Moonstone 17 - “Putting the hoof down.”

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It was the waiting that was the worst. Fleur absolutely hated coming home to an empty house, with nothing but toys and dirty thoughts to keep her company. When she wasn't handling business matters, she day dreamed of Luna waiting for her inside of her home, ready to welcome her home with a collar and a riding crop. Yet silence was her only companion when she pushed open her front door at the end of the day.

'Wednesday can't come soon enough.'

Wednesday finally did arrive though, and Fleur was shaking with excitement. She went all out as she prepared for her lunch date with the Princess; a new eye shadow gave her eyes a sultry, half-lidded look, while extra styling touches added even more depth to her mane and left her luxurious tail flowing down her haunches like a waterfall.

’Luna would have to be mad if she didn’t jump on me the second she sees me.’ Fleur turned about, admiring herself in the mirror. She was halfway to the door when she remembered that the weather forecast called for abnormally chilly temperatures today. She was about to turn to her coat closet when a devious thought struck her and Fleur turned instead to her seldom-used scarf rack, picking out a black, satiny piece.

She brought it back to the mirror, a warm smile crossing her lips as she tied it around her neck. 'And she certainly won't be able to resist me when I take this off...'

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Fleur smiled at the guards as she quickly entered the castle, thankful to be out of the very unseasonably cold weather. She made her way to Luna’s room with haste, lest anyone stop to question why she was wearing a scarf inside the warm walls of the castle. She even opted to use the back halls, avoiding anypony who might be visiting. None of the hoofservants or wait staff stopped or questioned her; if anything, she was a welcome sight to them. Some even greeted her by name, and she was beginning to get to know theirs.

Fleur arrived outside of Luna's door at twelve-thirty, exactly on time. She was about to knock when the door suddenly opened in front of her. A field of magic enveloped her immediately and pulled her inside the room; the door had barely slammed behind her before Luna swept her into a passionate kiss.

’Oh how I missed this,’ Fleur sighed happily as she returned Luna’s eager advances. ’I don’t care if it’s only been three days; it feels like it’s been a year.’

“Fleur,” Luna panted as she pulled away from the kiss, looking down at her with her own half-lidded, lusty eyes. “I saw you coming across the lawn… By the heavens, you looked incredible.”

“I thought you’d like it, mistress.” Fleur chuckled, leaning in to kiss Luna’s neck. Luna shuddered, but placed her hooves on Fleur’s chest, gingerly pushing her away.

“Mistress? Fleur, we’re not in the middle of a session…” Luna frowned down at her.

“Aren’t we?” Fleur’s horn glowed as she slowly, teasingly unwound her scarf. Luna’s eyes went wide when she saw the collar beneath the satiny fabric, and Fleur winked at her. "Is my mistress surprised? Is she pleased with her pet's gift?"

"Yes, very pleased, indeed. The surprise is most welcome," Luna swallowed, her throat pulsing visibly. “I, just, uh… Had other plans for tonight.”

“Oh?” Fleur felt slightly crestfallen, if a touch curious. “What did you have planned?”

“I don’t know,” Luna shrugged, rubbing the back of her neck. Seeing the princess act so shy and uncertain was rather uncharacteristic. Fleur could feel the first twinges of concern bubbling up in her chest already. “I thought we could just have lunch and… Chat…”

“That’s fine, I suppose…” Fleur mused. “Would you like me to take this off…?”

“Could you?” Luna glanced side-to-side, blushing a little. “I don’t want to, aah… Blur the lines, as it were.”

“As you wish.” Fleur removed her collar with a sigh, passing it off to Luna smoothly. Luna hovered it across the room to her bedside table, and set it down. 'Hopefully for later use...' Fleur thought.

As Luna beckoned her over to the comfortable den chairs, she found herself getting excited at the prospect of spending some alone time with Luna, out from in-between the sheets, with a glass of wine in-hoof. It had been quite some time since they last talked about music, or books, or Fleur’s social obligations, 'Or really anything normal...' she added in her mind.

