Chapter Thirteen: Oathbound

With a very quiet pop, an odd trio appeared in the front room of Carousel Boutique. The librarian, her eyes all aglitter amidst a mane of black, barely holding herself together. The animal caretaker, a little butter yellow creature with a heart full of kindness, already past the point of no return. Lastly, the drake, putting on a brave face for the sake of his friends.

The soft crackling of a weather lamp indicated the house above the shop was occupied, and Twilight smiled. It wasn’t a particularly happy smile, more of an acknowledgement of efficiency than an expression of joy.

“Are you okay up there, ‘Shy?” she asked, voice startlingly loud in the silent shop front.

“Hmm…” came Fluttershy’s sleepy reply, blanketed amid a tangle of black curls. That’s… actually going to make weaving an illusion difficult. An actuality would make it tricky to keep Fluttershy on, especially if she still kicks in her sleep… Oh, to the moon with it all, Rarity has seen plenty of weird things since we met. She blinked, illusions snapping into place over her glowing eyes, but leaving the part-mane-part-mare combination on her back visible.

“How about you, Spike?” she asked more hesitantly, past Fluttershy to the dragon seated on her rump.

“I don’t know, Twi. Ask me in the morning?” he said, giving her a pained smile, “I just hope Rarity is okay.”

“Me too, Spike…” Twilight said, her shoulders slowly beginning to shake. No, no… Rarity. Need to check Rarity. Then Pinkie, then Dash. I don’t have time to stop.

Carefully she walked up the stairs, not wanting to dislodge either of her passengers, and knocked on the wide purple door to Rarity’s bedroom. The quiet clicking of a sewing machine ground to a halt, and she could imagine the perplexed expression on Rarity’s face.

“Rarity? It’s Twilight. Can I come in? It’s an emergency,” she called out quietly. A moment later, blue magic encircled the door, and it was forcefully pulled open to reveal a furious looking tailor.

“Twilight Sparkle, do you have any idea how close I was to messaging the watch?”

She gulped. “Ahaha… burglars don’t usually knock, Rarity,” she said nervously.

“Yes, but I felt you teleport in… I had thought you might be that ruggedly charming Night Sl-!” Rarity was interrupted by a purple hoof. And don’t you dare lick me this time!

“Don’t say the name, please. It’s really, really important that you don’t say that name right now. Part of the emergency business.”

Rarity nodded slowly, her eyes wide. Twilight shifted her head to give Rarity a better view of the slumbering pegasus on her back, gingerly removing her hoof from Rarity’s mouth. Rarity gasped.

“Oh my goodness, what in Equestria happened to your lovely mane!?”

Twilight gave a nervous little laugh that threatened to devolve into outright cackling. “Aheh… well, it’s hugging Fluttershy at the moment. Can I come in? There’s something I need to check.”

“Ah, of course darling! Might I ask why you are carrying Fluttershy?” Rarity stepped aside, and Twilight noticed a pair of scissors returning to their place on the desk.

Twilight had always liked Rarity’s bedroom, with its pleasant mix of blue and pink, and after the situation at Fluttershy’s cottage it was nice to relax for a moment in a less hostile environment. Spike hopped down, a little wobbly, but steadying himself on Twilight’s leg. Rarity closed the door behind them, seating herself back at the desk beside the sewing machine. Spike hopped off, holding onto Twilight’s leg despite attempted stoicism.

“It’s… complicated. Would you mind standing completely still for a minute? It’s important, Rarity.”

I consign control of my body to Terminus.

“Why thank you, dear one,” the voice murmured amiably.

The world burned with a riotous mix of colours, mostly shades of green, although she could just make out the pale pink overlaying it all which she assumed to be Rarity’s burglar alarm ward. So that’s how she knew… sneaky. Rarity herself was a melange of greens, her aura seething around a stable grey portion which seemed to be comprised of alien glyphs. A pale blue braid of condensed magic connected to the aura, branching off into the distance. Thankfully, Rarity complied, if only for a moment, and Terminus excised the material without complication, using the same bizarre variation on a cutting spell she’d seen last time.

