Shining Armor awoke as the sun’s rays beamed down through their partially opened blinds. He smiled as he felt Cadance’s warm fur against his back and let out a sigh of relaxation. That is... until Cadance shifted in her sleep and brought her muzzle down against the back of his neck. At that, the stallion froze in place, stiff as a board.

That’s right, you love me, my pet, a silky voice whispered through his mind and Shining felt a phantom tongue wash across neck.

It’s only Cadance, it’s only Cadance, he thought to himself as a cold sweat erupted over his body.

That’s right, my pet. It’s only Cadance, the silky voice replied and Shining winced in pained pleasure as he felt a pair of fangs slip into his neck. And you love me? Don’t you?

Stop! Stop it! Shining mentally shouted as he tried to buck against his unseen foe.

Oh my little pet, you know better than to fight me, the voice cooed in his ears and Shining contorted with pain as the fangs sank deeper and a flush of pure ecstasy pulsed through his veins. Ohhh yes my pet, you love that feeling don’t you? You love me most of all, even after these past six months, nothing she can do can compare to me.

Shu-shut up! Shining raged despite the feelings of sublime sexual bliss running through his body. Stop it!

I’m not even there, my pet. This is all in your mind, Chrysalis’ voice murmured as she bit deeper and Shining felt the flow increase. You can cut yourself away from me- she withdrew her fangs and moved them to a spot closer to his face. -you can shield your mind in adamantium strength barriers- she bit down and Shining let out a moan as more pleasure swirled through his body. -but in the end you will always be my little pet.

“SHINING!”

Cadance’s voice blasted through his mind and Shining’s eyes flew open to see his wife crouching beside him, her horn glowing a brilliant pink as her mane flowed out to either side of her head. Upon seeing him finally awake, Cadance lowered her horn down to gently touch the tip of his own and a soothing sensation traveled through Shining’s body. The stallion shuddered as the new sensation ran down his body and he felt his body beginning to relax.

When Cadance finally pulled away, he felt... better. The vile feeling of Chrysalis’ venom was gone and had been replaced by his wife’s pure love.

Shining just lay there for a long moment before he lunged sideways and pulled Cadance down on top of him, his eyes watering as he cried into her neck. She hugged him tightly and pressed herself against him, her soft form molding against his.

“It’s alright Shining,” she said softly over and over again until his shuddering breath had returned to normal and he finally managed to lift his head up.

“Sor-sorry Caddy,” he stuttered quietly. “It... it happened again.”

“I know,” she said as she gave him a nuzzle. “And you don’t need to apologize Shining. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But... it keeps happening,” Shining said miserably. “That must mean that some part of me wants her.”

Cadance frowned for a moment and then leaned forwards to give him a hard kiss on the mouth. When they parted Shining was left gasping for breath and Cadance was looking down at him with hard eyes.

“It’s not your fault Shining,” she stated quietly. “It’s not your fault at all. That vile little bug hurt you very badly and your injuries just haven’t finished healing.”

“I... I feel her every time I go to sleep,” Shining said, trying to control the octave of his voice. “She’s there in my mind Caddy... everytime you touch me... I feel her.”

“She’s not here Shining,” Cadance said as she gently ran a hoof across his muzzle and he leaned into the touch. “She’ll never get close to you ever again. I promise you that.”

“I-I know,” Shining stuttered as tears began to form again. “By Celestia I just want it to stop.”

“Give it time,” Cadance said softly before she bent down to give him a lighter kiss. “Just give it time Shine. I’m here for you.”

“Yeah, yeah you always are,” Shining agreed as he began to regain control of himself again and pulled her closer to him with his forelegs.

Cadance just smiled and leaned against him.

Luna’s heart was aflutter as she glided down towards the massive cave mouth. It was nice to see that the area hadn’t changed that much since she’d been gone. She wasn’t sure what she would have done if her old home had become unrecognizable. She sensed Jackdaw somewhere above her, giving his Queen her space. The mare smiled softly to herself, despite his general jackassery, Jackdaw really was an understanding type.

The alicorn folded her wings easily behind her as she stepped across the smooth stone threshold to her father’s cave. A thousand memories raced through her mind and out of the corner of her eye she could have sworn she saw her younger self tackle her sister to the ground.

Luna let out a sigh as the familiar odor of dragon washed over her nose. It was a dark earthy smell, mixed with a bit of smoke. It tickled her nostrils for a moment before surging in so that it was the only smell in her nose. The mare didn’t wrinkle her nose, nor did she sneeze as others might have, instead she took in a deep breath and then let out another sigh.