In retrospect, Fleur could hardly remember the last time they had been together outside of a session, just getting to know one another. She loved Luna fiercely, but growing closer to her as a partner rather than a lover had taken the back seat in favor of bedroom dalliances. 'Or three day BDSM conventions.

Yet Canterlot had continued to be its usual busy self in her absence, and there was plenty of juicy gossip to catch up on. That was all she had been doing the past few days, if she were being perfectly honest with herself. What would start as a lunch date to arrange a charity ball would devolve into story-swapping and gossip-telling. An official appointment to hash out the details about this year’s Grand Galloping Gala quickly turned into a detailed dissection of Sapphire Shore’s latest performance…

Luna, as busy as she claimed to be, was probably out of the loop. Not that long ago, when the two of them had simply been friends, Luna would spend entire evenings listening to stories about Fleur’s escapades in the social spotlight. Many of their nights spent together before the collar was introduced were spent with Luna listening to Fleur tell stories about one socialite or another.

But Luna seemed slightly off that night, and Fleur picked up on it immediately. From her immediate disinclination to engage in a session to the way she said the word ‘chat,’ Fleur could tell that something was on Luna's mind.

“Luna,” She asked cautiously. “Is everything okay?”

“Hmm? O-of course.” Luna waved her off with a dismissive smile. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“No particular reason, you just seem a little different is all.” Fleur curled up atop the chaise lounge opposite Luna’s favorite couch. The princess smoothly poured them both a glass of wine, which she took graciously.

“Perhaps I’m tired,” Luna shrugged, cradling her wine with a pensive look. “It’s been a hectic few days to say the least. It turns out my presence was actually heavily required in the fallout of the changeling’s attack.”

“I thought Princess Celestia said she’d be fine without you?” Fleur arched an eyebrow. “Was she mistaken?”

“By quite a bit.” Luna nodded. She seemed to mutter something under her breath, but Fleur didn’t quite catch it. Just as she was about to call attention to it, Luna beamed at her. “Nothing major, mind you… But I suppose I was needed here more than I was needed in Trottingham.”

A pang of guilt flashed through Fleur immediately. “You don’t regret it, do you? The expo, I mean…”

“No, not at all!” Luna said immediately, frowning at Fleur. “Those were the best three days of my life! And I do mean that, Fleur. In all my years, I’ve never enjoyed myself as much as I did with you.” She slid off of the couch and joined Fleur on hers, curling warmly up against Fleur’s back. “I wouldn’t trade those three days for the world.”

“That’s good to hear.” Fleur melted back into Luna’s embrace, sighing contentedly. Being close to Luna like this might not quench the rampaging fire in her gut, but it did take the edge off her arousal, replacing it with a warm, soothing feeling; a feeling of real contentment.

’If I had to do this instead of getting fucked in the most imaginative ways possible, I wouldn't be upset at all...’ Fleur mused, closing her eyes as she laid her head against Luna’s foreleg. ’The whips and chains and strapons… Those things are nice, but this… This right here is what matters most.’ She heaved a sigh, nuzzling into Luna’s soft coat.

“I like this.” She whispered softly.

“As do I.” Luna nodded her acquiescence, leaning in to kiss Fleur’s cheek softly. “Almost as much as the collar…”

“Almost?” Fleur teased, sparing one eye to glance teasingly up at Luna.

“Almost.” Luna nodded. “But I’ll tell you what I do like the most…”

“Oh, do tell.” Fleur purred, rolling onto her back so she could look up at Luna properly.

“This.” Luna leaned in, pressing her lips sweetly against Fleur’s. The sudden and tender display took her by surprise. Most of their kisses were lusty, and filled with equal parts tongue and saliva. But this one was slow and tender, as if it were wrapped in velvet. Fleur closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose, savoring the sensation of Luna’s lips against hers, of the gentle way their bodies curved together.

