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                    When Time Runs Out                     
                     -by Emeral Frost-                     
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                          Part 1                           
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Part 1
Luna and Celestia had woke but minutes ago and walked together through the Grand Hall as they made their way to the usual balcony to raise the sun. For the past month, Luna had been helping her older sister with handling the sun, for Celestia had been having trouble. It was something that troubled them both, something that should not have been a problem--but was. They sat for hours upon hours contemplating and thinking, trying to get reason out of the situation. After all, Celestia had been controlling and bringing forth the sun for over ten-thousand years.
It was not a problem with her magic, she knew. There were other, more strenuous tasks she had than raising the sun. She also knew that it was not a problem with age or health. She was, as all alicorns are, immortal. She had felt fine, and just had a check with the doctor the month before.
And yet, the problem persisted. It stuck in both their minds and continued to worry them.
It started out with a minor flux of mental concentration. Celestia had been doing her job of bringing light for a very long time. And through that time, she had learned more about her job, how to thin down and lessen the use of magic and concentration. She knew, as if it was a part of her, just how much it took. She could do it with only a slight thought, her horn wouldn’t even glow! The only reason she still used the balcony was because she enjoyed watching the sunrise. Even more so with her beloved sister, Luna.
The sun to Celestia was like a child she loved and cared for. She loved and took care of the sun, as Luna did with her moon. But her child was now sick, and that was clear to both of them.
They pushed open the door to the balcony and looked at each other with concerned looks.
“Are you ready, big sister?” Luna asked as she looked up at Celestia.
Her sister nodded and they walked to the balcony, facing in Equestria’s direction.
Dreaded thoughts ran through her head and felt the usual mental grasp take hold on the large body. Her horn exploded with a magnificent pale yellow arora. Luna too felt the grasp and cast her spell, a dark arora swirling around hers. Celestia grunted and winced, shutting her eyes tightly. She grit her teeth as a second arora made itself known, a third soon after. Princess Luna was having the same trouble. She pulled back her head as if she lifted the sun in her hooves, Celestia doing the same.
The sun finally peeked over the horizon after minutes of mental battle and slowly began to make its way up into the sky, bathing everything in a strong heat and light. When the light touched their faces, they both ended the spell.
“It is getting harder...” Luna said, panting and sweat covered.
Celestia nodded. “It is--and it has been.” she looked up at her sun; holding a hoof over her eyes. “And if I dare say so myself, it appears that it has gotten bigger... much bigger.”
Luna glanced up and back to her sister; eyes wide. “It can’t be and you know it, sister!”
“I know it’s not. Could it be something that she didn’t tell us?”
Luna shrugged and sighed. “I hope.”
“Dear Celestia, it’s hot!” Rainbow Dash said to Pinkie as they walked alongside each other, making their way to Twilight’s library across town. “Why has it been so hot lately?”
“I dunno,” Pinkie began with a rather neutral attitude. “Celestia’s the one that controls the sun, not me. Why haven’t your weather team done anything about this?”
Dash frowned slightly and looked at her. “We control the weather, not the heat. There’s not much we can do other than cover the sky in clouds. But in this heat? Buck no. They would evaporate quicker than we could place them.”
Pinkie nodded and frowned. “I wonder if Twi has any spells that can make us cold...” she said, slightly hopeful.
“I hope so,” Dash began. “That would be a lifesaver.”
Pinkie smiled wide as they rounded a corner, Twilight’s library coming into view. She broke into a run.
“Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash yelled after her. “Wait up! How can you run in such heat...?”
The pegasus watched her close friend run down the street to Twilight’s in a mix of awe and enjoyment. She sighed and wiped her forehead with a hoof, a smile touching her lips as she slowly made her way to the door.
Pinkie happily knocked on the door.
“Hey Twi, we’re here!”
Twilight Sparkle opened her door and squinted putting a hoof to her forehead.
