Moonstone – Chapter 18 “Solar Eclipse”

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Fleur froze in place, unable to move, much less breathe. 'Surely, I must have just died in the midst of a dream, or somehow entered a new reality... Because I did not just hear Princess Luna propose to me.' The sound of her heart thumping in her ears brought Fleur back to reality. Luna stood just before her, cupping one of Fleur’s hooves in both of her own. Their eyes met, and she held that gaze for what felt like an eternity.

'Sweet heavens above, yes I did...' There was only one answer she possibly could have given.

“Yes, of course! By the sun and the moon and the stars, yes!” Fleur felt the tears start in earnest, pouring out of her eyes as she threw herself at Luna. “I’ll marry you, Luna.” She sobbed into her lover’s mane, as they clutched each other as tightly as they could manage. They stayed like that for minutes on end, exchanging nothing but soft sobs and whispered 'I love yous'. Finally, Luna gingerly rose and moved to the bed, gently lifting Fleur up in her magic. They lay side-by-side, their legs tangled with one another’s until Fleur lost track of whose was whose.

Luna’s kiss spread a calming effect through her, like a tidal wave of relaxation that touched every inch of her body. She inhaled deeply through her nose as the kiss stretched on; Fleur could still feel Luna's lips caressing her own when consciousness fled her mind. Even then, her dreams could never hope to surpass the reality that was now her life. She closed her eyes with Luna in her hooves, and a blissful smile on her face.

The sun glimmered brightly outside of the tall double windows in Luna’s room. It was going to be a beautiful, sunny day, but that mattered little to Fleur as her eyes fluttered open to see Luna wearing the same infectious grin that she was wearing when she fell asleep.

“Good morning, beautiful.” Luna whispered, kissing Fleur’s cheek tenderly.

“Good morning yourself.” Fleur returned, squeezing Luna a little tighter. The warmth of the morning air chased away her grogginess, but her mind was quickly enveloped in a different, and much more sultry haze. Luna’s gentle kisses spread a heat through Fleur’s head, fogging her mind over with thoughts of those lips travelling elsewhere…

“Hmm…” She moaned, silently urging Luna’s lips to continue. Blissfully, they did, following the line of her jaw down towards her throat. “Aah,” She gave a soft exhalation as Luna preceded the next kiss with a tender, minuscule lick.

“Aahn…” Luna mirrored her, a hot breath washing over Fleur’s neck. She felt her eyes flutter closed as Luna kissed further downwards, mixing quick, small kisses with and soft, teasing nibbles. The combined effect had her core muscles flexing rhythmically, and she could already feel the arousal dripping from her core. Fleur felt Luna’s hooves wind around her more intimately, and in an instant, she found herself nestled beneath Luna, their chests still pressed tightly together.

“Luna,” Fleur panted, her back arching a little.

“Hmm?” Luna hummed, her lips moving into the hollow of Fleur’s throat. She swallowed, feeling Luna’s lips depress against the sudden, slight swelling.

“Oh stars… That feels amazing…”

“Tell me when to stop.” Luna teased, nipping the side of Fleur’s neck. She jerked atop the sheets a little, her hooves shooting into the soft, rumpled fabric.

“D-don’t hold your breath.” Fleur managed to pant, her hips gyrating underneath Luna’s teasing ministrations. Luna just smiled, sending another hot wave of breath over Fleur’s coat. Her lips resumed their leisurely journey southwards, leaving wet spots that cooled in the morning air. Fleur found her haunches spreading as Luna began kissing up and onto her breast, her hooves indenting the sheets on either side of Fleur’s hips. The downward journey picked up in pace, kissing over Fleur’s twitching stomach with ever-increasing urgency.

She glanced to the side, and saw the collar laying forgotten on the floor, near the farthest bookshelf. ’Not today. Today, it’s Luna and I… Not Mistress Luna and her pet.’ The thought sent a wave of euphoria through her veins as she surrendered herself completely to Luna's... To her fiance's ministrations.

A star burst ignited inside of her a split-second later as Luna's hot tongue reached the epicenter of Fleur's desire.

Fleur gasped out as loud as she dared, her entire body shuddering as Luna’s divine tongue laid against her nearly-soaked lips. Fleur's insides felt like the surface of the sun as Luna continued to slowly drag her tongue through her now-molten core. She was delirious with pleasure, her every nerve on fire, her very soul consumed in a lust-fueled inferno.

