The Twin Queens Consort

Luna, Princess of the Moon, sits at the end of the battle rooms table. Once the dining hall, following the cataclysmic raid against the castle, it had been converted to a headquarters. Battle damage can still be seen on the walls and floors, but now supplies stack the edges, weapon racks, Guards, Commanders -- the Elements of Harmony, her Sister, dignitaries from their allies... this room had been abuzz for days, and her sleep schedule was a wreck because of it.

One of the Elements, Rainbow Dash, was still in recovery. She'd been brutalized in a One-On-One against Nightmare Moon, her Element being stolen from her. A terrible guilt sat in Luna's chest about the grim matter.

Using their sudden battle as a distraction, Chrysalis had lead her Changelings deep into the castle, plundering the Royal Armory of many of its artefacts and bounties and slipping away before the Sisters could realize, their focus on Nightmare Moon. Though now it made more sense why she was so readily willing to retreat.

Luna didn't know what they had planned to do with them, but she was assured nothing about it was good.

She feels anothers familiar snout nuzzle her neck, leaning into it.

Celestia, Princess of the Sun, sits beside her sister at the end of the long, now map and tool covered table. Nearby, several of her guard commanders discuss an action plan regarding the tense, ever shifting border near the Everfree.

For the moment, she simply nuzzles into her Sister, seeking a rare comfort her Sister returns it in kind.

"Has there been any word?" Luna asks quietly.

"There has been. But it's nothing good, I'm afraid. Rainbow Dash is still recovering, unlikely to fly for some time. The other Elements are buckled by her injury; though they try to remain resolute, for all our sakes." Celestia sighs, fearing for her little ponies futures. She appreciated Twilight and her friends resolve in this trying time, though she so badly wished she didn't need to rely upon them like this.

Luna stares downward in guilt, lip trembling.
"If... if I had used my time in the Moon to learn to control Nightmare, and not..." she trails off, before Celestia pulls her from her self-destructive thoughts, hugging her close.

"Do not blame yourself for the sickness that was purged from you, Sister. It is not your fault. You know this." Celestia affirms harshly, staring at Luna.

Luna sighs, nodding, remaining close to her sister. Guilt tormented her about the situation. How she could do nothing as Nightmare Moon was torn from her, and became an entity of its own, so similar to herself in so many ways. Not to mention her dear Thestrals, so many of them twisted to follow Nightmares commands, believing themselves safer under Nightmares rule. She considered that a deeply personal failure.

Twilight, escorted by a particularly decorated general, storms into the room. Pushing past several salutes, the pair directly approach the Princesses.
"Princess Celestia -- Princess Luna. We have news." Twilight says grimly, the alicorn pair tensing.

"Our top Unicorns have felt for the magical essence of the stolen artefacts. They got through the fog wards that had been placed, but..." Twilight trails off.

"They're gone." The General cuts in.

A gravely concerned face takes Celestias' expression by the simple statement.
"What do you mean?"

"Instead of numerous, different auras, representing the Artefacts from the armory as we'd expected to find... there's only one, and it pulses as strongly as the Queens own magic." Twilight explains. She looks ragged, tired from pushing herself, to assist the Princesses, and to keep her friends spirits up in this grim time. "It... it feels almost like the Element of Loyalty."

The General nods.
"They have likely taken the next step in their battle plan, your Highnesses. Our experts suggest they may have... merged the Artefacts, or drained their magic for some ulterior purpose. We may very well be dealing with a third villain, now." The General explains.

Celestia raises her head, clearing her throat.
"Danger again looms over our fair lands, and we must not stand idle. Gather a detachment of the best; from the Wonderbolts, the Elements... even our allies. We must discover their intent before they have a chance to push it into action. We have seen how far both Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon are willing to go. We must take no chances." Celestia commands, garnering several salutes, yes ma'ams, and a new wave of activity across the already busy war room.

She turns her attention downward to the Purple Pony; her steadfast rock in this tough times. She could never find the words for how deeply she appreciated Twilight.

