"Did you enjoy the banquet?" Celestia asked, entering her bedchambers. Candles surrounding the royal bed flickered to life on their own volition, basking the room in a warm glow and dispelling the chilly ambiance of the night. The moon hung high in the sky, nesting among the stars, its light gently flowing into the room - now scared and subdued by the plethora of tiny flames.

Twilight harrowed in shortly after Celestia, following the princess with heavy footsteps and her head drooping down - all the while thanking the sun that the simple act of walking did not require much conscious thought. Her dress rustled softly against the palace floor, shades of purple, lavender and violet meshing together clumsily without their caretaker holding up a proper pose.

"Mmm..." Twilight purred half awake - the other half of her mind already trotting on the green pastures of dreamland; meanwhile she automatically stopped before the bed. It took her a while to register where exactly did she arrive, but as soon the realization dawned, she perked up. Celestia sent a silly smirk in her student's direction as she gracefully shed a golden shoe.

To Twilight, the world regained some of its color and vibrance - she watched the goddess undress with unmasked interest in her eyes. The sun goddess. The princess. Her princess. Her lover. She felt a familiar tingling sensation at these thoughts - they were far from unpleasant but Twilight was still not entirely accustomed to them. Not so long ago, Celestia was to her like a distant statue, a marble figure, displayed upon an unreachable pedestal of composure and majesty. Something to be looked upon from afar, appreciated from distance but never touched directly or disturbed. But now, at this very moment? Things were vastly different.

Twilight felt a lazy smile appear on her lips - she couldn't help but to stare, enchanted, at the alabaster flanks swaying slightly to left and right as Celestia finished taking off all of her regalia.

"Did something catch your attention, my love?" The innocent question hung in the air, making Twilight blush and avert her gaze. How scandalous of her to stare at the royal posterior in such an uncouth manner. The hazy fog dulling her senses seemed to clear up a little when she met Celestia's warm eyes, beckoning her to come closer. Feeling her heartbeat quicken, Twilight made a step forward to answer her princess' call, but...

Celestia giggles and with one graceful motion of her wings she moves to the plush bed, floating away from Twilight, like a mischievous little mote of dust lit by the summer sun. She tempts her lover to give chase, to follow her through the fields of green, lost in the sea of flying pollen. Twilight feels warmth seeping through her; the sun, shining just for her, lights the verdant field and all the speck of white dancing around her.

Then, she is in the castle once more.

"Princess..." Twilight managed to speak as the vision left her. Celestia lay in the bed, watching her with unabashed curiosity and sipping wine from a tall glass. Her nude form was resting on the lustrous sheets like a pristine snowflake, ideal and without a blemish. The candles flickerd with enthusiasm, their soft light spilling over Celestia's immaculate, angelic body.

"Undress for me," she commanded. Twilight felt herself blush once more, suddenly very conscious of the expertly tailored dress wrapped around her lithe frame. Although it did seem a bit distracting and unnecessary at the beginning of the evening, the prospect of parting with it and leaving herself prone, exposed, made Twilight suddenly appreciate the clothing so much more.

Taking a sip from her glass, Celestia smiled regarding her student with warm, patient eyes. They gleamed with deep love, but also a certain kind of mischief Twilight learned to recognize during their nights together. She giggled as she lit her horn and with a slender tendril of lavender magic took a hold of the zipper on her back.

"Slowly..." Whispered the princess with restrained passion in her voice. Be it because of the wine, fatigue or simply her cute student stripping right before her, Celestia felt her cheeks redden. Reluctantly, the fabric slipped away to reveal Twilight's coat - all a lovely shade of lavender and a bit sweaty from the exertion at the banquet. "Have I told you how beautiful you are, Twilight?" Celestia hummed quietly after a while of silence she spent marveling at her student's allure.

"Thrice today," came the answer from the student, now looking bashfully away from her mentor. As her lips curled up in a smile, she undid one of the dress' straps and posed for Celestia with a shy come-hither look in her eyes. Moving a stray curl of her fashionably styled mane away from her rosy cheek, Twilight removed a violet shoe from her foreleg. She then took the silken sleeve in her lips, meeting Celestia's gaze once again. The princess seemed enthralled by the display - the fire in her eyes burnt brightly with anticipation. Twilight pulled, getting her hoof bare and making a show of trying to hide the exposed flesh from the monarch - after all, it was only appropriate to remain decent in the presence of royalty.