And then Luna's tongue found Fleur's exposed clitoris. In one perfect motion, she wrapped her lips around the tender pink nub and gently sucked on it, her tongue gently swirling in circles as she went.

Fleur nearly shot off of the bed like a rocket, her back arching to an almost unbelievable degree. Her mouth hung wide open, but for a second, no sound came out... Her breath literally stolen from her lungs. Only the hoof that she hastily shoved in her mouth prevented everypony within the castle grounds from hearing her long cries of ecstasy. Luna didn’t pause for a moment, continuing to lap at Fleur's soaked core. Fleur could feel her juices dripping down her haunches and soaking her tail, but she could hardly care. 'These sheets can't be that expensive anyway.'

Luna’s hooves lay on the inside of her thighs, keeping her spread wide open while she lavished attention on Fleur’s dripping, pulsating pleasure hole. Fleur was reduced to a moaning, whimpering blob of goo, completely at Luna's mercy. But this was a different kind of mercy; she could sense it in Luna's every action, and in every shot of fire that raced through her heart. 'I'm not at the mercy of Luna the Mistress, or the collar that comes with her. No, I'm at the mercy of Luna the pony...'

Fleur arched her back again as Luna's tongue swept past her clitoris for a second time.

'...The pony that I love more than anything in this world. The pony that I'm going to marry.'

A throaty groan escaped her lips when she felt Luna's long tongue part her inner lips to explore the tender, soaked flesh beneath.

'And it's time that I return the favor.'

She dipped her hooves beneath Luna’s chin, eagerly pulling the princess up towards her face. Luna came with a hot breath, her mouth hanging open as their lips met with an animalistic sort of hunger. Fleur moaned desperately as she pulled Luna’s tongue into her mouth with an eager, breathy pant. Their tongues danced ferociously, spinning and curling around one another in an intricate, practiced display of unbridled, primal lust.

Their lips stayed locked together as Fleur rolled to one side, a move that Luna followed with practiced ease. Now straddling her lover, Fleur gently broke the kiss, only to immediately seek out the true object of her now insatiable desires. She swept her hips out above Luna, giving the princess access to her dripping slit while she sought the princess’ own. Luna willingly spread her hind legs, baring her glistening lips to Fleur’s eager tongue. As soon as Fleur assaulted Luna’s clitoris, she was given her own mind-numbing blast of pleasure.

The only sound from either of them was the breathy exchange of licks and moans, building to a hazy head. Fleur could feel Luna’s pleasure building up, a mirror to her own. Wordlessly, the two of them continued licking, moaning, and panting until they pushed each other over the edge, and into a deep ocean of unfettered pleasure. Both mares arched their backs, mouths hanging open blissfully as both of them were swept away on a river more intense and meaningful than simple, pitiful words.

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“You got some on your tail.” Luna spoke softly over the hiss of water on tile. Fleur peeked over her shoulder as the princess gingerly lifted her tail, running her hooves through the sodden pink strands.

“That stuff gets everywhere.” Fleur sighed, returning her attention to shampooing her mane. Luna continued stroking and fretting over her tail, so she just closed her eyes and focused. It was moments like these that Fleur knew she’d come to miss whenever Luna wouldn’t be with her, so she tried her best to imprint them in her memory. Showering with the princess was a wonderful, blissful experience that she hoped she’d never have to give up. But there might be days Luna was busy, or she had something to handle herself, or any number of things. ’But it’s a small price to pay to love a mare such as Luna.’

She stepped under the cool stream of water with a sigh, enjoying the feeling of Luna’s hooves moving gingerly through her tail. “Thank you.” She smiled with closed eyes, knowing it didn’t take much for Luna to hear her.

“Your mane isn’t like mine,” Luna chuckled. “So I’m only all too glad to have my hooves in some real hair.”

“Well you can play with my hair any time you’d like.” Fleur teased, wiggling her rump a little. Luna chuckled and nudged her flank.

“Careful, I might take you up on that at the most inopportune time.”

“What, like in the presence of the Saddle Arabian dignitary?” Fleur opened an eye to glance over her back at Luna. “Be careful what you wish for, Princess.”

“You are so naughty.” Luna shook her head with a devious smile. “I should never have taken you to that expo.”

“Aww, you’re not upset your favorite little pet has gotten a taste for other ponies getting a look at her juicy plot, are you?” Fleur stepped out from under the shower and wrapped her hooves around Luna’s neck. “All of those other ponies may have eyes for me, but I only have eyes for you, my love.”

