Evening Stars

by Sloistice

Rating: mature
Tags: Sex, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Sad, Romance, Princess Luna, Porn, Fetish, Profanity
Length: 5064

Cadence wants to learn more about dominance. Luna gives her a private lesson.

Cadence approaches Luna with some questions about dominance, hoping to spice up her love life with Shining, but trods upon some of the Princess' history and deeper fears. To ease Luna's anxiety, Cadence makes an unexpected proposition.

Written for Whip as a part of the Summer Sin 2024 story exchange.

Contains: Mistress/sub relationship, BDSM education, orgasm denial, blindfolding, and Ye Olde Grammar.

Edited by AJ Aficionado.

Preread by two anonymous friends.

Published 2024-07-05 12:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-07-05 12:10:00 UTC

Therapy And Chill

Luna stood on her tower’s balcony, high above the bustle and organized chaos of the Canterlot evening. The air was cool and fresh, with a hint of dampness from the afternoon's rain still present on the breeze. Amber clouds glowed on the horizon, and the first pinprick stars began making themselves known.

Luna sighed, exhausted. The day hadn't been difficult or distasteful, but she was thankful for her sister's return from the Griffon Kingdom all the same. The duties of the princesses wait for nopony, she supposed. At least Celestia had good taste in the comfort of her throne.

A soft knock sounded from the interior door. "Enter," Luna called, expecting a messenger from her sister. Perhaps there was business still left unfinished?

Instead of the familiar uniform of the Day Guard, the pony that entered bore regalia similar to Luna's own, except forged of gold instead of silver. "Cadence, so good to see thou," Luna intoned. "Thy visit is welcome, though unexpected?"

Cadence laughed gently, her magic shutting the door without allowing it to slam. "It's not that late, Luna. Are you available for discussing a more private matter?"

"Our business for the day is complete, although our moon still requires attending to. Perhaps thou wouldst be so kind as to take a seat?" Luna's outstretched wing indicated the pair of regal sofas in the middle of the bookshelf-lined room, as well as the well-used table between them.

Cadence settled herself on the closest of the two, sniffing at the fresh cup of coffee that had just manifested before her in a puff of blue magic. The two of them had found a shared respect for the drink, although Luna always took care to provide her visitors with a version tailored to diurnal creatures who shared little interest in remaining awake until the thin hours of the morning.

Satisfied that Cadence was comfortable, Luna turned her gaze to the skies above. Her moon waited just below the horizon, its presence brushing against her magic as she closed her eyes and spread her wings, letting the magical currents seep into her outstretched feathers and horn.

It was time.

A glow shone through her horn as she played with the strings of the night sky like an immense marionette. One tug of deceptive power, and a cool white glow slid into the skies as night took its place in the order of the world.

Cadence watched the spectacle in silence, her pinions and the hair along her spine prickling in awe as the magical current rushed through the furthest reaches of her own domain. Even though she as a fellow alicorn felt it every night, the feeling was more intense here, closest to its orchestrator.

Luna's eyes slipped open, and she nestled her wings back against their sides with a content sigh before joining Cadence on the adjacent couch and summoning a cup of coffee for herself. "Thou had something thou wished to discuss with us?"

Cadence nodded, a slight blush covering her cheeks. "It's about my and Shining's relationship."

"Thy betrothed," Luna confirmed, now more curious than ever what the Alicorn of Love could be seeking in the matter of relationship matters. "We hope thou werest still on good terms?"

"Oh, yes, we couldn't be more excited," Cadence beamed. "Nothing's come between us. The matter is, ah, a little more private." The alicorn tapped her front hooves together in a rare display of embarrassment. "As you know, we've been together for some time now, and that includes sexually."

Luna hid a light giggle behind her hoof. "Ah yes, we remember disturbing thy 'wrestling'."

Cadence flushed a deep magenta, but nodded. "Both of us have been wanting to, well, experiment lately. Particularly in regards to dominance and submission. The two of us talked last week and..." Cadence took a moment to raise her posture and look Luna in the eyes. "...we thought it would be a good idea to seek out advice from you."

"I was doing some research in the castle library," Cadence continued. "The resources were somewhat scarce, but a few of the ones I did find directly mentioned you." Cadence blushed again, and shifted. "You used to have quite the nightlife presence. And, more interesting than that, I found... this." A thin but elegant book was deposited on the table between them, silver inlaid letters reading How To Please Thyne Subservient, by Mare Fecunditatis.

