Author's Note

Change of plans - there's one more short update (epilogue) after this. I'll probably go ahead and post that tomorrow.

Third Contact

Almost another full day had to pass before Luna replenished enough of her magic reserves to revert to her normal form. No conversation has touched on the events that put her in the situation. It felt like there was an unspoken agreement between you, Luna, and Celestia – to give it some time before approaching the subject in private.

That time has come tonight, with all three of you relaxing on the rug in Celestia's private chambers.

Okay, you were on the rug, and Luna was essentially crammed into your lap as much as possible – which meant her hind legs were on the rug, and her front hooves dangled off the side of your left thigh. But it was comfortable for both of you.

Luna has done most of the talking – going through what she remembers through it all and has been particularly animated about the way 'she' treated you. But Luna is in charge of her emotions throughout the summary and it has been a way to vent her regrets, too.

However, you have made sure to sprinkle in some reassuring affection with either a pat to her barrel or scratching an ear every time her voice is tainted by pain. And every time, you can feel her relax.

"...I just— I was so torn. I wanted you to leave for your own sake, but I was fearful that my words were getting to you and that was what made you leave."

"Nah, that was something you should not have worried about. I'll admit, I was fighting a bit with myself on how to..." You pause, trying to brainstorm how to make your thoughts something coherent. "I sort of realized that yes, you were still there, but I couldn't keep reminding myself it was you. I basically just started looking at you... well, as someone else entirely. I knew you would never say that stuff."

"But you just seemed— when I asked you to take Celestia's coin out of your pocket, you seemed more driven to fight against me rather than leave. What changed?" Luna asks, tilting her head back to get an inverted look at you.

You have to shrug at first because the thoughts you had at the time are beginning to seem more farfetched.

"C'mon..." Luna goads you, patting your leg with her hoof.

You relent, seeing no need to keep it mum. "Did you— er, Nightmare – was there a plan with all of this?" you begin by asking your own question.

"'Plan'?" Luna stares, not quite following your insinuation.

"It just seemed like, though she was having fun toying with me, she really wanted me to leave. Like there was something more to it. That and the simple fact I told you I would stay made up my mind."

Luna lowers her head back down, looking at her sister. Celestia, for her part, seems to be lost in thought as well.

"Thoughts are where my memory in this time gets tricky – I can view everything that's transpiring, but separating thoughts from my uninhibited side and me... that's difficult," Luna comments.

"Can we just go with Nightmare? Because it wasn't you," you recommend.

Celestia nods her head in agreement. "Sister, if I'm to be quite honest with you – it doesn't even sound like the Nightmare Moon I had to face all those years ago," she adds, looking rather sick as she speaks up. "It— there was a reason that things transpired the way they did, and while your anger and jealousy begat your alter ego, I could still sense the hurt and sorrow behind the facade. But this incarnation – it just sounds like pure malice with no basis or reasoning. A perverted monster based upon concentrated feelings you released long ago."

"Perhaps you are right in that regard, Tia. I have personally never dwelled upon what... what I can remember, what I feel during those times. And I have adamantly instructed you to stay away aside from a periodical checkup – meaning you have not seen this... this beast that exists once a solar eclipse. In hindsight, it is much more clear to me."

"Good, because like I said - that wasn't you at all, and that's how I put my mind to endure what happened."

"Understood, and it seems we all agree on that now," Luna says with a firm nod, mirrored by her elder sister.

"Do you mind if we skip forward? One thing is still bothering me," Celestia interjects.

"Oh?" From what you can see of Luna's face, she shows some visible concern with Celestia's admittance.

This time, you rest your chin gently on her head, getting lost in the heavenly lavender scent of her hair while stroking her mane. "It's about how it all finished, Lu," you tell her.

"Oh, that," Luna answers, sounding quite relieved. "When you started standing your ground to Nightmare, there were 'cracks,' so to speak. I could get a better... understanding of what was happening. More conscious. And then when you struck m—her in the nose – I suppose that was enough of a daze to allow me back through. Completely."

Celestia leans forward, her intrigue maximized with this particular part of the discussion. "What did you do after that?" she presses.

"I— frankly, I'm not quite certain. Being in control again, seeing what I had done to Anon, and his encouragement despite the fact..." Luna pauses before you feel her muscles contract in time with a shrug. "I guess I just fired off the strongest beam of magic and energy I could. Just trying to get rid of it. All of it. I figured the increase in magic because of the eclipse was what brought Nightmare out, so if that was gone..."