“Your sentiment falls short when I know Cerulean feels otherwise.” Luna teased, settling her hooves on the base of Fleur’s tail. “But I appreciate it nevertheless.” She leaned in and gently kissed Fleur, eliciting a soft moan from the both of them. Fleur slowly tucked the base of her horn against the princess’ as their lips parted. She could feel Luna’s heartbeat against her breast, sounding gentle and powerful in equal measure. They stayed like that for a few blissful moments, savoring one another’s closeness. However, when Luna spoke again, it was with a somber tone.

“We ought to speak to Celestia. Together.”

“Oh…” Fleur opened her eyes and pulled back a little, searching Luna’s eyes for justification. “I… I don’t know…”

“I can’t keep you a secret forever.” Luna returned, gingerly stroking Fleur’s back as she spoke. “And she deserves to know more than anypony else. She’s not just a co-ruler, or a friend… She’s my sister, and I love her in a way that I don’t think you’ll ever understand. We’ve lived side-by-side for thousands of years… Together, we've been through things that would utterly shatter any other pony, no matter how strong of body or mind.” Luna peered into Fleur’s eyes pleadingly.

“I love you with every fiber of my being, Fleur. And nothing Celestia says can sway me into feeling otherwise. I promise you, I’m not going to abandon my promise to marry you before my sister. But we need to make our stand. She wants us apart, no matter the cost.”

“What? Why is she doing this? I don’t understand… What she wants, that’s just insane…”

“She has her reasons…” Luna whispered softly, stroking Fleur’s mane tenderly. “And to an extent, I understand them. But I cannot follow her; not in this. This time, she asks too much of even me, and I intend on telling her just that. But, I would like you by my side, so we can make that point known to her together.”

“Okay...” Fleur whispered, feeling anxiety well up in the pit of her stomach. “I just… I don’t know, I feel nervous.”

“You love me, do you not?” Luna quipped, kissing her neck.

“Of course!” Fleur looked down at her incredulously. “With all my heart!”

“Then don’t fret.” Luna smiled up at her. “We’ll be fine, Fleur. Celestia may not like it, but I’m not going to leave you for the world. If need be, I’ll bring Princess Cadance out here to verify my devotion to our love.”

“That won’t be necessary. I don’t want to involve any more princesses in this than absolutely necessary. Besides, I can prove my love to you all on my own.” Fleur gave a warm smile, nuzzling into Luna’s ephemeral mane. “Alright. We’ll go speak with Celestia.” She pulled back to look into Luna’s eyes once more, smiling warmly. “I love you, Luna.”

“And I love you, Fleur.” Luna replied, returning her smile. The water of the shower turned off, and they stayed like that for a few moments, embracing one another in the quiet of the bathroom. Only when Fleur felt her coat begin to dry on its own did she release Luna and make her way out. As they began drying and preparing, Fleur tried to hold onto that feeling of love and determination she had.

She felt like she was going to need it.

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It felt like ages before Luna and Fleur were allowed a private audience with Celestia. Apparently she was incredibly busy that day, and getting her to meet them was a hassle in and of itself. The whole affair had seemed to wear on Luna, who spent the next several hours alternating between impatiently pacing in her quarters and curling up beside Fleur. While she didn’t miss the attention, Fleur managed to keep herself distracted with a juicy novel. She finished the book around mid-afternoon, but still they had heard nothing from Celestia. 'Ok, now I'm getting worried,' she thought.

“Honestly,” Luna turned away from the balcony, stomping back into her room with a dark expression. “She’s never taken this long to at least get back to me, much less see me.”

“Relax,” Fleur cooed, going to press against Luna’s side. She could feel how tense the princess was, as if her entire body were a wound-up spring ready to explode at any moment. “I’m sure she’s just busy with a meeting or something. Or maybe she’s out of the castle?”

“Whatever it is, it had better be good.” Luna resigned herself to nuzzling Fleur tenderly. “It feels like we’ve been waiting for years.”

Even after that, it took well into the evening before a messenger told them Celestia would see them. Fleur followed Luna and the messenger in a daze, her mind caught somewhere between a dream and a potential nightmare. After a few minutes' walk, the messenger ushered them into what looked like a private study. Celestia spared them a quick smile as they entered, but it quickly faded as she saw Luna’s angry expression. Slowly, Fleur and Luna took their seats on the opposite side of the room's only table. The messenger hastily poured them all a cup of tea before excusing himself. Fleur couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of her tea, though she did spare a quick glance to both alicorns at the table.