“Oh--Hello, Pinkie. Please, come in,” she said and moved to the side. “Where’s Rainbow?”
“Here I am,” she said breathlessly. “I don’t know how she stays so energetic with it this hot out here.”
Twilight giggled. “Neither do I. But you know Pinkie...”
She entered and sighed in relief, smiling. The room, as Pinkie predicted, was cold.
“I told you, Dashie!” the pink mare said with a happy chuckle.
Twilight smiled and sat down at a table, the others doing so as well.
“So what did you bring us over here for?” Dash asked.
“Well--about the heat actually. Equestria has never had a heat wave this bad before. It has already broken records!” she pointed to a thermometer that hung by the door. “Right now it’s 105 degrees. The record before-hoof was only 95. For the past week and a half, the temperature has been rising.” Twilight looked at them sternly. “Now, that would be fine if it wasn’t for it still rising.
“I had originally planned to send a letter to Celestia, but have decided to travel to Canterlot myself. Afterwards, I’m going to Stalliongrad to meet up with a science team I’ve been talking with for some time now. If anypony knows what’s going on, it’s them.”
“Maybe so, and the Princess knows a lot, but for things like this it’s--best to go to a scientist. They do focus on the inner workings of things. It’s their job to seek out the unknown.”
Rainbow rose an eyebrow. “Don’t you think this is a bit--extreme, Twi? I mean, yeah the weather's hot, but it’s just a heat wave.”
Twilight Sparkle frowned slightly and nodded. “It’s best I go at the soonest time possible.”
“And that is...?” Pinkie said.
“Now.”
Through heat Twilight walked, making her way to Canterlot. Only an hour and a half had gone by, but the heat had slowly started to get to her. She levitated out a bottle of water from her saddlebag and took huge gulps of the life-bringing liquid and placed it back. Because of the heat, nopony was outside, let alone working the carriages. She had only one way to get there: walking.
She didn’t think too much of it, considering Canterlot wasn’t too far away. And the shadow of the mountain would keep her cool once close enough--or so she thought. The heat continued to rise throughout the morning, allowing the great shadow to only cool the heat slightly. Not enough for any true comfort, she found.
But now, Canterlot was close. Very close, in fact--she could see the closed gates to the city coming into view.
Minutes later and she was at the gate, standing in front of the regal intertwined golden metal doors. She looked at the guard that guarded the gates whom nodded, acknowledging who she was and tiredly opened the gates.
Twilight levitated him a bottle of water and trotted in.
“It’s great to see you, Twilight!” the princess of light said, hugging her faithful student with joy. “It’s been too long.” she chuckled, letting her go.
“It has,” the unicorn began. “Almost a year. I assume you’ve been busy as well?”
Celestia nodded with a soft smile on her nuzzle. “So--why do you visit?”
Twilight chuckled. “What? I can’t come on a normal whim?” she frowned slightly. “Actually--I’m not.” she chuckled nervously. “I’m here about the heat. I came to see if you know anything about it.”
Celestia frowned and looked through the window, waves of heat obscuring the land below. “I don’t know, Twilight. I knew you would come eventually because of this. But--I don’t know. It troubles me and worries me more than you can imagine.” she looked at her student. “I have had Luna help me with the morning, and in return I raise the moon for her.”
Twilight looked at her quizzically. “Luna’s help? Why do you need her help?”
“Because it’s becoming harder. Something is wrong, I know that now, but it is not with me. It’s with the sun.”
Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. “That--can’t be good.”
Celestia shook her head. “No. I need your help, Twilight. And I think by now, you already know that.”
Twilight nodded and let her continue.
“But I don’t know what to do.”
“Well,” the element began. “I have already made plans to go to Stalliongrad after coming to Canterlot. As you know, the science team I’ve talked with are and could be very reliable.”
She nodded. “That is true. I would be surprised if they didn’t know anything.”
