When The Sun Sets

Winter had settled deep in Ponyville. The weather pegasi and the Weather Factory in Cloudsdale had outdone themselves with supplying snow drifts that covered the town and stretched all the way to Canterlot.

In the house she shared with her husband and Master in the nearby Whitetail Woods, Celestia was woken from her blissful slumber by the buzzing of the magical book that was connected to the one her sister owned back in the human world.

While not as loud as their alarm clock, the journal’s buzzing was incessant. “Uugh...is that...” the unicorn slowly opened her eyes and the glowing book immediately drew her tired sleepy gaze to the nightstand by the bed. Somewhat predictably, Moonsilver was obliviously asleep by her side.

By the bright glow of the enchanted book, Celestia could see it was barely three in the morning. Through a crack in the closed curtains, the snow outside caught her eye. She was very grateful for the earth pony invented heating system in the house. It kept the cold where it belonged. Outside.

Cocking her ears told her that her little filly, Sunrise, was still asleep in her bedroom too. It was just the book that had woken her so rudely from her slumber. “If Lulu thinks she can talk me into taking my job back, she has another think coming…” she muttered drowsily as she reached a hoof out for the book.”

“Horseapples,” she cursed, thankful that her two year old filly wasn’t awake to hear her swear, when she realised the journal was just out of her reach. Instead of struggling, the unicorn used her magic and she sat up, which did disturb Moonsilver by her side.

‘Hello Tia. Yet another crazy magic attack, this time to take over the Education system. Yet another rainboom to put the villain in his place. The ‘girls’ did that magic thing where they float and grow ears and long hair, except for Sunset.

Sunset turned into a unicorn, just like the ones you’re friends with. And she has stayed that way. She is staying over at Applejack’s place, and they are trying to figure out what to do.

I don’t know what to do, so I’m letting you know. Maybe someone somepony over there knows what to do. For now I don’t think it would be wise for you to come here through that portal. I have no idea if it was damaged, but I don’t want to risk you.

Love, Lulu and Leelee.’

“Oh my goodness!” Celestia exclaimed, then she immediately clapped a hoof over her mouth in case she had woken up Sunrise. Fortunately, the house was otherwise silent. “Silver,” she dug her husband sharply in his ribs, “Silver, wake up!”

“Whaaa!” cried Moonsilver, the pale grey centaur jolting awake as completely as if a gallon of ice cold water had been tipped over him, “I don't hear Sunny crying!” for that matter, he didn’t smell the house burning down either, so he wondered why he was awake.

“It's not her, for once, and no, we aren’t on fire,” Celestia smiled at the look on her drowsy husband’s face, “Take a look at this.” She used the light from her horn to illuminate the page instead of turning on the room light.

Moonsilver was confused, and not just because he had been roused from a most enjoyable dream that involved him, his wife and his two herd-mates. “Who is this Sunset that Luna speaks of?”

“Sunset Shimmer,” explained Celestia, whose brain was working double speed now she was properly awake, “She's an ex-student of mine and Princess Celestia's daughter.” Now she thought about it, it hit her, “I don't think you met her before coming here.”

“I thought ponies became humans on that side of the portal?” asked Moonsilver. He was sure his wife was right about him not meeting whoever this Sunset Shimmer was, but outside of Luna, Cheerilee, Roseluck and Berryshine, his interest waned.

“They do. But when they tap into the magic they possess, they transform, they grow ears and wings...do rainbow magic...the effect is usually temporary. This time, apparently not.”

“Luna says only one stayed that way. Why not all of them?”

That was a very good question. And not one that Celestia had an answer to, at least not at three in the morning. “My guess, and I'm far from an expert, is magic saturation. Sunset's Equestrian by birth, a unicorn. She's been exposed to the portal magic, and she has the centaur geode now too, maybe that’s it?”

“I have not a clue,” admitted Moonsilver, whose only thoughts at that moment was going back to sleep. Sunrise was asleep, and he wanted as much shut eye as he could while she stayed that way. “We could contact one of the shamans, or you could contact one of the Princesses?”

