Twilight yawned hugely and carefully turned the page of the book in front of her. Normally she would have found griffon politics to be fascinating reading material, but things had been a little wild around Ponyville recently, and she genuinely just wanted to have a nice day off. Unfortunately, Princess Celestia’s reading lists did not stop coming just because Applejack was dealing with the aftermath of Flim and Flam, or because Pinkie had begged her for a night off of her own yesterday and left her to take care of the precocious Cake twins.

So she shook her head and tried to focus on the book. Princess Celestia had been putting her through a thorough grounding on the politics and diplomacy of all the other major races of their world lately, much to Twilight’s bafflement. The only explanation she could come up with was being married to a Princess automatically put you in that kind of spotlight, so she ought to be prepared.

Fortunately, Cadence was there for her. The strong smell of good coffee made her nose flare, and the sight of the thick ceramic mug was practically a gift from Celestia herself. “You work too hard.” Cadence’s voice was soft in her ear, even as she grabbed the mug and slowly drained it of its piping hot contents. The heat she could deal with. Getting to the caffeine was far too important right now.

“Well, I’ve got to keep up somehow,” she retorted, putting on her best smile. “Since you were making all of that noise last night…” she continued devilishly and was rewarded with a little blush from Cadence. Someponies would have called their relationship unconventional, and Twilight didn’t give two bucks about those someponies. Even these few months later, Twilight was more convinced than ever that the whole ‘monogamous’ movement was full of parasprites and bunk. Not that ‘herding’ made much more sense to her, but maybe it would a few years down the line.

For now though, Cadence and she had come to a comfortable place with one another. Even after they married, they would take other lovers, always with the consent of the other. Sometimes sharing, sometimes not. Their schedules and duties would often keep them apart at the worst possible times, and Twilight could not see where allowing the mare she loved to get a bit of relief when she needed it was somehow wrong. After a few short discussions, Cadence had agreed with her logic, and the pair of them had continued on much as before.

After all, love was more than just sex. Even if the sex was mind-blowingly wonderful, love was about things far more intimate than a mere night of rutting or licking or- Twilight, you really need to get laid yourself, her thoughts scolded her, and she suppressed a giggle. No, love was about bigger things than that, and every time she looked into those doe-soft violet eyes, she knew that they belonged to her, and hers belonged to Cadence, and that was all that really mattered in the end.

“Not my fault Ponyville is full of such fascinating ponies,” Cadence demured and fluttered her eyelashes at Twilight. “I think Applejack is sweet on Fluttershy, you know. She keeps coming to ask me about how two mares can breed with one another, and how we manage our own relationship.” Twilight smacked her forehead into her desk in embarrassment, and Cadence laughed happily. “Oh, Twilight. That’s a conversation we ought to be having ourselves you know.” Her voice went from mischievous to soft and loving in a heartbeat, and Twilight’s chest burned with happiness at it.

Twilight gave a little shake of her head. “Given what happened with Discord, I suppose we ought to be thinking about that.” Her hoof went, unconsciously, to her belly and rubbed gently at it. Sure, the first time hadn’t ended up as anything but a disturbingly sexy memory, but… “I really do want foals, Cadence. I just don’t know if there’s going to be a right time for us,” she sighed softly, leaning back and happily finding the satiny soft chest of her beloved there for her to collapse against. It felt good to lean there and let Cadence rub her behind the ears. “We’re both so busy, you know?”

“Mm,” Cadence’s soft tone agreed, and she continued to rub right behind Twilight’s ears in a way that made her squirm happily. “Still, that doesn’t mean we’ll be busy like this forever. I’d be willing to bet we could get Celestia to give us some room if we said we wanted to pursue it.” Cadence’s head rested atop hers, and she gave a bold and mischievous lick of Twilight’s horn, eliciting a little moan from her mouth unwillingly.

In retaliation, Twilight smacked Cadence’s shoulder. “Stop that! I need to finish this book,” she grumbled, shifting in her seat. “Though who knows why Celestia’s really got me reading all this bunk about politics. You’re right, of course. She would, but…” She hesitated. Should she bring this up? Now? After everything that had happened? “Cadence, what are we going to do about her? She hasn’t properly written in months, and every time I try to ask her about how she feels, she blows me off completely. ”

Cadence fell silent, only her breathing giving off any noise. The gentle rise and fall of her chest against Twilight’s back was soothing in its own way, even as she stewed in her thoughts. She was glad Cadence didn’t just try to assuage her worries with meaningless platitudes. Cadence worried about the Princess almost as much as Twilight did, especially after she’d told her about what Celestia had said and done when Cadence had come to see her after Discord.