Much to Fleur’s surprise, the arousal she felt began to die down. It ebbed bit by bit until it was completely gone, replaced instead by a different feeling, one of real warmth and happiness. When Luna broke the kiss, Fleur was ready not for a night of debauched passion, but one of quiet, friendly conversation with the most important pony in her life. She lifted her wine glass, clinking it against Luna’s gently.

“Cheers.”

“Down the hatch.” They took a sip together, and proceeded to spend the rest of the day (and a good portion of the night) chatting wonderfully. When the wine was weighing heavily and the chat had died down to nothing more than simple ‘hmm’s’ and ‘yeahs’, Luna gingerly lifted Fleur and carried her to the wide bed. They stretched out together, too tired to even say good night.

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The morning came sooner than Fleur would have liked. ’Then again, nothing saying we can’t spend the whole morning like this, either…’ She rolled over to kiss Luna, only to find she was alone.

“Oh man…” Fleur sighed. “I was really looking forward to a wake-up kiss…” She sighed softly, stretching languorously atop the rumpled sheets. A quick survey of the room revealed Luna was absent, or perhaps elsewhere in her quarters. It was too early even for Luna to be downstairs in one of the 'equipment rooms', so Fleur headed for the opulent upstairs bathroom first. ’Two birds with one stone… And if she’s in the shower, it very well could be three…’

Much to her dismay, however, she found the bathroom empty as well. Still, she had her own morning tasks to attend to. After handling her business and washing up, she returned to the still empty bedroom. She was about to pick up a book on one of the tables when a slight metallic glimmer caught her eye. She paused and looked warmly at the collar that still rested on the bedside table.

’I could surprise her… Be all trussed up and ready for her when she returns…’ Fleur slowly crossed the floor to the nightstand, surveying the collar intently. ’How long have we been doing this, I wonder? I lost track of the time… It feels like years, but it’s really only been about four months, hasn’t it?’ She sighed and ran a hoof over the collar, feeling the soft leather and the hard steel ring.

'I do so love being Luna's sub, and we've done so much together. And if she truly gets her pleasure through my own, then I dare say she's been enjoying all of this.' Fleur lifted the collar up, turning it in a slow circle. A frown crossed her face then, mirroring her suddenly-dark thoughts.

’But is that all there is to us? A few dozen orgasms and a couple hundred thousand bits worth of sex toys? Or is there something greater here? Something more meaningful?’

Slowly, Fleur set the collar down and moved to the nearest table. ’Of course there is. We love each other, and that love means more to us than whips and chains.’ She found a book she hadn’t quite read yet by a beloved author, and smiled warmly. A day spent reading would be just as good for her as a day spent tied up and molested in imaginative ways. Fleur retrieved the bottle of wine and curled up on the chaise lounge, pouring herself a hearty glass as she flipped the book open.

’I’ll just wait here for Luna. She’s probably handling something important, and I don’t have any appointments until this weekend anyways. I have the rest of today and tomorrow to be with her, should she so choose.’ As Fleur got into the book, she did so with a smile. ’I could get used to waiting for Luna.’

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If only waiting didn’t take well into that night. Fleur had finished both the book and the bottle of wine shortly after three. Yet after eating lunch, showering, reading another book, and waiting an hour after all of that, Luna still hadn't returned - and Fleur was getting worried. Rather than go and search for her – a fruitless effort, she had learned from experience – Fleur decided to sleep.

Her dreams were troubled and she tossed and turned most of the early night. The clock in the room had just struck midnight when Luna slipped back into the room. Fleur roused from her sleep with a start, as if she were still half-dreaming. Luna smiled at her, closing the door and padding slowly across the room. Fleur tossed the blankets aside and dashed across the room, throwing herself into Luna’s embrace.

“You had me so worried,” Fleur breathed with relief as Luna hugged her back, stroking her mane tenderly. “I didn’t get a note or anything from you.”

“I know, Fleur, and I’m sorry.” Luna continued stroking her mane, even as Fleur struggled to calm her frayed nerves. “I should have sent a messenger to tell you… And I’m afraid I don’t have much time even now.”

