The Herd

Some notes for the sake of clarity

1) This will not be a kid friendly fic. I will do my best to maintain the humor, the optimism, and the warm fuzzies of the show. However I will also be describing situations that people under the legal age of consent shouldn’t be exposed to.

2) These are NOT ponies. They are anthropomorphized ponies. Whether or not they count as furry I suppose depends on your personal views on that, though I’m not going to be describing them as such myself. If for any reason this bothers you, feel free to picture them as human, it won’t really effect the story save for two things; unicorn based characters will have horns, and pegasi based characters will have wings. If this is still too much for you, you might as well close this page.

3) The fic starts immediately after Party of One. Consider this to be set in an alternate universe, in which everything that happened in the show up to the end of season two has happened, unless and until something in the story contradicts it. I’m going to be taking full advantage of the generally non-linear nature of the show itself, in that episode order doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the actual order of events within the world itself. That said, at this time, I'm just leaving season 3 and beyond out of this setting.

4) I’m using the extremely high female to male ratio seen in the show to assume that Equestrians follow the harem model for relationships seen in wild horses, in which a single stallion forms a herd with several mares. I’m also using this as an excuse to assume that most of the girls have at least some bi tendencies, when they aren’t completely bisexual.

5) Most importantly, this is not a porn. This is a story, that just happens to contain some adult material. If all you’re looking for is some pony stuff to clop to, you’re going to find yourself digging through a lot of writing to find the juicy bits.

6) This work was proofed by bsmart, who also provided his services as a wonderful sounding board and generally helped flesh out many ideas while reigning in things best not penned. Thanks go out to him for putting up with my oddities.

Chapter 12

Insomnia was not something Princess Celestia typically had to deal with. The routine of maintaining the cycle of sun and moon over the centuries had instilled in her a nearly mechanical degree of control over her circadian rhythms. She could normally will herself to sleep within a minute or two, and set her mind to come awake exactly on the hour of her choice. It had been literal ages since last she needed any outside help to find rest, or to wake from it.

So it was somewhat disconcerting for her to find herself wandering the halls of the royal palace in the final hours of the night, her mind far too preoccupied for sleep. She would be the first to admit she had much to be preoccupied about; Discord’s freedom was of course a major concern, as were the injuries Shining Armor had sustained during the Chaos Spirit’s escape, which in turn raised concerns about the mental and emotional wellbeing of her captain’s wife and sister. Cadence and Twilight were both vital in their own ways to the state of the nation, as well as being two of the closest individuals in Celestia’s life.

And yet she could not really convince herself that these were the issues keeping her awake. To be truthful with herself, and Celestia had long ago concluded that she could hardly afford not to be, her mind was focused upon her sister. Her little sister Luna, half naked, smeared from horn to foot with all manner of sugary confection, cradling an equally messy and even more undressed Pinkie Pie in the type of embrace that left little room to even pretend nothing had just happened between them.

That image bothered her more than even Discord’s freedom. And it wasn’t because it had been an awkward thing to walk in on. Not that it hadn’t been a somewhat uncomfortable moment, between Luna yelling at her and Celestia trying to apologize while also blocking both guards from seeing into the room or drawing conclusions as to what all the noise was about. Ultimately the only thing to be done was to quickly shut the door again and give the guards a gentle but firm order to ask nothing, say nothing, and remember nothing about that moment.

No, what bothered Celestia about the incident were the potential repercussions. She loved her sister, loved her in a way that most people truly could not fathom. The two of them had centuries shared between them, had multiple lifetimes worth of experiences to bond and grow close over. They shared a connection deeper and more profound than any two normal people could hope to forge within a mortal life span.

And yet there were times when Celestia just wanted to smack the Princess of the Night upside her star spangled head. They were as close as any two people could be, but they still had their differences and points of argument. And on the subject of the Elements of Harmony and their avatars, the two sisters were sorely divided. The Elements had nearly been destroyed when Celestia had used them against her sister, when she had abused and perverted the harmonious nature of the connection she and Luna had shared with the ancient magic. It had nearly destroyed Celestia herself to do it, and only the many bonds of friendship she had shared with her subjects of the time had allowed her to survive the betrayal of that singular but highly potent bond she had with her sister.

