instead simply glare at Cadance.

“It’s difficult for her to run the country by herself,” Shining said softly, “the pills help her manage things.”

“So, she can be drugged the entire time?” Cadence snorted derisively, “come now, you know as much as I do that what she needs is rest.” She fluttered her eyes, a pout denoting her disapproval. “I can’t believe you are enabling this, Shiny.”

“I’m not going to deny the Princess what she asks for. She needs me to help in any way I can, and this just happens to be one of the more useful ways.”

“And what are those other ways then? Have you finally decided to focus on just your research or are you still hunting war criminals?”

“Both.” Shining sighed wearily. “My work is important, but so is getting rid of all the leftover monsters from the war.”

“By becoming them?” Cadance grabbed Shining by the chin and raised his eyes to meet her’s. “This isn’t healthy for you, honey. You need to stop.”

“Please, don’t call me that.”

“What honey?” Cadance chuckled lightly, a sound similar to the rattle of a snake. “Shining, how long are we going to keep doing this? I said I was sorry, so why can’t we just get back together?”

“Because I don’t want to, Cadance. I—”

“Must you call me, Cadance?” Cadance scoffed, “couldn’t you try to call me Cady instead? Like the old times? I really miss you, Shiny,” she whispered the last words, voice thick with sweetened poison.

Shining breathed heavily, his eyes shrinking to the size of pinpricks. “I-I don’t think I want to, Cadan—” Cadance shot a glare at him, “—Cady.”

“It’s okay, just say the word and we can put this whole thing behind us. You need help and being surrounded by this—” she waved her free wing around them, “—isn’t healthy for you.” She pouted. “You need to stop hurting.”

“I-I—” Shining gulped, “I’m sorry, but no. Let me go.”

“Shining,” Cadance chided, “you need to stop acting like a foal and running away— Hey!”

Forcing his wing between Shining and Cadance, Spike roughly shoved Cadance away, punctuating the action with a growl. Flash stepped forward and glared down at her, his muzzle staring down hers from his taller height, a look of fury on his face.

“He’s done, Princess. Shove off.”

“Oh, hardly, I just—”

“Leave, now,” Flash interrupted, a growl in the back of his throat.

“He’s my coltfriend, Flash, and last time I checked you barely qualified as a frequent hook up,” Cadance said, the sweetness in her voice dripping away to reveal the venom underneath.

“Ex-coltfriend,” Flash said, “a moniker you earned when you left him when he needed you most.”

“I did not leave him!” Cadance said, punctuating her statement with a stomp of her hoof leaving cracks in the marble tile.

“No, you’re right, you did worse. You ran away when all he needed was you to be there.” Flash snorted angrily, the puff of hot air blowing into Cadance’s eyes. “So, go bother someone else, Cady. His partner is already here to help him and unlike you, is always there for him.”

They glared at each other, anger clear on their faces, before Cadance turned away, her nose upturned. “Fine, I’ll leave.” She began to trot away before turning to look over her shoulder. “Come find me when you’re ready to be around ponies who will actually take care of you.”

Once Cadance had left, Flash turned towards Shining and was immediately grasped tightly by him. Biting back a small twinge of pain at how hard Shining squeezed him, Flash wrapped his wings around him.

“We’re making a habit of this today and I don’t think I’m fond of it,” Flash said softly as Shining shook in his embrace.

Pulling back, Shining lifted his head. “I know I’m not supposed to push it while in public, but—”

Flash lightly kissed Shining on the lips. Shining leaned into it, quickly asserting dominance by pushing tenderness into need. A combination of lust, affection, and fear in equal measure radiated off of him.

Breaking contact, Flash said firmly, “okay, that’s enough for now.”

Smirking, Shining replied, “you sure? I’m pretty sure there’s a storage closet down the hall.”

“The Princess is waiting for us, and besides that, remember the discussion we just had?”

Shrinking back, Shining said, “R-right, sorry. I’ll stop now.”

Kissing him lightly on the snout, Flash said, “thank you, now let’s not keep the Princess waiting.”

They continued their trot to the throne room. A quick glance showed Flash that Shining had his head hung low and turned away. Flash wrapped a wing around him, pulling him in close. It immediately caused Shining to perk up, a smile spreading across his face.

Coming to a large set of doors with a sun motif carved into them, they pushed through entering the day throne.

Pots of chrysanthemums were scattered about the room permeating the air with a cloying sweet scent. Petals covered the tiled floor and, when paired with the near blinding light filtering through the stained glass windows on either side, made the room seem more like a garden than a throne room.

On a pedestal, situated at the other end of the room just before two thrones made of gold and silver, was the petrified form of Princess Celestia. She stood braced, facing down the hall, an expression of open defiance on her face.