“Why? What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Fleur sniffled and looked up at Luna, her eyes wide.

Luna hesitated for a moment, as if she was trying to decide what to say. “It's... It's nothing, Fleur. Nothing’s wrong. I’m just going to be busy for a while. I’m sorry I can’t spend time with you as I’d promised, but this is important, and could very well impact Equestria as a whole.”

“What is it?” Fleur stepped back, her brow drawn curiously. “I don’t suppose it’s anything I could help with?”

“I’m afraid not,” Luna shook her head once more. “It’s an extremely complex matter of magic… You probably don’t know anything about the Crystal Kingdom, do you?”

“The Crystal Kingdom?” Fleur shook her head. “No, I don’t… What is it?”

“Don’t worry about it for now, Fleur.” Luna smiled and patted her head patronizingly. “You can go back to sleep if you’d like, but chances are I’ll be busy up until this weekend.”

“Oh.” Fleur felt her hopes fall as Luna turned towards the door. “Okay.”

“I’m sorry, Fleur, I really am.” Luna called over her shoulder. “You can stay here or go home, but I’m afraid I won’t be around.”

“Could you please just tell me what’s going on?” Fleur choked, feeling tears well up behind her eyes. Luna paused at the door, her hoof on the latch. Fleur looked after her mistress and lover, praying that she’d turn around and at least tell Fleur what was happening, what might possibly going on that was so important.

Instead, Luna opened the door and left, leaving Fleur in tears.

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She wasn’t even sure how it was she got home. She remembered something about putting on her scarf and summoning a member of the guard but after that it was all a blur. Fleur found herself on the front drive of her home, muttering a half-hearted ‘thanks’ to the guard who had escorted her. It seemed to take nearly all of strength to even open the front door. She tried to take another step forward when the damn inside of her broke, and she collapsed on the spot.

The tears came fast and free, and she curled up on the threshold for a good long cry. She sniffled and sobbed until there was a small puddle underneath her head, and her eyes couldn’t possibly be any puffier than they were. Miserably, Fleur dragged herself up to her bedroom and removed her makeup before curling up on her bed. She wanted to cry again, but she had no more tears left to shed. She could only lay on her bed motionless, save for her shallow, uneven breaths.

’All that we've been through together, and she just dismisses me like an unwanted guest. How could she be so cold... Doesn't Luna know I'm worried about her? About us?’ Questions that she could not answer plagued Fleur's exhausted mind through the night. Unable to sleep, she lay on her bed, red-rimmed eyes staring blankly at the square of moonlight sliding across the floor through the night. Fleur seemed to blur again, and only the slow brightening of the sky outside broke her trance of utter despair.

’It feels like I’m losing my sanity.’ Fleur sat up in her bed as the clock read seven in the morning, trudging blearily towards the bathroom. She cranked the water on cold, turning her face up into the chilly stream. She felt her mane and tail mat down with water, clinging to her body like a cocktail dress caught in a rainstorm. She leaned back against the wall of the shower with a thud as more tears joined the ice-cold water that trickled down her face.

’Come on girl, think... There has to be a reason why she won't tell you anything. Maybe it really was some super-important matter of national security, or maybe she couldn’t risk me blabbing about it to my fellow socialites. I suppose I can’t blame her for playing her cards close to her chest around me, but she can trust me to not speak about it. I know how to keep a secret just as well as anypony. By the stars, I’ve kept the two of us a secret for this long…’ Fleur wiped the tears and water from her eyes, looking at the tile wall with a new-found sense of determination.

’Luna may be a princess, but she can’t just blow me off like that. I won’t allow it. She’s not Fancy Pants, and I’m not some vulnerable little housemare anymore.’ She cranked the water off and gripped her towel like it was a weapon; a spear with which to slay whatever it was that had seemingly convinced Luna to shut her out.

’I'm her sub, but I'm more than just a plaything, and I'm in it for way more than orgasms and the smell of fresh leather...

I'm in it for Luna... Because I love her.’