“I'll get up and go and tell Twilight. I’m sure she'll want to know about this,” Celestia removed the incredibly warm comforter and slid out of her bed, not thinking for a moment about the sun not being up yet or the knee high snow drifts outside in town.

“Is it really that urgent?” protested Moonsilver, who despite the warmth of their cottage, found the bed intolerably cold without his unicorn by his side. “Can't you wait till morning?”

“Not with this. And it is morning…” Celestia caught her husband’s deadpan expression when he pointed to the alarm clock that now read three fifteen a.m.

“Can’t you wait till later in the morning?”

“The sooner I tell her,” Celestia responded with a shake of her head, “The sooner the Princesses can start working the problem.” After a quick stretch, she used her magic to run a brush through her long multicoloured mane, “Besides, I can't sleep now.” With her mane roughly brushed, Celestia used her magic to float over a Rarity made pink winter coat and matching snow boots from her closet. “If I'm not back before your guard shift at the castle starts, wake Roseluck up.”

Moonsilver shook his head. He had a better idea. “If you're not back, I'll let the Captain know. I do have time off to spend, and spending it with Sunny and Rosie would be nice. She’s not just here to help with foal care.”

“Alright, my sexy Master,” Celestia winked and gave Moonsilver a deep kiss while she used her telekinesis to put on the boots. “Keep the bed warm for me.”

“Sure, if you're too long, Sunny and Rosie will help me with that, then it’s the couch for you.”

“Fine,” Celestia conceded that eventuality might just happen, “The price I have to pay for saving the world.” She leant over and gave her centaur one last kiss before drawing the winter coat around her and venturing out into the cold.

Left alone in the bed, Moonsilver laid back down, but found he could no longer get to sleep, not without his Celly by his side. There was always Roseluck, but he knew she needed her sleep too. Resigned to being awake, he resolved to get up and make breakfast for her return.

Outside, Celestia hadn’t gotten to the edge of Ponyville proper when she was already regretting her hasty decision to walk to Twilight’s castle in the middle of the night. The snow was so deep in the woods that it came above the tops of the boots, and it wasn’t long before her hooves were numb.

Grumbling out a few more choice expletives – that she was thankful Sunrise couldn’t hear – the frozen unicorn lit her horn and cast a simple warming spell. Despite that, she was still shivering. The cold was so all encompassing that it was in her very bones at that point. Gritting her teeth, she soldiered on to the crystal castle in the distance.

The mountainous earth pony guard who was stood outside the closed door was stood in one of Twilight’s warming bubbles to keep her warm while on duty. “Good morning, Barricade,” Celestia offered the huge mare a polite bow and a smile of greeting. She liked her a lot. She remembered passing the mare on her way to her work at the school.

Barricade laughed, “I'm sure it will be morning in a couple of hours, schoolmistress. What has you out so early, Tia, especially on a day like this?”

“I have a Code Sunset,” Celestia patted her saddlebags under her coat with a snow sodden boot covered hoof, “Urgent message for the Princess.”

Without any further preamble, Barricade opened the door to the castle. She, and all the guards, had been briefed on all eventualities. “Backstop,” she spoke into the earpiece she wore, “Urgent visitor for the Princess. Please wait in the great room, Backstop will bring her down.”

“Thank you, Barricade, I appreciate it,” she gave the guard a nod of her head and trotted inside and went straight to the great room, cancelling the warming spell and removing her wet boots and winter coat along the way. She knew they’d be taken care of.

After just three short minutes, Twilight Sparkle walked slowly past the door to the great room, and it almost looked like the alicorn was sleep walking. “Kitchen. Talk. Coffee.” She said simply, but kept on moving, not looking anywhere but ahead.

Celestia couldn’t help but giggle, for she was sure she had worn similar bags under her eyes when Sunrise had woken her in the deathly hours. She followed Twilight through the castle to the kitchen. “I can make us coffee, if you’d like?”