Celestia and Twilight sat in peace, telling each other of the times they had with friends. They talked for hours, but was soon Twilight’s time to leave once the sun began to set. She bid Celestia farewell and walked to the carriage the Princess had arranged for her.
It set off right away and began its way around the mountain.
“We’ll arrive at the city around morning,” a guard told Twilight.
She nodded and looked out the window, looking across the night laden Equestria before her, a smile slowly creeping its way across her face. Though she was worried, and the air was still hot, she felt peace. As she did when she looked from Canterlot and onto the floor below.
The rest of the trip was pleasant enough. Nothing of interest had happened, other than seeing the massive concrete dome of Stalliongrad. It stuck out from the mountain like a giant overhang, shrouding the city in a dark gloom. Even with the gloom, the city was full of life, more than even Canterlot.
Twilight soon found that it was the most advanced place she had ever been, not to mention the most culturally rich.
A tower that connected with the top of the dome stood in the center. lit by an ominous red glow that was cast into the gloom of the city. It made, she found, a very eerie, yet interesting sight.
“Wow,” came the words of Twilight Sparkle. “Stalliongrad--sure is different than I had imagined.”
They made their way through the city, tower in the center. It proved difficult with the odd arrangement of buildings. Though, they made it after an hour of walking.
“Twilight! It’s great to finally see you!” Hetzer, the lead scientist of Stalliongrad said to Twilight as she approached.
“It’s good to finally see you too. How are things?”
“Well,” he began. “I’ve been busy with developing combat and military...,” he stammered. “...vehicles.”
Twilight smiled. “Sounds like fun.” she said with a chuckle and began into the building with him.
They entered the tower, the red glow seeming to come from a central column that extended through the tower and into the dome above. Hetzer pointed at it and said, “That was first introduced to Stalliongrad when the dome was made--about three thousand years ago.”
Twilight looked at him, surprised. “Three thousand? Stalliongrad has been around for that long?”
Hetzer nodded. “Yes.” he chuckled. “Is it really that surprising? Princess Luna was imprisoned on the moon for a thousand of those years. Equestria itself has been around for about twenty-five hundred years. Stalliongrad was built what we think was four thousand years ago, no known record has been kept. It was built before an Equestria was made.”
Twilight gave a happy nod. “I could learn so much here!”
“You have a whole library to yourself, Twilight.” he chuckled. “Don’t you have enough there?”
The mare shook her head. “By now, I’ve read every single book in the library at least twice, and most in the Canterlot Library.”
“Ah, well. You’ll have to come back some time and spend a few weeks here.”
The two continued to make their way up the tower and decided to rest before sundown.
They made their way through the tower and into the top, a glass dome on top of the tower.
“A dome--on top of a dome?” Twilight said, amused.
“Why not?” he asked with a chuckle. “It’s the perfect place to view the stars.”
Twilight looked up with a smile. “It is.”
The sun began to set over Equestria, leaving darkness where it wasn’t. The heat, however, remained for the most part. It lowered at night, but wasn’t long enough to dim the heat to a comfortable level.
Twilight sat down beside one of the three telescopes and looked up at the stars that began to show.
“Too bad there’s no time to stay here.” she said, continuing to look up into the sky.
“There’ll be other times.” Hetzer said, rather distracted with an odd looking cubical device. “But on to this problem of ours.”
Twilight nodded and asked, “What’s that?” pointing at the odd device.
He looked at her with a smile. “It goes into our main telescope, Cygnus.” he told her as he walked toward the large telescope in the middle of the observatory. “It was named after Cygnus X - 1, the first thing we viewed with it.”
Twilight’s smile grew wider as he talked. So much I could learn from here! she thought to herself for the thousandth time.
Hetzer shoved the cube into a square hole, a low hum came from the telescope. He smiled softly and trotted to a computer, hitting three buttons on the keypad. Slowly, the machine started to rotate. His normal smile faded and he slowed to a stop, looking casually at the large telescope.