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Fleur stormed up the drive to the castle, her eyes narrowed and hard. She was on a mission, and nothing would stop her, including the pair of guards at the main gate, who looked a bit surprised at her quick approach. Thankfully, their sense of familiarity with Fleur's presence won out, and they stayed put. Fleur gave them a stoic nod as she stomped past, intent on Luna’s quarters.

“Good morning, Fleur! It’s good to see-“

“Good morning, Featherduster.” Fleur clipped the hoofservant off quickly, brushing past with a wake of anger and indignation. She bounded up the staircase two steps at a time, forcing a few other servants to jump out of her way.

She alighted on the third floor came to a skidding halt in front of two more guards, who crossed their spears to block the path ahead. Her eyes widened in surprise before quickly lowering into a glare as she stared at the pair of stallions in front of her.

“Please move.”

“We’re unable to do that, Ma’am. Please turn around and leave.”

“I’m here to see Princess Luna; it’s very urgent.” Fleur lifted her stance as she spoke, a mixture of pride and anger welling behind her expression.

“Do you have an appointment, or is it official business?”

"Oh, trust me, what I need to see the Princess about is definitely not official," her eyes narrowed as she stared daggers at the guard. "... And I most certainly do not have or need an appointment." An old saying came to Fleur just then, and she glared at the guard who posed the question. ’Tartarus hath no fury like a mare scorned.’

“Well, important as it is, I’m afraid it’s going to have to wait.” The guard gestured back the way she had came with a serious look. “Please leave before we’re forced to remove you, ma’am.” Fleur was about to open her mouth to reply when the door to Luna’s quarters opened. Luna and several guardponies left her quarters, talking in hushed tones about something important.

The two guards in front of Fleur turned to see what was going on, and she seized the opportunity to move.

“Luna!” She cried out, roughly shouldering past the guards.

“Hey!”

“Stop!” Both guards immediately barred her way with the shafts of their spears, holding her in an iron grip. She struggled against it, calling out to her love once more.

“LUNA!”

”RELEASE HER.” The Royal Canterlot Voice boomed through the hall, causing all of them to scoot across the lush carpet a few inches. Fleur watched with a bit of reverence as Luna approached, her mane and tail whipping behind her. She stopped in front of the trio and stared them down, her horn and eyes glowing ominously.

After a few seconds, Fleur felt the two spears uncross in front of her chest, and she immediately brushed past the guards towards the still-glowing princess. Luna looked as intimidating and powerful as she had ever been, but Fleur could care less.

“You’ve got some fucking nerve.” Fleur growled at Luna, harnessing the anger and indignation that had been stewing inside of her for hours. “Brushing me aside like that.”

“Trust me, Fleur.” Luna’s horn and eyes both stopped glowing, and her mane slowly wafted down around her neck once more. “I wish I could have told you-“

“But you can!” Fleur nearly screamed at her. She stomped forward, stopping less than a foot in front of Luna before glaring up at her. "What could possibly be stopping you, huh?! You command the moon and the stars, so what in the name of Equestria could keep you from telling your friend what's on your damn mind?!"

“Fleur, I-“ Luna glanced around at the guards watching them. “Can we discuss this later? Please?”

“No.” Fleur stomped one of her hooves. “We’re going to discuss this now, Princess.” At that, Luna’s eyes went wide. Fleur hadn’t called her by her title since they had become friends. That, and the stone-like set to Fleur’s face gave even the all-mighty princess pause. Luna looked at Fleur, and Fleur met her gaze confidently. They stared at one another for a few long moments before Luna slowly hung her head.

“Come inside, Fleur.”

“Thank you.” Fleur brushed past Luna with a flick of her tail, shooting a glare at the guards who seemed to be dumbstruck that anypony that wasn’t Celestia would dare to stand up to Luna like that. Luna was close on her tail, and she heard the princess mutter a few words to the guards.

“I’ll be with you in a few moments, Captain.”