Free Fluttershy, too. I was too… oh sun, I didn’t mean to… If she had been in control, she’d have shaken Fluttershy awake, to apologise, to beg forgiveness. I was too wrapped up in m-my… oh, Terminus.

“You are mortal, dear one. You believed you had murdered one of your kind, and your own experience with death is limited. I cannot fault you for your actions, for you performed both admirably and efficiently under the circumstances.” A surgical incision to Fluttershy’s aura, purple tendril reaching inwards and severing what remained of the attacker. The voice continued, more quietly this time. “I have done what I can, however… do not be surprised if your friend suffers with this condition for a very long time. Perhaps for the rest of her mortal life.”

With that, she was unceremoniously dumped back in control of her body. Tears leaked down her cheeks once more, and she turned, nuzzling Fluttershy’s ears tenderly.

“Um… darling? Is everything quite all right?” Rarity peered at her over her spectacles, as if she suspected Twilight had gone mad. Well, I did just stand there and seem to do absolutely nothing for a minute or so… then start crying… sun and moon, I’m such a mess… Rarity’s face softened, and she hurriedly took off her spectacles.

“Oh, sweetie… come here,” she said, wrapping warm forelegs around Twilight’s neck, drawing her close. Pressing her cheek against Rarity’s delicate neck, Twilight returned the hug almost desperately, but mindful of the pony on her back all the same. Her chest burned, and she felt a rush of strength, a rush of purpose. I have to help Pinkie and Dash. I have to make sure they’re safe and happy. Now, Sparkle. She urged herself onward, but for once her body failed to comply. So she hugged Rarity for all she was worth, trying to pour all the love she felt for her friends into that one simple gesture. Maybe it would make up for Fluttershy’s condition. She knew it wouldn’t.

“I’m sorry Rarity, I’m sorry… I couldn’t help her… I didn’t get there in time...” she muttered feverishly, cuddling into her friend’s neck. I was too late, and Fluttershy paid the price. But there was no way I could have known! If I hadn’t run off to that banquet like a lovesick filly… I would never have learnt just how much Celestia means to me. But Fluttershy would be safe, and happy. I deserve this pain, for allowing this to happen to Fluttershy. I’m a terrible friend... On and on it went, a voice that was her own throwing her mistakes back at her, the inherent contradiction threatening to tear her apart. Celestia was important. Fluttershy was important. Her chest twinged painfully, her horn spitting out a fizzle of red. I have to go. Get up, Twilight. Get up!

“There, there… Twilight, you’ve done nothing wrong. Come on, let’s get Fluttershy to bed, and we’ll talk about this for as long as you need, okay darling?”

She shook her head, ruffling Rarity’s perfectly coiffured mane as the white mare lead them gently toward the bed. “I can’t… I have to help Dash. I have to make sure they’re safe. Not… not like ‘Shy.”

After gently disentangling Fluttershy from Twilight’s mane, Rarity turned to Twilight, grabbing her forcefully and throwing her down onto the bed, allowing Angel to escape with a squeak. “Now, darling, you’re not going anywhere until you’ve told me what the matter is. I can’t let you go out looking for the others while you’re so obviously upset.”

Twilight opened her mouth, and began to speak, keeping her eyes on Rarity. It was easy, once she started. She told Rarity of the banquet, of Celestia’s request, of meeting Luna. Of kissing Celestia, and returning to find Applejack under a spell. Of the creature she’d fought at Fluttershy’s, and how for the barest fraction of a minute, she’d lay there on the floor of the cottage, curled up into a little ball of tears and regret. It all spilled out, her voice tired and flat.

“And now, I need to make sure Rainbow is clean of the spell. I’ve severed yours, but we can’t let it continue. I won’t let anypony else suffer like Fluttershy has. I can’t, Rarity. I can’t!”