Even now, Celestia wondered about the fine details of that moment, of what little things may or may not have altered the outcome for herself, her sister, and Equestria. Luna had betrayed her first, and yet she had not done so in her right mind. Had the Elements understood that distinction, understood the necessity that had forced Celestia’s hand that night? Could the power of Harmony comprehend the need to forsake one friendship for the good of so many others? The true nature of the Elements and their power was still such a mystery to her, and it irked her to know so little about that which was the ultimate fail safe for her nation.

When her faithful student had reawakened the Elements, it had lifted an enormous weight from Celestia’s shoulders, while simultaneously dropping an equally heavy one in its place. The Elements were back, and their very first use by their new wielders had resulted in freeing her sister from the terrible darkness that had taken her. Twilight and her friends had used the power of friendship to do what Celestia had been unable to. They had saved the world, and Luna as well, and in doing so had left Celestia both delighted beyond belief, and puzzled to her very core. It had left her wondering about all she clearly did not understand about the Elements and how they functioned.

It had also left her with a sense of dread growing in the pit of her stomach. The Elements were back, but for how long? What would happen if Twilight or one of her new friends drifted apart from the rest? What if they had a falling out? What simply would happen when time inevitably caught up with them, when age started to take its final, grim toll? Would the Elements pass to other hands, fall into another millennium long slumber, or would they simply be gone for good?

Celestia had done what she could to cement the current state of being of the Elements and their bearers. She had instructed Twilight to study the magic of friendship for the dual purpose of maintaining and strengthening the bonds her student and her friends held, and as a means of hopefully learning more about the nature of the Elements herself. As it stood, Celestia felt she had been wildly successful in the former, but woefully failed in the latter. The Elements were as enigmatic as ever, and as such she had no idea what to expect from the new direction the bearers’ relationships had taken.

And that scared her more than anything else.

Luna on the other hand had taken a rather cavalier attitude towards the whole thing, pretty much dropped it all into the hands of fate, and now thrown herself into the mix seemingly without regard for what kind of impact it might have. Maybe nothing would come of her involving herself in the love lives of the bearers of Harmony, and maybe it would cause a cataclysmic rift that would break the Element’s power at a time when the magic of friendship might be all that stood between Equestria’s survival and its destruction.

“Late night, or early morning?” a smoothly pleasant voice slipped into her thoughts, jarring Celestia out of the state of brooding she had fallen into. She came back to general awareness of herself and her surroundings to find she had wandered out into the royal garden, to have taken solace and privacy among the thick foliage. Seemed she hadn’t managed to find either.

“A late night I’m afraid,” Celestia answered calmly despite the start. She had far too much experience to let herself be rattled by such an interruption. She shifted slightly on the stone bench upon which she sat, clearing a space. “And what about you? I can’t recall ever seeing you awake at such an hour.”

“Guess I have a lot on my mind,” Spike answered, matching the princess’s relaxed speech with his own as he took the offered space on the bench. “You?”

“The same,” Celestia said with a tired smile. “Perhaps the very same thing upon each of our minds?”

“Well…” Spike hedged. “Perhaps a bit. I suppose I should be more concerned about the whole Discord thing, but somehow I’m really not. Maybe I just trust Twilight and the rest of the girls to see him taken care of?”

“I trust them to give it their all,” Celestia said somberly. “I just hope it will prove once again to be enough.”

That wedged a moment of silence in between the dragon and the princess. She glanced over at him, and was rather taken aback by the way her heart fluttered to look upon him. Spike’s transformation was a potent thing, especially at such a close distance. More so than just the raw physical appeal though, there was a sense about him, something she couldn’t quite pin down at first. It tickled at the back of her mind for a bit until she managed to find the thoughts for it.

It was his youth that really worked to pull her in. Granted pretty much anyone was young by absolute comparison, but it wasn’t the difference in their ages Celestia was feeling. It was that Spike was, physically speaking, in the prime of his youth. His form was one that spoke to the very basest instincts, of procreation and protection. He was ideal in a purely animalistic sense, strong of body and full of vitality. His mind had a bit of catching up to do with his body, but in truth that subtracted nothing from Celestia’s appraisal of him.