“Understood, Princess. Take as much time as you’d like.” The guards saluted and turned, leaving Luna and Fleur alone on the threshold to her quarters. Luna shut her door and turned to Fleur with a serious look.

“Fleur, this is a matter of Equestrian security. I can’t-“

“I’m not some plaything for you, Luna.” Fleur cut her off, lifting a hoof to force Luna’s eyes to meet her own. “I’m not in it for the orgasms, and if the words you spoke to me on the train are even close to the truth, I suspect that you aren't either. I don’t take kindly to being brushed off like that, especially when I had been waiting for you all day.”

Fleur released Luna’s chin, but held her eyes in an iron gaze. “The night before last was incredible, Luna. We don’t have to fuck each other silly each time we're together. In fact, I think it’d get old before long.” Fleur felt a tear leak out of her eye, dripping down her muzzle to the floor.

“I’m not just your sub, Luna…” Fleur lifted a hoof, cupping Luna’s cheek softly. “I’m your lover… Your friend… Your confidant.” The tears came freely then, flowing down her face. “I have trusted you with everything I have - my body, my heart, even my very soul. Can you not trust me with even your thoughts?”

“Fleur…” Luna’s eyes had shifted from the hard cast of a Princess into something else. As Fleur watched, Luna shed a few tears of her own, her lip trembling. “I… I don’t know what to say, you… I…” Luna shuddered as she broke down, pulling Fleur into a passionate hug. “I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

“It’s okay, Luna.” Fleur stroked Luna’s mane, burying her face into the mysterious, ephemeral strands. “I forgive you. Shh, shh, it’s okay…”

“I’m so sorry, Fleur.” Luna whimpered. They stayed like that for a while before Luna composed herself. When she pulled away, her eyes were red but she looked okay otherwise. “I… There’s a lot to discuss… About us, and about our future. Would you allow me to go have a meeting with the guard, to discuss this matter about the Crystal Kingdom, and we can talk later tonight?”

“I don’t like it,” Fleur frowned at Luna, but nodded nevertheless. “But okay. Go and have your meeting, Luna. I’ll be waiting for you here. And I expect an explanation when you return.”

“Understood.” Luna nodded, pulling away slowly. “I promise you, I’ll answer any questions you have, and tell you why I did what I did last night.”

“Good.” Fleur nodded, pointing to the door. “Now go. Save Equestria. I love you, Luna. I really do.”

“And I love you, Fleur.” Luna stepped forth for a gentle kiss. Fleur indulged her, but pulled away after a brief moment. Luna smiled in a way that said ‘I get it’ and turned to leave. Fleur watched her go, waiting until the door was closed. As soon as she heard the latch click, she collapsed.

“Fuck me,” She muttered, quivering on the floor. “I just stood up to a Princess and survived…”

When she regained control of her muscles, Fleur curled up on the couch and stared into the crackling flames of the fireplace. The collar sat on the cushion next to her, and she idly stroked it with a hoof.

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“Fleur,” Luna smiled when she entered her room. “I’m glad you stayed.”

“Welcome back.” Despite her indignation, Fleur smiled at Luna. “I trust everything went well?”

“Surprisingly enough,” Luna sighed. “Everything turned out for the better. It seems Celestia’s student is a lot more resourceful than I’d given her credit for.”

“Twilight Sparkle?” Fleur arched her eyebrow. “What does she have to do with this?”

“I’ll explain it later. For now, though…” Luna’s eyes took on that familiar half-lidded cast. She strutted across the carpet, her horn glowing as she grasped the collar. “It’s been a long week, my little pet… Put this on.”

“What? No.” Fleur blinked at Luna, and the collar hovering open in front of her neck. “I have a serious issue here, Luna. You promised that we’d talk about this when you returned.”

“Oh I know, and we will talk.” Luna licked her lips as she continued to advance, pressing her hooves on either side of Fleur. She loomed up in Fleur’s vision, and the collar began to wind its way around her throat. “But first, I need to blow off some steam.”