She was home. More so than when she had stepped into the old castle. More so than when she had hugged Celestia tightly to her chest. There was only one thing that was missing to complete the sense of nostalgia.

That missing piece was completed a moment later when her father himself came around a corner, his deep purple scales catching on the enchanted lighting crystals. The dragon saw her and stared for a long moment before its gait ground to a halt and it locked its giant green eyes on her. Then, to her surprise, Jonathan sat completely still.

Luna frowned and looked up at him in confusion. “Father! I’ve returned!” she called up to him with a smile, smothering her confusion beneath a surge of joy as she raced forwards towards him. Jonathan simply looked down at her, his eyes hardening as she closed with him.

“Who said I was your father?” he asked her, his voice bland.

“I-what?” Luna asked, her hooves nearly tumbling out of from beneath her as she ground to a halt several feet away. “What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said,” Jonathan replied, his voice still bland and emotionless. “After all, if you were to be my daughter then I would be your father and I can’t think of anyone less deserving.”

Luna blinked in confusion as she gazed up at his great head, her eyes becoming clouded. “What?” she asked in a small voice.

“Well, let us go through the list, shall we?” her father asked, looking down at her as a small puff of smoke left his nostrils. “You stopped visiting me, which I suppose is a minor offense considering that most dragons don’t visit their parents. Then, you began to wage a war against your sister for nothing but selfish reasons all because you apparently didn’t feel loved enough and I did nothing about it,” he continued, his voice growing lower and lower.

Luna’s eyes began to tear up, her father hated her. And when he put it like that, she couldn’t really blame him, could she? She’d been an awful daughter, and that was only magnified by the fact that she’d waited two and a half whole years before she’d come to visit him-surely there was no doubt that he despised her and prefered Celestia, just like everypony e-

“And then... then you get yourself banished and I end up spending a thousand years worrying about you because I love you so gods damned dearly!” Jonathan’s voice broke through her thoughts and Luna looked up to see that the purple dragon’s eyes were staring down at her pain as giant tears welled up within them. “I’m not angry at you, Luna...” he continued, his voice softening. “I’m... I was worried. So very worried... I just... I spent a thousand years thinking about how poor of a parent I must have been to make you think that you weren’t loved. So yes, I can’t think of a less deserving father to have someone as wonderful as you as their daughter.”

Luna’s eyes widened in surprise as Jonathan’s hand reached out and gently grasped her as he brought her up to his chest and held her against his scales. Tears rolled down Luna’s face as she leaned against his giant scaly chest. It was smooth and warm, the perfect thing for her to pour her grief into. A large sulfur laden tear hit her on the head but she didn’t care as she leaned against him, her emotions running through the gamut from sad to happy before finally settling on bittersweet.

She pushed herself away from his chest and her wings opened to project herself upwards until she was at eye level with her father. Then, with a simple flap of her wings she closed the distance between them and placed a single kiss upon his forehead before she flew back into his view.

“Father... you have nothing to be sorry for,” Luna said quietly. “It was not you who pushed me down my path, it was my own ego and arrogance...” she told him as her head hung down. “It is I who hurt you, not the other way around.”

“And yet it is you who paid the price for my inaction,” Jonathan said softly as his emerald eyes locked on her and Luna felt as if someone had stabbed her from the sheer grief within those twin orbs. “If I had left this cave and visited your forest castle then perhaps you would not have felt so alone. It is not a great journey by any means, yet no. I remained here and watched you and your sister’s scuffle turn into a war and I could not bring myself to intervene for fear of hurting either of you.”

Luna looked right back into those eyes and she smiled softly at him as her horn began to glow faintly. A giant magical handkerchief appeared in the air in front of Jonathan’s face and gently dabbed at his eyes and then vanished leaving the dragon dry eyed.

“It’s okay, father,” Luna said softly as she flew a bit closer to him. “You always were, and always will be, the best father a mare could ask for.”

“I wish I could agree,” Jonathan replied before letting out a sigh and shaking his head. “Sorry, Lulu... I’ve been holding that in for close to a thousand years,” he told her a small smile crossing his face. “And my it feels good to have let it out.”

Luna smiled back and closed the distance between them to kiss him once again on the forehead. “I’m glad,” she told him. “So... how have things been?”