“The sun is dying.”
Twilight shook her head. “What?” she asked, confused.
“You heard me right, Twilight. Ten billion years is how long we have calculated and estimated, yet only ten thousand have passed.” he looked at her with a happy smile that confused her more. “It’s incredible.”
The only thing Twilight could think about was the conversation she had that followed his absurd assumptions. Normally she would say how crazy and impossible that would be, but because of how crazy and impossible it was, she could think of nothing to say. So she left soon after, with the sun still blazing overhead.
She arrived back at Canterlot and thought of going straight back to Ponyville, whole time calculating the possibility of his idea. Though, as she sat looking out at Equestria on one of the many different platforms, she realized that nothing else she knew of could cause it. As much as she didn’t like it--or even thinking it was true--she finally gave up in trying to overthink the truth.
Twilight growled to herself and grit her teeth, rubbing her temples with her hooves in frustration. With a sigh, she pushed herself up and began the walk through Canterlot.
Due to Twi not knowing the full situation herself, she honestly had no idea how bad it was. But, she did know that if things continued the way they were, they would have a real problem on their hooves. As she walked through the city, she could see the worry on many ponies faces, most likely thinking the same thing.
“Do you think Twi’s only overreacting?” Rainbow Dash asked Pinkie, who was leaning against her as they laid under a large apple tree together.
“I didn’t think so from the start, Dashie,” she told her in a less happy tone than her usual one. “She can be a bit crazy sometimes, but she does have a point. It’s only gotten hotter...”
Dash thought about that, about what Twilight had said as she slowly fell asleep with Pinkie against her. The heat made sleeping difficult, but also made sleep seem more wanted--anything to get away from it for a while.
After what felt like hours (so far three), Twilight had a persistent frown on her face. She needed to find Celestia, and needed to as soon as possible. But after searching most of Canterlot Castle, they were nowhere to be found.
Now having been added to her already high levels of stress, she went to surprisingly a place she hadn’t gone yet--Celestia’s room. It was half way across the large castle from where she was now. That also brought a curious question--where was she? She had been so caught up in finding the princess and her own thoughts that she had lost track of her way--as well as time.
Of course. She thought to herself with a sigh. Twilight pushed open the door to the hall and facehoofed, realizing she was in the main room of Canterlot Castle. All she did was make a complete loop, and figured she had many places to go. Or--she could go the easy route...
Why is it so hot?  
 What time is it?  
 Why am I not still in bed?  
Suddenly, coffee wasn’t sounding very good.
He shook his head--one thing at a time, he told himself. He looked at the digital clock next to the bed.
2:34? That can’t be right, we just got to sleep! Were we... doing... for that long?
He blushed and blinked, a bit surprised. With a chuckle, he pushed the thought away. It’s all for the best, I guess. If we did, then I’m not complaining. He chuckled a bit more and went back to making coffee.
In this heat, it made it very hard to get any sleep whatsoever. Though, it did make for...  
Shining’s eyes widened, a blush coloring his face. He frowned and glanced back at her in the dark room. Cadence shifted and mumbled something in her sleep, nuzzling her pillow. The sight made Shining smile and chuckle.
He waited for the coffee pot to fill up a bit before pouring it into his cup. He added a bit of sugar and creamer as well. He took a careful, testing sip. The warmth spread down his throat. He expected it, and definately unwelcomed it. But, he continued to drink it--and even he questioned himself on why, looking down at his cup with disapproval.
A groan from behind him pulled him from his thoughts.
“Shining?” Cadence whispered in a rather lust-filled and seductive tone.
The tone surprised him, as well as made him feel very tired suddenly.
“Yes, dear?” Shining said with a smile, turning around.
What he was greeted with turned his blood to ice. Two wide, green eyes shone brightly under strands of long blue mane. A wicked smile spread across it’s muzzle, showing white fangs. The deadly confrontation reeled his mind.