Luna's eyes bulged for a moment, and a stream of coffee shot from her nose. "We- I- what? How dost thou know such things?"

A glowing field of magic enveloped the stain soaking into the carpet and couch, and when it dissipated a moment later, the liquid was nowhere to be seen. "Celestia told me about several of your pen names," Cadence explained in a smug tone. "Really, they were all blindingly obvious in hindsight."

"We thought our sister hadst no knowledge of our activities," Luna grumbled, then took a breath and nodded once, defeated. "Very well. Thou hast revealed us."

Cadence clapped her hooves together in victory. "So?..." she asked once more, perking her ears forwards.

Luna looked to the ground for a moment. "We are... unsure," she began. "It hath been a tremendous time since we were the mare thou read about. 'Tis not an activity we have participated in since our banishment, even."

"Surely you remember at least some things, if you were experienced enough to write a book on it?" Cadence pressed, her tone a touch more gentle. Luna's demeanor was unusual, and Cadence was aware of the ground she trod upon becoming unstable.

"Cadence, tis not the memory that fails us." Luna reached up and pulled her crown off her head, then gazed at her own reflection in the polished silver surface. "Foremost, our connections hath been severed in the millennia that hath passed. We art a mare out of time. Everywhere we goest, thus is plain to everyfolk. We art a relic, and ponies fear mine memory even with mine sister's word."

Cadence stood up, if only to sit down again beside Luna, her face filled with compassion and sympathy.

"Even if we hath wanted to return to that path, we fear we wouldst not know where to begin," the Night Princess continued. A slight tremor marked her words, betraying some deeper pain. "And we art powerfully unsure about that return."

"It seems to have been something that gave you joy in the past," Cadence noted. The tone of Luna's words gave her pause, and she hazarded a guess. "Luna, has something poisoned those memories for you?"

Luna hung her head in answer, and Cadence wrapped her hooves around the princess. "Tis the Nightmare," Luna managed to choke out after a moment. "We- I wast not in control, and yet every action felt like it wast mine own. Its mind enveloped mine, trapping me to watch as we didst horrid things, Cadence. It kneweth mine deepest fears and joys, and it used them against I.

“We wouldst torment and bring pain, and it hath taunted me all the while that I hath enjoyed it in secret, and that darkness inside mine self had made me easy prey.” Luna grit her teeth, choking back the tide from a dark pit in her chest. “It claimed that I hath found joy in hurting and commanding others, to feel ponies beneath mineself, and reveled in the power. Cruel, it hath called us. And I fear it wast not wrong." Her words ground to a halt as a tear breached her stubborn defenses, splashing down into the abyss of her mane.

Cadence squeezed Luna as tight as she dared with all her strength. "Luna, I'm so sorry," she said in as compassionate a tone as she could muster. "I can't believe you had to suffer through that for so long."

Luna sighed at length. "'Tis a burden we dost not often wish to share with otherfolk," she admitted, collecting herself a touch.

Cadence looked Luna in the eyes once more, the hint of a smile gracing her muzzle. "Luna, I'm glad you were able to share this with me. It sounds like this has been hurting for quite some time."

Luna laughed once. "We art 'guilty as charged,' as the expression dost go this era."

"The Nightmare was lying." Cadence's sudden comment elicited a curious glance from Luna. "I've been around you more than most other ponies since your return, right?"

"Indeed, although we failest to see how proximity wouldst influence matters?"

"Luna, everypony has weaknesses," Cadence continued, picking her words with care. "Times when we struggle. The mare I've seen since the Summer Sun Celebration has been kind, forthcoming, dutiful, considerate of others, brave, compassionate, and full of love for her sister and those around her. Celestia says the same about the sister she knew a thousand years ago, and still knows today.”

Cadence paused for a moment to let her words sink in. “The Nightmare couldn't take those qualities from you, so it attacked them instead. You are strong, Luna. Possession magic can break wills permanently. But you survived a thousand years of its influence. I don't know another pony who could match that."

Instead of a verbal answer, Luna hugged Cadence back at last, her eyes shut tight.

"The Nightmare doesn't control you anymore," Cadence finished. "Don't let its memory steal away the things you love. Twilight and Celestia trust you. I trust you. You should be able to trust yourself again."