Celestia appeared pensive and quiet, while Luna seemed to seethe with barely restrained anger. Fleur had never seen her like that; it looked as if she were clenching her jaw hard enough to hurt. The vein in the side of Luna’s neck stood out clearly, and her posture seemed tense.

Once the tea had cooled enough to take a tentative sip, Celestia spoke.

“How was your day, Luna?”

“Fine, thank you.” Luna managed to say, through tightly-clenched teeth. From her response alone, Fleur could see Celestia’s demeanor change. She stopped staring intently at her tea and instead met Luna’s eyes. The two of them stared at one another for almost an entire minute before Celestia spoke once more.

“I'm glad to hear that, but I assume you didn’t call me here with Fleur in attendance to exchange pleasantries. Let me guess,” Celestia finally tore her gaze away from Luna to look down her muzzle at Fleur. “You couldn’t bring yourself to do it, so you thought having a third party present would bolster your courage.”

“What?” Luna drew back, scrunching her nose indignantly. “No, that’s not it at all.”

“Ah, I see. So, Fleur’s requested this audience because she fails to understand.”

"With all due respect, Princess, what I fail to understand is why you would make such a request of Princess Luna." Fleur blushed under the intense gaze of Celestia. She was almost the direct counter to Luna in that her piercing gaze always seemed rock-hard, but in a glaring, bright sort of way. Looking at her for too long made Fleur uncomfortable, as if she were staring directly at the sun itself.

In the end, she had to settle for looking at the table. She felt ashamed that she couldn’t look at Celestia directly, and not the good kind of shame either. The kind that made her feel like a filly being scolded. Luna shifted position, scooting just a little closer to her side. That small gesture, inconsequential as it might have seemed to anypony else, meant the world to Fleur.

’With Luna at my side, I can do anything. I spent three days being visually ravaged by over a thousand ponies at her behest. I’ve accomplished more for myself in six months with her than I did in six years with Fancy. I can do this.’ Fleur smiled up at Luna before meeting Celestia’s gaze, her back straight as an arrow and her head held high. Her fear and trepidation evaporated like a morning mist with Luna’s radiance at her side.

Celestia looked at the two of them for a moment, and like the sun rising over the horizon, realization dawned on her face.

“You’ve decided to stay with her.”

“I have indeed.” Luna nodded. “I have my reasons, and it’s for those reasons I’ve asked to see you today.”

“I thought I made myself clear,” Celestia glanced to Fleur, causing her to blush even deeper than before. “Do, aah… Do we have to do this with her here?”

“I am here,” Fleur’s cheeks heated with indignation. “You don’t need to speak as if I’m not.”

“Forgive me, Fleur.” Celestia cleared her throat. “It’s just that the matter Luna and I speak of is rather sensitive and-“

“She knows.” Luna cut her sister off with a sigh. Celestia's expression wilted for a moment, before turning back to the nearly emotionless state that she had seen so many times before.

“Well my request stands, Fleur. I don’t expect you to understand why it is I’ve asked Luna to break off your relationship, but it must be done.” She waved a hoof between the two of them, frowning intently. “This will never work. And even if it does for a short while, it will end in disaster.”

“I don’t understand,” Fleur frowned at Celestia, shaking her head a little. “Why are you so opposed to Luna being happy?”

“That’s not it at all!” Celestia laid a hoof on her breast, looking shocked. “It’s because I want my sister to be happy that I’m asking her to do this.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Fleur sighed, hanging her head a little. Her bangs covered her eyes as she tried to rationalize Celestia’s feeble argument. “By asking her to give up on something she dearly wants, you’re making her happier?”

“It’s very complicated, Fleur.” Celestia smiled across the table at her. “As I said, I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Try me then. I may be a regular unicorn, but I'm not stupid.” Fleur glanced at Luna before straightening up once more, meeting Celestia’s gaze with her own. “Besides, I think I deserve to know, considering I’m the one she’s leaving.”

“I can’t do that, Fleur.” Celestia shook her head once more, sighing gently. “It’s a rather personal matter, one that exists solely between my sister and I. I’m sorry, but I’m not comfortable sharing my personal life with someone so… Socially inclined.”