Rather much the opposite in fact, such an open, innocent, and still developing mind was something the princess found nearly as attractive as any physical attribute. She had always enjoyed offering guidance and advice, even long ago when she was youthful herself in more than just body. She had always been naturally inclined towards teaching, whether it be magic or politics or life in general. She had offered wisdom and advice to tens of thousands through the centuries, and had done so freely and happily for the simple pleasure it brought her. It was something that had formed the core of nearly every relationship she had ever had, her friends and family, her associates and servants, her few lovers. Everyone just seemed to expect it of her, and she was happy enough to fulfill that expectation.

And right beside her at that very moment was a rather stunning young man who had sought her out with just such expectations. She could feel the unspoken questions lingering around him. It was the opening steps to a dance she had gone through more times than she could count.

“So, if not chaos and destruction, what keeps your mind awake this night?” Celestia asked, giving him the opening he was obviously looking for.

“Well…” Spike paused. “Well I had some questions I wanted to ask you actually.” He fidgeted a bit, and Celestia could practically see his mind choosing to delay the moment as a bit of uncertainty gripped him. “Though maybe this isn’t the best time. You must be busy enough as it is.”

“My dear Spike,” She smiled warmly at him. “I will never be too busy to find some time for those that are precious to me. Please, what can I help you with?”

“Well…” Spike repeated, pause and all. “I was kind of wondering about some of the things you told me before, about my magic changing me and all that.”

“Of course, what might I be able to clarify for you?”

“Okay, so I get the whole bit about it changing me to look better and to switch around my view of things. But it seems like that wasn’t the only stuff to get altered. I’ve been uh…noticing some changes about certain things that I’m…well…”

Nothing short of several centuries of discipline kept the blush from Celestia’s face, or her features in a politely calm mask. The magically enhanced attractiveness of Spike’s appearance shoved its way back into the forefront of her attention, and some treacherous part of her was actually suggesting she could give him some firsthand instruction about such matters.

She gave herself a full second to thoroughly banish that line of thought back to the void where it belonged.

“I see,” Celestia replied in a safe, neutral tone. “Well I think I can help you understand…that. Though I must admit to being a little surprised that you’d come to me with this, particular issue.”

Spike for his part looked somewhat puzzled. “Uh…okay…?” He blinked, and again looked suddenly so young. Very young, and yet still just adult enough, fit and ever so masculine and…

Celestia gave her mind a little shake. What was with her tonight? Spike was hardly the first overtly handsome person to pit her will against her baser instincts, and she’d had plenty of practice in telling her libido to sit down and shut up. She’d needed to do so more often then she’d care to dwell on. Princess Celestia, High Ruler of Equestria, She who Brings the Dawn, The Unconquered Sun, and so forth and so forth; she could hardly be seen as to be so common as to actually want sex. That illusion of her as someone above and somewhat apart from the world of normal people was as vital to the stability of Equestria as her ability to raise the sun. It cemented her as an eternal and unchanging pillar upon which the nation could always depend on. Everyone knew with absolute certainty that, no matter what else happened in the world, the sun would rise the next day, because Princess Celestia would always be there to watch over them.

“I do have to wonder that Twilight never gave you any instruction in regards to such matters,” Celestia pressed on. “Though I suppose she might have been too embarrassed. Still I would think she could have at least directed you to some appropriate reading material and…and I’m beginning to wonder if this conversation is actually about what I think it is.” Celestia finished as Spike continued to look more and more confused.

“And what is it you think it’s about?” Spike asked in a carefully polite tone.

“Well you see Spike, when a mare and a stallion love each other very much…” Celestia said with perfect seriousness, though it turned into a playful smirk as the dragon went suddenly bright red in the face.

“Oh! No no no! I wasn’t talking about! I didn’t mean! I know about, well I mean kind of but that isn’t!” Spike spluttered through the realization of what his opening statement had sounded like. Celestia for her part couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s quite alright Spike,” she giggled, laying a hand comfortingly over his. At least, that had been the intention. It was a little gesture she had used countless times, a simple touch that she had perfected to convey a sense that everything was perfectly alright. It had soothed and calmed the concerns of thousands upon thousands of individuals throughout the centuries of her rule.