She looked down at Twilight with sad eyes, her lip quivering. Twilight’s heart felt as if it had been struck through, and she immediately hugged her friend.

“I-I’m meant t-to be comforting y-y-you, Twilight!” Rarity protested, trying to push Twilight off despite her own sniffles. “Isn’t there any other way?”

Twilight searched for another path to her goal, though her options seemed limited. She could, of course, go straight to Celestia, or go straight to Rainbow Dash instead. The former would require her to convince Celestia to intervene, and help her other friends along with the rest of the town. Of course, going straight to Dash would instead risk the minds of the other townsfolk in the meantime. The answer was obvious. But what about my friends? I promised… I promised… you asked if I would spread immortality to the masses. To walk unto Asgard with a wish and a word… yet my friends would be special. Above the others. What should I do?

“Yes,” she said, licking dry lips. “Yes, there is another way. I’ll be back soon, Rarity. Please, be safe while I’m gone.”

She turned to the small dragon, who had watched the exchange with tearful confusion. It was obvious the baby dragon didn’t properly understand what was going on, but he was trying to be brave in the face of it all. “Spike… I love you, and look after Rarity for me. If anypony says the name ‘Night Slash’ around her, message Celestia immediately. I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry about me,”

He thumped his chest, puffing up a little as he moved over to stand by Rarity. “Alright Twi… your number one assistant is on the case!”