"Thou dost truly mean it," Luna murmured, not a question but a realization. She pulled herself upright, then sighed again.

"We're here for you," Cadence reminded her with a gentle nuzzle. "All of us. You're not alone anymore."

Luna glanced down at the crown she still held in her hooves, looking at her reflection again, before replacing it on her head. "Thank th- thank you, Cadence."

"It's what friends are for," the pink alicorn responded with a smile, then a deep blush.

"We willst try to help thou and Shining Armor with thy curiosities," Luna said, "but we art woefully out of practice."

Cadence went silent for a moment, shifting in place pressing backwards against the couch with a slight guilty smile. Luna was confused at this. "Is it something we said?" she inquired.

"Well, ah, not exactly," Cadence said, her blush now a deep shade of magenta. "I was thinking about your problem, especially the things you said earlier about being nervous of reentering your role as a dom with ponies you didn't know. And I thought, maybe..." Cadence's expression turned a touch devious, "...you'd like to start with me?"

Luna's thoughts slammed into a wall, piling up on each other in a confused heap that left her bewildered, blushing, concerned, and strangest of all, very aroused.

Luna's clumsy half-formed response was cut short by Cadence's hoof on her lips. "Hear me out," Cadence insisted. "I'm an alicorn too. You can't do anything that I'm not able to defend myself from, so you don't need to worry about hurting me. I want to help you, and what I'm offering is no strings attached. Just two friends-" Cadence again blushed at the word "-helping each other. Besides, I said I wanted to learn, and what better way to teach me than a little manual demonstration?"

Luna couldn't stop her wings from extending to their apex with a soft pomf. The tone in Cadence's voice was almost cruel in how teasing she made those last two words, especially considering it had been a literal millennium since the last time a pony had spoken to her like that. Now that her eyes were opened, Luna also couldn't deny that Cadence was a fine-looking mare of the highest caliber. Luna half-cursed herself for having a thing for aggressively eager ponies, then cemented her train of thought together enough for a coherent response. "We art flattered," she said with a deep blush. "But what about thy partner? Dost thou not have duties to uphold?"

Cadence smiled. "Shining and I have an agreement of sorts. We're both free to play with others, with no judgment. I love him, he loves me, we're happy together, and that's good enough for both of us." She giggled and leaned forward to whisper in Luna's ear. "Besides, I've seen the way he looks at you sometimes, I think he'd be jealous even~"

Luna could feel her face overheating, and when she shifted, she could feel a small patch of dampness soaking into the couch underneath her tail. The idea of having this forward, flirty side of Cadence as putty under her hooves was already too much to resist. Still, it would be unbefitting of her to cave so fast. She drew herself up, coughed once to clear her throat, and in her best diction began, "Very well. As Princess of the Night, we accept thy offer and-"

A fuzzy pink blur interrupted both her words and vision, and Luna found herself being pressed back against the couch by a very passionate kiss. Before the surprise could wear off, Cadence pulled back with lidded eyes. "Have I ever told you how hot it is when you talk like that?"

Luna noticed that Cadence was sporting a sudden wing erection of her own, and the imprint was left visible in the spot she had occupied moments ago. The urge to have her way with this mare was too strong to withstand, and Luna seized Cadence in her entirety with a firm telekinetic grip. "Thou wilst regret this," she hissed into the alicorn's ear in a teasing tone, then carried her through the air towards the bedroom door.

Cadence squeaked in surprise, giggling as she floated alongside the princess into the bedroom. The air was a touch cooler here, owing to the lack of the fire still burning in the sitting room, and Cadence's fur prickled as she was deposited on the luxurious sheets of Luna's moon-shaped bed.

Luna flicked the door closed behind the two of them as Cadence made herself comfortable, lounging out on her side. "Before we doth begin," Luna said, stepping out of her ornamental shoes, "we must know how much knowledge thy have in the matters of dominance and submission. Tis the foremost step, and the utmost important, that proper boundaries and precautions be established."

Cadence took a moment to consider this. "Well, most of what I read was focused on the sex," she admitted, remembering several fantastic nights spent with a new book and a hoof between her legs.

Luna nodded. "Tis the usual place most begin. However, there art considerations that must be made. Foremost for the safety of thy partner, and then for happiness." Luna held a hoof up. "Equally, the safety and comfort of thyself is of equal importance."