“Coffee. Good. Yes.” Twilight sat – she slumped heavily into her seat – with an audible thud, at the kitchen table. In a second, her eyes were closed and a grunted snore left her.

“I'm sorry to wake you so early, Twilight,” apologised Celestia while she was busy with the coffee machine.

About two minutes after the unicorn had started one of the kitchen staff, a middle aged earth pony mare by the name of Oatseed, walked into the kitchen looking hatefully fresh as a daisy. “I got that,” she gently took over the cooking duties, “But thank you for getting it started. Would you like some haybacon and eggs?”

“I'd love some, thank you Ms Oatseed,” relieved of cooking, Celestia instead went over and sat at the table with the snoring Princess.

The loud growling that came from the alicorn’s stomach shocked her awake and she blushed hard. “Coffee. Food…” she murmured, to which Celestia simply giggled and levitated the magical book from her saddlebag onto the table. The moment she saw it, Twilight seemed to come awake. “That’s the one to your sister?”

“It is, Twilight,” she confirmed with a nod, “Lulu sent me a message that woke me up. After I read it, I knew I should bring it to you straightaway.”

Before Twilight could open the book, Oatseed carried over two coffee and placed the milky Celestia specials on the table. The Princess gulped half of hers down without batting an eyelid. Only when she had caffeine in her system, did her horn light up and a similar book appeared, summoned from Twilight’s room. “Does it have to do with Sunset being a pony in the human world, by any chance?”

Celestia opened her mouth several times and then, realising she was imitating a fish, blushed a deep red. “Yes, actually it does.”

Twilight moved her book across to Celestia and the two swapped over so they could compare their notes. “Can I see what your Luna wrote?”

“Please do,” Celestia opened the book and slid it over, then she opened the one she herself had been given.

“That's horn writing, by the way,” commented Twilight the very second she saw the message on the page, “Sunset's penmanship was never that good.”

“That must mean she has command of her unicorn magic,” put in Celestia, though she thought it was rather obvious, on reflection. Not only was Sunset a physical pony, she had her magic too.

After Twilight had read both messages twice over, she mused, “They both agree the portal may be dangerous. I started studying this side. One of my guards put me to bed when I fell asleep in front of it,” Twilight blinked, “Yeah, sort of proves the account.”

“So Sunset doesn't just look like a pony, she is a pony, just as if she was on this side.”

“Yes,” agreed Twilight, her eyes alive with the possibilities for learning, “And there are too many variables. I mean, I sort of destroyed Starswirl’s portal and remade it to stop the magic leak, and let us still use it. I wish I knew what this Neighsay character did on that side.”

“I can ask Luna, see if she knows, or if she has an idea of what might have happened?” offered Celestia, trying to be helpful.

“I asked the same from Sunset, but she doesn't really know,” Twilight studied the messages again as she downed her coffee and Oatseed supplied a refill to them both. “He was already doing something to take magic out of the portal when she got there and then they used the magic they already had to...wait...” Twilight stopped speaking, she lit her horn and a chalkboard appeared, which she started scribbling on.

Slightly bemused, because she had seen similar behaviour from the Twilight she had met at the Friendship Games, Celestia asked, “What, are you onto something?”

“The girls have stored Equestrian magic,” Twilight spoke more to herself than to the ponies in the room, “They can't draw it from the portal anymore, but they also have those geodes that the centaurs made. It is a sort of focus…” again she trailed off to silence as she made lots of numbers and complicated magical symbols appear on the board.

“Is it magic saturation?” offered Celestia, very hopeful that her idea would be right.

“Opposite!” Twilight had a slightly manic expression on her face born from lack of sleep and an important breakthrough fuelled by zebran coffee, “The girls are human with Equestrian magic. For them, it is now self-generating, and the geodes just make them better at using it. Sunset is not human. She lost the Equestrian magic her human body was holding and can't regenerate it! She doesn't have the portal magic anymore!” she seized her coffee, drained it, only for it to be replaced with another cup and plate of food for them both.