Celestia purred after gulping down the last of her wine. The glass got sent away with a shimmer of golden magic, leaving the goddess to lick her lips and shift uncomfortably on the lush sheets. Unable to restrain herself any longer, Celestia moved one of her hooves down underneath her alabaster frame.

The sun goddess let out a voiceless sigh as waves of tension began moving through her body with each sensual motion. Soon, she fell into a steady rhythm, slowly rocking back an forth with a slightest of shivers punctuating the apex of each movement. A blush of excitement spread through Celestia's cheeks and neck, faintly noticeable beneath her lustrous coat.

"Mmm..." purred Twilight as she undid the other sleeve, feeling the burning gaze of a goddess on her neck. Innocently crossing her bare forelegs against her chest, she shot her teacher a sultry smile. "I'm still mad at you for making me come during your discussion with the ambassador," she stated feeling the heat in her cheeks, fully conscious of Celestia's soft coos and light moans. Twilight wiggled her bottom to get the dress just down to her middle, where it stopped as she awaited an explanation of her princess' mischief. She felt like the teacher now, scolding a filly who once again went against the rules.

"He needed a remainder..." dreamily sighed Celestia, biting down on her bottom lip; she slowly worked her hoof, uttering small moans as she continued. "That it is unwise to waste breath on meaningless words, even more so if they happen to be fueling petty squabbles. After all, there are other matters the royalty would rather get their hooves on," giggled Celestia, panting, her pace increasing slightly.

"Politics can be so dry at times, don't you agree?" She neighed softly and spread her hind legs farther apart to allow the hoof a closer, more intimate access. With quick, raspy breaths, Celestia pressed herself firmly against the bed, applying more pressure and making a small moan as the lovely strain spread throughout her body. "I happen to remember a certain purple filly coming to the very same conclusion during the court session some time ago... She seemed positively enthralled by the idea of making politics less boring," Celestia panted out, keeping her eyes on Twilight's prone form.

"There were... Certain pressing circumstances that pushed things along. M-maybe further then they should have," Twilight whispered, feeling bashful at the reminder of her own exploits. Deciding to continue the sensual display, she got her dress down to the small of her back and pretended it could not go down any further, no matter how much she pushed. "O-oh, my. I seem to require some help," muttered Twilight, eyeing her panting teacher.

"Enough of this. One more moment and I will burst," groaned Celestia, swiftly turning onto her back and closing her eyes. With one intricate movement of her horn, the dress was gone, and Twilight felt a smack on her rump, prompting her to yelp and gingerly trot up to the bed. Regarding the sweaty, panting princess with a sly smile, she jumped onto the royal sheets and took a better look at Celestia's nude form.

"How do you want me, princess?"

Twilight waits for one agonizingly slow moment. The princess considers. Weighs her desire. She can have the little purple mare however she wants now. Twilight on the other hand simply stares, beguiled, unwilling to disturb her highness, afraid that like a pristine snowflake flying free in the wind, she would melt and fade away at the slightest of her clumsy touches. After all, there is so much flame raging inside her.

"Take me... Like a stallion would, my love," whispered Celestia, breaking the moment of serenity. She spread her hind legs, baring herself before Twilight, letting the soft candlelight play across her perfect curves. After a moment, she felt a pair of small hooves touch her chest, forcing her to take an involuntary sharp breath.

Twilight is still unsure in her ministrations, her touches are hesitant. She is overwhelmed by the pony she caresses and insecure about her own performance. Celestia opens her eyes and gives her an encouraging look. Everything seems to be better now.

Feeling the magic within her, Twilight touches the arcane with her thoughts, shaping threads of light with her will. Motes of purple energy summoned by the spell, coalesce slowly into a lavender phallic shape. She bites her lower lip as she exchanges one more look with Celestia. The princess looks positively ravenous.

Twilight lets out a cute moan as she presses one end of the summoned object against her flower. She is quite aroused already - the toy is swiftly coated in her own arousal. Moving it back and forth a few times against her lips, she finally manages to get it inside. A couple more gentle thrusts and it rests snugly within her, ready to act as a makeshift stallion.

A few ragged breaths escape Twilight as she finally lowers herself into Celestia's embrace. Feeling her length prod against Celestia's opening, she gives it one tender push. She is amazed how easily it slides in. The princess moans, holding Twilight tightly, whispering encouragements in between coos and involuntary squeaks.