"I read about the idea of a safeword," Cadence said. "A way to let your sub-" she blushed a vivid pink, now very aware that she herself was about to fill that position, "-communicate if they are uncomfortable. Green for continue, yellow for pause, and red for full stop?"

"Indeed, albeit with further nuance," Luna confirmed, taking a moment to check a drawer for her personal pleasure supplies. "Foremost, a safeword musn't ever be overshadowed or mistaken, and as such clear and unmistakable words art used. This includes when thy subservient is unable to vocalize. In thus situations, other methods art used, suchest as a bell affixed to the tail. In addition, the safeword is also for thy master or mistress. One mayest find themselves in a situation where a situation becomes uncomfortable. It is an equal measure, and one that ensurest the safety of both."

"And these have to be agreed on beforehoof," Cadence summarized, peeking to get a look at what Luna was doing. "What do you prefer to use?"

"For mine own subservients, I doth prefer the bell. Three rings doth mean continue, four mean pause and communicate, and five indicate the immediate end of activities." Luna returned to the bed, sitting beside Cadence, who snuggled close. "Aftercare must be attended as well, wherest both parties share mutual care and consideration after sexual activities. Thus is especially important after a safeword is called."

Cadence nodded with enthusiasm, looking up at the Night Princess and fidgeting in anticipation. "That makes sense. After all, in a way, these activities are some of the most ultimate forms of love, a willingness to trust another completely. That was the thing that stood out most to me."

Luna gave her a pleasant smile. "Thou are most insightful. There art two final components. Both parties must also discuss limitations beforehoof, activities to be thus avoided. And the final regards safety. Despite all precautions, such activities carry some element of risk. Thus, safety must be held in the highest regard. Ropes musn’t ever be truly knotted, and instead formed into a loop of the slipping kind, as example. And, in the event of true injury, medical care must be summoned for posthaste."

"I understand," Cadence confirmed, her muzzle buried in Luna's coat by now. The princess' scent was alluring, lavender and cool air with a very faint touch of something else. The chill of the room made the encroaching heat under her tail all the more obvious.

The odor Cadence spread further around the room with every flick of her tail was beginning to drive Luna mad with desire, her own patience almost expended. "Sit upright beside us," she said, adopting a firmer, but still gentle tone. Cadence did so with haste, her expression halfway between giddy and embarrassment. Luna rewarded her with a nuzzle into the side of her neck, nipping at the fur. "For the purposes of thy session, thou are to address us as Mistress, understood?"

"Yes," Cadence said in a breathy voice, shuddering in anticipation. Luna withdrew her head, smiling but saying nothing. "I mean, yes Mistress,” Cadence corrected herself.

"Hmmmm," Luna pondered. "Very well. We shall overlook thy transgression, this time. Do not expect such mercies in the future. Now, is there anything thou dost explicitly wishest to avoid?"

Cadence considered this for a moment, then shook her head. "I trust you, Mistress, and I have the safewords if I need them."

Luna resisted the urge to smile at how well her lesson was starting to sink in. "Ah, but one element remains. Stand in front of us, now."

Cadence did so, sliding off the bed and onto her hooves, before turning and presenting her backside to the princess.

"Lift thy tail."

The command was both expected and humiliating. Cadence wanted to bury her face in her hooves, she was turning so red. Things were never so blunt between her and Shining, and the tone of Luna's voice brooked no argument. Her tail rose, with a small amount of hesitation at first, but it grew easier the more she committed to the action. Luna, the Princess of the Night, wanted to see her, exposed and on display. The thought sent a shudder like a lightning bolt through her whole body, ending with the entirety of her tail standing flagged and at attention.

Luna leaned in close behind her, and Cadence could feel the alicorn's breath waft over her needy slit. She had no idea what would be coming next, what kind of torment Luna was about to inflict on her, and it made her quiver in desire. But still, no relief came as she stood exposed.

Luna chuckled. Once she was satisfied at having drawn out Cadence's anticipation for long enough, she reached out with her muzzle and tugged at the base of the alicorn's tail.

Cadence took a sharp inhale, suppressing a whine but not the instinctive wink of her clit. Something was wrapped around her dock, soft with a small amount of cold pressing against the base of her tail. An experimental flick was rewarded with a metallic jingle. "Test it," Luna ordered.