Celestia's eyes widen at that description, but remains mum for the time being.

"I know that doesn't make much sense, but in the moment - that's all I can figure out in regards to what I did," Luna finishes.

"Why doesn't it make much sense?" you chime in.

"What Luna is describing sounds like she literally purged everything out of her body in terms of magic," Celestia explains. "I've never heard of anypony doing such a thing. Casting spells will deplete magic sure, but to completely expel all reserves in a matter of seconds even in that way is unheard of."

"I'm afraid I have no answers beyond that," Luna says.

"So, maybe this is a stupid question, but doing that and making her go away the way you did – is she... gone? For good?"

"No, that part of me is still there, but I feel like I've bested her," Luna says, a smile creeping onto her face once again. "Hopefully, beyond just the moral victory."

"What do you mean, sister?"

"I don't know for certain, and maybe as my energy is replenished, it will change, but I feel more secure. I feel like I've— I feel like I have a genuine reprieve from that side of me, like the door between us is solid once again. I don't know how else to put it. I know she is there, but there is absolute silence. No whispers or anything."

"I— truly want to believe that, Luna," Celestia stammers in a rare falter. "But I don't think you have ever come out of these events in such a weakened state, either. "

"Nor do I think I have ever fought with such determination to put away that foul creature," Luna snorts. "Perhaps that part of me was weaker than normal, and still is – but I can feel something is different."

"Maybe Anonymous was just the charm needed to aid you after all," Celestia comments, perking up a bit with that conclusion.

"Indeed – at the very least, he helped me to make this year an abbreviated appearance," Luna coos, rolling her head side to side, just to rub against your chin in affection.

After this somewhat tense period discussing unpleasant moments and uncertainties, the room is able to relax with smiles all around. Certainly, you'd like to believe in Luna's optimism of having that part of her safely sealed away for good... But time will tell. You're just glad to have her back – and appreciate having her even more after that short-lived deprivation.

Celestia lets out a yawn, cutting it short with a hoof to her mouth. "Sorry. Today was busier than I realized," she apologizes.

"That's quite alright sister, the moon has been up for some time now; if we aren't past your normal bedtime, we're on the cusp." Luna pats your thigh, signaling to you it's time to head out.

"I take it you will be resuming court tomorrow night, then?" Celestia asks, getting up off the floor herself.

"Yes. One more day of rest will suffice – just to be on the cautious side."

"Oh boy, back to the office."

Luna snrks at the comment, while Celestia feigns a look of disappointment. "You love it, don't lie," she sasses.

"I take the good with the bad," you joke back, mussing up Luna's hair as she brushes past you en route to the door.

"Of course. Goodnight, you too."

"Pleasant dreams, Tia. Thank you for listening.

"Night, Cel."

Pleasantries exchanged, you and Luna head out, just a short jaunt across the hall before entering your shared bedroom.

"I'm ready to get back to some normalcy," you groan, stretching your arms above your head.

"You will hear no argument from me," Luna agrees, closing the bedroom door. With a click a second afterward, you hear the lock being set.

"Uh oh, more private discussions?" you quip.

"A little bit, yes."

You kick off your slippers and sit on your side of the bed just as Luna leaps onto the bed with you.

"I just wanted to say..." Luna pauses almost as quickly as she starts, giving you time to lay down on the bed and face her. She meets your gaze, before venturing her eyes about your facial features, a grin forming on her face as she does.

"As much as I was against the idea of you staying beside me during that ordeal, I will forever be grateful that you did not listen. Perhaps I am mistaken, and that will be known as time passes, but I truly believe you gave me the strength to finally overcome and put away that dark piece of my past that would refuse to leave me in peace – even if I do feel fortunate it was merely once in a total eclipse."

"Well, I'll admit that was a little more 'exciting' than I ever anticipated, but Celestia was gonna have to drag me out of there. I couldn't bear to think of you being in isolation for three straight days, let alone one."

Luna tilts her head, smiling even brighter than before. Both of you lean toward each other, sharing a sensual kiss. Even before she breaks away, her tongue teasing at the slight part in your lips tells you this 'private discussion' may not be over...

"There is one other thing... I hate to be a bother, but my back has been a bit stiff today," she murmurs with a slight hint of a smirk tainting that welcoming smile.

