Who Rules?: Shattered Hearts

Who Rules: Shattered Hearts

by Nom deCheval

Chapter One

Dear Princess Celestia,

There are times when you feel you can’t count on anypony but yourself. I can understand that, actually. Fortunately, my friends have been close to me for a long time now, and they are always here for me. Even if they can’t fix the one problem that I have, they help me avoid it constantly. It’s good to have friends.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

Celestia set the letter down, placing it with the stack of others that were on the table. A table full of scrolls, each one another step down the path that was far too clear to see now.

The chair creaked as she got to her hooves, her chest swelling up as she inhaled deeply, raising her head up to stare at the sun low on the horizon. The window beckoned her over, the drapes parting politely as she stepped into the opening. A cool wind washed over her, bracing her thoughts.

The door to the room burst open, slamming against the wall. Celestia flinched briefly, but just, as she had become accustomed to the action.

“GAAAAAH!” the black mare’s hooves crashed against the floor, the furniture jumping in response as if from fear, the pictures and mirrors shifting on the walls with no way to escape.

She paused for a moment, working a smile onto her face before turning around to face her wife. “You’ll find him,” she comforted. “I believe in you, Luna.”

Fangs bared and snarling, there was more nightmare in the dream goddess than normal at the moment. “There should be a sign,” she growled. “A trail of some kind. Even after all this time!”

Her wing lashed out, freeing the mirror to her right, giving it the chance to flee it had seemingly craved, only to end in pieces on the floor.

“You knew that this would not be an easy task,” Celestia stepped over, her eyes motioning back the servants that gathered at the door to investigate. The door closed softly as the ponies stepped away. “At least, I hope you understood that when you offered.”

Luna’s eyes darkened, wisps of magic trickling out of their corners as her head dropped down menacingly. Her promise running through her head, burning her memories. A promise to the ruler of Tartarus to locate her lost love, Endymion. To find what happened to him before Luna was even born into creation. A promise that seemed so much easier when it was made.

“I will find him,” Luna lowered her voice, a faint echo rolling behind it. “There is nowhere in this world that he can hide from me.”

“You are a little stressed, my love,” Celestia moved beside Luna, wrapping a wing around her. The darker mare tensed, her eyes still glowing with darkness. “Perhaps you should take some time off from this task. You have been...attacking it. You should consider a new approach, something more subtle. Something less angry.”

Her eyes shifted, and Celestia could feel her staring up at her. “Are you telling me what to do?”

“No!” Celestia proclaimed immediately. “Oh no! I know better than that. I do believe that I have SOME grasp on what type of pony you are, after all.”

A brief pause only set the stage for the heavy sigh that came from the night goddess. “I know. I’m sorry, Tia. This is just so...”

“I understand,” she answered before the statement finished. Her neck nuzzle over against Luna’s, rubbing along its length. Without thinking, Luna responded in kind, but only for a moment.

Stepping away, Luna raised her head up high once more, her eyes brightening to teal once again. “I’ve been neglecting my duties,” she said, as much to herself as her sister.

“I can handle the duties of Equestria,” she stated. “You are not burdening me.”

“Still,” she moved over to the window vacated earlier by her sister, staring out at the setting sun, “we have only recently gained favor by our subjects. It seems ill-mannered to seemingly neglect them.”

“Well, you do have a reputation to maintain,” Celestia teased.

A slow glance over her shoulder was enough to express Luna’s opinion of her sister’s humor.

“Sorry,” Celestia responded, “bad joke.”

“Actually, it was accurate.” Luna turned back to the window. “At least in suggesting that I still have a reputation among our subjects. They look at me and they do not see a princess, they see a monster.”

“They are warming to you,” Celestia moved to her sister’s side again. “Remember, even when you looked as you did before, there were plenty of ponies who still thought of Nightmare Moon when they thought of the goddess of the night.”

“I want them past that. They have had time,” she said tersely. “They should accept me by now.”

“And your giving, warm nature, of course.” Celestia kept her face forward, staring out the window, her voice level and deadpan.

There was a long silence. Both mares watching the sun go down.

“I only feel that it is fair that I warn you, wife,” Luna said, very calmly, “that when the sun finishes setting, I am going to tie you to the bed and make you eat those words. Very possibly in a literal sense, what with all the paper you keep around here.”

Celestia glanced over her shoulder at her desk. The scrolls sat there, most of them rolled carefully, and a few lying mostly flat, a curl pushing the edge of the page up. Her chest swelled with air and then slowly receded.

Turning back to watch the sun she again extended her wing to wrap it around Luna’s back. “Not to try to distract you from your plan,” Celestia began, “but what would you say is the biggest problem that you are having in finding Endymion?”

Her nostrils flared as Luna snorted the answer, “That there is no information on what happened to him! Or even that he existed!”

Celestia’s horn lit, urging the sun to descend past the horizon a little more quickly.

“Tia, what are you doing?” Luna turned to look at her. “I mean, unless you are really wanting me to tie you to the bed that badly. I didn’t know you had a fetish for eating paper. I will have to remember that.”

“No, Luna,” Celestia countered. “And I don’t. Actually, I want you to raise the moon and have our duties done for now. We have some things to talk about, you and I.”

“Don’t think this is going to get you out of your punishment, paper or not. You’re going to be eating something to satisfy me.” The moon obeyed its mistress, cresting above the opposite horizon as the sun descended below view.

“I...wasn’t...thinking that.” Celestia cleared her throat, returning to the matter she had on her mind first. “But I have a suggestion I want to share with you first.”

* * * * * * *

The floor was getting tired of Shining Armor’s hooves. Back and forth, again and again they passed, treading the same path over and over. Every once in a while he would stop in front of the window, but it didn’t last, and once more he continued on the same repetitive pattern. And this wasn’t the first time.

It was getting late--again. He had been home from his duty for over two hours, and once more he came home to an empty house. No message or sign of where Cadance was or what she might be doing.

He would be furious if he wasn’t so worried.

Another sound outside--a mare laughing--and he was at the window instantly. Two mares were walking down the street together, joking about something it seemed, just out enjoying the night. Not her.

He took a deep breath and started pacing again. He ran through the same things again in his mind. Where was she? What was she doing? When would she be home?

Why wasn’t she talking to him?

The door opened, and his head spun wildly, quickly followed by the rest of his body rushing over to it.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza walked through the door calmly, and smiled seeing her husband. “Shiny!” He rushed up to hug her tightly, holding her in his embrace for an extended moment.

He pulled back suddenly, his eyes staring into hers intensely. “Where have you been?”

“Out,” she said calmly. “There were things that I had to get done.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Or leave a note or anything?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she pushed past him, moving into their home. “I just didn’t think about it. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“I was worried,” he confided.

She turned and smiled. “That’s so sweet!” She turned back to the rest of the house as she continued talking. “What did you want to do for dinner? I’m starving.”

He stood there, dumbfounded. His body took on a statue-like quality, nothing moving as he watched her walk into the house.

“I was thinking about maybe getting a couple of daisy burgers and hay fries. Not great for us, I know, but I’m feeling lazy tonight and kind of want to eat some junk food,” she continued as she moved towards their living room.

The floor was kind enough to support him as his feet began to shamble forward towards her voice.

“We can even order in delivery if you want. We can just curl up on the couch, light a fire, and hang out eating junk food all night,” she stopped and looked at her husband for the first time. Her face went slightly blank. “Honey, are you okay?”

“Am...am I okay? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” His voice echoed off the walls. “I’ve been here for hours, waiting on you--and not for the first time this week, I might add--and you just come in and act like nothing has happened? What is wrong with you?”

Cadance immediately trotted over to him, her face awash in regret. “Oh, honey! Nothing is wrong with me! I’m so sorry. I told you I was busy. I just didn’t think about what it was doing to you. Forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” his voice was exasperated. “How can I forgive you when I don’t know what you’ve done? You don’t talk to me anymore. You just talk at me.”