Cadence gave her tail two quick shakes, letting the tone ring out clear, and then added a third. A heavy, heated breath wafted over her clit, and Cadence realized that she wasn't the only one in need at the moment. Luna was turned on by her, wanted her just as much as she wanted Luna.

Still, that want was morphing into a deep need, and the lack of attention was becoming unbearable. Why wasn't Luna doing anything? Couldn't she see just how much she needed Luna's tongue? One of her forehooves pawed at the floor in impatience.

"What dost thou want?" Luna's voice was sultry and low.

Cadence was surprised. Wasn't it obvious? "P-please," she huffed, "lick me, Mistress."

"Thou must be more specific," Luna reprimanded, blowing a gentle stream of air to Cadence's further torment.

Cadence squirmed, almost ready to touch herself then and there. "Please, Mistress, lick my cunt," she pleaded, feeling a bead of excitement trickle down her inner leg. "I need it..."

"We couldst not hear thou~" Luna's voice was almost cruel, it was so teasing.

"PLEASE BUCKING TONGUE MY NEEDY CUNT UNTIL I COLLAPSE!" Cadence screamed, unable to take any more.

Luna acquiesced, nuzzling hard into Cadence's dripping, swollen core and spearing her tongue into the alicorn's fuchsia depths. Cadence half-squealed, half moaned as the Night Princess licked furiously at every ridge and fold of her insides.

Luna hummed as she worked, letting the vibration of her muzzle rub against Cadence's puffy clit. The effect was immediate. Cadence clenched down on her tongue, huffing and moaning as Luna added a sharp magical tug to Cadence’s tail.

Cadence was at Luna's total mercy, dropping to her front hooves as the alicorn ate her out with ferocious intensity and skill she had never before experienced, even from Shining. All thoughts of resistance or holding out were erased from her mind as the orgasm she needed with such desperation approached like an unstoppable train.

Just as her hind legs began to quake and the very climax of her pleasure made itself known, Luna pulled her head away, leaving Cadence soaked and groveling with her rump in the air and tail flagged. Cadence screamed in her mind. She was so close! Why did Luna pull away now? She reached a hoof under her belly to finish herself off, but found it caught in a firm magical grip.

Three soft, dreaded words were whispered in her ear.

"Thou disobeyed us."

What? How? Cadence didn't understand. She'd followed Luna's orders to the word!

"Can thou tellest us how?"

A rising sensation of horror and trepidation rose in her gut a moment later as she realized the fatal mistake.

"I- I didn't address you properly, Mistress," Cadence said, her ears flattened. "And I'm not standing."

"Indeed," Luna responded in a firm voice. "And now, thou must be punished for thy transgression." She walked around to Cadence's front, then lifted her chin with a hoof. "Thy punishment is thus: Thy must remain in thy current position, blindfolded, without movement until we do return. Thou are forbidden from pleasuring thyself in any way while remaining so. Dost thou understand?"

Cadence winced, but had no alternative. She had broken Luna's rules, knowing the consequences. Even despite the firm tone, she could feel that Luna bore no true animosity towards her, more the tough love of a mare disappointed in her foal. It was only right. "I do, Mistress."

A scrap of light fabric was draped over her eyes, plunging her vision into darkness before being secured behind her head. "We wilst return soon." With those final words, Luna's hoofsteps retreated towards the far end of the room, followed by the opening and subsequent closing of the door. She was alone.

Cadence took a moment to reflect on her current state. Her wings were still flared, and the awkward position of her hind legs being raised and one hoof outstretched beneath herself made it clear that she would not be able to hold this position for long even with alicorn strength. She hoped Luna would return soon.

As the minutes passed, the ticking of a clock became apparent to her ears, muffled but just audible through the wall from the sitting room. Tick, tick, tick. Her comfort in finding a measure of the passage of time was erased as the hour chimed with no sign of Luna, and the steady noise became maddening as she lost count.

It would be so easy to move her hoof the last few inches and quench the fiery heat still raging in her loins. Luna would never know, right? Cadence couldn't feel the presence of any scrying spells around herself, and the temptation was so strong. It would take just that tiny movement and...

No.

Cadence grit her teeth and stayed in place, tensing her wings to eliminate a forming quiver. She was here to learn, and Luna was relying on her for different reasons. But more than anything, she had disappointed Luna, and a repeat of that would be unacceptable even if the princess never knew.