Twilight had even tried investigating cloning spells, but ultimately realized such things could never fully duplicate herself. Only create false copies which were, frankly speaking, unfair to Celestia. They might make for a nice fantasy once in a while, but… “Why does life have to be so bloody unfair to the ponies who least deserve it!?” she snapped out, half yelling into the quiet air. If Cadence was surprised by it, she made no show of it and simply continued to stroke her hoof through Twilight’s mane.

Cadence didn’t have to answer that one. Twilight knew the answer to it, even if it was tremendously unsatisfying to her ears. Still… “Spike!” she suddenly called out, and that did startle Cadence a bit. Her assistant poked his head out from his cubby and smiled brightly at her. He himself had seemed a lot happier than usual these days, and she wondered why. “Spike, I need you to take a letter for the Princess!”

“Okie Dokie, Twilight! Gimme just a sec!” Spike popped his head back into his cubby, and some rummaging sounds emerged before he exited bearing a scroll and quill at the ready. “Alright, lay it on me, Twilight!” he piped up happily.

“Dear Princess Celestia, Cadence and I have some personal matters we would like to discuss with you at the earliest opportunity. Would you be interested in coming to Ponyville for a short visit in the next few days? Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” Reciting the letters these days was almost a natural reflex, especially the beginning and the end. Spike dutifully scribbled out her words, as he always did, and rolled up the scroll carefully.

“Yanno, Twilight, the Princess isn’t gonna react to that well,” Spike said in a sly tone, pressing the adhesive golden seal to the ribbon. “You sure you want me to send it?” He put a fisted talon on his hip and waggled the scroll in the air.

Twilight gave Spike her very best flat look and arched an eyebrow. Spike chuckled softly and inhaled deeply before blowing a bright green flame to incinerate the scroll and send it magically flying toward Canterlot. “Thank you, Spike,” she said quite primly and nuzzled back against Cadence. “Would you do me a favor? We’re probably going to need some good iced tea when she arrives.”

Spike chuckled ruefully. “I’ll get the cookies out of the cabinet too. She’ll need them to calm down.” Spike trundled off into the kitchen, and the sounds of clattering dishes and plates soon filled the air.

Twilight sighed softly, shaking her head. “I hope she isn’t in a huge panic. The last thing I need right now is my teacher losing her own mind over this nonsense.” She paused, then turned her head to face the still mostly silent Cadence. “Cadey?”

Cadence blinked and shook her head as though clearing out the cobwebs. “Sorry, Twily. I was… Thinking too much, I guess.” She glanced at the clock. “She won’t leave Canterlot before evening court, at the earliest. Which I suppose leaves us to fill up the time.” Her hooves wrapped around Twilight tightly, and she nuzzled into her side. “So, what’cha reading?”

By the time Princess Celestia arrived, Twilight had managed to get through the dry tome without more than a temporary headache or two. Both of which had been easily massaged away by Cadence’s talented hooves, leaving her able to focus on the problem at hand. Problem, singular, since all other issues could be dismissed for the time being. Whatever other problems she might have had with her teacher, they were meaningless compared to this.

If the last few months had taught her anything, and she would like to believe they had taught her plenty, it was that she couldn’t afford to passively approach her problems any longer. The world was changing so very quickly now, and if Celestia herself feared her ability to keep a hoof on things was starting to become shaky… Well, then she needed all the support and help she could get.

Twilight was tired of half measures and tired of trying to bring Celestia around with letters. The time had come for direct action, before things got so completely out of hoof that they were beyond her ability to fix. She dearly loved her teacher, but she had learned from Cadence a long time ago that sometimes you needed to sit a pony down and make them acknowledge their problem before it could possibly be fixed.

Even if that pony just so happened to be her mentor, her monarch, and the creature responsible for the full and unbridled power of the sun. And she was about to force a lot of painful but necessary emotional responses from that very same pony in the hopes of keeping her from continually retreating behind duty so she wouldn’t have to deal with those problems. Yes, this couldn’t possibly go wrong at all. Still, like Spitfire had once told her, in the words of the Equestrian Special Air Wing’s motto, ‘Who Dares, Wins.’ And if anypony would know, it would be the Wonderbolts.