“What are you talking about?” Cadance turned back, stepping away from him. “You’re over-reacting. I’ve been busy is all.”

“With what?” he pressed. “All you tell me is that you’ve been busy. That you had things to do. You don’t tell me what. You don’t give any specifics. Why?”

Cadance shook her head, stepping to the far side of the table in front of their couch. “That’s not true. I tell you what I do all the time. I have responsibilities to the throne--thankfully nothing like my aunt’s--and then I sort of am the Goddess of Love, dear.”

“Okay, fine,” he circled around, trying to move next to Cadance, who maneuvered to keep the table between them. “You give specifics, then let’s hear some. What did you do tonight?”

“I told you,” she answered, nervously.

“No, you didn’t! You haven’t even suggested it. You’ve just said you were busy,” his voice was becoming louder once more. “Well, share that busy! What did you do? Specifically?”

“I--I don’t think I like your tone,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “What are you implying?”

“I’m not implying anything!” He stopped walking and his hind legs fell, his rump hitting the floor hard as he sat on the spot. “I just don’t know what’s going on.”

“Oh Shiny!” Cadance leapt the table, her wings holding her aloft until she landed gently at his side. “Nothing’s going on, I promise. I was helping a couple with an issue they were having. I don’t want to get into the intimate details because it’s private for them. It’s okay. I love you!”

“I love you!” he answered, pushing his muzzle into her neck. “It just...well, it seems like you’ve been more distant since...” He didn’t finish his sentence.

“Since what?” she asked, rubbing her own muzzle across the top of his head.

“Since...Twilight,” he said softly.

She rubbed her muzzle across the top of his head still, her lips moving out to place gentle kisses along the edge of his mane and base of his horn. “Is that what this is about?”

He pulled back slowly and gently, staring up into her eyes. “Yes,” he admitted, his shoulders slouching. “I don’t like to talk about it, but it’s true. I can’t help it, and I don’t mean to sound unsupportive, but things have changed. You don’t spend as much time with me. We aren’t as intimate.” He paused. “And we haven’t made love in days.”

She continued to pepper kisses on his head and horn, softly and seductively. She let the silence linger for a moment, enjoying the feel of him pressed against her. “Oh, I see,” she said with a husky tone, “so you want to fuck?”

His eyes shot open, and he jerked his head back. “I didn’t mean it that way!”

She giggled and then her face took on a predatory glow. “I did.”

“Hon, I’m not sure that--”

“Shush,” she cut him off with a hoof on his mouth. The corners of her lips curled up into a smile as her horn came to life. Shining Armor swallowed back tension as the room took on a pink glow and he felt a strong arousal rising up in him as she spoke. “Let me do all the work.”

A pink glow surrounded Shining Armor, and he felt tendrils of magic surrounding him, an electric sensation coursing over his flesh. With a sudden surprise, he felt his feet leave the ground, a feeling of weightlessness settling in on him.

Looking up at the floating stallion, Cadance put on a diabolic grin as the plan finished taking form in her mind. With a thought, Shining Armor felt himself moving backwards, pressing his back against a nearby wall.

“Cadance,” his voice carried a hint of fear, “how are you--”

“Shush!” she said again. “I’m a goddess, remember? Now, stop talking. If you don’t I’ll shove something in your mouth,” she giggled.

Leaning up on her hind legs, Cadance let one foreleg rest against the wall, while the other began to stroke along her husband’s exposed belly--avoiding the very exposed erection just below it.

“Besides,” she said in a bewitching tone, “with all of the magic I have coursing through this room, you shouldn’t be able to think about anything besides sex anyway.”

It was true. Shining Armor was fighting with all of his being to keep his rational mind. The primal, animalistic side of him was trying to take command and let the most fundamental desire take control. In the end, his rational side never stood a chance.

A hoof traced along the center line of his body, running from neck straight down across the stomach and coming to rest just above his throbbing manhood. “I could suck you off,” Cadance offered. “Or I could just give you a nice hoof job. Or maybe,” she let her hoof move down alongside his cock, careful to not touch it directly, “maybe I can just do nothing.”

“What?! NO!” Shining Armor shouted, his arousal now controlling his desires.

“Would you shush!” Cadance taunted playfully. A band of pink magic surrounded her husband’s mouth, preventing any further outbursts. “There! That should keep your manners intact.”

She moved her hoof back into place, letting it caress up and down the stallion’s thigh. “Now, as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted, maybe what I should do to you is nothing at all.” She smiled wickedly. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to do anything.”

She stepped away from the wall, trotting over the couch, her magic clearing everything that lay between him and her. “In fact, I plan on doing a great many things. Sucking. Licking. Tasting. And just generally fucking myself silly.” She looked up into his eyes. “And you get to watch the whole thing. If you cum from it, well...that’s up to you. But since I’m not going to let you move your hooves, you’re going to have to do it just from what you see. And hear. And probably smell, actually.”

A groan escaped from somewhere deep inside Shining Armor.

Reclining down on the couch, Cadance sprawled out, letting her body go on full display for her husband. The hoof that had just been stroking his body began to stroke her own, starting on her own flank. She ran it down her thigh slightly, and then moved back up, passing over her cutie mark and continuing up the side of her body until she reached her neck, where she made a motion to turn it back inside and caress down her chest and stomach and towards her groin.

A moan escaped her lips as her hoof found her nether lips. Sliding it between her legs, she closed them, keeping herself somewhat hidden from her husband’s view as the hoof worked back and forth across her sex.

Shining Armor strained to see what was happening between her legs. She kept herself perfectly in view, except for the one part that he most wanted to see at the moment. Her face smoothed as her mouth opened and her tongue came out, licking the underside of her upper lip. Finally pulling her hoof from its nestled spot, she brought it up to her lips and let her tongue trace along the contours of its shape, slowly turning her eyes towards her husband once more.

“I’m very, very wet. I’d let you find out for yourself, but your just going to have to trust me on this. Well, and your own senses,” she teased.

The couch moved slightly as she shifted her weight, a single leg ending up thrown over the arm of it. There was no hidden secret now. Nothing kept from view. A glistening slit of deeper pink highlighted the space between her rear legs.

“I’m sure you would like to touch this yourself,” she stated as her hoof once again moved down to stroke across her marehood, “but that’s not going to happen. You would probably want to taste it, too.” She quickly brought her hoof back up to her mouth and repeated the action of letting her tongue snake out to lap up the slick coating on it. “I don’t blame you. It’s sweet. Very sweet tonight, in fact.”

The hoof moved over to her outer thigh, brushing up until it reached her flank and stroked over her cutie mark. “Why don’t I see if I can get it a little wetter, though,” her voice growled.

Suddenly her wing popped up, and then slowly flexed over her body until it rested across her shoulder. Twisting her neck slightly, she craned it back until her mouth found hold on the shank of her wing, where she took it into her mouth. Pulling on it with her lips, the feather-covered flesh tensed back and forth with the play. “Mmmmm. My wings are very sensitive, as you know. And I learned a long time ago that preening them had several benefits for me.” Teeth raked over the skin, feathers dancing as the ripples of excitement ran across her wing. “Only one of those was keeping my feathers clean. The other was very, very dirty.”

The reaction in her loins was instantaneous. Shining Armor’s mouth went dry as he stared at the pouting opening between her legs. He strained against his bonds physically, never bringing his own magic into play, finding his wife’s hold too strong to break.

“Oh, yes,” Cadance moaned. “I think that I’m just about ready for the next step, don’t you?” Seemingly from nowhere, two large artificial phalluses appeared, both of them pink, and each held up by her magic. Shining Armor looked surprised. “What?” she asked. “Oh, these? I keep sex toys all around the place, just in case of a lustful emergency.”