This time the gesture turned against Celestia nearly the instant she touched him. She felt the spark of magic jump between them at the contact, and the embers of desire his presence had ignited erupted into a burning need that completely circumvented her rational mind. Her grip upon him tightened, and next thing she knew she was slipping herself across Spike’s lap. A brief flash of surprised panic flared across the dragon’s face as the princess practically flowed up his body, winding about him in a tangle of limbs, a delightful contrast of firm and soft sensations. Then his eyes started to glaze over, and his hands came up around her waist, pulling her firmly against himself. Celestia sighed in happy appreciation at the sudden firm hardness she felt press against her, and she ground her hips down against Spike’s. Her mouth found his, and they both dissolved into the pure animal lust of the kiss.

Something nagged Celestia in the back of her mind, but she was far too focused on the screaming desires of her body to give it much though. She pressed as hard and completely against Spike as she could manage, her fingers curling into tight fistfuls of his shirt in order to secure her hold on him.

‘Maybe it’s the clothes,’ a sluggish thought crawled across her awareness as her mind kept nagging her to stop a moment and think. The fabric was rather annoying in its inconvenience, in how it kept her from feeling him properly against her. Without their clothes it would only take a slight shifting of her hips to take him inside her, to have him fill the demands of her body. They really needed to get rid of that impediment.

Letting go of him to do so however seemed entirely unlikely. Celestia’s mind couldn’t accept even such a short cessation of contact; there just wasn’t room in her thoughts at the moment for anything rational. Instead she pressed harder against Spike, her mouth straining against his until it hurt, her tongue sliding frantically around to feel and taste as much of him as she could. Her legs tightened about his waist, grinding fiercely against his hardness in desperate desire.

‘Magic,’ her lust addled mind managed to toss at her, and Celestia latched onto the idea. Of course, she had her magic, surely she could get rid of the fabric obstruction with a simple spell. No, that wasn’t what her mind was trying to tell her, was it? It was so hard to think at the moment. What was it about magic? Something she needed to do, she could feel the power starting to thrum along her horn, even as her body tried to drown to the sensation with raw physical pleasure.

She almost lost the question as Spike tore his lips from hers and brought them back down on her neck. Her breath gasped out of her in a shudder as she felt his teeth on her skin, her hips bucking wildly against his in a demand for release. Stubbornly though her rational mind forced her attention back to the disjointed thought trying to come together, trying to tell her something, something important to do with her magic.

No, not her magic…

Celestia let out a gasp, not of lust, but of sudden realization. Her befuddled thoughts started to clear, and then she felt a pressure against her mind, trying to force her back into the bliss of flesh and ignorance. It was something not of her own mind, and she struggled against it in a growing panic as she felt herself starting to go back under, as the foreign presence told her to stop thinking, to stop worrying, to just give in and enjoy the moment. The strength of that will was terrifying, and Celestia clung to that fear as a last defense against the pleasure trying to rule her mind. Yet all she could do was stall it, she wasn’t strong enough to win, not when she had just started to fight back the instant before she lost entirely. Her shattered will wasn’t up to such an uphill struggle. Her mind was being smothered, her body was lost to desire, and her magic…

…her magic was still held within her horn, the power tight and coiled in anticipation, ready to be released. Celestia reached desperately for it, her mind struggling to figure out what to do with the power even as she touched it. She felt herself go under, to give in to the pressure and the pleasure.

And then her horn blazed forth in brilliant white light as she cast the only spell her mind had managed to dredge up. The Fail Safe Spell washed out from her in a wave of disruptive force, tearing down and scattering any and all magical power it contacted. The pressure against her mind shattered, and Celestia felt her thoughts snap back into proper motion again. Beneath her, Spike gave a hard grunt, and she felt him go still.

“Spike,” Celestia asked gently. “Spike, are you alright?” She pushed herself back from him slowly as she brought her mind back into order.

“What in Equestria was that!” Spike demanded after a stunned moment, staring up at her in alarm.

“That,” Celestia replied, and was startled to hear her voice quaver. When was the last time anything had gotten to her like that? “Was your magic taking direct action towards acquiring me as a mate.”

“…what?” the dragon asked in a very small voice.

“It’s not your fault Spike,” she spoke up quickly, putting as much certainty into her tone as possible. He would need that. Stars above, she needed it. “If anything, it was mine. I shouldn’t have been so careless.”