Twilight smiled weakly as she dispersed into purple sparks. A brief visit to the roof of Carousel Boutique, and a moment later she was gone.

~~~

The sensation of an incoming teleportation brought Celestia onto high alert almost instantly. Few had the ability to just appear where they pleased, and even fewer had the clearance to do so on the palace grounds. Unless, of course, they would attempt to force their way through the many layers of wards, which would be rather ill-advised, she mused.

Her heart gave a little flutter as she sensed the magical signature of the arrival, and slowly the air disgorged a purple unicorn before her, at the foot of her bed. It only took her a millisecond longer to take in Twilight’s appearance. The little unicorn looked dreadful, her fur stained with tears, grains of rubble coating her left side, and some little drops of what looked like blood on her front. Without even realising it, Celestia reached out to Twilight even as she rematerialised before the alicorn.

“Twilight Sparkle,” she murmured fondly, holding her student close to her chest. Twilight melted against her, a sensation like ice cold silk flowing through Celestia where the unicorn lay. For a while neither spoke, Twilight’s panting hovering at the edge of sobs for long seconds. The sight nearly broke Celestia’s heart, so she ran gentle hooves through Twilight’s chill black mane, waiting for Twilight to speak.

“Celestia… I-I know we have a lot to talk about right now, but something terrible has happened in Ponyville. I need you to quarantine the area, and contain the mares in particular. They’ve been the victim of some sort of memetic enchantment, and I don’t know who’s infected… please, I only had time to make sure Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack were clean,” Twilight’s voice came through, raspy and quiet, not at all like the scared little librarian that had fled her after delivering the best kiss she’d felt in a hundred millennia. She shuddered, casting her thoughts back toward the present. A different time. How naive we were, back then.

“I see. You’ll stay here and recuperate, my little Twilight. I’ll take care of it.”

She leaned down, hesitant, looking into those beautiful purple eyes. She was so full of life it made Celestia feel hollow. You deserve better, Twilight. I fear I will drain the life from you, in time. Too many regrets, too much time. I hope I shall not regret this, too. Twilight’s lips were like ice, silky soft to the touch, and Celestia poured herself into the kiss, her tongue flicking out to tease Twilight’s own. After a moment of shocked immobility, the unicorn’s hooves were around her neck, and she felt silken cold flow back into her, their auras mingling deliciously. Celestia’s hair curled around them, wrapping around Twilight like a flowing rainbow blanket, who sighed, leaning back into the warmth, utterly relaxed.

“W-w-wow…” Twilight murmured. Her aura flared, white and purple and twisting black; the sharp, bright taste of pure magic mingling with the smell of night flowers. Celestia felt lightheaded, nuzzling her student’s ears with a grin. I’d hate to kiss and run, but one good turn deserves another.

“Quite so. And I am afraid that I’ll be away for quite some time, so do try to relax while I’m gone. Goodbye, Twilight, and don’t worry.”

She teleported seamlessly, appearing over Ponyville with nary a puff of displaced air. It was night, and she was cut off from her domain, but the magic within her would suffice tonight. Her power pooled from the deep well within her, a spell springing freeform from her imagination. A great burst of prismatic light, and gently the townsponies were lulled into a deep sleep. Another surge of power, lances of light speared down from her to capture the mares within the town, lifting them from their beds for her to examine. So many of her little ponies, warped by a single spell. But only a fraction of those who live in Equestria. Ponyville is a small town. A small tragedy, next to… next to all that has been. I’m sorry, my subjects. I have failed you. She did her best, in Luna’s absence, to calm the dreams of those affected. To help suppress the compulsions, and to remove the restraints placed on the mares.

As she worked, she attempted once more to see her sister’s point of view. It was true, in a way, that each mind she examined was primitive, but she couldn’t disconnect herself entirely from the thoughts and experiences that made each unique. Not long ago, she would have said that it didn’t really matter. That their thoughts still weren’t complex enough to bother with this generation, but a little purple unicorn was steadily changing her mind. You matter, Twilight, but why? What experiences have you had that make you so different from the others? Sifting through the storm of information, she found little in the way of answers. Most Ponyville inhabitants were farmers, but compared to the Element of Honesty, there was still something missing.

It was a long and arduous task, even for her, to deal with so many fragile minds beneath her hooves. One small mistake, and a mare’s mind would burn before her splendor. But she was never truly afraid. Celestia had learned long ago that she did not make small mistakes.

An hour later, she was finally finished. The mares of Ponyville slept as peacefully as she could ensure, although scars would linger. She wasn’t her sister, after all, but she had done what she could for their troubled minds. Still, she wondered the reasoning for the attack. Targeting mares, in a rural backwater with a small population… they know of the elements, and they fear them. The silver lining, perhaps.

It was then that an idea came to her. They might not like it, but she could at least keep them safe for now. Pinkie Pie giggled, twitching in her sleep, cuddling into Rainbow Dash beside her. Somehow, neither had been affected, either by luck or through some strange unseen power. Celestia still didn’t discount the latter, since Pinkie Pie’s aura was perhaps the most profoundly disturbing thing she’d ever laid eyes on. She shrugged. It wouldn’t be kind to question Pinkie Pie logic. Splitting her concentration, she penned a series of notes that dispersed to the residences of each Element, explaining their absence as a matter of royal import. A lance shot down, capturing a baby dragon, asleep on the floor next to Rarity’s bed. Gathering the sleeping Elements to her, she teleported once more to Canterlot.

“Perfect Timing? I need rooms for five mares, staying for as long as they wish and close to my own quarters if you please,” she said calmly, stepping out of the aether before her aging butler. He gasped, but bowed hurriedly, eyeing the sleeping mares that hovered around her.

“Of course, Princess! I shall call the servants immediately to prepare for our new guests!” he said, scribbling a short note on his pad of paper. He reached behind his desk for a courier pod, pushing the note inside and sending the pod on its way with a metallic clunk.

“Which rooms, Timing? Please, I am quite a busy mare tonight,” she said, allowing an edge of not-quite-faked impatience enter her voice. His eyes widened, and he bowed again, his nose brushing the thick red carpet of his simple office.

“Your highness. I had thought perhaps rooms forty-nine through fifty-three?”

She grinned, releasing her hold on her avatar for a moment, allowing her consciousness to expand outward through the newly strengthened ward scheme. To Perfect Timing, her body shone like the sun as the bonds holding it together momentarily weakened in the absence of her domain, but it was all the time she needed. With a quiet pop, the five floating mares disappeared, reappearing in their designated rooms instantly. Snapping back into control of her avatar, she raised one eyebrow at Timing’s awestruck appearance. “Let it be known that they will sleep soundly until morning, so don’t worry too much about the noise the servants make. For now, they are to be treated as honored guests of the palace, and I will explain the situation personally before morning court tomorrow. For everything else, I will leave the matter in your most capable hooves,” she said evenly, before dispersing into a cloud of golden sparks, taking Spike with her.