Twilight feels the passion swell within her, urging to move faster and faster, promising sweet rewards at the end of this perilous road. She pays her thoughts no mind though, trying to focus fully on Celestia instead. Back and forth, she slides in and out, all the while stunned at the sight before her. Perfectly shaped legs, now spread wide and inviting her; that long, alabaster neck is trashing around, dragging the chromatic, lustrous mane along the crumpled sheets. No matter how many times she sees her princess like this, she is always overwhelmed.

Celestia moans and yells her name. Twilight almost doesn't catch it, drunk with the princess beauty, lost in the intoxicating visage before her. She thrusts faster, making the snow-white form shudder and squirm in ecstasy. Smell of sweat and passion permeates the air - it's the princess, Twilight realizes. It is that ideal, mysterious and majestic creature, now panting, prone and bare on the bed beneath one purple unicorn mare.

Beneath Twilight Sparkle. The goddess of sex. Fucking the sun deity.

"Faster," Celestia almost screams, gripping the unicorn tighter against her chest. "Twilight, please!"

She likes that - being called out to, having her name moaned out by a pony lost in her own pleasure. It satisfies her on an alien, new level, one that mystifies her in this moment. But she doesn't allow herself to think and ponder over this - there are things, important things, she must do right now; Twilight complies with Celestia's request and moves faster and faster, feeling the princess near her peak. After all the times she brought her there, to the sweet release, Twilight learned to recognize the signs. All the little details, the small muscle spasms, the way Celestia's coat feels positively electric, the little curl on her lips and more importantly, the heat. Like a sun in zenith on a long, summer day.

Twilight leans down and kisses her - she is rough and dominating as she makes one last push with her hips, letting Celestia know whose princess she is. The sun goddess moans into her mouth, unable to fight her student's tongue as she convulses underneath her, her walls pressing tightly around Twilight's length. Even though the lavender rod is not truly a part of her own body, Twilight feels every minute twitch and tingle, all the tiniest spasms and slick movements. She feels toasty warm inside her princess, like she belongs joined with her in post-coital haze, unwilling to leave her and wishing only to remain like this forever.

Celestia finally calms down and responds with her tongue, prodding playfully against Twilight's.

Their muzzles part after a while and they just stay close, embracing and looking into each other's eyes.

Twilight awoke later that night alone. The warm pony she fell asleep with was gone; for a moment she felt abandoned and incredibly cold. A shiver made its way down Twilight's back as she groaned, trying her best to asses her surroundings. The crumpled sheets, the faint, sweet scent of lovemaking lingering in the air, the candles - now extinguished, letting the darkness roam free in the royal chambers - she was still in the bedroom. Without Celestia, though.

She got up with a yawn and a sleepy whimper. Somehow finding her teacher felt like the most important thing in the world at this moment. Twilight braced herself and jumped down to the cold floor, hissing silently at the unpleasant chill. The bed beckoned her forward with its warmth and cozy sheets, but her resolve did not wane.

A slight breeze made Twilight shiver. The door to the dais stood open, letting in the icy night air. As she trotted forward, she saw her breath turn to fog, reminding her of the unpleasant cold ripping her almost to the bone. Slipping outside, she finally saw her; Celestia sat on the marble dais, the city of Canterlot sleeping peacefully beneath her. Yet the monarch's gaze was firmly set at the skies - she looked upon the silver moon with tears welling in her eyes.

Twilight felt as if she somehow intruded on the princess, stumbled upon something she wasn't supposed to see. Celestia stirred, making Twilight panic as her mind reflexively went back to its old ways of dealing with trouble. Agitation. Hysteria, wailing and sobbing alone in a corner. Then, a moment of calm clarity came as Twilight met her lover's gaze. She saw sadness - almost feeling it herself, throbbing in her own soul like a great, black thorn keeping all the joy away.

Celestia sniffed and brought a hoof to her runny nose, unable to keep a shred of composure in her sorry state. Twilight finally broke out of her shock and swiftly trotted forward to touch her princess with a reassuring hoof, to hopefully take all the woes away.

Silence reigned as both mares hugged tightly in the cold night. They stood still, listening to each other heartbeats, the stillness interrupted only by occasional sobs. After some time they parted and Celestia looked up at the shining moon once again, a sour expression still lingering on her face. Twilight scooted forward, feeling a large, feathery wing brig her close to the princess. Shielded from the cold night, she gazed upon the weeping monarch with worry and waited.