Having waited for her coffee to be a temperature that was drinkable, Celestia swallowed it in one. The caffeine helped her try to process what her friend was saying. “So...you're saying it was the Equestrian magic in the portal that was keeping her looking human, now it's gone, she's reverted to her natural form?”

Twilight pointed a hoof at the messy chalkboard like the answer was obvious, “Math adds up. Now to figure out if the portal is safe or not.”

Having understood precious little, Celestia had instead turned her attention to the marvellous breakfast Oatseed had prepared. “And I'm guessing,” she said thickly through the food in her mouth, “Adagio didn't change because it wasn't the same portal that sent her and the other Sirens to the human world?”

Suddenly thinking, Twilight grabbed the book and started writing furiously, ‘Sunset. Can you still read thoughts with a touch? I think you have lost all your portal magic and it has returned you to your natural form. I really need to find out what it was Neighsay was doing to the portal. I’m not ready to send anypony through until I know it is safe. You do have your Equestrian magic. How good are you at illusions to disguise your appearance? Luna sent word to her sister, just so you know. Your friend, P. Twi’

When she showed Celestia what she had written, Twilight thought on the issue of the portal. “That’s just it. You’re right, it isn't the same portal that brought Sunset to the human world. I really did change it, so the centaurs could return to this world.”

“As for the sirens,” continued Twilight, undeterred, “I'm glad they didn't find themselves landlocked in their true from. Still, from what Sunset has told me, they have all changed and none were willing to follow the centaurs here. I only have a theory for them. They lost their gems and the geodes they were given weren't a good enough substitute.”

“I can attest to the fact they've reformed,” stated Celestia with an air of confidence and authority on the subject. “They all have lives, jobs and partners over there.” She took her journal back and scribbled off a note to her sister, roughly detailing what had been discovered.

“The portal restores, or did, might still...” Twilight summoned a second chalkboard and got ready to fill it, “Anyway, the gems should have regenerated if they did come through.”

“Twilight?” Celestia placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder and gave her a warm smile, “One problem at a time, hmm?”

Suddenly stopped, Twilight blinked, emptied her coffee and as she made the two chalkboards vanish, it was instantly refilled. “Yes, of course. I just don't trust the portal now. I could always dismantle and rebuild it again,” she thought out loud before shovelling in some of her food, “Too many variables…”

“Or you could ask that wizard guy, Starswirl, for help?” suggested Celestia, “You don't have to do it on your own, you know.”

At the mention of Starswirl’s name, Twilight turned glum. “I haven't told any of this to Princess Celestia. I don't want her going through, and I don't want Sunset coming through,” she sighed, “Starswirl is a gossip.”

“He's also a powerful unicorn. Or there's Starlight. Or Celestia? I know you don't want her going through, and I believe she won't, but she should be told.”

“I'm going to Canterlot tomorrow...or is that today, now?” Twilight shook her head, gave up and filled her belly for a moment. “Anyway, I'll tell her, but...she kind of shuns the portal, ever since Sunset first went through it. Why it was sent to the Crystal Empire in the first place and why I have it now. I'm glad you think highly of Starswirl, but he said I couldn’t do what I did to let the Centaurs come back.” Twilight giggled at that, proud she had proved him wrong. “I'm kinda liking doing stuff that befuddles him.” she snorted a laugh, “I think he’s still miffed I got wings fixing one of his spells.”

“Well, I personally think you do an amazing job, for whatever my opinion's worth. You protect Ponyville, are a Princess, and everything else, and you're still sane, even with Rainbow Dash about.”

Under the sincere praise, Twilight blushed a very deep red indeed. “Dash can do this thing with her wings that pops me right out of the Twilynanas zone.” She thought of Rainbow, asleep upstairs, and her blush covered her whole face.

Celestia giggled so hard she spluttered her coffee all over the kitchen table, “Hmm, and Silver can do this thing with his hoof that sends me into space…”

“No details, please. My imagination is playing that out.” Twilight smiled dreamily, “I have Dash on a towable cloud so I can take her places before noon. Inky!”