So she took a deep, cleansing breath and waited in silence under the soft massaging hooves of her fiance. Cadence was lost in her own thoughts, obviously, but she knew what Twilight was planning, and at least tentatively agreed with her. Her breaths came slow, steady, almost meditative as she waited, silently counting the ticking of the clock. It was almost dinner time, which meant Evening Court would be over in about fifteen seconds.

They were some of the longest fifteen seconds of her life. She continually turned the plan over in her mind, searching for the most minute of flaws. How long had it been since so much had ridden on a single gambit? Not since… well, since that party so very long ago. Perhaps she’d better post Cadence at the door to keep Celestia from flying off into the distance. It would be a lot harder to track Celestia if she decided to go into hiding for a while, and there would be no hope of ever cornering her on the subject again.

How much time had passed? Less than eight seconds. It really was amazing how time seemed to slow down in moments like this, how the world narrowed into focus. She had to be careful, she had to be firm, and she had to not back down. Celestia would try to do that, to scare her off the subject. She couldn’t afford that though. She couldn’t run from this one, not when somepony she cared about was hurting.

She glanced up at the clock. Seven PM. She silently counted the moments that passed. It took exactly eight more seconds for a knock to come at the front door. “I got it!” Spike yelled out from his cubby and came trundling out with a half-bitten sapphire stuck between his lips and munching at it happily. Another knock came mere moments later, and Spike grumbled, “Sheesh, hang on!”

He swung the door open. “Hey, the Library’s clo..se..d… Um… Hi, Princess.” His voice sounded vaguely concerned, and Twilight shoved herself gently off Cadence’s chest. She turned to look her marefriend in the eye, and Cadence nodded to her once. A soft voice, unintelligible from this distance but definitely Celestia, asked a question. “Yeah, they’re in the kitchen! Um, is there anything I can-”

Spike was cut off by quickly trotting hooves. The saloon-style swinging kitchen door creaked faintly, and the unmistakable metal rasp of Celestia’s hoofboots struck the tile floor. “My apologies for not writing ahead, Twilight, but I figured you two…” Celestia’s voice trailed off then, as Cadence stood up and trotted around to the other side of the table, and Twilight stood up to join her.

“Please sit, Princess,” Cadence said firmly, but kept her voice even. Twilight trotted back toward Cadence and sat down next to her. Celestia glanced from her to Cadence, and back again, her eyes faintly narrowing, and her mouth twisting up into a puzzled sort of expression.

“Something tells me I’m not going to like what I’m about to hear, but…” Celestia sat down on the other side of the table. Cadence nodded and stood up to trot to the fridge. A large pitcher of iced-tea floated over, followed by several glasses and plates of cookies. Celestia examined the cookies. “Lemon sweet tea and double crumb-crunch cookies, my favorite. Yes, I can almost guarantee this isn’t going to be a comfortable conversation.”

Twilight faintly smiled at that. “You were the one who taught me everything I know about these kinds of talks, Princess.” She gestured broadly. “It’s hardly my fault your techniques are so effective.”

Cadence cleared her throat. “Please, Auntie. We’re not here to give you bad news, but well…” She glanced at Twilight and sighed softly while nodding her head. “We both agree that now that we’ve made some decisions about ourselves, we need to have an important discussion with you.”

Celestia nodded cautiously, pouring them all a glass of the tea. Twilight took in a deep breath and leaned her forehooves on the table. “Princess Celestia. You’ve… You’ve been more to me than just a mentor for a very long time. You’ve almost been like a second mother. A best friend. More than that, really. I don’t…” She felt her cheeks burn, turning her gaze away. “I don’t have the word for it. You’ve been there for me every single time I’ve so much as scraped my knee. Anytime I was in pain, you were there. And after all these years… it’s time for me to repay the favor.”

Celestia’s eyebrows rose in concert, and she carefully laid the glass of tea on the table. “Really, Twilight. I’m humbled and honored, but that’s a touch overdramatic don’t you think?” Everything about her body language screamed concern and caution. “Twilight, if you didn’t have anything more important to tell me…” She was trying to run again, trying to get away before things got out of hoof.

There was no time for subtlety. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Celestia, STOP THIS!” The words thundered through the kitchen, and Celestia froze in mid-motion, staring at her in shock. Cadence was too, but this was no time to stop now. “Do I need to chase you down, too? Corner you in your bedroom?” Twilight leaned forward, and Celestia almost stumbled backward away from the table. Twilight hauled her butt around it, Cadence still too stunned to move.