“Luna,” Fleur swallowed, feeling the leather press into her throat. Despite her anger, Fleur felt the fires of arousal leap to life. She knew this mood that Luna was in; she was intimately familiar with it. And, given the past week of inactivity, she could certainly go for a spot of sex… In her mind's eye, she could almost see the argument inside of her head; her basic urges and her sense of logic wooing her like a pair of carnival barkers.

’But if I let her do this now, I know I’m going to forget why I’m angry.

… But it’ll be so good. Just a quickie.

Not with Luna. It’s never a quickie. Hasn’t been for months.

Come on, just let loose for a little while. You’ll remember what it is afterwards…’

“Luna,” Fleur complained weakly, feeling her cheeks heat up. “No. Please.”

“You’ve told me no plenty of times before.” Luna pressed her lips to Fleur’s horn, robbing her legs of all their strength. “I’ve made you scream it… Besides, your mistress really wants, no, needs this..."

“Luna,” Fleur panted. “Please, not now…”

“Not now?” Luna flicked her tongue across the tip of Fleur’s horn, sending a shock through her system. Fleur gasped, shuddering on the couch. "Are you sure you can wait that long, because I know that I can't."

'Damn, what is with her? It's like she's possessed; like if I don't let her take me now, she'll go crazy.'

“Come on,” Luna’s horn lit up as she grasped Fleur, picking her up off the couch. She turned towards the lift and the basement.

"Luna... I said not now!" Fleur began squirming in Luna's magical grasp, a sense of worry and even fear beginning to well up inside of her. "Luna, put me down!"

"No, my pet. You may get to push your luck and argue with your Princess, but you do not get to argue with your mistress." Luna growled, licking her lips.

Fleur began flailing in the air, lashing out at Luna to try and break her grasp. "I... Said... No! Stop this, Luna!"

Luna swung Fleur around in the air until she hovered in front of her. Fleur stared directly into her lover's eyes, and for a split-second, she saw the mask of Luna the mistress slip. That, more than anything, cowed her into silence. "Fleur, do not fight me, please. If you truly love me, then I command... No, I beg of you - do not deny me this one last time."

'One last time? What in Tarturus is she talk–' Fleur's heart froze mid-beat as the pieces all clicked together at once.

'Dismissing me randomly, patronizing me at every turn, ignoring my questions entirely...'

The final piece fell into place, and her frozen heart shattered like crystal underneath a hammer.

'...And now one last fuck before the end. Just like Fancy Pants.'

Fleur's mind was melting faster by the second, her body was unsure whether to scream in agony, fright, rage, or some twisted combination of all three. It was then that the primal side of her brain cut through the malaise and spurred her to act.

It was the only defense she had left. and one she thought she'd never have to use. Yet in that moment, it was all that stood between her and oblivion.

"Moonstone."

The two of them froze. Luna held her above the floor, her eyes wide and her body rigid. Fleur looked at her, her own eyes wide in disbelief.

“Wh– What did you just say?” Luna asked, her voice quaking with shock and fear.

“Moonstone.” Fleur said it again, with more conviction. Luna again looked into her violet eyes, her expression still stuck between disbelief and pure fear. Fleur stared back, her expression set in stone. “Moonstone, Luna. Put me down, and take the collar off.”

“You… You don’t want this?”

“Not right now.” Fleur writhed mid-air, and Luna set her down. When Fleur was back on her hooves, she stripped the collar off. “Not until you answer my questions, okay?” She buckled the collar, hovering it in front of Luna. “Take this, and we’re going to talk.”

“Fleur…” Luna looked at her pleadingly. “I… Please, I’ve had a terrible week. I want to tell you why, and I will, but please… Can we just-“

“NO!” Fleur swiped her hoof across the space before Luna’s face, batting the collar aside. The steel ring clacked against the floor as it flew across the den, landing at the foot of a book shelf. “I already told you, Luna. Moonstone. We’re not doing anything until you answer me.”

“… Okay, Fleur.” Luna sighed, lowering herself to her haunches. “Let’s talk.”