"You should have told me earlier – why suffer through that all day?" you tease her.

Luna lays on her stomach, flaring out her wings while you situate yourself behind her, reaching toward the familiar trouble spot in between her wings. "You know, it might actually be my wings this time," she suggests before you even lay a hand on her.

Rather than reply back, you set to work, placing your hands gently around the base of each appendage and tending to those muscles. There's very little tension in them, and what does exist melts away as Luna gives oohs and sighs of approval. It's not that long before her tail begins to flick back and forth underneath you.

"Maybe further back than that?" she suggests, turning her head just enough that you spy a certain glint in her eye.

You release her wings, then begin to trace your fingertips deftly down each side of her spine. Pausing a moment, you knead the area just ahead of her hips. "Here, maybe?"

"Mmm, I don't know..."

While enjoying her little game, you decide to take the lead, moving back and squeezing a handful of rump on either side.

Whether by design or surprise, Luna lets out a low moan as she presses back into you. "Thaaat's a lot closer," she coos, adding just enough of a wiggle to her rear to entice you.

You slowly rub and caress the silvery moon marking on each flank. At the same time, Luna continues to goad you with sounds of pleased approval and her own attention to your hardening member, still trapped by shorts.

"I feel like we didn't properly prepare for this session," you say, leaning forward to whisper in her ear.

"There's time for adjustments," she teases back.

You release her from your care to practically rip off your pants, shirt, and undergarments. As you return to the task, you see something else that needs attention...

Already spying some rivulets of nectar trailing from her nether lips, you lean in and take a whiff of the aroma. The heady fragrance makes your head spin, leading you to trace where those lips begin to part with your tongue.

"O-ooh!" Luna moans, while her clit instinctively makes an appearance – perfect timing to lavish the pink bulb with some oral attention. You brush against it with your tongue teasingly, getting more carnal sounds from your lover as her marehood glistens with more lube.

At the same time, your hand strays down to ensure her set of delectably prodigious teats are not neglected. You've only seen heavily pregnant mares rival her in size - they are a treasure in and of themselves. One hand isn't enough for this much tender flesh as the other one joins in, tweaking a nipple to garner a lustful squeal from Luna. It seems to stoke her internal flame ever higher, as another wave of heat and arousal teases your mouth and nose. Even without attention, your rock-hard member throbs from the intimacy that drowns your senses.

"I need you right now, Moose." Luna begs. Her low, lustful voice combined with the output of fluids she's already leaked is all you need to get up and on your knees atop the bed behind her.

Despite being raring to go, you decide to continue to tease her. Lining your dick up with her slit, you instead trace the lips with the head of your member. Luna tries to back up and end the charade, but you hold her by the hips, making her endure. "You're quite the eager one tonight," you taunt her.

"Mooose, please!" she whines, wriggling her hips enticingly once more.

That's enough for you. You finally give her what she wants, easing your dick into her pussy at a drawn-out pace.

"Ahn~!" Luna moans as you finally sink into her sweltering passage. Her inner walls massage and tease at your member, urging you to fuck her with a primal fury. You start to back out of her, before ramming back home, reveling in the lewd sounds of pleasure. Having had your fun, and feeling your love quivering underneath you already from your sluggish advances, you start to piston back and forth at a decent pace.

Luna's mind has been fogged by lust as she raises her ass up further, trying to get as much of you inside of her as she can. Everyone once in a while, you feel her clit throb hard against you whilst balls deep inside her, making both of you grunt and moan at the sensation. By the time you start to close in on a finish, you have Luna's flanks in your hand, thrusting in her with reckless abandon, only adding to the cacophony of lewd sounds.

With perfect timing, you hilt deep and hard inside of her as you hit your peak, spurting your load inside her. At the same time, you feel Luna's whole body seem to tense as her pussy spasms around you, milking your nuts for all they're worth. Both of you breathing heavily as you share in a loving climax, you lean forward while Luna turns her head and meets you. This time, there's no reservation as you share a passionate kiss, tongues twirling and dancing amongst the confines of each other.

You give Luna a few more small thrusts, just to be sure you've given her everything. But spent for the moment, you slip out of her and pull away from the kiss, falling down beside her. She eagerly sidles up to you, grinding against you just a bit even as she accepts an afterglow cuddle.

You throw both arms around her and hold her tight. "Love you, Lu," you whisper.

I love you too, Moose."