Watering the potted flowers at the base of the pedestal was Princess Luna, a tin watering can within her magic’s grasp.

She turned to them and smiled in greeting. “Good ‘morrow, gentlecolts. How kind of you to finally join me.”

“Sorry, Luna. We got held up by Princess Cadance in the hall outside,” Shining said as he stepped forward, releasing himself from Flash’s wing.

“Ah, Cadance,” Luna hissed her name, “how… kind of her to stay around.” The watering can shook in her grasp, spilling water onto the floor. “What did she want this time?”

“She wanted to get back together with me.”

“Hah!” Luna barked, “if she wanted that maybe she should have been less of a damned coward.” She stomped her hoof onto the ground causing a spider web of cracks to appear. She took a deep breath to settle herself and released a burst of magic that repaired the damage. “Keep calm, Luna,” she muttered to herself.

“Feeling irritable lately?” Shining asked.

“No!” Luna shouted, her mane whipped about her in a frenzy, the stars dotting it brightening. She sharply inhaled and hissed out, “I am… somewhat distracted with the business of running a princessdom, in case you hadn’t noticed.” Each word she said was accompanied by a cloud of snowflakes.

“You need to sleep, Luna,” Shining stated bluntly, “you’re going to break sooner or later.”

Shining stayed perfectly still as Luna loomed over him, clouds of frost encircling them as she glared down.

“You dare imply that We would break under a measly few days of missed sleep?! We do not need the opinions of some knave to tell us—!” She took another deep breath to calm down. “Apologies, Shining. You may be correct in that I could use some sleep.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because the country does not sleep and cannot run without me.” Luna trotted away, her head hung in dejection. “Every time I think that I may release the reins, new problems arise to fill in the gaps. Whether it be the corrupt nobility, criminals, or Cadance with her stupid ideas. Damn…” she paused as she lifted her head, a puzzled frown on her face.

“What is it?” Shining asked.

“It has occurred to me at this moment, that unlike my subjects, I do not have someone to blame nor swear in the name of, for there is no one who is above me in station.” She laughed, a note of desperation in it. “And to think that at one point in the past I had wanted this.”

Frowning, Shining inquired, “is there not anyone else you can trust to take over? Or at least help with the day to day?”

Luna gave a rueful smile. “I do not believe an unstable ex-captain of the guard, an undead dragon, or whatever Flash is would make for good leaders.”

Shining struggled for an appropriate response before he said, “I’m sorry, Luna.”

“For what? Being a good friend? No need to apologize for that. I appreciate that there is even anyone whom I can claim as such, especially since…” Luna trailed off. “Well, since.” She grabbed the watering can once more in her magic and returned to tending to the flowers around her sister. “To be frank, this is mostly self-inflicted. I could have found more allies, made more friends, but alas that was more my sister’s thing.”

“I’m still working on a cure, but…” Shining looked at the petrified Celestia before turning away. “I haven’t made much progress. I still have hope that she’ll eventually be freed.”

“Ah, yes, hope,” Luna said bitterly. “A rather disgusting emotion, promising things it cannot keep. Regardless, I believe I had requested something from you?”

“I brought your new prescription of wake up pills, yes.” Shining used his magic to reach into his saddlebags and withdraw the unmarked bottle. “I added a relaxant that should help with the… distractions.”

Luna grabbed the proffered bottle in her magic, popped open the lid, and tossed a lavender coloured pill into her mouth. After a moment, she visibly relaxed and released a contented sigh.

She tucked them into a set of saddlebags laying at the base of the pedestal.

“My thanks, Shining. Once every three days as usual?”

“Yes, and the vocal cords for Spike?”

“Of course.” Using her magic once more, Luna removed a fleshy mass from another of her bags. “Feel free to perform the necessary surgery here since I know it needs to be done as soon as possible for it to take,” she then muttered under her breath, “not like these floors could ever be cleaned again with how much blood has been spilled on them.”

Excitedly grabbing the cords in his magic, Shining called Spike over to him who bounded over in answer.

“Flash, could you remove the outer flesh while I prepare my tools?”

“Sure thing, Captain,” Flash answered with a mock salute. He reached into his own saddlebags and withdrew a pair of clinical scissors. “Okay, Scales, show me your throat.”

Boliging, Spike raised his head and exposed his throat to Flash.

“Shining, did you remember to turn off his pain receptors with your magic?”

“Did it when we trotted into the palace so I wouldn’t forget,” Shining answered as he extracted a scalpel and began sharpening it.

Refusing his attention on Spike, he began to carve out a square piece of flesh at the base of his throat. Once complete, he removed the patch carefully causing black fluid to drench Flash’s snout and chest.