She wanted to be good for her Mistress. Even if it was just for this one session.

So she stayed frozen in place, aware of every draft against her unfulfilled needy core, her legs beginning to tremble. The ache turned to a red-hot burn as yet more time passed and her muscles screamed for a break almost as loudly as other parts of her screamed for release.

The clock ticked on. At last, she could hold out no more, and the shaking in her limbs threatened to send her collapsing to the floor. I'm sorry, Mistress, she silently pleaded.

"Well done. Thou mayest lay down beside us."

Cadence jumped at the sudden voice coming from right beside her ear, then her brain caught up to her nerves and she sank to the floor in utter relief, wings spread wide for lack of energy to fold them.

A slight bit of force registered at the back of her head, and the soft moonlit room rushed back into existence. Blinking in her efforts to adjust to the sudden stimulation, Cadence noticed Luna lying on the floor beside herself. How long has she been there!? Realization dawned. "You never left, did you?"

Luna stroked Cadence's mane with a proud grin. "Nay. Thou hast performed most excellently." A plush blanket floated over in her pale blue magic, giving something for Cadence to rest on. "Lay on thy back," she commanded in a gentle tone.

Cadence was more than happy to obey, rolling onto the blanket with all limbs spread. Luna shifted her position to just between Cadence's hind legs. "Just as infraction deservest punishment, so too dost obedience obtain our favor," Luna said, lowering her muzzle. "Thou mayest be as vocal as thou wishes."

"What do you mea- AHHHH!" Cadence arched her back as Luna pressed her muzzle deep into her puffy folds, paying careful attention to lap up every trickle of the alicorn's delicious excitement. Cadence squealed and squirmed and panted, both unable to escape from the relentless onslaught and desiring the exact opposite, pushing back as hard as she could to get more of Luna's tongue inside her.

Luna added a bit of magical stimulation to her ministrations, rubbing Cadence's clit with a telekinetic field that had the texture of static, eliciting a scream of delight from the mare. Out of Cadence's field of view, she rubbed a hoof at her own core with wild fervor, needing her own release just as much after an indeterminate time of restraint.

Cadence could feel her resistance failing in its entirety, and it was all she could do to scream out a half-formed, incoherent word before a bolt of lightning shot through her, exploding into a blinding light in her vision as every muscle tensed at once. Luna was caught off guard as a wave of Cadence's release caught her in the face, the alicorn's intense orgasm pushing Luna the last little bit over the edge to her own release, burying her muzzle against the inner side of Cadence's hind leg as her body shook.

Cadence didn't know how long she lay there, panting as her heart beat a million miles a minute, before a levitated glass of cold water pressed itself to her lips. She lifted her head just enough to drink down it down in greedy gulps, then collapsed back to the blanket and closed her eyes.

Luna pulled herself to rest alongside Cadence, pulling the alicorn into her embrace with hooves entangled and frothy coats resting on the cool floor. The pair said nothing, catching their breath and letting the moment pass in silence.

Luna recovered first, moving her muzzle to kiss Cadence and sharing a brief nuzzle. "Thank you," she said, her tone now kind and gentle instead of the firmness it had contained minutes ago.

Cadence returned the affection, grateful for the close contact. "What do you mean?" she asked, a little confused. "I should be the one thanking you. That was... fantastic, Luna. I don't think I've ever cummed that hard before." She giggled and buried her face in the Night Princess' mane.

"Thou gave us the chance to experience this again without guilt or anxiousness," Luna responded, looking up to the ceiling as the cool air caressed her coat. "That means more to us than words can express.” Her voice took on a slight hint of whimsy. "We wouldst even be interested in offering further 'lessons,' if thou wishest."

Cadence pulled her head back to look at Luna and smiled for a moment before sharing another kiss with her. She was beyond grateful for the experience, but even more so to help support her friend. The offer of experiencing this again was unexpected, but alluring. Some thoughts and questions lingered in the back of her mind, of what else Luna might be struggling with, or what the tangled bundle of warm emotions in her own chest signified.

There would be much to discuss with Shining tomorrow.

Author's Note

Well, at long last, the first hurdle is over and I finally have a published story. Starting with a clopfic had a lot of unique challenges, but I'm mostly satisfied with how this turned out. The premise of this story is interesting enough for me to consider expanding this from a oneshot in future. No promises.