Reluctantly, Celestia started to untangle herself from the dragon. The magical compulsion might have been dispelled, but the desires of her body were still very much stirred up. She was flushed with longing and lust, and even without an outside will acting against her, there was the very real wish to disregard rationality and thought in order to sate her desire.

“I don’t understand,” Spike said, his arms slipped from around her, though the motion had a slight hitch to it that suggested he felt as torn about it as she did. It was all Celestia could do to stop herself from diving right back onto him. “All you did was touch my hand. You’ve done that like, a million times before. Heck, just the other night we walked around half the palace arm in arm.”

“Yes, but your magic was likely exhausted from the change you had just undergone,” Celestia pointed out as she got her feet under her, and took a slow step back. Her hands unconsciously smoothed the wrinkles from her nightdress even as a frown creased her features. “Although now thinking on it, that walk might well have been a very foolish thing.”

“Why?”

“Because it gave me the chance to reject you,” the princess answered.

“Is any of this going to make sense to me anytime soon?” the dragon grumbled slightly.

“I’m sorry Spike,” Celestia said with a strained smile as she brought her breathing back under control. “I’m still working the details out in my mind at the moment. And towards that goal, please allow me to divert the conversation a moment. I must ask you to tell me plainly, what was it you wished to discuss with me? I have the feeling it will be relevant.”

Spike gave her an uncomfortable look, his mind clearly still dazed and struggling to make sense of things. Celestia recognized the expression; the young drake had just had his thoughts and emotions badly jumbled, and was desperately seeking understanding in order to gain a point of reference by which to start sorting everything back out.

“Um…okay,” Spike sighed, pushing the words out with an effort. “Well…well see ever since I changed, I’ve been acting different around Rarity.”

“In what ways?”

“I’ve been…well less me I guess. I’m not sure how to say it. It’s like, normally I’m practically tripping over myself trying to talk to her. I never seem to find the words I really want to say to her, and I end up just babbling.” Spike paused a moment, obviously still working to maintain his emotional control. “But now there’s this voice in my head feeding words to my mouth that makes me sound just like I always wished I could have sounded when talking to her. And it works so well, I mean it is seriously smooth and has her all swooning and everything but…” He slumped a little. “But well, as neat as it is, as much as it makes me sound like the guy I want to be for her…well it isn’t me. And it kind of worries me.”

Celestia nodded, closing her eyes for a moment. When they opened again, the violet orbs shone with emotion. “I think you might have a reason to worry,” she said. “I think your dragon’s greed has not been as thoroughly overcome as I believed. Instead it has merely been redirected, and indeed may be as potent as ever.”

Spike stopped breathing as the words sunk in. His gaze went distant with thought, and then twisted up in pain. With a visible effort he swallowed, and forced himself to speak.

“S…so you th-think I’m going to start hording…my friends?” he asked in a very frightened voice.

“I believe your magic is going to push you towards that goal, yes,” Celestia said, wincing at the anguish on his face. She wanted to go to him, to give him comfort, to just hold him and tell him it would be alright. But she couldn’t trust what she might do if his magic got a second go at her. “And it is going to work upon you as well as those you desire.”

“Oh sun and stars,” Spike groaned. “So I’ve been, what, magically drugging Rarity?”

“…no, I don’t think so,” Celestia replied after a moment’s thought. She pressed on as he gave her a disbelieving look. “I think in Rarity’s case it would not be necessary. A more subtle, less direct approach ought to be sufficient for her, because she was already open and welcoming to the idea of being with you. Your magic merely had to provide you with extra articulation of your speech to thoroughly win her over.”

“It’s still not me she’s really fallen for though. It’s this fake me my magic is presenting!” Spike growled, slamming a fist down on the bench.

“I would give her more credit than that Spike,” Celestia told him gently. “Rarity is no fool, and she has known you for quite a while. If this voice of yours was truly all that different from who you really are, do you honestly believe she would not realize it?”

“I…” Spike let out a frustrated breath, green sparks hissing through his teeth. “ I don’t know.”

“I would have to see the magic in action to be certain, but I would assume that all it is doing is giving you the clarity to speak your mind smoothly. I would actually prefer to see it myself, to be certain, but I would not jump to so drastic a conclusion as to think your greed felt the need to twist Rarity’s mind.”