Twilight kept going, hoping that momentum could carry her through this. It hurt to push out every word, but she pushed them all the same. She got right up in her teacher’s face, her voice harsh. “What is it going to take for you to finally trust me? After everything I’ve done, everything we’ve been through, when will you finally stop hiding yourself from me?!” Celestia scrambled backward from her, but Twilight did not let up. She advanced and advanced, pushing forward with all her strength and staying right in Celestia’s face. “You know everything about me, Princess. Every last emotion, every last hope and dream, every fear and every doubt. I’ve confided everything to you. Even things I haven’t told my fiance!”

Celestia visibly swallowed, and Cadence’s voice rose up in the background. “Wait, what are you talking about Twiligh-” She cut off her words, Twilight shaking her head firmly and only once. She didn’t have time for that now. She’d deal with it later.

Celestia still looked too shocked, as though she couldn’t process what was going on in front of her. “Do you think I don’t get it, Princess? Do you think I don’t understand why you hide?” Twilight felt her voice go quiet, unable to muster up enough energy to yell. “I hide too, Princess Celestia. I even hide from Cadence sometimes. But I just… I can’t take this anymore. You’re hurting, teacher. I can’t stand seeing you hurt.” She extended a hoof and pressed it into Celestia’s shoulder. “Please. Let me help you.”

Celestia’s eyes softened, and her erratic breathing slowed. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. “To think, after all this time…” She really wasn’t speaking to Twilight. In fact, she wasn’t sure who she was speaking to. Maybe herself. “Twilight Sparkle, I have known countless ponies during my years of life, but none have ever spoken to me quite as you have.” There was a faint, barely there smile… but it was a real smile, even atop the mountain of pain Twilight could easily see in her eyes. “I… I don’t know even how to begin, but…” She rubbed at her forehead, all pretense and serenity gone. “I will try.”

Cadence joined her, and they all sat on the kitchen’s tile floor together. Celestia took her glass from the table and drained it of the sweet liquid in one go. “It all comes back to Equestria,” she began, speaking softly and staring at the ice and lonesome slice of lemon in her glass. “It always has. I have devoted so many hours of my life, so many days and restless nights to her construction and preservation. I have wept for her, bled for her, and lost for her.” She swallowed once and grabbed an ice cube and sucked on it for a few moments before speaking again, her voice painfully soft. “I don’t… I could never be fair to a lover, Twilight. There is simply too much I need to do, and-”

Her words, whatever they might have been, were cut off in that moment by the sound of the front door bursting in, followed by a huge voice bellowing through the library. ”REJOICE MY FRIENDS! ‘TIS A DAY OF GREAT FUCKING MERRIMENT!” Twilight threw her hooves over her ears, an action mirrored by Cadence. Celestia did nothing except stare out of the blown open kitchen doors with bemusement.

There, Princess Luna stood with a large bottle of some very expensive looking whisky floating half empty and a little unevenly in the air, and with the biggest smile Twilight had ever seen on her face. She galloped into the kitchen and threw herself in a huge, giggling hug around her sister. “Luna, what in the name of Star Swirl’s beard happened?” Celestia blurted out, just before Luna stuck the bottle into her mouth and gave her an overly-healthy swig of the liquor.

Celestia coughed heavily as Luna giggled madly again. “Oh do not be such a simpleton, my delicious sister! Mine Knight has finally found the courage of his loins and asked for my hoof in matripony! PROST!” she exclaimed and took another astonishingly impressive swig of the whisky. Twilight stared, her brain unable to process that statement at first. Luna grinned slyly at her and offered up the bottle. “Drink to the health and future of thy sibling, Dame Sparkle! And rest assured his virility is without question!” She squirmed as Twilight unconsciously took the bottle and a sip of the strong and delicious liquor…

Before her mind clicked. Right around the same time Cadence’s did, point of fact. “Wait! Shining Armor… proposed to you!?” Cadence could not hide her astonishment. “When!? HOW?!”

Luna giggled again and raised up the bottle as if in salute. “Just this eve, mine Knight came before me with an uncommon courage in his veins. Ah, it was a glorious sight indeed. He did not give ground to my demands, nor did he show undue discourtesy.” Her eyes shone as she took another drink and shoved the bottle into Celestia’s chest. “Mm. I will spare you the details, but his proposal was most… Enthusiastic.”