~~~

Okay, just relax. Celestia will take care of everything. She lay on her back in the enormous bed, still warm from the princess’ body, but to Twilight it seemed awfully cold compared to Celestia’s mane. She shook her head, the lingering warmth of the princess’ aura clouding her thoughts. She probably intended that… so I won’t worry so much. Damn her, it’s working! Oh… I shouldn’t curse Celestia, I’m sorry princess… She sighed, snuggling down into the veritable mound of pillows Celestia liked to sleep on. Sunbeams and vanilla and warmth, like her hair. Her chest ached, her horn shedding red sparks. I’m sorry, Dash. I just… I just couldn’t take it anymore. I-If you were… twisted by that thing, I don’t know what I’ll do. Pinkie… oh, Pinkie, you’ll be safe, won’t you? Nopony messes with Pinkie Pie…

An ethereal voice answered from behind her ear. “Please, calm yourself dear one. Trust in your princess.”

No! No… I have to go back… she might need me… they might need me!

She struggled upright, hopping down from the bed, stumbling on the tiled floor.

“No, do not! Dear one, please, be reasonable!”

I swore… long and happy lives, Terminus. I make sure that happens if they’re… if they’re… oh Terminus, I can’t do this!

She gathered her magic for a teleport back to Ponyville, her horn lighting as the field formed around her once more. Strange, it felt like she was fighting the magic every step of the way. I have to go. I have to. Just as she was about to slip through, the spell surged erratically, her reserves draining into a single spell. Chaotic magic burst from her horn with enough force to shatter the wall of Celestia’s study, elegant floor tiles forming a lethal shrapnel in an ethereal wind. Her vision wavered as she felt the familiar ache of magical exhaustion. She barely managed to keep her hooves under her as she stumbled toward the bed, collapsing on the edge, curling up atop the sheets as her vision faded.

~~~

Twilight Sparkle dreamed. She was a unicorn, standing in a familiar cottage, as a colt talked of horrors he would commit. Frozen, she could do nothing as her friend was led upstairs, never to be seen again. An orange mare sat at a stylised table, her eyes filled with a lustful glint. Tombstones, bursting from the ground around her as the skeletal hooves of her friends dragged her down among the damned. A feather-light touch to her forehead, and her dreams shifted, reaching out toward the incorporeal. She was an ordinator, soaring the conduits, an angel of the void. She danced across through the astral sea, toward the twisting madness of Outside. She was a single bacterium, entrusted to contain the soul of a god. A torrent of hair surged ever onward, out into the black, the thoughts of two slowly becoming one. Bitter hatred, a desire to destroy growing as the shadows lengthened. The sun hung low, half below the horizon, silhouetting a pink alicorn as the moon soared overhead. She spread her wings.

Testing borrowed limbs, her own magic enfolding her like a bubble as she floated free of the bed, she hung still and silent in the gloom. She hovered lazily, unfocused as she gazed out at the night sky through glowing purple eyes that were not her own. Conduits burned overhead, broken but not irreparable. The emptiness called to her, and she answered in kind. The void within her stirred, and would not be denied.

With a whirl, she appeared above the tower in a shower of purple sparks, allowing the air to cushion her as she slowly rose, silhouetted against the night by a halo of purple. Unicorns were not meant to fly. She sung quietly in the stillness, calling back to that which was lost. The celestial tongue, she knew it well, and beneath the great silver roads she danced, in mourning yet hopeful for a brighter future. Primus has passed. The plan lives on. She was a phoenix, risen anew in the fires of the old. And so, while Twilight slept peacefully under the stars, she learned to grieve.