At the mention of her name, a pitch black unicorn mare with an equally black mane, walked into the kitchen. “Yes, Princ…” she stopped as Twilight narrowed her eyes dangerously, “I mean, yes, Twilight?”

“Today's schedule?”

“You have a train to Canterlot at nine a.m.”

“Anything earlier?”

“There is space on the six a.m.” replied Inky, who prided herself on her efficiency.

“Book it please, Inky, and cancel my court. After that take the day off, I'll be back late tonight.”

“If that's all, Twilight,” started Celestia as Inky bowed and took her leave, “I think I'll head on back home. I have a feeling I have an appointment with Moonsilver and his hand before Sunrise decides to wake up.”

Twilight smiled, “He does have rather strong hands.” She made sure her friend had her book safely back in her saddlebag, “Thank you for the information, it’s good to have multiple perspectives.”

“That he does. I should have known Sunset would write to you,” she checked her bag, finished off the very last of her food and at last stood up with a groan, “Do say hello to Princess Me for me when you see her, won't you?”

“Of course, and you should send more foal photos!”

“Please,” Celestia rolled her eyes, “You know not what you ask! Silver has several albums filled already, and Sunny’s only two!”

Twilight laughed. Of course she knew, her mother had a small library’s worth of photo albums full of herself, Shining Armor and Flurry Heart. And she took no persuading to get them out for anypony who visited. “Of course, my fault. You should wait till she’s a teenager before you share all the photos.”

“I'd be happy to send you some pictures,” the unicorn nudged Twilight playfully, “Aunty Twily. Oh, and remind Me that it's her turn to bring the cake when she visits.”

“I'll remind her to not eat it before she gets here. Do you need an escort home?”

As she levitated her dry and warm snow boots and winter coat to her, Celestia noted it was still only four thirty in the morning, still dark and still cold. “If you can spare Barricade, I'd be grateful. She's delightful company.”

“Of course.”

~ ~ ~

When they approached the cottage in Whitetail Wood, it was already starting to snow again. Celestia bid a fond farewell to Barricade, complete with a tight hug, before she stepped into the house. Quietly closing the door, she noted the light was on in the kitchen. She hung up her winter coat in the hall and leaving her boots behind, she stepped into the kitchen. “Silver?”

“You weren't gone as long as I expected,” Moonsilver turned to greet his wife, revealing the coffee he had prepared and stuff laid out to make breakfast that he hadn't started yet.

“Hmmmm coffee...” even though she’d had coffee at the castle, the walk in the cold had left her wanting more. She smiled and walked over, where she nuzzled and kissed her husband, “Twilight got on a roll figuring stuff out. Once that started, I knew I wouldn't be long.”

“So, the world won't be ending anytime soon?” he asked as he poured them both a coffee from the pot.

Seeing he had chosen her ‘Best Teacher’ mug, Celestia giggled and sat down in her rustic hand built kitchen. “Not this time, my love. Maybe the next emergency or crisis, or the one after that. I take it Rosie is still asleep?”

Carrying over the coffees, Moonsilver sat next to her. “No, I tried to wake her but she threw her pillow at me. How’s your sister doing?”

“Better than I thought, actually,” admitted Celestia, who was enjoying the smell of her coffee, “You know how she is when magic's involved. Luna won't admit being scared, but I can tell when she's worried.”

“She didn't want one of those geodes,” pointed out Moonsilver.

“No. She doesn't trust magic. It took enough persuading to get her to accept the journal before we left.”

Moonsilver laughed, the practised laugh of a parent who was aware of waking up a sleeping filly. “I think having a niece helped a lot with that. By the way,” he added as he inhaled deeply and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, “You smell very nice today.”

“I do think you're right,” Celestia took a sip of her coffee by lifting it up in her magic and she took a sniff of herself. “Do I?” overpowering the smell of the coffee, she blushed at 'that' smell, the smell wafting from under her tail, the smell that said she was in heat.

“You did wake me up very early this morning.”