Twilight’s mind broke on that one. Celestia, probably in a similar mind, grabbed the bottle and took a massive swig of the liquor. She had been so close to getting Celestia to finally talk to her, and now this… “Twilight,” Celestia rasped softly, as Luna began to ransack her cabinets, presumably for more liquor. “We… we will talk.” Her voice was soft, and she squeezed her hoof around Twilight’s. “I Pinkie promise,” Celestia whispered, much to the astonishment of Twilight.

It didn’t take long for Luna to find her stash of good booze. “AHA! More sweetmeats for the merriment! Come, Sister! We must bring about a proper celebration! Let us find the pink one and procure frosted delights!” Luna’s hoof and foreleg wrapped around Celestia’s neck, and the next thing Twilight knew, she was being swept out into the streets of Canterlot along with her teacher, a bottle of Apple Family Brandy in hoof and wondering just what the hell she was going to do about THIS little insanity.

Shining Armor? Marrying Princess Luna?!

Why hadn’t he told her anything about this!?

Cadence had not been a princess for most of her adult life without learning how to handle a crisis. She had also learned how to handle ponies who were intoxicated, and how to best keep them from doing unfortunate things. Regrettably, none of her lessons had included dealing with intoxicated princesses. “HUZZAH! I have found the shot glasses! Come, sister!” Luna’s voice boomed through the treehouse, Cadence wincing away from it.

“I truly thought that I had seen everything before today.” Rarity’s sounded just this side of scandalized with a capital S, but she was taking the scene with a tolerant amusement. “Still, I suppose one does not often get to celebrate a royal hoof-fasting.” She lifted the highball glass and examined the bright pink liquid in it critically. “Where in Equestria did Princess Luna learn how to mix drinks so quickly?”

“Ah’m not entirely sure I want’a know,” Applejack muttered and drew Fluttershy closer to her in a clear protective motion. Cadence couldn’t help but feel her heart melt a little at the sight of Fluttershy snuggling up into the larger, more confident earth pony and looking as happy as a clam doing so. “Cadence, ya’ll sure we’re not gonna end up enchanted or somethin’? When Twilight gets soused, she gets awful experimental…” Applejack nervously adjusted her hat with her free hoof.

Cadence shook her head. “I’m certain everything will be fine. Just… let’s humor Auntie Luna until she falls asleep, then we’ll sort everything else out.” She sighed heavily, rubbing at her forehead. There was a sudden crashing sound, and the newly minted Twilight / Celestia / Luna trio reappeared in the main room of the library, toting glasses, bottles, and big smiles all around.

Twilight was likely drinking because of how emotionally drained she was. Celestia was probably just glad to be able to throw up her emotional shields again. And Luna? Well, Luna was about to give Pinkie Pie’s reputation as the ultimate party pony a run for its money. “Rejoice, friends! We have acquired crispy potato slices and delicious creamy dips!” Luna brandished a pile of potato chip bags and dip containers, and Cadence wondered idly where they’d gotten them all. Had Twilight been holding out on her? “Now, Dame Rarity.” Luna’s voice took on an absolutely overblown pomposity, in spite of a bit of slurring. “Thy dressmaking skills are second to none, and so we hope you will accept the commission to design the royal dressage for the occasion! As well as the royal lingerie, of course. We shall need something appropriately ravishing for the mating to follow.”

If the six ponies sitting at the table had been anypony else, they might have been scandalized. Fortunately, they were all used to the bawdiness Cadence and Twilight could get up to. “I would be absolutely honored Princess.” Rarity fluttered her eyelashes, and her cheeks lit up bright red. “But really, I’m afraid I possess no noble titles. I’m simply Rarity.” From seemingly nowhere, she produced a silk fan and gave herself a little flutter.

“Truly?! Sister, thou hast been lax!” Luna scolded Tia, who smiled sheepishly. “We shall see to it thou art made a proper Duchess immediately!” She beamed brightly, pouring herself what looked like a straight up shot of vodka, and lifted it high. “A toast, to the Duchess of Ponyville, Dame Rarity!” And she downed the thing without so much as a grimace.

Rarity’s cheeks had gone bright red, her jaw had dropped, and her hooves gathered daintily around her mouth. Celestia slipped over with a goofy grin, and lifted her maretini up to Rarity’s lips. “Drink up, Duchess,” Celestia cooed, and Rarity drank the liquor slowly, Celestia almost… sensually feeding her the drink.