His eyes were glazed in passion, focusing on every part of her body, concentrating on one area in specific. It was impossible to miss it when the larger of the two pink dildos made it to her mouth.

It slipped past her lips, pushing just inside as her tongue swirled around the head of it. As it pulled out, she placed a full kiss on the tip, holding it there for a moment before plunging the entire length of it down her throat. Shining Armor’s eyes bulged, and his cock strained against open air. Pre-cum glistened on the head of his dick as it probed upward into nothing, plying for the resistance it craved to feel rubbing against it.

The dildo was moving in a smooth motion in and out of Cadance’s mouth as she fucked her own throat with it. With a dramatic gasp, and a long string of spittle attached to it, she yanked the dildo free from her mouth and moved it to her lower opening.

She looked over at her husband and smiled, watching his eyes as the phallus disappeared inside her marehood. It pressed deeper, pushing in until the base of it rested against her labia. Twisting slowly, it made its way out of her cunt, pulling juices with it that streamed down between her legs and covered her ass in a sheen of liquid. And then the process repeated, the fake cock plunging in and out of her pussy.

“Oh, and darling,” she cooed at him, her voice faintly ragged, “this other one has a place to go, too.” The smaller of the two devices played along Cadance’s flesh, tracing its way down her body and dancing for a moment with its larger cousin before moving on to its destination.

His cock appeared to vibrate, pulsing with unabated desire, as he watched his wife insert the other dildo in her ass. Slowly it worked its way inside, filling up her tailhole as the other phallus waited patiently. Finally, the smaller one was in completely, and the pair of pink rods began to move in unison.

As one, the two objects slid out and back into their own moist havens, driving the passion of the mare around them. She felt the dildos pressing against each other through the shallow wall that separated her vaginal and anal passages, the mutual sensation driving her lust. One fucked her pussy, the other fucked her ass, and Shining Armor could only watch.

Her eyes mostly closed, Cadance’s magic worked the paired phallus in her holes while her teeth worked her sensitive wing shafts. Her hoof slipped down, finding the hard nub that pushed its way out of the sheathe at the top of her labia. Time became immaterial and she let the moment linger as pleasure crashed over her again and again, pressing her to the precipice of passion until she finally fell over the edge.

Her head threw backwards as her hind legs clinched together, her forehoof caught in the trap they made as it continued to press against her clit. Wave after wave of release washed over her, guttural cries filling the room as she came, soaking the couch beneath her.

And all Shining Armor could do was watch. His cock was almost painfully hard. The erection bobbing between his legs felt as though it was trying to rip itself from his body. His hips tried to thrust forward, wanting to hump the air if nothing else, but Cadance’s magic remained strong, even through her orgasm.

With deep breaths, Cadance turned her attention back towards her hanging husband. She smiled broadly, slipping free from the confines of the couch and walking slowly over to stand right in front of him.

“Did you enjoy that?” she asked playfully.

All he could do was nod. Which he did. Vigorously.

“So why haven’t you shown me that?” she asked, a false frown crawling onto her face. The pink glow of the room intensified, a visible indication of the lustful power she was releasing. “I have to tell you, no matter how much I enjoyed that--the feeling of playing with my own wings, the sensation of fucking myself in both my ass and pussy with those fake cocks--there was one thing that was desperately missing.”

Her eyes locked with his. “Cum. I didn’t have your cum. And I want it. I want it so badly. I want to taste it. To feel it. To have you spraying it all over my face,” she growled. “Can you do that for me, my love? Can you cum all over my face?”

His body moved, lowering until the head of his dick was lined up directly with Cadance’s muzzle. “I want to feel it, Shiny. I want that cum all over my face. And I know you want to see that, too. You want your sticky white goo shining out on my bright pink coat. You want to see my tongue reach out and lick off what it can reach and swallow it down.”

She turned her face slightly, providing a huge target for his release. “So, do it. Cum on me. Right now. I want you to. I need you to. Do it! Cum on me!” she commanded.

There comes a point where the mind supersedes the body. Where the thought of something passes by the need of it actually happening. Sometimes that can be a long-term change, or it can be a sudden, short alteration. Shining Armor felt as though a part of him that had been trapped for years had escaped, releasing pent-up pressure from the core of his body.

The first stream of white, hot goo stretched across all of Cadance’s face, passing to her mane and wings beyond. The second stream landed squarely on her cheek. As she turned her muzzle, the subsequent releases splashed onto her face, dotting her coat with splashes of white that clung tightly to her.

His world was a blur, but slowly Shining Armor began to be able to see once more. Looking down, he saw his wife, her beautiful face covered with the evidence of his orgasm. A shudder went through him as she watched her tongue slide out and pull in some of the cream that sat on her face, followed by a hoof that gathered up more of it, which she then placed into her mouth.

Her magic lowered him slowly to the ground, his hooves suddenly forced to once more carry his weight. It was a clumsy transition, and his legs almost surrendered to gravity at several points.

“You okay, hon?” Cadance asked softly, the lighting in the room once more returning to its normal night-time glow.

“Y--yeah,” his voice answered, ragged and unsteady. “That was...intense.”

“That was the plan,” she said. “You seemed a little pent-up.”

“I--I didn’t know you could do something like that,” he said slowly.

“You did all the work!” she teased. “I just provided motivation.”

Shining Armor shook his head. “No. No, you did that. You--” he stopped. “Wait, did you force that on me?”

“Force you?” she laughed. “Not that I know of.”

“It just escalated so quickly. I don’t even remember how it started.” He thought back, trying to find the beginning of the experience.

“I didn’t do anything to you, Shiny,” she said. “I just...urged along what was there.”

He looked over at her smiling face, still stained with his ejaculate. It was impossible to see her as anything harsh in that light. “Why don’t you go clean up,” he suggested. “That can’t be too comfortable.”

Cadance smiled. “Ah, I’ve had worse, but...yeah, okay. Be right back.”

A quick kiss on the cheek and Cadance trotted off to the bathroom. The light in the room was brighter than the living room, and she surveyed the spatters that covered her body. A quick dip in the water, and the damp rag started to wash over her body as she giggled at the action. She shook her head as she tried to work the sticky mess from her mane, adding a little extra water to loosen it up.

And she stood there wondering what Twilight Sparkle was doing that night.

* * * * * * *

“See, I told you!” he said with a slight sing-song voice. “She does this all the time! Like, two or three nights a week, I think. Sometimes I can’t even get her up to her bed.”

“Oh dear,” Rarity answered. “Spike, darling, I commend you for contacting me, but I do hope that you have had the common decency to not tell anypony else about this!”

“Heck, no! You’re the only person I’ve told, Rarity,” the dragon answered. “Do you think that she’s going to be okay?”

“I’m sure that in time she will be just fine, but for the moment we need to consider this a very private matter. Be a dear and rush to the kitchen and bring me back a nice cold glass of water, would you?” Rarity asked.

“You bet!” Spike straightened up and dashed off towards the kitchen.

As soon as the young dragon was moving away, Rarity reached out and levitated the bottle up next to herself. “Brandy,” she said, shaking her head in disapproval “and not even a very good one, either.” With care, she moved the empty vessel over to the trash, while leaning over to speak into Twilight’s ear.

“Twilight?” She spoke softly, hoping to ease the unconscious mare back to the waking world. “Darling, can you hear me?” There was no response, so Rarity placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder, and nudged it while she spoke somewhat louder. “Twilight, it’s Rarity. Do wake up, please.”

Shifting on the ground, Twilight responded--with a loud snore.

“Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity stamped a hoof down by her friend’s head. With a start and a sputter Twilight jerked her head up, looking around. “Oh Twilight,” Rarity continued, “are you all right, darling?”

“Rarity?” Twilight slurred. “What are you doing here?”

“Spike asked me to drop by and check on you,” she stated with a smile.