"Long, long time ago... I... had a sister," spoke Celestia, her voice wavering and broken. She felt her student offer a reassuring nuzzle and with a bit of strength returning, continued. "L-Luna. My little Luna," she said, barely able to voice her sibling's name as the words failed her. Celestia broke out in sobs once more and needed another moment to gather her wits. They stood together, out in the cold night, seeking only to comfort one another.

"We lived happily in the skies, then blissfully amongst the mortals. Peace can not last for eternity, though. As strife first appeared, our little ponies looked up to us and pleaded for help. The times changed and shifted, forcing animosity and unrest. Throughout the eons, mortals slowly came to fear the night, to shun and ignore it. They slept and they dreamed, and in their dreams they saw things. Strange and unnatural things, that slowly coalesced in their collective consciousness and plagued their waking minds. Nightmares," Celestia's features twisted into a mask of hatred for one short instant. Her head slumped down, a resigned look appearing on her face.

"Luna tried to help. She truly did. She entered the dreams and held a valiant defense against the foe. The nightmares raged and boiled under her assault, striking back viciously at my little sister. The war was long and arduous, and we had lost all but hope. When all seemed lost, she made her final stand - she fought the evil back and brought peace to out little ponies. Secured their dreams, but... In the end, she could not save herself; the nightmare... Claimed her. The price we all paid for this hollow victory was too dire to bear." The sobs shook Celestia, tears streaming down her cheeks. The only solace she found was the small, purple mare, holding her tightly and whispering encouragements.

"Luna was gone. She called herself Nightmare Moon and with that new name she sought to claim the sun for herself; she aimed to create the night eternal, the everlasting darkness where all beings would feel the torment that rends her very soul. I... Could not stand idly by during her ascent to power. All that we have created together lay in ruin, the very subjects she sacrificed herself for were dying. I had to do something. Anything..."

"You used the Elements of Harmony to banish her into the moon," Twilight finished, her soft whisper prompting Celestia to stir and nod once. She then gazed at her student, flashing her a small smile as Twilight leaned in to clear up a tear with her hoof.

"Y-yes. I see that no piece of knowledge escapes you, my love," Celestia spoke, her features lighting up a bit before a dark expression entered her visage once more. "Then you also know of the prophecy."

Twilight nodded once.

"Thousandth year... It draws near," Celestia whispered, looking to the moon's silver disc once more. Then, after a long silence, "I... Have something to confess," she continued, avoiding Twilight's gaze. A sour expression appeared on her face. "I have planned to steer you into fulfilling the prophecy. I have... Arranged it so that you would claim the Elements and with their power attempt to purge the darkness from my returning sister, but..." the sobs racked her body once more as she held Twilight close to her chest.

"But I can not risk you. I couldn't possibly risk you. As you have become so close to my heart, I can not fathom a future where you could be hurt through my own doing. I love you, I can not consciously put you in danger. Not for my sister, not for anypony."

Twilight stood there dumbstruck, barely cognizant of the sobbing princess on her shoulder. In this moment, she felt a storm of emotion rage though her. She was manipulated, betrayed. Was she not? Twilight found herself lost in her own uncertainties. She saw Celestia laugh at her, ridiculing her petty love and hopes for companionship. She caught a glimpse of this Luna, rutting the sun princess in place of Twilight, commenting on her poor performance. Then, there was a purple mare, lonely and discarded, like a piece of trash on a sidewalk, unloved and unwanted, alone for eternity.

No. Some part of her rebelled against these visions. Celestia is not perfect. She is fallible, like any other pony. Sometimes weak and full of character flaws, drunk with power she has over the average pony and uncaring about the mortal affairs. She is a goddess. Living eternally, given strength beyond measure - but also responsibility - to wield all that power for the good of all, to protect and guide her subjects. To be perfect. To stand alone as a shining beacon of hope and courage. Was it wrong that the cracks would show under a strain too great even for her to bear?

Somewhere on the marble dais, under the full moon and in between the sobs, came the tearful words, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I..."

"Shh, its alright. I forgive you, princess."

Author's Note

Well, here goes my affair with writing in present tense. I hope it does not detract too much - I find it really interesting how easy (at least that's how it sounds for me) it is to invoke a certain eerie atmosphere when writing in present.

I originally planned some Nightmare Moon in this chapter, but I feel like the Indiscretions went on a bit too long without updates. Maybe in the next one?

Also, I drew me an avatar. Turns out lineart is hard, who knew. If you catch any mistakes, let me know! All constructive criticism is appreciated!