Shining’s eyes widened in horror. “Chrysalis?! W-What--s-somepon-”
Twisted laughter cut him off, and before he could even think the slightest thought, a hoof teasingly trained against his cheek, only increasing his fear. She brought her hoof back from his cheek and harshly brought it back with enough force to bring him off his hooves. He came down harshly on his side, wincing with closed eyes.
Her smile faded into a deep scowl.
“You will burn! Burn with the rest of them!” she snarled.
Shining Armor looked up at her in shock and confusion. “W-What?”
Her expression eased slightly, but her voice continued to boom.
“When you ponies are burned to ashes, and Equestria and the lands beyond it are burned as well, we Changelings shall take our rightful place in Equestria!”
Shining concentrated his magic in a hastened attempted to put a shield around himself. Chrysalis saw his move and reared her fore-arm back. She brought it down on his horn with a crack, sending Shining onto the floor. He yelled in a mixture of pain and sudden anger.
His horn had cracked like glass where she had struck him, causing a spiderweb of sharp cracks; blood oozing from the area. The spell sputtered for a moment before fading with a few sparks.
The stallion looked up into her hungry eyes, not daring to move again. A warmth was felt on the back of his neck and he slowly took a shaking glance back at the window, quickly looking back and wincing, prepared to be struck again. When it didn’t come, he opened his eyes, thinking. The sun had began to rise. At this hour? He quickly looked back, and to his much surprise and relief, Chrysalis was gone.
He looked around the room and quickly got up, rubbing his horn. He went to the bed to make sure his love was fine--she was. He sighed and smiled weakly, leaning down to kiss her cheek. Shining glanced at the clock, surprised to see it read 5:51.
That can’t be right. What in Celestia’s name...
He trailed off and his eyes lingered up to the window. The room filled with light at an alarming rate. He put a hoof over his eyes, squinting. The light touched his hooves and he yelped backwards, looking down to see the fur black and burned.
He looked back up, surprised, and the light enveloped him. He couldn’t hear his own scream over the sound of defining, searing pain whining and screeching in his ears.
Shining awoke with a start, almost falling out of bed. He pushed himself upright with a sigh, looking over at the clock. Just like in his dream, it read 2:34.
“That’s odd,” he muttered to himself. “Hm. Has to be a coincidence.”
He ran a hoof over his face and looked down at Cadence, a small smile coming to his face. Shining sighed and slid closer next to her, laying back down against her. He rest his head against hers and kissed her neck.
Cadence nuzzled her pillow and tiredly opened her eyes. She looked back at him, into his eyes, and muttered, “Hey, honey.”
His smile widened. “Hello, my Princess.”
She giggled softly. “Why up so soon?”
Shining grunted. “Bad dream.”
“Another one?”
He nodded and saw the concern in her eyes. She smiled sympathetically and turned herself around, holding him in her hooves. She pushed her head under his.
They held each other close for what seemed like hours before breaking their hold on one another.
“I don’t remember falling asleep,” Cadence muttered.
“I don’t either.”
After another moment of enjoying each others warmth, Shining said, “It’s only 2:58 in the day.”
“Then--why is it dark?” Cadence opened her eyes and looked up into the room.
She pressed her head back against his chest with a groan, too tired to care.
Shining hadn’t thought of that--or even realized that the room was dark. He was too concentrated on the mare against him.
Minutes passed before a knock broke the peaceful air of silence. He frowned and felt Cadence nuzzle his chest.
Why now...?
Twilight made her way through the castle. She had given up on searching for the princesses and went in search for her brother. She knew where he was, at least, but it was in one of the higher towers of the castle. Celestia had given it to the two for the time being, they wanting to stay in Canterlot a little while longer before going on their honeymoon.
Twilight had finally reached the high tower after a bit of walking. By the time she reached the door, she was gasping for air.
A thought struck her.
Why didn’t I just teleport?