“Well,” Twilight put her head back down, “you did. Now you can go home.”

Her eyes closing halfway, Rarity lost the smile on her face and a bit of it in her tone. “So you are able to resume slowly drinking yourself to death? I think not. Now get on your feet. Up!”

A magical push from Rarity’s horn urged Twilight to stand, much against the desire of the unicorn, who gave out a whiney groan as she felt her body lifted up. “I don’ wanna get up! Go away!”

“Well, if we all got what we wanted you would be addressing me as Princess Rarity right now,” the white unicorn offered, straining to keep her friend on her hooves. “As things are, I want you up and about. We need to work this through your system. Get you back to being the productive mare that I know you to be.”

“Awwwwww...” Twilight’s hooves reluctantly tried to move under her and support her weight. She began to shuffle towards a nearby cabinet.

“Twilight, darling, why didn’t you come to me about this? You know that I am here to help you through any trying times that might happen upon you,” Rarity walked alongside the other mare as she spoke. “Even those that might tend to take you to this rather...distressing place. That’s what true friends are for.”

“Uh-huh,” Twilight mumbled, opening up a cabinet and rummaging through with her magic.

“I know that you have been rather upset as of late, but--”

Rarity’s words stopped as Twilight pulled another bottle of liquor free from the cabinet and brought it over to her face. She looked at it, checking the level before uncorking the contents.

“TWILIGHT!” Rarity screamed, snatching the bottle away with her hooves. “Are you not paying attention to me at all?”

“Yeah,” she muttered. “Told you to go home.”

“And you should be grateful that I’m choosing not to listen to you!” Rarity took the bottle over to the window, emptying its contents onto the ground outside. “You are better than this, Twilight.”

“Uh-huh,” she staggered away from the cabinet, grumbling. “You owe me a bottle. That was my last one. I think.”

“You think?” Rarity closed the window, and the shutter, making sure they had their privacy. “Twilight Sparkle should never wonder about such things!”

Moving through her house, Twilight was picking up bottles and checking their content one by one, tossing them back down when she found them empty.

“Twilight, darling,” Rarity trotted over to her once again, “please, talk to me.”

“About what?” Twilight plopped down on her rump unceremoniously.

“About you and this love you’ve lost,” Rarity said.

“What?!” Twilight shuffled on the ground, moving without standing up. “What the hay are you talking about? I didn’t have a love of anypony!”

“Yes, you ‘didn’t have a love,’” Rarity said softly. “I know. I know far too well. I’ve been there, myself, dear. It’s all right. Tell me about it.”

Twilight looked over at Rarity. The white unicorn was smiling at her, ready to listen to her. Ready for Twilight to pour her heart out, and then be there for her in her time of need. Ready to be a true friend.

“Yeah, right,” was the venomous reply that Twilight spewed, despite her better judgment. “Why don’t I just tell Trixie directly.”

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” Rarity gasped. “You know very well that I treat everything with the fullest discretion, Twilight.”

“But you’ve got your lovey, lovey mare there for you! You’ve got a magical, popular pony that is staying with you even though she’s...wherever it is that she is,” she slurred, standing up and staggering over to a bookshelf.

“Las Pegasus, darling. She has a spectacular and popular show in Las Pegasus right now,” Rarity said, her face calm. “But this isn’t about her. Or me. Or she and I. This is about you.”

“Me and my not having a marefriend,” she scoffed. “You know, there was a point where I had two princesses arguing about me. They both wanted me! And I didn’t make a move. I could have, you know. I could have had either one of them.”

“Yes, of course,” Rarity agreed. “Though the fact that the two princesses in question seem to have a committed relationship with each other might have contributed to that, as well. They appear to be very much in love.”

“Love. Yeah. You have it lucky, you know!” Twilight slurred. “You got to have Trixie stay with you, despite going way off across everywhere, and being the stuck up bitch that she is.”

“Yes, well,” Rarity took a deep breath, “things are not perfect in any relationship, darling. Trixie and I are fiercely loyal to each other, but we do not get to spend the time together that we would like. But again, this is not about my love life, Twilight. I want to help you with yours.”

“I don’t have a love life,” she answered, pushing some books off a shelf and onto the floor, “and I don’t want a pity fuck from you or the blue bitch.”

Rarity stood there silently, watching as Twilight reached to the back of the bookcase to rummage around and pull out another bottle, smiling as she found some liquid inside.

“I’ve got your water!” Spike came running into the room, carrying a large glass.

“Oh,” Rarity said flatly, “I’ll take that, Spike, darling.”

Without hesitation, the young dragon ran over to her and presented the glass. It floated in the air as Rarity carried it with her over to where Twilight had sat down with her newly uncorked bottle, taking a deep drink.

“Twilight?” The unicorn looked over at Rarity, moving the bottle aside for a moment. A sudden rush of cold hit Twilight as Rarity threw the glass of water into her face. “You are a rather inconsiderate, immature shrew when you are drunk. I will be by tomorrow to deal with the repercussions of this evening.”

Twilight sat there, blinking, as the other mare turned and walked over to her number one assistant. “Spike, you will be coming to stay with me tonight. I don’t think that being here is good for you right now.”

“Uh, are you sure that--” he began.

“Tut-tut! No arguments.” She picked him up with her magic and placed him on her back. “Besides, I have some gems that I don’t have a good use for, and I was hoping to give them to you for a snack.”

“Gems? For me?” Spike’s tongue traced out around his lips as his belly quivered at the thought.

“Indeed. Some that I imagine would be considered big and juicy to somepony like you, but are far too ostentatious for my designs.”

“That sounds...delicious!” he said.

“Then off we go!” she smiled at him.

And with that she went to the door and passed outside of the library, leaving Twilight behind without another word.

“R--Rarity?” Twilight sobbed as the door clicked shut. “Rarity? Oh no. No, what did I do?” Her head fell down into her hooves as she began to openly weep. The tears washed down her face as her mind tried to cover what she said and did, but the clarity that she relied on so often was gone.

A knock on her door brought her back to the moment.

She was at the source of the knock in moment, a glow surrounding the door as it swung open dramatically at the same moment. “Rarity! I’m so sorry! I didn’t--”

A large dark figure filled the doorway. Glitters of starlight waved in the background as glints of white fangs shone in the forefront. Twilight took a sudden step backwards.

“Are you not going to invite me in, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked.

“Pr--Princess Luna,” she stammered.

“Indeed,” the princess replied. “I am very well aware of my identity. May I enter?”

“Y--yes, of course.” Looking around, Twilight was suddenly painfully aware of her surroundings.

With the grace that only a goddess could have, Luna stepped inside, the door swinging slowly closed behind her. Her eyes moved slowly around the room, and Twilight’s danced behind them, seeing everything that she was hoping to keep hidden.

“I--I wasn’t expecting...” Twilight’s voice trailed off.

“Obviously,” Luna answered. Her nose raised up into the air, turning slightly a pair of times. “Though I believe this isn’t something sudden.”

“No! No, I was jus’...cleaning! Yeah, I was cleaning. I make a mess when I clean.” Racing to and fro, the unicorn gathered as many bottles as she could, intending on them ending up in a large garbage can. A single misstep prevented that, as she tumbled over her own hooves, falling flat on her face, the bottles crashing to the ground.

“You are drunk, Twilight Sparkle.” Towering over the mare, Luna seemed larger than her huge form normally dictated. “That is very unbecoming of you.”

“Pl--please don’t tell Princess Celestia,” she begged, her voice a soft whimper.

“Celestia and I have few secrets from each other, but I will not betray you to your teacher,” Luna said. Her eyes flashed white, a color that was suddenly mirrored in Twilight’s eyes. The unicorn was suddenly lifted off the floor, floating in the air in front of Luna, her body beginning to glow with the same intensity as her eyes. And then she fell, landing with a solid impact. “Especially when you no longer have any alcohol poisoning you.”

