It was late at night in Ponyville, but the windows of the Library still glowed brightly. Inside, Twilight Sparkle sat before a huge book open on a lectern, her brow creased as she read.

Flipping to the next page of ‘Monarchs of Equestria, Revised’ she began reading aloud. “Five years after the imprisonment of Nightmare Moon, Her Immortal Majesty Princess Celestia, High Queen of Equestria, Duchess of Canterlot, Solar Diarch, etc., took on a unicorn apprentice by the name of Amber Dawn, who was immensely talented with magic. Specifically, Amber Dawn had the unusual ability to manipulate the instincts of others, which was thought to be unique until Princess Mi Amore Cadenza revealed her talents with love in contemporary times. Amber Dawn quickly earned herself the rank of Princess under Celestia's guidance, along with a corresponding transformation into the glorious alicorn master race.” Twilight made a gagging sound, though she knew well this sort of racism was all too common among the wealthy scholar class of unicorns in Canterlot. “Princess Amber was assigned to rule over West Equestria and was granted the Duchy of Los Pegasus. However, she soon turned her magic to unholy uses by enslaving her pony subjects via their own...sexual desires?!” Twilight squinted at the last two words.

“Ugh, why did Celestia send you this book as a birthday present?” Spike complained as he swept the library floor. “This one's a contender for driest read yet!”

“Princess Celestia said this book would give me some perspective on my new role as Princess,” Twilight answered as she levitated her tea (Earl Grey) and then took a sip. “She mentioned there was a section that explained her reasoning on her standards for earning the title. I think this might be it, though it sounds like she may have rushed it with this 'Amber Dawn.'”

“Okay… so what happened next?”

Suppressing a brief twinge of guilt at questioning one of Celesta’s decisions, Twilight turned back to the book. “Amber Dawn led a Civil War to overthrow Celestia, but was defeated when Her Majesty used the Elements of Harmony to dispel her magic and break her horn. She was banished from Equestria for one thousand years... what, again?! What's with evil ponies and being banished for one thousand years!?! It's like the Elements have a time limit or something!” She sighed and continued reading. “Amber Dawn was never heard from again, but was rumored to be traveling across lands far to the east of Equestria. It is also said, but not confirmed, that Celestia mourned the betrayal and banishment of her prized student for ten years.”

“Ten years... jeez,” was Spike's reaction. He was just finishing the sweeping and was moving on to preparing dinner. “Though I suppose it makes sense. If you did something like that I'm sure the Princess would be very sad.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow at Spike, causing him to cringe at his remark before she chuckled. “Yes, that's probably what would happen in that hypothetical situation.”

As Spike went to fix up dinner she closed the book and set it aside with another sigh. It took so long for me to admit my feelings for Celestia, and when I did she was very hesitant about opening up to me. I thought I understood all the reasons for that. She took another sip of tea. Student-teacher relationships have always been considered scandalous; romance outside of marriage is probably not a good idea for monarchs, and she is a lot older than me. But... I think... yes, this has to be the real reason why. Celestia is a very accommodating princess, but she still makes her own rules about her life. No, it had to be that her prized pupil and first co-ruler after Luna tried to usurp her. That must have torn her apart! And it couldn't have helped that Sunset Shimmer went down the same sort of path before even finishing her studies--

“Twilight, dinner's ready!”

“I'll be right there!” Twilight stood up and levitated her tea tray as she walked to the kitchen. First chance I get, I want... I need to have a long chat with Celestia.

---

In the dark of night, the Sun Princess slept soundly in her chambers in the castle of Canterlot. She lay on her side, breathing deeply, relaxed as she so rarely was during daylight hours. As the moonlight washed over her, her hooves started to twitch, her breath coming faster as her eyes moved under closed lids. A gasp escaped her and her rear legs quivered, her hips moving sensually as if in response to some unseen lover.

Bathed in candlelight in her dream, Celestia moaned on her velvet sheets, the wonderfully skilled mouth between her thighs coaxing pleasure from her with every lick and suck. She trembled and cried out, feeling deliciously helpless as what promised to be a tremendous orgasm built within her. Just as she was nearing her peak she heard a familiar voice.

"Give it to me, Celestia," her lover cooed between flicks of her tongue at the princess' folds. "Give me... everything..."

With a start, Celestia recognized the voice - one from far in her past. The urgent demand both frightened and excited her, and she hesitated, torn between confrontation and capitulation. With a trembling voice she finally whispered, "...Amber?"

The gentle question earned a sudden hiss from between her legs. Celestia raised her head just in time to see the alicorn crouching at the foot of her bed grow rows of needle teeth. The creature reared back briefly, then darted in to sink her fangs deep into Celestia's mound, a blossom of blood spreading quickly as searing pain invaded her.

Celestia gasped as she thrashed herself awake, her flanks heaving, her coat soaked in sweat. Her loins ached with a terrible mix of pain and unspent passion, and tears fell down her face as old memories spilled into her thoughts to tangle chaotically with the vision from her nightmare.

"Please, no," she whispered to herself as she shivered alone on her bed. "Please let it be just a dream...."