“Oh, you know, the usual,” Jonathan said as he lowered his head to the ground and Luna followed him down. “Barb is sleeping the centuries away, I’m bored out of my gourd, young dragons try to steal my hoard and I roast their scaley flanks,” he listed off idly.

Luna lay down against his muzzle and gave him a nuzzle. “That does sound boring, father, I’m sorry that mother is still asleep,” she said with a frown.

“Oh, it’s not that bad, she’s nice and warm at least,” Jonathan replied with a quiet chuckle. “Besides, she always has the cutest smile on her face when she sleeps.”

“Well, that’s good,” Luna said with a small chuckle of her own before she let out a long sigh and rested her cheek against his. “Oh father...”

“Lulu...” he replied, sighing himself before frowning slightly. “So... Tia says that you finally found a lover?”

Luna’s face flushed scarlet. “Yes... yes I did.”

“Oh, well then, would you tell me of her?” the dragon inquired curiously. “I want to make certain that she is the right type of person for you,” he added protectively. “If she is not then I shall eat her.”

Luna opened her mouth for a moment and then closed it as she caught the joking look in his eye. Then she chuckle softly and began to giggle. “Trust me, father, she’s amazing, and she’d give you indigestion.”

“Well, then, tell me of her so that I can judge that for myself,” Jonathan insisted, giving her a nudge.

“Well...”

Celestia stood in the castle courtyard with a calm smile on her face, her true feelings hidden tightly behind her mask. Tornado stood beside her, fully armored, his face a mask of calm as well.

So, she’ll be arriving shortly, the stallion thought to the alicorn over their private link.

Yes, our pegasi are escorting her as we speak, Celestia said. They both already knew it, but it was a good way to relieve a small bit of the tension that was encompassing the pair. Tornado, my love, do not worry. Your mind and senses are shielded, as are those of every other stallion, mare, and foal in the castle.

I know. I’m not worried about that, Tornado replied, his head turning slightly to glance at Celestia.

You think that I could be at risk? Celestia asked, an eyebrow rising slightly.

Not particularly, but... well I worry about you, Tornado stated. Old fashioned stallion instincts, I know, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t.

A warm smile touched Celestia’s face before it was obscured once more by the mask, but it had lasted long enough for Tornado to see.

I thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary, she stated, her mental voice calm and smooth. My mind’s defenses have been wrought over centuries, not to mention the passive enchantments that are covering the Castle. I may not be wearing enchanted armor like you or the other guards, but I’m certainly not ‘defenseless’.

Like I said, I know there’s no real reason to worry, but you’re still my mare, the fact that you’re practically a goddess doesn’t change the fact that I worry about you, Tornado said tenderly.

This time Celestia’s smile lasted until she spotted the shape of the incoming Changeling Queen along with her escort. The alicorn’s smile shifted from that of genuine happiness to one of civil politeness as the large shape of the Queen Aurora settled down on the flagstones in front of her. The changeling was just about Celestia’s height, if not half an inch taller and her every movement was graceful and sultry.

“Queen Celestia, you Majesty, how wonderful to finally meet you,” Aurora said with a smile that could have melted iron.

“Queen Aurora, your Highness, the pleasure is mine,” Celestia replied, her smile staying civil as she felt Tornado’s mind buckle down.

Aurora’s smile dimmed slightly at the use of Highness rather than Majesty, but only for a moment before it was back to its normal stunning power.

“Firstly, I would like to humbly apologize for the actions of my sister,” Aurora said as she stepped forwards, her eyes glowing faintly as a package left her saddlebags and floated up to Celestia wrapped in a golden aura. “Consider this gift the beginning of my repayment of the debt she caused.”

“I will,” Celestia replied in an almost dreamy voice as she stared straight into the changeling’s faintly glowing golden eyes, her own growing cloudy before they suddenly hardened. “Now then, are you done attempting to seduce me, or are you going to continue throughout the entirety of our negotiations?”

Aurora’s face fell for a moment and then she began to chuckle faintly. “Oh, so the stories are true are they? Mind like a hunk of granite?”

“Polished marble actually,” Celestia replied, a smooth smile crossing her face as she accepted the gift and teleported it to the room she used to hold potentially dangerous magical artifacts.

“Oh indeed, if your body is anything to go by, it seems like the songs were true,” Aurora commented idly as she glanced over Celestia. “As for trying to seduce you, I apologize but this is my natural state of being. I can no more ‘turn it off’ then you can change your fur’s color.”