She facehoofed and shook her head, finally managing to catch her breath.
“Shining!” Twilight yelled into the room with a few knocks on the door. “I know you’re in there! Sorry if I’m interrupting anything between you two, but this is urgent!”
She waited a few moments.
Nothing.
She frowned and growled. “I will bust this door down!”
“Hold on,” came the groggy voice of Shining Armor.
The unicorn mare smiled happily to herself in triumph.
There was the sound of moving bed sheets, a mare groaning because her pillow had moved, and an “Ouch!”, accompanied by a crash.
The door opened and Shining poked his head through, bags under his eyes and a tired expression.
“What.” He said flatly.
Twilight nuzzled her way past and into the room.
“Hey!” Shining growed, shutting the door softer than he had meant to.
“I’m sorry, Shining, but this is important! Do you know where the princesses are?”
Shining sighed and ran a hoof across his face. He walked slowly over to her in the dimly lit room and sat next to her, leaning back against the bed.
“It’s good to see you too,” he said, mustering a small smile and hugged her.
She hugged him back with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Shining--I’m just so--so,” she struggled with the word, not truly sure how she felt. “I guess I’m confused. As well as worried. Deeply worried. There’s a plethora of things needed to be done and it’s hard to do it all in such short time.”
She snuggled closer against him, happy that her big brother was there to comfort her, and began to explain all that she had learned in the short time it had all began.
Ponyville was plunged into a deep midnight darkness. As relieving as the sudden cool night air was, it was still quite the shocker to those that resided in the town to have the sun disappear in the middle of the day. The area around the marketplace and town hall was the worst place. Ponies shrieked, cried and ran through the streets in mass discord. It would have continued if not for Mayor Mare bringing light to the situation. She had walked out of the town hall to confront them.
“Everypony! Everypony!” she yelled into the crowd of screaming.
The Mayor coughed and cleared her throat. She breathed in and shouted into the microphone, “Everypony calm down, please!”
Many of them quickly stopped, others only screamed louder (stopping soon after, however).
Once she had gotten their attention, she let her magic fade away and faced the crowd of scared ponies.
She stepped back and Celestia took the podium.
“We will raise the sun at 10:00 AM each morning and lower it at 2:00 PM. This allows for at least some sunlight. If worst comes to worst, we will lower it completely.”
At what she had said, some now seemed worried. Some didn’t seem to care. And others, such as Fluttershy--who cowered somewhere in the back of the mass--were absolutely terrified almost to the point of going into shock.
“So what do you think?” Dr. Hooves asked the pony next to him, whom shrugged.
There were multiple murmurs in the crowd of everypony questioning the princess; she simply looking down at them in worry. She scanned the ponies, looking for nothing in particular. Her eyes fell on a yellow pegasus.
The Princess stepped down into the crowd, them growing almost instantly quiet, and slowly walked to the yellow mare. She leaned in and nuzzled her, getting a squeak in return.
“Fluttershy, it’ll be okay,” she reassured. “Would you and the others like to come back to Canterlot with us? We may need your help.”
She slowly, hesitantly nodded and looked up, tears matting her fur. Celestia warmly smiled and Luna walked up.
“Do you know where Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie are?” Luna asked the quivering pegasus.
She shook her head shakingly and Luna frowned. Without another word, she took off into the premature night. The ponies around them watched as the dark alicorn sped off.
Celestia moved back to the podium and said in a soft tone, “Be patient with us as we figure everything out. Thank you for your time.”
Ponies muttered to one another, worried by the fact that their leaders weren’t clear on the matter either.
Princess Celestia walked back to Fluttershy, got her to her hooves with some effort, and they both flew off in the direction of Luna, leaving the ponies confused and scared.
“Pinkie! Pinkie, wake up! Th-that tickles! Wake up, you cute filly!” Dash said in mixed giggles, blushing at her own words.