The world was clear for Twilight. Her limbs and magic were her own to command once again, much to her surprise. “What did you do?”

Luna raised a single eyebrow. “I am a goddess. And a master of transformative magic. Do I truly need to explain it to you?”

“No. No, you don’t.” She lowered her eyes, staring at the ground. “Thank you, Princess. I...I didn’t mean to disappoint...”

“I understand, Twilight. You have been looking for solace since your life was put into turmoil by my niece,” Luna said.

The unicorn snapped to attention, her pupils shrinking to dots. “You...you know about that?”

“How could I not?” Luna stated, a soft smile appearing on her face. “The realm of dreams is part of my domain, and you have dreamt of nothing else since Celestia and I returned from our honeymoon.”

“I didn’t know I was dreaming it that often,” Twilight said softly, shuffling her hoof.

“It is not unusual for a pony to not remember every dream, and it is not my position to tell everypony what happens while they sleep,” Luna explained. “But I have come for a direct purpose. One which should benefit us both.”

“You didn’t come here because of...” she looked around, “...what has been happening with me?”

“In part, yes, I did. But I, too, have been deeply frustrated as of late, and have been taking it out in my own way. And just as destructively,” Luna said, lifting a bottle from the floor and placing it in a garbage bin.

“So, why did you come here? Why come to me?” Twilight cocked her head to the side, watching in curiosity.

Two reasons,” Luna began. “Firstly, you are an accomplished scholar, and it has come to my attention that my methods have been lacking a...studious quality that might benefit my goal.”

She waited a moment for Luna to continue, but eventually Twilight had to speak. “And the second reason?”

“Because Celestia asked me to,” she admitted. “She is very worried about you. Perhaps about both of us.”

“D--does she know about C--Cadance?” Twilight’s body trembled as she considered what might happen.

“I have told her nothing of your dreams, Twilight Sparkle.” As the words came out of Luna’s mouth, Twilight’s body visibly relaxed. “But it is my opinion that she is suspicious.”

Twilight bounced back to rigidly nervous in a heartbeat.

“But if she knows, or even suspects, then she might think I’ve turned my back on her, which I haven’t. I mean, I have, but I haven’t. I mean, well...” Twilight looked up at Luna her eyes glistening. “You two are married now. You have each other. Even before you were married you did. I was just a thing, I think. I thought you wanted me, but... And then Cadance was there, and I’ve always had a crush on her and...” She dropped her head down. “I’m so confused.”

“Feelings are confusing, Twilight. They follow no logic or reason,” Luna gently placed a hoof on Twilight’s withers, “but that does not mean that they are wrong. Or something to ignore and try to drown away.”

Twilight shook her head slowly. “No, I know that. I just... What was I supposed to do? It was tough enough losing Celestia--and you--but then when I realized how much I cared for Cadance...” She looked up at Luna. “She’s married to my brother, Princess. I love him, too--not in the same way, though--and I--I don’t want him hu--hurt.”

Tears streamed down her face as she choked out her words. “I--I don--don’t know wha--what to do! If I ca--can’t th--think about it, then I’m okay.”

“And so you’ve been drinking. To excess,” Luna surmised.

Twilight only nodded slowly. “And I just chased one of my best friends out of here by being a jerk.”

“Do not fear that, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said with a smile. “If she is truly one of your best friends--and I know that she is--then she will return and understand what transpired.”

“I hope so,” Twilight whispered. “I can’t afford to lose anypony else.”

“You have lost no pony. Celestia and I are still your friends, as well,” Luna spoke, and then paused before continuing. “And you have never been ‘just a thing.’”

“Are you sure?” Twilight looked up at her. “Really sure? You and Princess Celestia both seemed to be interested in me, and then you weren’t. I thought... Well, it was almost like you were fighting over me. But then you were together and I wasn’t even a part of it anymore.”

Luna took a deep breath and considered her words carefully. “My wife and I both found ourselves attracted to you, Twilight, for various reasons. But we were in love with each other. And our relationship does have a...competitive side to it,” Luna regretted saying that instantly. “But I can tell you this very plainly: it was her desire to be with you. Celestia has long found you a mare of great potential, and one of great beauty.”

“So...she wanted to have sex with me, but not love me?” Twilight asked.

“No, Twilight, she loves you very much--and that is one of the reasons that she wanted to be with you sexually--but she does not love you the same way that she and I love each other,” Luna said.

“I’m still confused,” Twilight shook her head.

“I know,” Luna said. “And as to Cadance...I cannot say. I have not spoken with my niece about such things.”

“But you’ve seen her dreams!” Twilight jerked her head back. “You have to. It’s what you do. You said so yourself.”

“This is true,” Luna admitted.

“Then what is she dreaming about? Is she dreaming about me? About us?”

“Twilight,” Luna eased, “if I will not tell Celestia about your dreams, why do you think that I will tell you about another pony’s?”

“Because it’s all I’ve got!” Twilight pleaded. She fell to her knees, staring up at the princess with deep passion.

Standing over the diminutive unicorn, Luna contemplated her next step, though she knew what it was already. “Stand, Twilight Sparkle. You have far more than you know, and I will help you to find it, if you help me to find what I seek.”

It took her a moment, but Twilight was able to work her way to her hooves. “What? What can I find?”

“Answers, I am hoping. Answers that I haven’t been able to find for myself,” she replied.

“An answer to what?” Twilight asked.

“A mystery, Twilight Sparkle. A mystery that is older than myself.”

* * * * * * *

It was already a busy day, and the knocking on the door wasn’t making it go any easier. Cadance rushed to the door, urging patience. “I’m coming! Just a moment!”

Her magic grasped the door and swung it open, a huge smile on her face ready to greet the pony on the other side. The pony in question caused her face to drop from smile to surprise.

“Hello, Mi Amore Cadenza,” Celestia said joyfully. “May I come in?”

Blinking herself back to sense, Cadance stepped back, the smile coming back to her face. “Of course! Please, do come in.”

Glancing around, Celestia moved into the house. Fine furniture and quality linens were shifted and out of place. Dust covered shelves and there was clutter gathering in the corners.

“How have you been?” Celestia asked, moving over to a table to sit.

“Fine,” Cadance answered, sitting across from her aunt. “I’m fine.”

“Have you been very busy lately? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you around the castle. I thought it might be a good idea to visit and catch up,” Celestia spoke softly and evenly.

“That sounds wonderful! And yes, I have been busy. I don’t have a lot of time today, in fact,” she replied.

“Am I a bother? Do you have no time for a visit?” Celestia asked.

“No! I mean, yes, I do. Of course I have time for you,” she explained.

“Excellent!” Celestia said with enthusiasm.

And then silence set in at the table. Celestia sat on her seat, smiling and staring across the table as Cadance sat there smiling back, nervously shifting on her cushion. The moment lingered into a while, with no words spoken between them, and Cadance’s shift became a fidget.

“So,” the younger mare spoke, “anything in particular you wanted?”

“Well,” Celestia answered without hesitation, “tea would be nice.”

“Oh! Oh, yes! I’m...let me get some. I’m so sorry.” In a flash, Cadance was up and rushing off to her kitchen, leaving Celestia behind. The sun goddess let her eyes wander once more, taking in her surroundings. A dark ring was on the table in front of her, evidence of a cup of tea without a saucer. A lovely vase, crystal with metal accents, lost its appeal from wilted flowers resting in it.

“Here we go!’ Cadance trotted back into the room, a small tray with two cups and a small pot on it floated beside her magically. “I’m sorry about not getting this right away, auntie. Like I said, I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.”

“Oh, no worries,” Celestia said. “I’m just glad to spend some time with you.”

“Oh, me too! I’m sorry that I haven’t been by much lately,” Cadance stated as she set the tea tray down.