Cadence shook off the thought. Twilight was staring at Rarity for that moment, and Cadence grabbed her shoulder. “Twilight, she’s trying to build up the wall again,” she whispered harshly into her ear, her fiance turning to stare at her in surprise. “Don’t let this fool you. She’s just… not herself right now.” Twilight licked her lips and nodded once.

“Mine cousin is right,” Luna stage-whispered conspiratorially. Her eyes were slightly glassy, her smile broad. “Do not trouble thin heart, young one. I know my sister’s heart, and it pines for thee not for sheeee.” She giggled. “Thee and shee! That doth amuse me!”

Cadence wanted to facehoof, but at least Twilight brightened up a bit. “Well… then I’d better go over and keep fighting for my teacher.” Twilight sounded calm and resolute, even if her words were a bit thicker than normal. She grabbed the vodka straight from Luna and marched over to where Celestia was sitting with a brightly blushing and still stunned Rarity.

Luna nodded decisively. “Applejack, I wish for thine farrrm to supply my cele...cele… party with proper foodstuffs! And pink one, thy task shall be the construction of a suitably royal cake!” Luna grinned hugely. “Perhaps I should simply save time and ennoble all of thee. T’would save time.” She paused and grinned at Cadence. “Pour our friends some suitably full tumbl’rs of brandy, would you Cadence?”

Cadence paused, and blinked. That had been the first time Luna had ever called her by her preferred name. So she did just that, pouring the apple brandy out for the table and giving Pinkie a severe look. She loved Pinkie Pie to bits, but the last thing she needed was the rest of her friends getting as drunk as Luna was. Pinkie giggled and crossed her heart with a small nod. She knew the score.

Applejack snorted. “Beggin yer pardon, yer majesty. But I’d rather not deal with bein’ some highfallutin’ noble. I got my taste of that when I was a filly, and I didn’t much like it.” She paused and gave Luna a severe look. “What’d ya’ll have in mind for Fluttershy here then?”

Luna sipped the brandy with a soft moan of pleasure and purred sensually. “Mmf… The yellow one shall provide the musical accompaniment of course! I hath heard tale of her glorious voice and wish to experience it myself!” She smacked at her lips and finished off the brandy with another barely concealed moan.

Cadence could almost feel her horn twitch. Oh, glorious. Aunt Luna is a horny drunk. She sighed silently and turned back to the table. That covered everypony present, except for… “And Rainbow Dash!” Luna exulted, slipping around the table and draping herself around the pegasus, whose wings flared out in surprise. Luna grinned slyly. “Whilst I certainly expect thee to perform thy rainboom at the height of the ceremony, I have another much more important task to set thee.”

“Uh… W-w-w-what might that be, P-princess?” Dash stuttered a little, her eyes gone wide. Cadence could feel the anxiety flowing off her at first, until Luna slipped in and began to whisper firmly into her ears. Dash’s wings flapped a bit as she tilted her head to one side, and they went stiff as boards in a single moment. “Oh. Oh! Oo-oooh… Um… I don’t…” She paused again, Luna still whispering hotly and gulped. “Um… Y-yes ma’am… I’d b-be happy to, Ma’am… um…”

Cadence felt her horn twitch again and sighed, feeling the headache coming on. “Go get some air, sugarcube,” Applejack said quietly, her eyes fixed on Celestia and Twilight and Rarity…. Rarity and Celestia were pouring one another drinks and slowly feeding them to each other in a manner one could only describe as ‘flirtatious’. Twilight was nearby, trying to interject herself between the two ponies with a look of stubborn determination. “I’ll keep things from gettin’ too rowdy. Ya’ll look like ya need a minute.”

Cadence hesitated for a moment but nodded. She quickly slipped upstairs into the room she and Twilight shared and gently closed the door behind her. The air up here was far cooler, and much more still without all the bodies moving about. She took in several deep, cleansing breaths of the cooler atmosphere, leaning against the doorway.

Shining Armor was going to get married to a princess alright. Just a different princess than before. She knew, intellectually, that she should feel happy for him, and… she did, a little. But she also could not help but mourn a tiny part of her that finally died. Her prince charming had finally found what he’d been searching for, and it had nothing to do with her. Not that she’d entertained any thoughts of reuniting with him but… well… Some parts of her mind simply didn’t listen to logic and reason, it seemed.