’Surely she’s not that shallow, is she?’ “You’re afraid I’m going to blab your weakness to everypony.” Fleur surmised. She didn’t know whether she should be offended or understanding. She certainly did partake in gossip quite often, and her clique wasn’t the most secretive… But in light of how well she and Luna had kept their relationship a secret thus far, some credit was due. Celestia might not have known that, though, since Luna had already shared their relationship.

Celestia looked at her with a sympathetic expression, lifting her shoulder in a half-shrug. Fleur sighed as she looked to Luna. Her lover appeared to have grown more irritable over the course of their back-and-forth. When she spoke, it was with a very strained and thin tone.

“I can vouch for Fleur’s surreptitiousness. We've kept our relationship well concealed for over half a year. Besides yourself, nopony else knows of our relationship?”

“Oh really? And what of Aurora? Or Quill?” Celestia returned. Luna seemed to falter a bit, but she soon recovered.

“They are trusted friends; and like Fleur, their discretion in all matters - personal or otherwise - is unparalleled.”

“Small blessings,” Celestia muttered. “At least you made sure everything was covered somewhere.”

“You know how much those three days meant to me!” Luna looked shocked. “Celestia, we’ve already discussed this! You and I both know how much I needed that time!”

“I sincerely doubt you needed that time, Luna.” Celestia scowled at her before casting a quick glance Fleur’s way. “Just like I sincerely doubt either of you actually need one another in your lives! You’ve hardly known one another more than a year, and already you’re so close to one another. It’s absurd, and a little concerning to be frank. I know it’s easy for ponies to be smitten by us, but that’s all the more reason we need to keep an emotional distance between us!”

“Talk about the pot calling the kettle black,” Luna shot right back. “I seem to recall a rather impressionable young librarian hanging off your every word as you praised her for her accomplishment in the Crystal Kingdom just last week.” There was a moment of silence as Celestia struggled to connect the dots. It seemed as if she failed.

“I don’t see how Twilight is related to this discussion…”

“Oh don’t play coy, Celestia.” Luna sneered. “Twilight’s been spending more time around you than even I have, and that’s saying something. We do run a kingdom together, might I remind you. It seems any day she’s not in Ponyville, she’s here by your side - or at the very least, running off to do errands for you. If somepony else were to look at this situation, it wouldn’t be entirely outside of the realm of possibility that they’d assume that your dealings with this young mare are... Hmm, how should I put this... Not entirely academic in nature?”

“Are you implying Twilight and I are lovers?!” Celestia looked shocked. “That’s absurd! Twilight’s not a lover, she’s an intellectual! A… A student! And my student, nevertheless!”

“A student today, but what about tomorrow, Celestia?” Luna raised a hoof, pointing at her succinctly. “You said it yourself, it’s easy for ponies to be ‘smitten’ by us. Twilight might be your student today, but she could begin to develop feelings for you sooner or later. In your library today, in your bed tomorrow? Or next week? Or even a year from now? I give it another month at most, personally." She cast a very sarcastic look in Celestia's direction. "She is a very attractive mare, after all... And you did always have a thing for the color purple—"

“That's enough, Luna!" Celestia lifted her head firmly. “I’ll not allow Twilight – or anypony – to become that attached to me. It’s unbecoming and dangerous, not to mention absurd!”

“I think you’re just saving face.” Luna’s voice lowered. Fleur could feel it in the air; there was something dangerous happening between the two princesses just now. This wasn’t just a discussion, this was an all-out, gloves-are-off, everything-at-stake argument between two ponies that held within them the power to control the sun, moon, and the stars. In such company, at this moment, Fleur felt as insignificant as a speck of dust.

And that feeling intensified to whole new levels as Luna pressed her advantage.

"You're too afraid to let Twilight - or anypony for that matter - to get close to you."

"Luna, I—"

Luna cut her off again, leaning forward as she continued. "Admit it, sister. You're using that crown as an excuse because you're afraid!"

"And just what am I so afraid of then, Luna?" replied defensively.

"You're afraid to let Twilight in, because you're afraid that if you do, she'll become your next Ribbon!"

The room went silent, as if Luna’s last words had sucked every bit of air out of the entire castle. For the briefest of moments, the mask of composure slipped from Celestia's face, and Fleur couldn't help but stare. There was a real pain in the Princess's eyes, as if she had just been stabbed in the heart by a ghost, but behind it, Fleur could see enough righteous anger to destroy the world thrice over.