“Listen to me, Luna.” Fleur stared Luna in her eyes. “I’m not just your sub, as I told you earlier today. I’m not some chew toy for you to have your fun with and then leave in the dark. You can talk to me, Luna. "Vent! Open up!" Fleur gestured towards Luna as she continued. "You've shared your body with me so many times. Is it too much to ask that you share your thoughts as well?! Tell me how your day went; tell me what problems you’re facing. I can't raise the moon, but who knows, I might just be able to help you.” Fleur laid a hoof on her breast, the tears welling up once more.

“Fancy Pants ignored me. He blew me off and went to go sleep with other mares. I know you’re not cheating on me, but heavens help me, Luna, don’t ignore me. Please.” She sobbed as two tears traced down her cheeks. “Talk to me.”

“Fleur…” Luna looked down at her, eyes wide in disbelief. “I… I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes, rubbing the bridge of her muzzle. “It’s been such a hectic damn week, and I… I’ve been so stressed. I thought that-“

“WHY?!” Fleur shouted at her. “Why has your week been so bad?! What’s going on with you, Luna? Ever since the expo, you’ve been so… So… COLD!”

Luna looked at her, and Fleur looked at Luna. They stared into one another’s teary eyes for a few long moments before Luna slowly drew a breath.

“My sister wants me to leave you.”

If the first hammer blow shattered her heart, the second blow turned the pieces into nothing more than dust. She stood in place in a near catatonic state, oblivious to the stream of tears that flowed freely down her face.

“She knows that the closer either of us grow to anypony, the more it’s going to hurt us when… Well, when they die. And that hurt, along with the rage, sorrow, and guilt that comes with it, is sometimes too much for either of us to bear, even with the help of the other. And as we both know,” Luna glanced out of the nearby window at the moon hanging low in the sky. "I have not been successful at controlling such emotions in the past."

Fleur shook on the carpet, tears streaming down her face to fall to the floor, leaving dark marks. She grit her teeth hard enough to hurt, and each breath ached in her chest. She controlled herself long enough to choke a few words.

"I see... I– I'll leave you be then..." Somehow, someway, Fleur's body obeyed her weak commands to move, and she began shuffling towards the bedroom door. Each step felt like a mile, and she fought to at least keep her muzzle from dragging on the floor.

She was but a few steps away from the door, and the end of her reason to go on, when she heard Luna's voice in her ear.

"But she's wrong."

Fleur tried to turn, but was immediately swept up into Luna's wings. the Princess hung onto Fleur like a raft in the ocean as she sobbed into her shoulder. “You just showed me how wrong Celestia is… The way you stood up to the guard, and even more, advancing on me when I was like that… The fact that you can resist me, and even yourself, when we both really need it I…” Luna pulled away, looking down at Fleur with teary eyes.

“I was a fool for ever listening to her. I love you, Fleur. And nothing, not even death, is going to take that from us.”

“But she’s right.” Fleur whimpered. “I… I can’t live forever… What are you going to do when I… When I die?” She looked out of the window to the moon, remembering the tales of the Mare in the Moon. Nightmare Moon. The Luna she knew and loved turned into a twisted beast bent on the subjugation of all. “Won’t you…”

“No.” Luna grit her jaw. “I’m never going to allow myself to travel that road again. With Tartarus and the heavens as my witness,” Luna pulled away from the hug, laying a hoof on her breast. “I will never become Nightmare Moon again. Out of my love for you and my sister, I will never do that to myself or to Equestria.” She smiled at Fleur then, a tear-stained, confident smile borne of nothing but the most deepest, passionate loves a pony could feel.

“I love you, Fleur. I’d just as soon die myself than go without spending the rest of your life by your side.” Luna stood then, walking smoothly to Fleur. She gently took Fleur’s hoof, holding it in both of hers.

“I swear this to you, Fleur. By everything I hold sacred and true, I will never violate your memory like that.” Luna captured Fleur’s eyes, holding her gaze firmly.

“Fleur De Lis… Will you marry me?”