Ignoring the liquid that was dying his fur black, Flash said, “looks like the whole thing has rotted. I could probably just remove it myself.”

“If you think you can without causing any problems, go ahead,” Shining replied.

Luna looked down and noted the black sludge that was slowly spreading across the marble tiles. She tilted her head to one side as she mused, “do you ever wonder if perhaps we have become too far gone?”

Both stallions paused in their work to mull over Luna’s question.

“We crossed that threshold some time during the war and frankly, this is paltry compared to some of the things we do behind closed doors,” Shining said.

“True enough, I suppose.” Luna continued her watering. “Carry on then.”

Returning his attention to the work at hoof, Flash carefully snipped away Spike’s withered vocal cords. He noticed Spike’s leg thump on the ground and stroked his leg comfortingly with a wing. “Easy goes it, Scales. Just hold on. We’ll be done soon.”

After another quick snip, Flash extracted the rotten flesh and held it at wing’s length away from himself. “So, what should I—” a burst of blue flame ignited and consumed the flesh into nothing, “—nevermind. Thanks, Luna.”

Luna hummed absently in response.

His preparations complete, Shining brought the new cords and his tools over to Spike in his magic. He lined up the cords with the empty cavity in Spike’s throat. With a flash of light, Shining teleported over a spray bottle filled with glowing blue liquid from his bag. He sprayed it carefully along the seams, sealing them shut.

“Can you grab a patch of new scales for me, Flash?”

“On it, Captain.” Flash rooted through his saddlebags and removed a square of scaled flesh. He hoofed them over to Shining who grabbed them with his hooves and began sewing in the patch over Spike’s gaping neck.

Once satisfied with his hoofwork, Shining released a burst of magic that caused the seams to disappear and the new patch to change colour to match Spike’s underbelly.

Spike lowered his head and massaged his throat hesitantly with a claw. He released a few nervous rumbles to test for potential problems.

“How does it feel, Spike?” Shining asked.

A few more experimental rumbles followed, before Spike said, “feels fine.” He frowned as he heard his voice come out scratchy and deeper than it should. His throat flexed a few times. “Testing, testing,” Spike tried. His voice was now closer to his normal register. “Eh, good enough. Thanks, big brother.”

He nuzzled Shining, who returned the gesture.

“Anytime, little brother,” Shining replied.

“Glad to see the vocal cords worked. Now, we’ll just need to decide what to do with the original owner,” Luna said.

“Wait, Garble is here?” Spike questioned.

“In the dungeons, why?”

“Well—”

Spike was interrupted by the throne room doors swinging open with a loud thud. “My goodness, those doors are heavy,” a blue unicorn stallion commented as he trotted in, his saddlebags overflowing with various charts. As he spotted the group, a beaming smile spread across his face. “Boys! I was just thinking about you!”

“How did you manage to find us? Flash asked in disbelief.

“Whatever do you mean, Flash? I’m here to deliver the updated star charts to Princess Luna as I do every month. Though, I did not expect to see you here. What a coincidence!”

“Stupid random chance,” Spike and Shining grumbled together under their breath.

“Shining, Spike, I’ve told you before. Luck isn’t real, it’s just a skewed perspective on probability. I would have thought I had taught you both better than that,” Night Light chided. “Now, since you’re all here, why don’t you come over after this for our biweekly family dinner? Your mother is making your favourites tonight!”

Shining, Spike, and Flash visibly struggled to hold back their collective groans as Luna smirked.

“Sure, dad. We would…” Shining’s eyes twitched as he fought to get the words out, “love to.”

“Wonderful! It will be so good—”

“Actually,” Spike interrupted, “I have somewhere to be today.”

“Oh no you don’t,” Shining hissed.

“Yes, I do,” Spike said then mumbled, “and for once it’s not a lie just to escape from mom.”

“Oh, that’s unfortunate, Spike. Maybe next time then. I hope you have fun with whatever you need to do!” Night said cheerfully.

Spike turned to Luna. “Do I still have full access to anywhere in the castle?”

“Of course,” Luna answered, “as far as I’m concerned you may go as you please and the guards have been notified of this.”

Nodding, Spike walked out of the throne room with Flash and Shining looking after him yearning for a similar escape.

“Now, let’s go over these charts. Sooner we finish, sooner we can go home for dinner.” Night grinned widely, oblivious to his surroundings and the discomfort of his son. “Then I can ask for all the juicy details of your relationship.”

“Dad!” Shining shouted as Flash puffed up in embarrassment.

“Oh, come on now, son. What father would I be if I didn’t check in to make sure your coltfriend is giving you the best blow jobs possible? You deserve it after all.”

Shining groaned as he buried his hooves in his head and Flash turned redder than a ripe apple.

“Ah, the joys of family,” Luna commented.

Author's Note