The “cute” filly was kissing and nibbling on Rainbow’s neck. She had woken up to her to her licking her neck.
“Did you just call me cute?” Pinkie asked with a grin, looking up. A blush shown through her pink fur.
“You were awake?” Dash gasped, surprised.
“Well, duh! I haven’t slept at all!” she giggled and pulled herself up on top of the pegasus, their chests touching and nose half an inch apart. “I’m tired of hiding my feelings for you, Dashie~,” she cooed.
“F-Feelings?” Rainbow Dash asked, a quiver in her voice.
“Mmhm,” Pinkie nodded. “I think you have the same feelings I do.” She smiled.
“Wha? No, Pinkie! Now get off!”
Dash tried her best to push the warm, silky body of Pinkie off, but she only slid her hind-legs down her flanks and squeezed, holding herself there. Dash found quickly that she wouldn’t get off without a fight; and something told her that her own strength has been taken away. The mare was, after all very comfortable and warm; the way she caressed her own body against Dash’s, how-
The rainbow maned speed-demon shook herself out of her warming thoughts, fear they would take on a life of their own. Pinkie chuckled at the shake.
“See? I knew you had feelings for me!”
“Well, I do, but feelings of friendship! Nothing more!”
Pinkie “hrumph”ed. Dash smiled lightly, but it soon faded as the party pony bit her lip and let out a small, almost playful and testing moan.
“Dashie~,” she cooed and quickly moved in the last half inch, their lips connecting in a passionate kiss. Rainbow squeaked and started to push her away. But as soon as the shock came, it ebbed away into relaxation. Her body softened, a hoof went up to her cheek, and she applied force into the kiss.
Both the mares were locked in a passionate embrace, holding each other with their new found love. They continued for a moment more before Pinkie broke the kiss. The rainbow-maned lover pushed her head forward as their lips parted, clearly wanting more and not ready to break that kiss.
She opened her eyes slightly, mouth still open, and blush a dark hue of red.
“Still don’t have any feelings for me, Dashie~?” Pinkie cooed.
“Okay! Okay, yes. I have--for quite some time--had feelings for you, Pinkie. But I was too confused and ashamed to admit it.” she was able to say after the shock left her.
Pinkie gave her a reassuring smile and a kiss to Dash’s cheek.
“Why be ashamed, Dashie?” she giggled.
Rainbow Dash gave a simple shrug, hoping to end Pinkie’s talking. She slowly wrapped her hooves around her, holding her close, and gave a small nuzzle against her cheek.
Pinkie responded with, much to Dash’s surprise, a lick up her cheek. The pegasus giggled and gave her a lick back. They had gone that far, why not continue?
Dash blushed at her thoughts, but soon as they came, they were gone. Mostly because of the feeling of a hoof trailing through her soft fur. It stopped at her flank and gave a teasing pull.
Rainbow curiously looked up at Pinkie, who grinned mischievously down at her. Her eyes widened, understanding where Pinkie was wanting to take it, and felt her wings stretch out against the ground, moving the leaves that were in the way.
“M-maybe we should get in a better position if we’re going t-to do anything...”
“Woo!” Pinkie yelled, quickly pulling Dash to the side.
The heat went unnoticed under the tree as it swayed in the wind. Their love continued as the sun moved it’s way over the horizon in it’s early descent.
In the distance, a figure approached.
Princess Luna sighed in relief as the sun’s lowering began to cool the soon-to-be night air. She smiled to herself and shook her head, wind rushing through her mane, glad for the sudden coolness.
The alicorn gazed across the land that sped by beneath her, scanning for the two ponies she searched for. When her scan of the ground below was complete, and they weren't found, she looked ahead.
Rather quickly the two ponies came into view. Luna sped up, the tree they under she closed in on at an alarming rate.
“What are they..?” Luna muttered to herself as she slowed to land.
The two ponies she focused on were in a rather--curious position. Rainbow Dash lay flat on the ground and Pinkie on top of her; their heads between each others flanks.