“Let me guess: you’ve been busy?” Celestia finished for her, causing a brief tremor in the cup that was floating over to her from Cadance. Celestia took the cup from her niece, carrying it over to her gently.

Cadance lifted the kettle and began to pour some tea into Celestia’s cup. “I guess that I’ve been a little repetitive, haven’t I?”

“A bit,” Celestia answered, taking a sip of the liquid given to her. She turned her head right after the sip.

“What’s wrong?” Cadance asked.

“How long has this tea been steeping?” Celestia casually looked down into her cup.

“Only just now. I just made it.” The lid of the kettle was pulled at once, and Cadance looked inside. Her eyes grew wide. “Oh. Oh no.”

“What is it?” Celestia asked.

“I--I forgot to clean the kettle. There was old tea inside it already. I can’t believe that I did that. I’m so sorry. Let me go and make a fresh pot.” She popped up from the table, grabbing the kettle and cups and putting them back on the tray.

“No.” Celestia’s words were clear and direct. “Sit down.”

Stopping in her tracks, Cadance pulled her head back and to the side, one eyebrow going up. “Excuse me?”

“I told you to sit down,” she repeated.

“I heard you, I’m just not sure I liked your tone,” Cadance turned to face Celestia head on.

“Then I can almost guarantee that you are not going to like what I have to say next,” Celestia continued. “Now, please sit down.”

There was more than a moment of hesitation, as Cadance stared at her aunt with no emotion. Taking a deep breath, a smile appeared on her face as she moved to sit across from Celestia once more.

A quick breath preceded her next words, “What is it that really brought you here, Aunt Celestia?”

A genuine smile shined across the table back at Cadance. “Concern. Both for those ponies I love and for Canterlot itself.”

“And how do I fit into that?” Cadance asked.

Celestia’s eyes opened slightly wider. “How? Cadance, I’m speaking about you specifically. You are not only my niece, you are dear to my heart, and what’s more, your husband is the captain of my guard.”

“I’m still not clear on what you’re talking about,” Cadance answered slowly.

A slow deep breath tempered Celestia’s answer. “I rely upon Shining Armor to help safeguard Canterlot--and to that extent Equestria as a whole--from any threat that may come to my kingdom. He must be ever-vigilant, and he may only do that if he is focused and attentive. Lately he has been neither of those things,” Celestia glanced around the room, “and clearly, neither have you.”

“Well, I think you may be exaggerating slightly--” she didn’t get a chance to finish.

“I’m not. There is something that is eating away at the two of you, and it is not a matter of me being curious, it is about me finding what is wrong and correcting it, one way or another,” Celestia said. “So, I am asking directly, what is wrong?”

“Nothing! I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” Cadance replied as she shifted in her seat.

“Cadance,” Celestia said calmly but firmly, “please. Talk to me.”

“I--” A defiant tone and body language didn’t make it past a single word.

“Cadance. Please,” Celestia repeated in softer tones.

Her mouth opened but nothing came out. Eyes locked across the table and Cadance felt moisture gathering in the corners of her own. And then she felt her cheeks becoming damp, mysteriously. Something was happening, but she wasn’t sure what.

And then she broke.

“I’m so sorry!” she sobbed. “I don’t know what happened! I don’t understand!”

“Relax,” Celestia let her words come out and soothe her niece. “Take a breath and start at the beginning.”

Sitting upright, Cadance’s chest swelled out and then slowly returned to normal as she began to speak. “I love Shining Armor. I truly do. Moreso than even I understand sometimes--and that’s saying something--but...”

Celestia waited for Cadance to continue on her own.

“I wonder if I’m supposed to be with him,” she admitted. “I wonder if I’m supposed to be with anypony.”

“What makes you think that?” Celestia asked gently.

“Is the Goddess of Love supposed to be in love? Am I supposed to only love one pony? When I fell in love with Shining Armor it was like a dream come true. I felt something that I had never experienced before and thought that my life was complete, but lately I’m beginning to wonder if that’s true. Maybe I’m supposed to share love with everypony.” The words poured out of Cadance, matching the tears that trailed down her muzzle. “I’ve been making excuses to spend time away from Shining Armor because I don’t want to hurt him.”

“I see.” Celestia nodded slowly, thinking through the possibilities. “And what brought about this idea?”

“I...met somepony,” she said.

“Does this pony have a name?” Celestia asked.

“I would rather not say,” Cadance answered.

Celestia nodded. “Recently, I have been receiving some rather unusual reports from my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. She normally shares moments of revelation or kindness, but the ones that I have gotten since Luna and I returned from our honeymoon are much more negative. Much more somber. You wouldn’t have any idea why that might be the case, would you?”

“I...might,” Cadance whispered.

“I see,” Celestia looked around the room again, taking in all of the information that it provided. “I cannot tell you how to live your life, Cadance, but I can give you advice.

“I have lived for a very, very long time. And in that time I have had many stallions and mares come into and leave my life. But until very recently, I have never had a feeling of finding another soul that touched mine. Oddly enough, at that same time I found myself suddenly attracted to another. Why? Good question. A very good question, indeed.”

Celestia stood from the table, staring down with a smile at the younger mare. “Thank you for the tea, despite the issues with it. And for the conversation.”

“You’re leaving?” Cadance asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “I have other duties that I must perform. Unless of course you were wanting something from me?”

“I thought you were coming here to deal with my...situation? The one with Shining Armor, and the safety of Canterlot, and trying to find answers.”

Celestia stepped over to the door and paused. “And what makes you think that I haven’t done that?” She smiled. “Have a good day, Cadance.”

She walked out of the room, consigning Cadance to wonder.

* * * * * * *

“Okay, so, you’ve already been through the entire section of Equestria where reports had him going?” Twilight asked.

“Either personally or from reports from my servants, yes. I have it on good account where he was headed, but there is no record of where he went from there,” Luna replied.

Books covered every inch of Twilight’s largest table, stacked three, four, even five high in places, and her nose was down in the one in front of her. Watching as she paced back and forth, the princess kept glancing over at Twilight, each time hoping to see a dramatic revelation. The most dramatic event so far was seeing the mare scratch behind an ear.

“I still say that the library in Canterlot would be a better choice for research,” Luna offered for the fourth time since they began.

Twilight shook her head in short, quick motions. “No. I mean, yes, probably, but...no. Let’s exhaust this avenue before we consider moving on to the next step.” She closed the book in front of her and four more levitated up, her eyes searching for the best choice to proceed. Settling on a medium-sized red volume entitled “Legends of a Foregone Era: A History of Equestria’s Greatest Heroes,” Twilight’s magic began flipping through the pages in rapid succession.

“Are you going to go see your friend today?” Luna asked. “She seemed rather put off by my presence when she stopped by earlier.”

“Rarity will be fine. I’ll go see her later. You say that he was on his way to the western border of ancient Equestria, right?” Twilight asked.

“Yes,” Luna paused, her mind wandering back. “The town was called Baulking. It is gone now--destroyed when a dragon came through and the residents were too stubborn to leave--hence the reason that Celestia and I are so cautious when dealing with them today. Endymion was from there, and he was called back to the town when ponies started to disappear. He went back to find what was taking them and put a stop to it. He did as he promised, because after his return no other pony disappeared--save for him.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Twilight flipped through the pages, scanning them quickly.

“The stories I have heard of him honor him as a brave warrior and stalwart friend. It was his courage that first caught the attention of Selene. A group of wild dogs were rampaging through the land, savagely terrorizing ponies everywhere. Uncouth barbarians with no sense of culture or honor, they came and took what they wanted and left nothing but destruction and pain in their wake. Endymion was there when they came to town. He was young, but wise far beyond his years,” Luna’s voice carried off into the past. “A single pony facing down as many as a dozen wild dogs--the number varies greatly in the records--and he knew the only way to stop them was to turn them against each other. He stood there and worked their egos, refusing to be driven away or goaded into a fight of his own, and found the cracks. When it was said and done he had to fight two of them himself, and came away victorious.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Twilight mumbled from her book.