Fleur wasn't sure whether she wanted to wet herself on the spot or run for the exit. Or both. She was very suddenly and painfully reminded of a thought that had crossed her own mind just yesterday. ‘Tartarus hath no fury like a mare scorned.’ And there was plenty of fury that this particular princess could muster.

Celestia sat motionless for nearly a minute. Fleur could see the war of emotions playing out in her eyes, as if she were using every bit of her magic to simply restrain herself.

'Ribbon? I've never heard that name before.' Fleur mused as she continued to watch the room balance on a knife's edge. 'Celestia's usually impossible to read, but one mention of this Ribbon, and she nearly snapped on the spot. Luna is the only family Celestia has, and no member of the castle staff could be that valuable–'

Fleur's mind froze for a moment, as if a gong had rung out inside of her head. 'Unless Ribbon wasn't a staff member at all...' Finally, Celestia took a deep breath and closed her eyes, lifting her head once more to an ever-higher collected position.

“For the sake of everypony present, I’m going to pretend as if you did not just bring that up, and we can move on-“

“Hang on,” Fleur’s mind kicked into overdrive before she could even think to stop herself.

“Who is Ribbon?”

“I’m not about to share that.” Celestia answered almost immediately, sniffing a little. “Particularly not with you.”

“Oh, and why would that be?” Fleur felt a heat rise to her cheeks. Celestia was the one who wanted them apart, and here she wasn’t willing to even level with either of them. Fleur felt a muscle underneath her eye twitch a little as she glared at Celestia.

“Forgive me for saying, Fleur, but secrets and weaknesses are the trade of high-class socialites. I sincerely doubt sharing my past with you - particularly something of this caliber – would bode well for my future dealings with the rest of the Canterlot elite.”

“You honestly think I’d share your secret with my peers?” Fleur was shocked. “Celestia, that’s absurd! I would never expose something of this import to… To anypony! To even think of doing something like that is… It’s blasphemy.”

“Oh please,” Celestia rolled her eyes. “Your tongue is as silver as Luna's sacred moon. While I don’t begrudge or dislike you for it, I’m not about to expose something so important to me when I know it stands a good chance of being in the headlines within two weeks.”

“And as I already told you, Celestia,” Luna cut in. “Fleur’s discrepancy on these matters is unparalleled. She’s managed to keep the two of us secret for this long, and we haven’t had a slip-up yet.”

“Oh and what of her ex-husband? Did you not just expose yourselves to him at the end of the expo?” Fleur's blood ran cold at Celestia's counter. ’Buck, she has a good point too… After all, we did drop our disguises in front of one of the most socially adept smooth talkers in all of Equestria.’

“I’ve taken the matter into my own hooves and I can assure you, Fancy Pants will take our secret to his grave.” Luna’s reply solidified the ice in Fleur’s veins and made her look at her partner with wide eyes.

"You did what? Luna—"

“I’ll tell you later.” Luna muttered under her breath. “Focus.”

“Well,” Celestia shook her head, her mane wafting about her face rather entrancingly. Fleur found herself momentarily enraptured by the display, only to be forced to focus on the situation at-hoof as Celestia continued her argument. “My past is still still irrelevant to this discussion-“

“I doubt that very much.” Luna scoffed. “Celestia, you owe this to her. You’re asking her to abandon me, and I believe what happened between you and Ribbon is not just relevant to your request, it's the entire driving force behind it. If you expect her to follow through with this insanity in any capacity, you need to tell her your justification.”

“Celestia, I assure you.” Fleur laid a hoof on her breast. “I may make my living in the trade of secrets and gossip, but I know how to hold my tongue; and what to hold it for. I swear on my family's good name, I will take whatever you say here to my grave.”

Celestia looked between the two of them for several long, tense moments, obviously struggling to find a counter to their argument. Fleur never once looked away, her violet eyes meeting Celestia's gaze each time it turned in her direction. Finally, she looked towards the balcony with a heavy sigh of defeat. Her eyes misted over as she looked out onto the night sky, as if she was recollecting a memory from long, long ago. In a quiet voice, she began.