“Oh...” Celestia set her mug down as she recognised that tonal shift in his voice. The tone that said he had moved from husband to dominant. “I-I'm sorry Master, I didn't mean to, I panicked…”

“Really,” Moonsilver spoke slowly, calmly and in complete control of the situation. “You, panic? Or was it just an excuse to visit with Twilight?”

“It was nice to see her,” Celestia’s eyes went wide at her ‘confession’, “I mean, no, I didn't panic, Master.”

At the kitchen table, Moonsilver wore a broad grin, “You may panic now, if you wish.” Before she could react to that, the unicorn’s tail flagged upwards and ‘that’ smell wafted all around the kitchen. Leaning over, he kissed his wife and submissive while his hand moved up to take firm hold of her horn, but pulling or twisting.

A very nervous but aroused whimper left the mare’s lips as she kissed Moonsilver, letting him know she was putty in his hands. “You may speak one word to answer this question, is it time for Sunrise to have a sibling?”

“Yes!”

Answer and consent given, Moonsilver stood and, with his hand still on the unicorn's horn, he gently lifted her head while he moved beside her to take the base of her tail in his other hand. He then led her to the bedroom. “I can't refuse such an answer.”

“Thank you, Master!” Celestia knew her husband’s hand gripping her horn was nullifying her magic, and that the hand gripping the base of her tail was distracting her for other reasons. She also knew she was leaving quite the lewd trail behind her.

In the bedroom, the dominant centaur sat her down on the floor with her back to the bed. “Show me how much,” he ordered her simply and, as he let go of her, he reared up so that both his forehooves were on the bed and she had access to his undercarriage.

Celestia didn't bother using her hooves or her magic. She knew what her Master liked, she knew what he expected her to do. She shuffled forwards on her knees and slathered hot wet sloppy kisses up and down his sheath. At his balls, she gave them a worshipful tongue bathing and sucked on one after the other.

Above her, Moonsilver was happy to let Celestia do her work, but he did reach down, bending at the waist to play with her flanks and lower back. It didn’t take long for the centaur’s stallionhood to emerge from the sheath, and before it got hard, it flopped over her face. Several sloppy kisses along the shaft soon saw it fully erect, and Celestia went to work properly, taking the head of his cock in her mouth, swirling her tongue around it and bobbing her head forward.

When Moonsilver felt that her efforts were going to result in an early release, he slapped a flank hard enough to leave a handprint. “Position! Now!”

“GaaAAAAH y-yes Master!” Celestia quickly scooted from her sitting position to bending over the foot of the bed, her hind legs wide, tail up high. She received two more hard slaps for not being quick enough, but he was pleased how readily she presented herself. He shoved his muzzle under her tail and, with a lot of tongue, determined she was ready. “Ooooooh by the forest!” she was already very wet and in heat, his tongue only made her wetter.

Two more firm spanks lit up her ass cheeks, which were now decorated in dull pink handprints. “I think you may be ready…” to test if she really was, he plunged his whole hand into her sopping wet slit.

“Ooooh fuuuuuuck yeee…” Celestia had the presence of mind to bite down the duvet at the last moment to keep from screaming out in pleasure as he entered her.

Skilfully, Moonsilver worked his mare to the edge of an orgasm with his hand, while all the time spanking her with the other, before he pulled it out and, leaving her whining on the precipice, licked his fingers. “I do think you are receptive, and I forgive you for waking me early, my beloved pet.”

That said, he positioned his erect cock at her dripping wet entrance and he was inside her with one deep thrust. “MmmMMMMMMM!” Celestia bit the duvet all the harder now he was actually inside her all the way.

Above her, Moonsilver yanked hard on Celestia’s tail, and through the enthusiastic rutting, he added in the occasional spank, even switching up hands to keep the red on her ass even.

Below her Master, Celestia could tell he was going to town, that he really wanted another foal with her. She was only too happy to receive what he gave her, and he gave her plenty.

They were still going at it when the sun eventually rose into the sky.