Luna looked over at Twilight with a proud expression. “Selene watched him through the night, and came to help heal him when it was done. It was sealed that night. She knew that she would be with him, and he was in the arms of a goddess. What more could he ask?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Twilight flipped back a few pages and then immediately back to where she was before.

Luna stared down with a heavy expression. “And then the clown ponies paraded through the sky, raining down massive balls of fire that exploded into great beasts of orange candy that fed the population for decades afterwards.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Twilight muttered quickly.

“I suspected as much,” Luna said as she resumed pacing. “Still, I do not understand where he went. Even if he had died saving the town, or been taken prisoner by others, there would have been evidence. Some sign of his passing in one way or another. This was like he simply fell off the face of Equestria.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Twilight replied. And then her head jerked up dramatically, just in time for Luna to turn her head to notice. “Wait. What did you just say?”

“I was talking about Endymion and his courage. How it caught the attention of Selene, and--” Luna was cut off suddenly.

“Who’s Selene? I’ve seen that name before. Nevermind! At the end. You said that he ‘fell off the face of Equestria,’” Twilight stated.

“Ah, yes, I believe. Why?” Luna asked.

The table rattled as Twilight jumped up, her flank bumping it soundly, as she raced over to scan her shelves once more. “Where is it? Where is it?” Books flew through the air, falling to the side, scattered around the room in an instant as she looked at title after title. Finally, one book hovered in the air in front of her.

“Ah-ha!” The book was already flipping open as she reached her table, setting it down in front of Luna. “This is a book on the legends of magical pools in Equestria. There are stories about every type of magical pool you could imagine, includinggggg...” she flipped through quickly, stopping on a page about two-thirds of the way through the book. Her hoof came down on the page with a thud. “This.”

Moving her head to try to see past the hoof on the page, Luna questioned her, “And what is ‘this,’ exactly?”

“Hmm?” She looked down and saw her hoof covering the text. “Oh! Sorry.” She pulled it back to reveal an illustration of a swirling pool of liquid, a pony staring at the image of a city beyond the water. “This.”

“What is that?” Luna asked. “I’ve not seen this before.”

“Well, that’s because this is a book called ‘A Fillies Guide to Wondrous Worlds.’ It’s, well, a foal’s book. I read it when I was young,” Twilight explained, “but it grabbed my imagination.”

Luna nodded slowly. “And the point of this is what exactly?”

“What if it’s true?” Twilight asked. “I mean, I found out not that long ago that the cloning pool they talk about in here is real. It exists. What if this one does, too?”

“That’s a very far-fetched concept, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna stated. “What makes you think that this is even possible?”

“Look.” She pointed at the picture once again. A directional compass was in the corner of the book, the western arm illuminated. In the background of the drawing a sun was setting. “It’s in the west. That’s where he was, right?”

Luna stared, her eyes narrow. She shook her head once. “It is a straw that you are grasping. There is no proof that he was there, or even that this place exists.”

“But it’s more than we had,” Twilight pleaded. “You were looking for something, Princess. This is something. At least something that we should investigate.”

Luna’s eyes stared at the page in the book, and then made their way over to the unicorn who stared back at her. Something in those eyes said more than the doubt in her heart.

“Very well,” she said. “What do we do next?”

* * * * * * *

“Hello? Hello, darling? Is this thing even on?” Rarity asked, shifting her head back and forth as she stared into the mirror. “Confound this contraption! I should take it back to the merchant and give him a good piece of my mind! Place and play, indeed!”

“Uh, Rarity, what are you doing?” It was a legitimate question. When Spike walked into the room he simply saw the mare standing in front of a mirror, dressed up in one of her sexiest outfits, talking to herself. He didn’t really want to say anything, preferring the idea of just staring at her, but his mouth reacted before his brain told it to shut up.

“Oh, Spike! Thank heavens you are here. I just purchased this magic mirror to record a message for my Trixie, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make it work! Would you be a dear and help me get it functioning?” For added effect, Rarity batted her eyelashes a few times.

Spike rolled his eyes in response. “Sure, get ME to help you talk to your marefriend.”

“If you would, please?” She batted them again. “I just don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here.”

As much as he wanted to be upset, Spike just let out a sigh and moved over towards the mirror. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. I’ve seen Twilight messing with these things a couple of times over at her place. If I remember right, she said that you needed to take the lock off of the thing before you used your magic to activate it. Shame that they only work for unicorns.”

“Well, it is magic, darling,” Rarity explained. “I would love to have a summer home in Cloudsdale, but that isn’t going to happen, either.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Spike grumbled. “Here it is!” A small purple claw reached behind the mirror and pulled off a silver strip of metal, bringing it out to show to Rarity.

“That?” she asked. “I thought it was their attempt at a stylish flare for the back of the device.”

“Nope. It should work now,” Spike answered.

“Excellent! You are such a dear!” Rarity bent down and kissed the baby dragon on his nose. Then she stood there smiling down at him, waiting.

“Uh, were you wanting to be alone for this?” Spike asked as he looked up at the awkwardly smiling mare.

“If it’s no bother,” Rarity said politely.

“Sure,” he grumbled, walking out of the room, “get Spike to help with the mirror and then rush him out of the room when the conversation is about to get good...”

Rarity waited for him to fully exit the room, and then looked at herself in the mirror, checking to make sure that every hair and speck of couture was in place. A quick clear of her throat and she was ready to try again. Her horn sparked to life, and the mirror turned from a shiny reflective surface to a glowing white sheet of magic.

“Darling? I hope you can hear me,” she began. “I don’t know for certain if this thing is working, but I wanted to give it a try. After all, it has been weeks since we have actually seen each other face-to-face. Well, let me get you caught up on my life and all the goings on around here.

“It seems that Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna are involved in some sort of mystery, or at least trying to solve one. The two of them left Ponyville five days ago, heading west, I believe, in search of some ancient legend or something like that. It sounded absolutely dreadful, but I hope that it pulls Twilight completely out of her funk.

“Since her return from her trip to Canterlot she’s been moping around--and worse. I will spare you the sordid details,” Rarity glanced around the room to make sure she was alone, “but suffice it to say that the local brandy merchant will be buying several new dresses from me courtesy of an influx of money.”

She frowned at her own words. “Oh, dear. I feel absolutely horrible having said that. Twilight is a dear, dear friend, and I truly hope that she can get past this infatuation that she has put upon herself. No pony should feel so alone and helpless. It doesn’t help that she is in competition with her own brother, whom she so dearly loves and would do nothing in the world to hurt. And you did NOT hear any of this from me. I am hardly a gossip.”

Straightening herself up, she put on a new smile and continued. “Of course, I have the most confidence that she will find this trip with Princess Luna to be very fulfilling. I know that you have spent a great deal of time with the princess yourself, and can appreciate what she is capable of doing for another mare.

“And speaking of what one mare is able to do for another...” Rarity began prancing around the room, turning carefully to show off her body as she paraded around in her new outfit. “Do you like this, darling? I made it with you in mind. It not only hugs to the contours of my body, but it has these delightful straps that I worked into it that can be pulled together just right so that I am quite immobile.”

Letting the straps fall down, she wiggled them about, revealing their length. “And I do so wish you were here to take full advantage of them, but I know that your schedule keeps you very busy. And I am so proud of you and your success. It is so well deserved. And, of course, it is just an extra feather in my cap to know that I am the marefriend of such a captivating young star. In fact, I think you deserve a reward. A special show of my own for you, darling.”