“It tried to do so with your though.”

“Yes well, mine is a somewhat different case, for several reasons. I doubt you’ve really been thinking about me as mate material.”

“N-no, of course not!” Spike blanched. “I mean not that you aren’t gorgeous and smart and funny and…”

“Spike,” Celestia said softly, cutting him off. “Breath, relax. It’s okay.”

“Right, sorry,” he replied nervously.

“So, no wistful daydreams about me then?” she asked in a slightly teasing manner, hoping she might start directing his mind out of the pit of dark emotions he seemed ready to start wallowing in.

“Well, there was the one where you made me the official ice cream taster for the royal kitchens…” Spike managed to weakly joke. Celestia let out a single, soft laugh.

“If such a position ever becomes required, I promise to give it to you,” she said, a slight sparkle coming to her eyes. Her mirth slowly drained, as did his. “I think your magic made such a drastic attempt to snare me because of who I am, more so than of any physical appeal I may have to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Please understand that I am guessing somewhat, though I am basing it off of what I understand of dragons from the few I have managed to get to know. I should like to know more, about them and their magic alike, but yours is a reclusive and secretive race. However if I had to guess, and I do, I would say that your magic understands enough to realize what a fine prize I would be to add to your horde, or harem perhaps in this case. I have power, both personal and political. Having me would give you a great deal of prestige, and would present you as someone who must have great value of his own to have caught my eye. I would be a trophy and a venue to give you access to the finest riches and women of the kingdom. “

Spike for his part looked ready to be sick. “Is that really what I am?”

“No, not in the least,” Celestia replied sharply. “If that is what you were, you would have come at me again to give your power another chance to snare me. You are not defined by your magic any more than you are your biology. You can breathe fire, and yet you don’t go setting everything around you ablaze. You have a great desire for treasure and wealth, and yet you’ve faced that desire down and brought it under your control. Your impulses and desires do not define you, your choices do that. And you are constantly choosing to be better than simple greed and selfish gratification. You are better than most people I know about it.”

“But it’s still mine to deal with.”

“Yes, that it is. But you need not deal with it alone. You have friends who will help and support you no matter what.”

“But I can’t trust myself around them anymore. I can’t put them at risk!” Spike argued.

“No, I agree, that would not be fair or prudent,” Celestia said. “But we can find a way to keep them safe from your magic until such time as you learn to control it.”

“If that’s even possible,” Spike grumbled.

“No magic is untamable Spike,” Celestia insisted. “I won’t lie, this is not likely to be easy. It will require a fair deal of discipline and self-control, but I should like to think you will be sufficiently motivated to give the training your all.”

“Training?” Spike asked in puzzlement. “You already have a plan for getting this under control?”

“Of sorts,” Celestia informed him. “Your magic is not all that dissimilar to that of pegusi actually, a power more focused inward than out, used to bolster the body and mind to achieve feats and abilities beyond the capabilities of mere flesh and blood.”

“Yeah, about that,” he interrupted. “I thought you said my magic was all about changing me. So how…”

“Did it seize control of my mind and body?” Celestia finished. Spike nodded. “By exploiting a loophole, just as pegusi do to walk on clouds, or impose their will over the weather. They don’t use their magic directly upon the object they wish to manipulate, but indirectly by setting up a magical effect within themselves that then radiates out from their bodies.”

“Riiiight…” Spike remarked slowly, and Celestia sighed, though she tempered it with a smile.

“It’s like...well if you were trying to hit a target with a stone. A unicorn can throw the stone directly at the target, but for you and pegusi, the target is hidden behind a wall. You can’t aim directly at it, but instead must ricochet the stone off of another object first. It’s doable, but harder and less efficient, both of which makes it nearly impossible to do unless you are very close to the goal.”

“Which is why you had to touch me before my magic could affect you.”

“Exactly,” Celestia nodded. “Though given the strength of that compulsion, I’m certain you could manage a less powerful working over a short distance as well.”

“So just refraining from touching someone probably won’t be good enough?”

“I would not depend on that as a safety measure,” Celestia informed him. Spike sighed, and nodded his understanding glumly.