“Her name was Ribbon, and I loved her fiercely. When I sent Luna to the moon, I found myself alone for the first time in my life, and I was scared beyond belief. As far back as I can remember, she and I had been by each other’s sides, always there to talk to or confide in. When she was gone, I… I felt lost. Like nopony could ever be there for me again…

“And then Ribbon showed up like a ray of sunshine. She was incredibly beautiful, like she had come straight from Elysium itself. Yet she was so quiet and reserved, she hardly said a word to anypony else. Only the few ponies she worked with in the castle even knew her name. I was sitting in my garden one night when I saw her, moving down the hallway with such grace and precision, I… I was enraptured. It seemed she wasn’t just going about her duties, but she was practicing… A dance, as it were.

As I watched, she soon erupted into this… this intricate, beautiful display. She was so quiet and unassuming, but seeing her dance…” Celestia sighed and turned back to both of them, her expression still wistful and teary. She was smiling a little, in a way that made Fleur think she was truly happy recalling these memories.

“I fell in love almost immediately. We began talking more and more. She was the one pony I could open up to, and share some of my more… Mortal traits with. We’re not perfect, Fleur. Some would deign to call us foolish, and there are plenty of times I’d have to agree with them. Spending my time with Ribbon, growing so close to her, sharing so many things… It kept me sane. But I learned things about her as well.” Her expression darkened then. Fleur watched as Celestia suddenly looked much more melancholy.

“I learned things about Ribbon that she never shared with anypony; not even her parents. We grew closer than lovers. We were friends. Partners. We grew invested in one another… My triumphs were hers, her quarrels were mine. We were there to sing and dance over our triumphs, and we were there to hold each other when sadness and depression touched us. We laughed, cried, and talked for days, and loved for more nights than I thought possible for either of us.

“And then she died. To me, it was like a blink of my eye; seventy-eight years gone in a flash. One decade she’s there, still so radiant and passionate, and the next she’s gone… Fleur, I shared things with her. Secrets that nopony in all of Equestria knows. Not even Luna. When she died, I buried those secrets. That’s okay. That’s fine.”

A tear slipped out of Celestia’s eye, sliding down her cheek and dripping off her muzzle.

“But the things she told me stayed. Ribbon’s secrets; her fears and aspirations, they still live in my heart and mind. I buried my secrets, but I immortalized hers. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember the things she told me, or the way she cried in my hooves as she struggled to get each word out. I can’t sleep at night without seeing her smile, or feeling her lips on me once more.” Celestia stood, looking intently into Fleur’s eyes. "Believe me when I say that neither you nor my sister have any idea how much pain I have been in since the moment the light left her beautiful eyes. I have meted out many punishments in my days, but this... This is a torture that I would wish on nopony."

She turned to Luna with a forlorn look in her tear-stained eyes. "Especially not on a pony that shares my burden of immortality."

“Regular ponies fall in love, and that’s fine. Their partners die, and they bury them, and there will come a day when they will join them on the fields of Elysium. There’s a solace in death, Fleur. A solace neither Luna nor I can know. When we fall in love with somepony, Fleur…”

She swallowed as Celestia shed another two tears, but their eyes never wavered. Not even for a moment.

“It’s forever.”

When she sat back down, she seemed composed. Her eyes cleared of tears, though the evidence remained on her muzzle. She looked intently at Fleur, lifting a hoof to emphasize her point.

“That’s why I cannot allow this. I know what it means for somepony like us – an immortal Princess – to love a mortal pony. That love lasts forever, and so do their memories. When you die, Fleur, you’re going to keep your secrets and ambitions in this world, in Luna’s heart. And that very well might break her, as it has very nearly broken me time and time again. There will come a day in Luna’s life when she is going to collapse under that stress, and that is a risk I am not willing to take.”

Fleur and Luna’s jaws dropped in an instant. Luna looked like she had just been slapped. Even Fleur winced at the real meaning behind Celestia's words. When Luna spoke again, it was only with the thinnest veneer of social decency that her rage was held in-check.

“How dare you,” She growled. “I’m not some… Some asset to be controlled or managed!” She rose to her hooves, glaring across the table at Celestia. “You’re not ready to take a risk involving MY love life?! Do I even need to say how backwards that is?!”

“You’re not just some regular pony, Luna!” Celestia stood as well, jabbing a hoof in Luna’s direction. “You can’t go falling in love with just anypony! There are consequences involving your emotional attachments, and those consequences impact Equestria as a whole! A land, may I remind you, whose well-being I am responsible for! If you lose control of yourself again… If you become Nightmare Moon… Well that’s something I’d rather avoid – even if it means keeping you and Fleur apart!”