The Princess blushed and scrapped a hoof against the ground. When they didn’t notice her presence, she gave a cough. Pinkie looked up, a trail of either saliva or something else connecting her bottom lip and her nether region.
“Hey Princess Luna!” Pinkie waved, giving a big blush-filled smile. “What’s up?”
“P-Princess?! Oh no...”
Dash shoved Pinkie off from her and stood up as fast as she could, the blush on her face remaining.
Luna cleared her throat, and with direct clearness, she said, “The two of you are to report to Canterlot immediately. There, you will find your friends and a place to stay in the tower.”
“Oo~, hear that Dashie?” Pinkie said with joy, bouncing. “We’re going on a trip!”
“Yeah,” she said slowly, blush fading, a hoof rubbing the back of her neck. “Sounds--refreshing. Maybe we can get some alone time there.”
“What was that, Dashie?” Pinkie asked, ears perking.
“Nothing, Pinks. You’ll know later,” she responded with a smile.
Luna waited until they were done and, once sure they were, rose her head high and said with a curious amount of dignity, “A carriage will be arriving soon. We--er,” she frowned. “I expect you two to be in Canterlot soon.”
“Thanks, Princess, but I think we can get to Canterlot on our own.” Dash gave a smile.
The princess nodded and looked toward the descending sun. The two mares sat beside her.
“Something’s wrong, isn’t there?” Dash said, looking over the hills and into the darkened sky.
“That much is clear,” the Princess said simply.
They sat in silence, watching the stars as they twinkled in the sky. A light breeze ran through the cooling air, swaying the tree in a musical way.
Pinkie and Dash glanced at each other and smiled before looking to Luna.
“We should probably head to Canterlot,” Dash told her.
Luna looked down at her and nodded. “For the best. Have a safe trip, Rainbow Dash.” she looked toward Pinkie and nodded to her, getting a nod back.
She looked back toward the stars with a hint of worry playing across her face.
Dash spread her wings and climbed on top of Pinkie.
“What’re you-,” she began before understanding. “Oh~. This is gonna be fun!” She giggled.
Rainbow Dash smiled and gripped Pinkie’s mid-section. “Hold on,” she told her, and took off.
Pinkie gasped and let out a laugh of excitement. Once high enough, Rainbow picked up speed and took off into the night with Pinkie in her arms.
Princess Luna continued to look into the night. Her mind flooded with worry, up to the point of breaking. Worry for Equestria, worry for the nations beyond, for her own well-being, for her sister--the latter being the most important. She would give up her own life to save her sisters--she would even give up Equestria. She would let it burn if it allowed her to stay with Celestia.
It was selfish to say, but was true. Of course, she would do everything in her power to keep both. But if it came down to it, she knew what she would choose. Her eyes widened as thought struck:
What if she had to choose?
Celestia landed softly on her balcony with a calculating look on her face. She stepped from it and into her room, not seeing the small group of ponies in the corner of the room. She began to pace for a moment before thinking better and sitting down on her plush, white bed. With a sigh, she fell back onto the pillow and closed her eyes.
Twilight was the first to approach. She was knowing of the stress the Princess had, but things needed to be answered. She knew something was wrong, and felt like things were being kept from her, as well as everypony else that had at least some idea of what was going on.
“Princess,” Twilight said carefully, reaching with a hoof to place it on her shoulder. “Princess we need answers--and you’re the one with them.”
The Goddess looked up at her from her plush bed and, with a bit of thought, heaved a sigh and nodded.
“I’m sorry to have kept this from you for so long,” the Goddess said to them all. “I have a good reason. From the start, Luna had a good idea on what was happening, and I did not want to believe it. I think--I think I have come to terms with it, and mostly understand.”
Cadence, Shining Armor, and Twilight looked at each other with looks of confusion and back to the Princess.
“It begins with my mother...”