~~~

Celestia’s eyes widened when she saw Twilight hover in from the balcony, landing gently on the bed. Stepping fully into the room, she levitated Spike along behind her, laying the baby dragon on a large cushion tenderly. Taking in the ruined bedroom and the ten hoofspan hole in the wall, she smiled fondly at the unicorn.

“Twilight? I distinctly remember telling you to stay here and recuperate, my little pony…” she said quietly, although the idea Twilight had learnt to fly in the intervening hour made her chuckle. Even if you did wreck my bedroom in the process.

“I am afraid not, Lady Celestia. I have done what I can to ensure that our dear Twilight sleeps, however I find that in doing so, my own rest is disturbed.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow, splitting a secondary thought process off to conjure a bed for Spike. “I didn’t think you needed to rest, honoured guest. It is certainly a novel attraction here, although our creations have often required sleep.”

Terminus settled, Twilight’s chin resting on her hooves, the unicorn’s nose whistling softly. “I… do not. However such intimate contact with a dreaming mind has made the practise more appealing. Perhaps, if pressed, it would be interesting to optimise the pattern for maximal restfulness.”

Celestia smiled, kissing the sleeping Twilight on the nose. “I do hope you’ll forgive my imposition, Terminus. She is quite adorable, after all.”

Twilight’s head shook. “I am afraid I don’t quite understand the association, although Twilight might.”

Settling down onto a bench close to the bed, Celestia deposited Spike into the newly conjured basket. Strange, that a voidling would complain of being ill rested. “What bothers you then? Indeed, would that explain the state of my bedroom, perhaps?”

A mirthless laugh, whispering at the edge of audibility. “No, Lady. In her infinite wisdom, Twilight sought to return to Ponyville, foregoing relaxation. I disagreed with this course of action.”

She hesitated at that, sitting gracefully on the bed beside her student. “She is unharmed?”

A noise of assent. “My oath to you remains unbroken. You know this. However, she has… bound herself to ensure her friends live long and happy lives, a gesture I believed purely ornamental at first, but in this timeframe has proven quite troublesome.”

She winced, holding her head in her hooves. Foalish… but you wouldn’t have known better at the time, would you Twilight? “Very well, Terminus. We must find a way to break the magical component of this binding at the earliest opportunity. It’s simply too dangerous to Twilight’s health, if this is what it would drive her to do. I would do it myself, however...”

A metallic whine, the sound of a plucked cheesewire. “That would most likely prove fatal to us.”

Celestia dug through her memories of the room, a representation of the original state forming in her mind. Reaching out with her magic, she attached the image to her personal ward key, allowing the self-repair elements to begin reassembly of the room. There was a soft tinkling as tile fragments began to roll across the floor. Twilight’s body shifted, leaning slightly away from her as she worked the magic.

“Mmm… no… not Fluttershy!” Twilight said suddenly, kicking out with all four legs at once. “No, no… I’ll kill him…” she muttered, settling a little against the bed’s hoofrest. Celestia’s heart ached to see that. She must have seen something… she grasped the little unicorn’s shoulder, pinching gently.