“You are not the only one involved in Equestria’s well-being!” Luna stomped a hoof. “Need I remind you that you are not the only Princess in Equestria!"

“Luna, I-“

”I AM NOT YOUR DAUGHTER!” Luna’s voice made everypony flinch as she stomped the ground. A flash lit the room, and Fleur watched with awe and terror as Luna’s body quivered for a second. After what seemed like a monumental effort, she stilled herself, breathing a soft sigh as she lowered her haunches to the floor.

“I’m your sister. And even more than that, I’m your co-ruler, and your friend. Equestria’s well-being is at the core of my heart as well, and I assure you I would never make a decision that would negatively impact the ponies we protect. Still, I have desires, Celestia. Just as you did, and I’m sure you still do. I love Fleur intensely, and I don’t want to sacrifice that love because of some mis-guided notion of protection or preservation. I love Fleur, and she loves me. No one is going to take that from us.” Luna’s hoof gently wound around Fleur’s. Together, the two of them looked into Celestia’s eyes.

“Not even you.”

Celestia grew quiet as Luna's emphatic statement hung in the air like a thick fog. She held Luna’s gaze for a long while before slowly seeking Fleur’s. Her face melted from stone-cold and stoic into something sympathetic, as if seeking Fleur’s input, inviting her to make a mistake or reveal some flaw in their argument. Instead, Fleur spoke her mind and heart.

“She’s right, Celestia. We are in love. I thought I knew what love was when I married Fancy Pants, but I see now how foalish I was… I never knew what love was until I met Luna.” She looked up at her partner’s serene face for a blissful moment, and a smile crossed her lips, a smile it seemed she would never be able to resist when Luna was nearby.

“I know I’m going to die some day. I know that I’m going to leave nothing but memories in my wake…” She turned her gaze back to Celestia, smiling serenely. “So I will do everything I possibly can to make every one of those memories a happy one. I swear this – to both of you – when I leave this place, I will leave Luna as happy as she possibly could be…

Fleur felt Luna squeeze her hoof, and she squeezed it back. “As happy as I know Ribbon once made you, even if you can’t see it right now.”

Tears slid down Celestia’s cheeks as she and Fleur met one another’s eyes for what felt like the last time. For a few long moments, Fleur stared straight at Celestia, watching her tears spill over. She saw real pain behind those ageless eyes, but she also saw an equal amount of resentment, and more than a hint of bitterness.

'I hurt her... I know I did.' Fleur thought as a flash of guilt rang through her heart. 'But it had to be said, and it had to be me that said it.'

She tightened her grip on Luna's hoof even more as a sense of real drive and devotion filled her heart. 'My time here is woefully short in comparison to these two, but I love Luna too much to spend even another second away from her.'

Celestia rose to her hooves and spoke quietly.

“I never thought I’d see the day I’d have my own memories used against me by one of my subjects, much less my own sister.” She turned towards the door, walking slowly with her head low. “I do not like your union, as it goes against everything I know to be true. But I see now there’s no possible way I can dissuade either of you. Thus, I’ll turn a blind eye to it. Just know this,” She turned back at the door, looking at them with teary eyes.

“Fleur will die one day, and you’ll be left with nothing but the ghost of her memory. When that day comes, Luna, what will happen?”

“I would hope…” Luna slowly pressed against Fleur’s side, draping a leg over her back to hold her tight. “That I would have a sister and a friend by my side; somepony who understands my pain, who knows what it means to suffer loss. Somepony who can not only ease the pain, but can remind me of my happy memories.”

Celestia held Luna’s gaze for one moment more before she turned to the door and wordlessly walked out.

When the door closed behind her, Fleur felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. She inhaled deeply, and when it came out, the tears came with it too. Luna held her close, the two of them sobbing into each other’s manes. In that moment, Fleur felt like she had just conquered the world and lived to tell the tale. She clutched Luna tight; her prize, her beautiful, mysterious, wonderful, amazing fiance.

She had the rest of her life to spend with this pony now, and nopony – not even another Princess – could stand in their way. They had just proven their devotion in the most meaningful way imaginable, and nothing could tarnish the glory of that one simple victory.

And yet, at the end of it all, Fleur knew death awaited her. She would step forth to meet her inevitable fate one way or another, and then Luna would be alone.

It was a good thing she had all the time between now and then to enjoy her life, and what’s more, she had Luna at her side to lead her into the future…

Be it at the end of a leash or not.