“So, that rock bouncing metaphor…is that how it is for Earthers too?”

Celestia let out a little laugh. “No, not at all. For them, magic is like having the wall between them and the target, and then having to convince someone else to pick up and throw the stone for them.” Spike blinked at that, and opened his mouth, but Celestia cut him off. “Perhaps that is a discussion for another time?”

“Right, sorry,” the dragon relented. “So, you think a pegasi training regimen might work for me huh?”

“I do,” Celestia answered. “And what’s more, I just so happen to know a few pegasi who happen to be experts at training others to master their inner magic.” She smiled at him playfully. “And you might just look rather dashing in a blue and yellow skintight uniform.”

Spike stared at her in puzzlement for a moment, then his mouth dropped open. “Wait, you don’t mean…” Celestia’s smile just widened. “…oh, Dash is going to be so freaking jealous.”

The solar princess let out a mirthful laugh, the chiming sound doing wonders to dispel the air of discomfort and worry that had settled around the dragon.

“Yes, I suppose she might be,” Celestia agreed as she reclaimed control of herself. “Perhaps I should see about getting her an audience with Spitfire at some point. I think she has earned herself at least that much for her dedication and loyalty.”

“Please do,” Spike said through a small grin. “Otherwise she’ll probably end up badgering me to take her along.”

“Ah well, for the sake of your training then, and your peace of mind…”

They shared a small but light hearted laugh, and Celestia felt a fresh surge of attraction for the young dragon. She could still taste the kiss on her lips, and her body was still warm with longing. She tried to beat the feelings down, but nothing she did could rid them from her thoughts entirely. She had them under control, but the temptation was there none-the-less, and at the moment she found herself weary of denying herself. She needed a distraction before she could think of a good rationalization to indulge herself. Fortunately, though annoyingly, she had one ready at hand.

“It’s nearly morning,” Celestia commented, her gaze sweeping out across the sky. The moon had already sunk below sight, and the stars were beginning to wane. “After I see to the sun, I should like to see you and Rarity together. It’ll be a good way to get a measure of your magic I think.”

Spike nodded slowly, though he looked troubled. “Is…is she going to be safe around me now? I mean, you make my magic sound like something alive, that can think for itself. If it knows we’re trying to stop it…”

Celestia shook her head. “It doesn’t work quite like that. Magic doesn’t think exactly, but more reacts to your own thoughts. It can form into reflections of your own thoughts, but these mimicries are immutable, unchanging on their own. They lack the free flowing nature of true thought.” She paused to gather her own thoughts on the matter. “Such mental constructs are more akin to instinct. They are machines of thought, able to fulfill a set goal, but only when the appropriate circumstances are met, with little ability to adjust. Your magic itself did not formulate a plan centered around ensnaring me, some part of your mind did that. Your magic merely took the form of those thoughts and acted on them.”

“So then I really am…”

“You are who and what you are Spike,” Celestia cut in. “A dragon, prone to greed and selfishness. You are a good friend, ready to give your all for those you care about. You are a hopeless romantic, chasing a dream you never thought you’d truly catch, and yet all the more determined to try. You are a great lover of creature comforts, of warm beds and late mornings, of sweets and gems, of long hot baths. You are a person Spike, and people are not just one thing or another. They are complex, multilayered beings, and they are ever changing. Please, do not be so quick to label yourself as a single thing and use it to describe the whole of yourself. Yes, you do have dark and undesirable thoughts, as does everyone. It is not a shameful thing to want power or wealth or flesh. It is how we handle these desires, much more than the desire itself, that speaks of who we are. So please, stop trying to demonize yourself.”

“Sorry, sorry, you’re right,” Spike sighed, rubbing at his face tiredly. “It’s just…scary to think I could be possible of such things, even if it’s just a little tiny bit of me.”

“I know,” Celestia said consolingly. “I know all too well really.

Spike blinked in amazement at her. “You?”

“Oh yes, more than most people in fact. Temptation is something I face every day.”

“But…but I mean…” Spike floundered for words for a moment before spluttering. “But you’re…you!”

“My dear dragon,” Celestia smirked. “I am somewhat different than most yes, but not so much when it comes to matters of the mind, or the heart, or the body. I have wants and desires the same as anyone.” She let out a deep sigh. “And I have to be all the more careful because of who I am, and what I am.”