"Twilight, my dearest student. It pains me to ask more of you then I already do... but would you lead this reconnaissance? There are few I trust as much as you and Luna, for a task this critical." Celestia speaks softly, with immense endearment.

Twilight bristles at the praise, nodding furiously.
"Of course, Princess! Don't worry; we'll handle this."

Twilight races off to secure her own allies, ever-eager to prove herself to her mentor, leaving the still-recovering Alicorns to their worries, Luna leaning against Celestia. Both had been worn ragged in the raid, ambushed by the Queens.

What morbid, cruel, devious machinations did the Twin Queens plan? What have they done... and why do they not yet act, during Canterlots weakness?

"Get some rest, Luna. I will keep an eye on things." Celestia whispers, nudging her sister. Luna nods, slowly rising to trail to her bed for the day.

Silently, across the room, one of the Royal Guards steps away from their group, slinking into the halls after Twilight.

Nightmare Moon stirs softly, stifling a yawn. There was a dull pulse in the back of her skull, urging a displeased grumble from her throat. She blinks heavily several times, enjoying the unusually radiant warmth of their bed. There was something different about this morning. Chrysalis felt fleshier then she usually does. Was she transformed again?

She lifts her head slightly, eyes opening as she actually wakes up. Oh. It was not her other -- the Human is in their bed. Not the first time he's physically been on it, mind, but the first time he's directly slept with them, through the entire night without being relinquished to his own, adjacent guest room. Her light hangover urges her more grim thoughts, and has her mulling whether he needs to be punished for this brash broach into their domain. She squints to her other -- finding only that Chrysalis is as nestled up against the human, on his other side, as she currently is.

A low, irritated growl escapes her.

It's a comfortable scene; not one she expected to ever find herself in, buried under blankets and sharing it, and her other, with this oddity. How did this even occur? Was this his own devious plot, or had she -- forbid the thought -- made a misstep?

She remembers the two bottles of wine -- and last night. How she had him disrobe her... and join her, to worship her for the night. His tender embrace, and attentive care.

Her cruel judgement of his looming punishment falters, leaning down to huff at his face. He had performed as requested. As much as it irked her to have... faltered in her ever-important demeanor, Anontios would be spared, this one time.

...And that was, she was willing to forfeit to herself -- one of the better rests that she's had in some time.

Her gaze flickers to Chrysalis, who snores softly, chittering in her sleep. Chrysalis seemed content, too -- though she had no memory of when they joined her. She leans overtop of Anontion, gently nuzzling her others' snout. Chrysalis' buzzes softly in response to the stimuli, still asleep.

"Hm." She hums softly. Perhaps... she didn't need to rise, just yet. She would like to... perhaps, enjoy this for but a small time longer.

She's reaffirmed by a hand slowly brushing along her side, Anontios softly breathing.

Even in his sleep, he seeks to please. Devious thing; it was worming its way into her good graces.

She huffs softly, returning to the comfortable fold and nestling against his neck.

Her nose bumps against a chitinous flank.

She opens her eyes again, squinting. The only butt of a bug she deigned to touch with her snout was asleep across from her. What was...?

The same Nurse Drone is under Anontios head again, serving as a pillow. It buzzes softly, dead asleep.

She glares at it. Several thoughts of how to crush the little bug float through her mind... but it was one of Chrysalis' precious Nurse Drones. And it seemed Anontios was fond of it. Not that she cared about the latter, but to enact proper judgement now would shatter this gently constructed moment, and irk her other.

No, that was not a pang of jealousy she felt. Nightmare Moon already knew she would make the superior pillow.

As long as he was more fond of herself, Nightmare Moon would let this transgression slide. For now. Truly, she was a most merciful monarch this day.

She shifts slightly, adjusting on the bed so she may lay her face across Anontios neck without touching his impromptu pillow.

She huffs, appeased as Anontios gently strokes a hand through her mane.