A strap slipped from Rarity’s shoulder, soon followed by the other, as she began to perform an erotic strip-tease for the mirror, and ultimately her marefriend, The Great and Powerful Trixie.

And from a tiny alcove at the top of the room, a small green and purple dragon watched with a big smile on his face.

“Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!” he whispered.

* * * * * * *

The air was thin, making the climb that much harder for Twilight Sparkle, but she was determined to succeed. And anypony that has ever tried to get in the way of Twilight when she set her mind to something found themselves on the wrong side of an unstoppable force.

Not that knowing that was going to stop Luna. “This seems to be a folly, Twilight Sparkle. We have climbed a mountain to follow a vague rumor.”

“It’s not vague,” she answered, keeping her eyes forward. “The old mare that we talked to said that she had heard of the magic mirror pool and said that it was on Furlong Mountain. This is Furlong Mountain, so the pool has to be here.”

“If the pool exists,” Luna responded.

The goddess glanced down, looking at the long path they had climbed. Furlong Mountain was no small hill, nor was it a lush, lovely location. It was a tall, hard climb, up rock and stone with no clear path. For Luna this was no trouble--the advantage of having wings--but she kept to the path with Twilight, ready to come to the unicorn’s aid should she slip or fall. So far, that hadn’t happened.

“It exists,” Twilight said. “I can feel it. I know it. We just have to find it. We have to have faith.”

“Faith in fantasy tales? That doesn’t seem reasonable,” Luna said.

“No, faith in the ponies of Equestria. That they don’t lie. It’s one thing to tell a story, but it’s very much another to lie to a pony’s face when they are looking for the truth. That old mare wasn’t lying,” she replied.

A smile crept onto Luna’s face, unbidden. “I must admit, it is hard not to feel motivated around you at times.”

Twilight turned around and smiled back at the alicorn. “Well, it’s kind of the same for me. Being around you or Princess Celestia is...well, special.” Her voice lowered as she turned back forward. “Some of my best memories are being with you and the Princess.”

“And we both have fond memories of those times as well,” Luna answered. Twilight froze. “Yes, I heard you. And yes, I know what you are referring to.”

“Y--you think about that time?” she asked softly, standing still.

“I do. As does Celestia. We do not discuss it, but we do think about it.” Twilight heard Luna’s hoof steps come up beside her. “I’m sorry if that time hurts you.”

“W--why did you not come after me?” she asked.

“Because I love Celestia. And because she loves me. It truly is that simple,” Luna answered.

“I thought you loved me,” she whispered. “I thought Cadance did, too.”

“I cannot speak for my niece, but I do have one thing that does keep coming back to me from that time,” Luna turned to look down at Twilight. “Was it myself or Celestia that you found more attractive?”

Twilight snickered. She slowly looked up at the teal eyes staring at her, a smile on both faces. “You are still fixating on that?”

“I am not without my ego,” Luna answered with a laughing tone.

“And I’m still not going to tell you,” Twilight answered lightly.

“Because you are afraid that it will go to my head or because you are afraid of my reaction?” Luna asked.

Twilight turned to her, laughing. “If I answer that, it’s the same as answering the question directly!”

“True,” Luna said, “but I was hoping to sneak it past you.”

Twilight shook her head. “We need to keep going. It can’t be--” She stopped in mid-sentence. “Do you smell that?”

“Smell what?” Luna asked.

“Water,” Twilight answered, her eyes lighting up. “I smell water!”

Raising her nose high, Luna took a deep breath, testing the air. “Yes. Yes, I smell it, too.”

“The mirror pool!” Twilight exclaimed. “It’s got to be nearby!” She spun around, trying to spot the mysterious water. “Fly up!” she instructed Luna. “Fly up and see if you can spot it.”

Huge wings spread wide and carried the alicorn aloft, moving her above and away from the mountainside.

“Can you see anything?” Twilight asked.

“No. There is no sign of water of any sort,” she answered in a loud voice.

“Well, can you still smell any water?” Twilight continued moving up the mountainside, trying to get a better angle to watch Luna.

The alicorn tested the air again, sliding from side to side as she did. “No. No, I cannot.”

“That must mean that the pool is somewhere around heeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrreee...” Luna’s eyes shot to the point where Twilight’s scream originated, seeing no sign of the unicorn.

“TWILIGHT!” In a flash, Luna swooped down, finding a large hole in the ground through which the mare had fallen. Without pause she moved inside, having to fold her wings down to fit through the narrow opening, but that was short lived as the space opened into a large cavern quickly. The darkness of the cavern held no mysteries for the goddess of the night, and she glanced around looking for her missing companion. “Twilight?”

“Over here,” the voice came from deeper into the cavern. Luna landed and moved towards it carefully, seeing a purple, shimmering glow emanating from her destination.

As she rounded the corner, Luna felt her breath catch. Twilight stood there, her horn illuminating the space with its magical glow. The light caught and refracted in a giant pool of water, at least thirty feet across, that shimmered and shined in the cavern.

The pool stood against the wall of the chamber--vertically.

“Look at it!” Twilight gasped. “This is it! It has to be!”

“It is certainly something,” Luna stepped up beside Twilight. “Are you well? Did the fall hurt you?”

“No, no. I’m fine,” Twilight’s eyes pulsed as she stared forward. “Isn’t this amazing? It’s beautiful.”

Standing there, Luna found herself dumbstruck. “You were right.”

Twilight turned to look at the alicorn, her face pulled back in a huge smile. “Maybe. We found a pool, but we don’t know if it’s the right pool.”

“And how do you propose we find out if it is the right one?” Luna asked.

“Easy. I go through,” Twilight answered.

“What?!” Luna spun around to stare at the mare. “No! Absolutely not! I forbid it!”

“It’s the only way to know, Princess. And besides, you’ll be here if something goes wrong. You are probably the second most powerful being in all of Equestria, so there is not going to be a better opportunity,” Twilight explained.

The dancing purple light caused Luna’s black coat to seem more rich and lush, even as she stepped back and forth across the front of the pool. “I don’t like it.”

“But you didn’t say no that time,” Twilight said hopefully.

“No, I did not,” Luna said reluctantly, “but that doesn’t mean I have said yes, either.”

“Princess, you’ve got to let me go!” Twilight pleaded. “Think of what we could learn. This might be the most amazing opportunity either of us has ever had. Please?”

Stopping at the edge of the pool, Luna stared into the water, looking to find an answer, but seeing only shifting reflections.

“I do not want you gone long,” Luna said. “This is not a trip, it is a test. Understood?”

“I promise,” Twilight said, her voice rising in excitement. “I’ll just go through, take a quick look around, and then come right back out.”

“Do not do anything foolish, Twilight Sparkle. Celestia would have my hide if I harmed her prized pupil,” she said.

“I won’t! This is going to be a simple trip,” Twilight stated.

A stoic expression confronted Twilight as Luna turned to look directly at her. “Are you sure about this? Absolutely sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything!” Confidence echoed in her words. “Please? I want to do this. Please let me go.”

“Very well, then,” Luna took a deep breath and exhaled. “Proceed.”

“Oh, thank you, Princess!” Twilight bounced slightly as she replied. “I promise to be extra safe!”

Luna’s expression softened. “Make sure you do, Twilight. I do not want you hurt.”

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’m about the safest pony I know!” Twilight quickly began to sort through her bags, taking out items and leaving them on the floor of the cavern.

“What are you doing?” Luna asked.

“Making space. I want to take what I would need--paper, pen, things like that to take notes--but I don’t want to have too much on me, just in case size and weight matter,” she said.

“You are starting to worry me again,” Luna said.

“Well, stop, because I’m done and ready to go!” Twilight looked over at Luna with a huge smile on her face. “Wish me luck!”

And with that, Twilight Sparkle stepped into the magical pool and disappeared.

“Good luck, Twilight,” Luna answered, her voice somber in the darkness.

...to be continued.