“Twilight? Awaken, my student.”

~~~

A sharp pain to her shoulder, made Twilight whine, swiping a hoof at the annoyance. Fluttershy’s cottage slowly began to fade, the muscled black neck underneath her hooves suddenly as solid has a summer breeze. O-of course… he’s already dead.

“Mrg… go ‘way,” she said, yawning widely and rubbing her eyes. “Spike? Breakfast time!” she called sleepily. Wait… why is it so dark?

A quiet chuckle, and warm hooves pulled her close to a silky soft belly, electric heat shooting through her. Her mane, uncontrolled as it was, wrapped around the attacker, pulling her flush against the soft fur, and she breathed a sleepy sigh of contentment, snuggling into it. “Good morning,” a gentle voice said, and Twilight froze.

“C-Celestia?” She opened her eyes, finding that her pillow was, in fact, the embrace of her princess. “Oh sun, I am so sorry… I was so inappropriate!”

An impish smile, accompanied by those joyful pink eyes, stole her breath away. “Does it particularly look like I mind, my dear Twilight?”

She looked away, the nuzzling the white fur as she tried to hide her rosy blush. “Uhm… no, princess.”

Celestia’s grin widened, and she leaned in, her lips tantalisingly close. “Thought not.”

Deciding to take her chance, Twilight claimed those lips with her own, tingling warmth flowing through her as she tried to show Celestia just how much that forgiveness meant. “Then I won’t feel guilty,” she whispered against Celestia’s cheek. Wait… she stopped dead. “My friends… are they okay? Oh, sun… did you find them? Was Dash affected!?”

The princess sighed, running a hoof through Twilight’s wild mane. “Of course they are, my most precious pony. In fact, they should be waking up in several hours, so you may spend as much time as you want with them when the sun is risen. As for Rainbow, she was unharmed, as was Pinkie Pie.”

Twilight’s eyes widened, and she closed her mouth with a faint click. “You brought them here?”

Nodding, Celestia gestured to the corner where Spike slept soundly in a large wicker basket, padded with soft blue pillows. Oh… Spike. I hope he’ll be okay, after the cottage… and who knows what he actually saw before I arrived? The urge to hug the sleeping dragon to her and never let go was nearly overwhelming, but at the same time she didn’t want to interrupt his sleep. Apparently, Celestia had other ideas for her. The alicorn cupped Twilight’s cheek, guiding her back to those captivating pink eyes. Still, despite the princess’ almost cocky demeanor, Twilight could see the naked fear in her eyes. You’re worried I’d reject you, even now? Silly Celestia… princesses are for kissing.

She stole a peck on the lips, effectively forestalling whatever the alicorn had been about to say. “Don’t worry. I-I won’t let you go, princess,” she murmured, hesitantly placing a hoof on Celestia’s chest, over her heart. “Unless… unless you want me to, that is,” she said, looking away. Even if it would kill me. She let out a squeak as the hooves around her back squeezed her tight. Everypony forgets they hold the strength of the earth, too.

“Stay.”

The harmonics of that word felt like they traveled down her spine, and she shivered, wiggling against her princess. O-oh wow… oh sun, can she feel that? Her hard little teats rubbed against Celestia’s fur, the electric warmth sending tingles of pleasure through her. Craning her head up, she kissed the alicorn fiercely, sucking the princess’s searing hot tongue into her mouth. Celestia groaned, tilting her head into the kiss, and suddenly Twilight felt the princess’ horn touch hers. The world went white, and she screamed.

She was barely aware of the sounds she was making through the storm of pleasure. Her body was on fire, her pussy clenching as she came explosively.

“C-C-Celesti-ah!” she screamed, her back arching. It felt so good it was almost painful, a pleasurable ache beneath the roaring inferno, her limbs spasming. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the storm blew itself out, and she was allowed to rest, gasping for breath against Celestia’s chest. Through hazy eyes, she saw Celestia’s concern, and the mingled lust in those smouldering pink eyes. I-I… I think I love this mare.

“Twilight? I didn’t overdo it, did I?” Celestia quavered, running slender hooves through Twilight’s mane as she shivered and groaned. Hah… overdo it? You can do more?