Still.

She was happy, there was no doubt about that. Happy that at long last, she could close that old chapter of her life once and for all. No longer a prince charming for her. Now she had to be the princess alluring for another pony, one who was just as special in her own way as Shining had been. She took another deep breath and cleansed her mind in one rush of air of those old and dusty thoughts.

Without announcement, a flash of blue light, and Luna was there. She radiated love, eroticism, and desire out of her every pore. It was almost a little overwhelming. “I do not recall giving thee thine instructions, niece,” Luna purred at her, her eyes half lidded. Cadence turned fully around to face her and projected the gentlest shield she could against those powerful emotion.

“My apologies, Auntie. I needed to get out of there for a few moments.” Cadence kept her tone level. She would need to remember never to show Luna a whit of jealousy, no matter what happened. Shining Armor deserved his happiness, no matter who he had it with, and she was glad for him. “How can I help with your event?”

Luna’s eyes softened a moment, even more than they already were. “I wish for you to do but one thing, and only one thing, Mi Amore Cadenza.” Luna’s words were surprisingly lucid, given how much she’d had to drink. She advanced quickly and pressed her hooves into Cadence’s shoulders. “Find some way to heal the wound in my sister’s heart.” Her lucidity instantly broke down, and she pressed her forehead against Cadence’s. “I have found mine happiness again. Help her find hers. I beg of thee.”

Cadence swallowed the biggest lump she’d ever felt in her throat and gently squeezed Luna’s shoulders. “I promise, Luna. I will do everything I can for her, and for you too.” She felt her smile broaden as she came to realize something almost too amusing. “After all, we’re all going to be one big happy family soon, now aren’t we?”

Luna laughed happily. “Truly, it is so.” She kissed Cadence firmly on the lips and boldly on each cheek. Cadence couldn’t help but blush, feeling Luna’s emotions seeping into her own. “Now, we have set Hearts and Hooves day as our glorious union. A proper romantic date for a hoof-fasting.” She giggled softly and nuzzled her cheek to Cadence’s. “Do not wait to join us for too long, Cadence. Thine beloved may end up doing something rash if you do not restrain her.”

And she vanished in a bright flash of light and energy, leaving Cadence to feel all the energy drain out of her. Hearts and Hooves Day? That was supposed to be one of her busiest days of the year, and now she had to worry about a wedding too? Goddess preserve me, I’m going to be run off my hooves all day with all the dates as it is! And I’m barely going to get to spend any time with Twilight! BUCK! She sighed, feeling another headache coming on just in time for Luna’s last words to penetrate her skull.

Twilight? Doing something rash?

She flung open the bedroom door and dashed downstairs, hoping that she wouldn’t need to peel Twilight off of Celestia and cause both of them more emotional scarring.

“Aegis Armor, I don’t think…”

Royal Guard Silver Trill felt her heart thumping in her chest harder than she’d ever felt before. The smell he gave off was so primal, so utterly male that it made her head swim. Her flank hit the wall of the barracks, emptied at this time of night, and she swallowed a lump in her throat which felt all too much like pulling a thick shaft into it. “It’s alright. The princess understands.” His voice was a growl that sent a shiver up her spine.

Truth be told, she really didn’t want to resist all that much. His eyes were so very beautiful, and the feel of his body pressing against hers was exquisite. “Yes…” was all she could whisper, falling ever deeper into those gorgeous emerald eyes. Did the Aegis have such eyes? Yes… of course he did. His eyes had always been so beautiful, his strength so reassuring. She wrapped her hindlegs around him and felt her back arch perfectly as he took her.

Her mind swam with pleasure, blotting out any thoughts of the impropriety of what was going on. With every thrust, she felt more of her concerns draining away into nothingness, replaced by a foggy desire to obey his every command. His eyes bored into hers, and all at once she realized how very much she loved him. Totally. Completely. Her heart, her mind, her very soul belonged to him…

And as she cried out in pleasure, the world re-settled itself into its rightful place. She would be his concubine of course… once he was married, he was going to need more than just a single marecunt to ravish and bear his children. She laid, drained and satiated upon the bunk where he had claimed her, alone with the sound of her panting breath and a lilting, almost musical hum from her Master…

“Mmf. So much more satisfying to draw power from dozens of witless little ponies than one witless, if powerful, pony. Not that the powerful one isn’t going to be delicious… Oh, this time it’s going to be perfect…”