“Well then I suppose I should warn you ahead of time,” Celestia began as she turned and gestured with a hoof for the changeling to follow her. “Every inch of the castle has been covered in mental defense wards not to mention anti-illusion wards and if I hear about anything happening that shouldn’t, I’m fully prepared to defend my ponies.”

“Of course, of course, I expected nothing less,” Aurora replied, a light chuckle leaving her lips as she nodded.

“Good,” Celestia stated, her smile still in place. “Now then...”

As Celestia and Aurora began to talk, Tornado fell in line behind them alongside the changeling Aurora had brought as an escort. His chitin was the same teal color as Aurora’s and had been shaped into the form of an elegant soldier. The changeling glanced over at him and smiled slightly.

“Echo,” he said simply.

“Tornado,” Tornado replied with a nod, though he kept his own smile to himself as the two queens dueled with words like rapiers. “Long trip?”

“Average,” Echo answered with a small shrug. “Lovely castle.”

“Thank you,” Tornado said, giving the changeling a sideways glance. “See anything you like?”

“I already have it,” Echo replied, his mouth opening into an almost predatory smile.

“As do I,” Tornado said, his own smile becoming sharp as a blade. “And you would be best to remember that if anything were to happen.”

“Of course. Though I ask for the same courtesy,” Echo stated casually.

“Of course,” Tornado stated as he glanced up at Celestia. The alicorn was casting a subtle look of approval back at him and Tornado smiled.

“So, I feel as if I should state a few things before we get down to brass tacks,” Celestia stated as she lead the changeling queen through the castle leaving servants staring open mouthed in their wake.

“Oh?” Aurora inquired with a slightly raised eyebrow as she looked over at Celestia. “And what would that be?”

“I know your angle in all this,” Celestia answered with a slim smile. “The changeling’s greatest allies are deception and stealth.”

“Yes, that’s fairly well known,” Aurora replied, chuckling lightly. “I’d think that someone as old as you would know that very well, Your Highness.”

“Oh I do,” Celestia replied before her horn began to glow gently and a slim sheet of paper and a pen appeared hovering in front of Aurora. “I’m also well aware of the fact that changelings do not like open warfare. Your sister and her Hive are proof enough of what happens when they attempt it without the might of the entire race behind them.”

“That’s true as well,” Aurora agreed, though a small frown appeared on her face. Then it cleared. “Ah. I see.”

“Do you?” Celestia asked, her eyebrow raising slightly.

“Indeed I believe I do,” Aurora replied. “You believe that I’m only here seeking peace because I will use it to strike against you.”

“The thought had crossed my mind, I will not deny it,” Celestia said with a small nod. “After all, spies and rogues work best during peacetime, do they not?”

“Oh very good,” Aurora stated, another light, musical chuckle leaving her throat. “Though, I must say, I’m rather affronted by these suggestions of deception. At the same time, I can’t help but be curious about the type of mind who could discover them.”

“It hardly took my modest intellect,” Celestia answered, shaking her head slightly. “But regardless, if we are too sign a treaty, I would like both of our kingdoms, our races, to come out ahead.”

“I’m not certain if that’s possible,” Aurora said, giving Celestia a wicked smile. “After all, if one of us is to win, then the other must lose.”

“Not to my way of looking at it,” Celestia replied, totally unaffected by the wicked smile or the sultry eyes. “I have not come up with a perfect solution yet, but I’m sure given time, the two of us can forge something worth honoring.”

Aurora remained silent for a moment before she shook her incandescent wings. “Well, if it means I get to spend more time in this beautiful castle, with its beautiful occupants, then I’m willing to work towards what you speak of,” she said with a smooth smile.

“Wonderful, I would much rather not crack your skull against the wall,” Celestia said with a nod of her head as she casually delivered the threat.

“I would rather avoid that as well,” Aurora replied calmly before her smile became a bit wider. “And I would hate for you to awake the next morning with everyone you care about dead.”

“Yes, that would be rather irksome,” Celestia agreed, the threat passing over her fur like water off of a ducks back. “The loss of your entire Hive might be an unfortunate outcome of that particular action.”

“We should probably end this before we get to the point of our countries being at war because of a simple one upping competition,” Aurora observed, a light chuckle leaving her throat.

“Indeed, it would be a shame,” Celestia agreed, chuckling as well. “Let’s try and avoid that, shall we Your Majesty?”

“If we can, Your Majesty.”