“Why? I mean, you’re Celestia. You could have anything you wanted.”

“Yes, I could,” the princess said seriously. “Almost anything I asked for, I would have given to me. And anything else, I have the power to just take if I so chose to.” She fixed Spike with a level gaze. “After all, who would deny me? Who could deny me?”

Spike leaned back from her a bit as he considered that.

“I have power Spike, more than just about anyone, anything, else on this world. I control the sun itself. That alone would be enough to let me do as I pleased, without anyone being able to tell me otherwise. I have the power to completely disregard right and wrong, to do whatever makes me happy, and no person, no nation, could stop me without disastrous consequences. I have more temptation than just about anyone, because for me, I know that I could have it all. And I have been tempted. I’ve had days were I just wanted to sleep in late and worry about rising the sun whenever I got around to it, and everyone else could just be patient about it. I’ve wanted to tell ambassadors and leaders of other nations to shut up and just do as I say, or else I might divert the sun so that their lands stay in twilight. I’ve wanted to command men and women to my bedchambers for catching my eye.”

Spike swallowed a bit drily at the brief, hungry glint in the princess’s gaze as she stared at him.

“But I have resisted those temptations, because I believe in right and wrong, in good and evil, and I do not want to be such a person. I could be, very, very easily.” Her tone dropped, almost to a whisper. “And it is terrifying to think of what I could be if I let myself slip.”

“I…I’m sorry princess,” Spike said softly. “I wasn’t thinking, I shouldn’t of…”

“Oh Spike,” Celestia said, her soft words a blend of warm fondness and bitter regret. “Please don’t apologize. I should not have laid that upon you, it’s my burden, and you have problems enough of your own right now without having to listen to mine. Especially one so old and familiar to me.”

“Okay,” Spike nodded, though he looked like he wanted to argue the point. After a moment he added. “But I’m glad you felt that you could share that with me. I wish I could help you, especially after all the help you’ve offered me. Unfortunately I think all I can do is listen.”

“Perhaps,” Celestia agreed. “But that is a greater thing than I think you realize. Thank you Spike.”

“Sure, anytime,” the dragon replied with a small smile.

“Well then, I really ought to be getting ready for today’s sunrise,” Celestia said.

“And I should go explain things to Rarity I guess,” Spike said, rising from the bench. “When should we…?”

“As it suits the both of you,” Celestia answered. “I usually spend the first hour or two of the day in my study. Don’t feel the need to wake her before she is ready. If I’m not there, I will leave instructions on where to find me.”

“We’ll be there then.” Spike sighed. “This…is going to be an awkward conversation.”

“Likely so,” Celestia agreed. “If I may offer some advice?” Spike nodded, and she continued. “It might be wise to…let’s say, gloss over some of the more, intimate, details of our discovery of your magic’s nature.”

Spike coughed self-consciously. “Uh, yeah, good thinking. Not that we got that far or anything, but…” he trailed off awkwardly as his face flushed slightly.

“Keep it straightforward and simple,” Celestia provided to try and cover the silence, herself shifting her feet as her own face warmed over the still fresh sensations in her memory.

“Right, so uh…we’ll see you soon. Yeah…”

“Yes,” Celestia said simply. The two stared at each other across the scant few feet between them for another silent moment. “I…I really need to go. The day can’t be kept waiting.”

“Of course,” Spike agreed readily, though neither moved. Another moment slipped by in a tense silence. “Celestia?”

“Yes Spike?” the princess answered softly.

“…uh, nothing. Nothing, never mind,” the dragon shook his head, and with what seemed a great effort of will, finally turned and started to make his way out of the garden. “I’ll see you in an hour.” He said over his shoulder to her.

“Or two,” Celestia added. “Or even later. No need to rush, Spike.”

He nodded to her, and soon vanished behind the dense, professionally maintained foliage of the garden as he followed the stone pathway. Celestia remained where she was for a time, trying to bring her thoughts and emotions into something resembling their usual order. Eventually she gave the exercise up as a bad job, and turned her mind and magic upon her daily task. If the sun rose a little less smoothly and a bit quicker than normal that day, how many would really notice? And of those that did, who would dare open their mouth about it anyway?