“I… hah… wouldn’t know… princess…” she managed to gasp out, “hoooh… oh wow… um…” Dazedly, she looked down at herself. Celestia’s belly was dripping wet, a strong musky scent on the air. Her pussy was a deep red-purple, and she blushed; the bed under them was practically soaked with her juices. O-oops.

“Then… I believe it is safe to say that you enjoyed that, my little Twilight?” Celestia said, her voice growing a little stronger. Enjoy it? Um… mmhmm. Yes indeed. Yes. Yesyesyesyes-

“-yesyesyesyes aheh… yes!”

Celestia blushed fiercely, looking over the top of Twilight’s head for a moment, but Twilight caught her gaze. “Why? What… what are you so worried about?” she said, cupping the alicorn’s smooth alabaster cheek with one hoof. The princess looked poleaxed for a moment, then began to speak.

“I-I just… mumble mumble mumble…” she said, looking down at the bed, shamefaced. Twilight shot her the driest look she could while sopping wet with her own come and silently begging for more.

“Did you actually just say ‘mumble mumble mumble’, princess?” she deadpanned.

“Would you believe me if I said no?” Celestia grinned weakly, finally meeting her eyes, her hooves tightening around Twilight’s waist. “I-I’ve never… tried anything like that. I-I was worried I had gone too far. It is quite different, here… inside an avatar, and I’m scared I’ll break you.”

Laying her head against Celestia’s smooth neck, Twilight smiled contentedly. “If… if it makes you feel better, I’ve never been with a mare either. Pinkie’s been a little… cuddly before, and I think Dash may have wanted to at one point, but I never took them up on it.”

She heard, and felt, Celestia make a soft humming sound in the back of her throat. They were quiet for a time, just watching the stars through the room’s circular skylight.

“Hey Celestia… what do you really look like?”

The princess chuckled softly, opened her mouth, then closed it again, shifting uncomfortably in the bed. “It… is a little difficult to explain. I suppose one could think of me as the sun. Or light dancing across a windowpane. I’m… the wildfire, and the first light of dawn. Yet at the same time, I am the fire in reckless hearts. I’m sorry, that doesn’t make any sense, does it?”

Twilight frowned, hoofing her chin, the other running little circles through Celestia’s fur. “I… probably not, no. You’re a concept, you mean?”

Celestia’s eyes widened, and she beamed at Twilight, a warm fuzzy feeling welling up in the little unicorn’s stomach. “Exactly! I’m… a personification. I am the sun, and its light is my domain, but encapsulated in this body, I may walk where the sun cannot shine. I represent the sun as an intelligent being, and much of what it represents also falls under my control. Does that make sense?”

“I-I think so… I’d gotten used to thinking of you as a pony though. Um… what does that make us?”

Celestia shrugged, nuzzling her gently, white hooves running tingling lines through her mane. “I don’t know, my dear Twilight. This hasn’t happened before. I always stayed… distant, until Luna went away. We both did.”

Twilight nodded, rolling off Celestia and getting to her hooves. “I see… uhm… we should probably clean up,” she said, staring at the sodden bed. The pile of luxurious pillows had survived, but the feather quilt was a bust, as were the sheets by her reckoning. The thought made her face grow hot, and she willed for the ground to swallow her then. Oh my… sun and moon, I-I came all over Celestia’s bed! I-I… oh wow… uhm...

“Of course, Twilight. Perhaps an early morning shower for two?” Celestia said with a wink, spreading her wings and stepping off the bed in one graceful motion. Twilight, to her credit, blushed and spluttered and caved immediately.

“I-I’d love to, Princess!”

Celestia’s mouth quirked into a half smile, and she raised Twilight’s chin with one hoof, looking intently into Twilight’s eyes. “I prefer Celestia when we’re alone, dearest Twilight. I know it’s a difficult habit to break, but I have faith in your ability to adapt. Do you remember the way to the royal baths?”

Twilight smiled, feeling completely at peace despite herself. The panic would come later, but for now she was free. “Of course, Celestia!”

Two ponies departed, gold and purple sparks mingling in the darkness.

Author's Note

Thanks to FloydienSlip and Reflexrex for proofreading. I also apparently somehow warranted the attention of Skeeter The Lurker, so thank you very much for taking a look there.

The events of last chapter follow through, and Lady Lux returns to centre-stage. Enjoy your 'smoochy smoochy', ladies and mentlegen.