Chris was in HEAVEN. The bed was plush and soft but firm enough not to strain his back and wide enough to sprawl out. He had only just laid down when Persephone woke briefly and burrowed back under the mound of pillows on the bed. Chris was experiencing pure bliss. He had only just closed his eyes when a sudden brilliant, blinding flash of light illuminated the whole chamber. Chris didn't say anything or even move, save to lace his fingers together behind his head, 'Of course, the second I lay down, she comes back.' he mentally groused.

Celestia began looking around for Chris as soon as she materialized in the room,
"Chris!" she looked around for him frantically, "Chris!"

"Hello." Chris waved from the bed, "The bed is really comfy and I'm sure I coulda slept for days... but I get the feeling I'm not gonna be able to sleep right now... Am I?"

"Quite right Chris." Celestia said breathing a sigh of relief, "I apologize for my sister's actions. She is going to take the a'dam off you immediately." she turned to Luna sternly, "Isn't that right?"

Luna nodded her head, chagrined,
"Indeed sister." she looked at Chris, "Please stay where you are Chris, I'll take care of it."

Chris waved his left hand dismissively,
"I got rid of that degrading thing already." he smiled mischievously, "And I didn't even blow up your room either, Luna. Aren't you proud of me?" Chris sat up on the bed and began unwrapping the scarf, "Meh, purple isn't my color anyway."

Celestia and Luna stared at each other in shock,
"How . . . how did you remove the a'dam?" Luna asked.

"I'm clever enough to be rid of it, your combined ancient brains should be able to figure it out." Chris said as he pulled the last piece of the scarf off and tossed it toward the armoire.

After a few seconds, Celestia chuckled,
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Artex' memories have you pegged as a particularly clever person. However, I must agree with my sister, by what means did you remove the a'dam? I have never seen anypony escape from one, granted you aren't a Pony but the question still stands. What magical device did you use to remove it?"

"Luna should know, it's her room." Chris snarked enigmatically, "Your collar, your prisoner, your room, you do the math. Let me just say that the flames of inspiration were burning brightly while you left me alone."

Luna tilted her head,
"Truly you have a dizzying intellect."

"Wait till I get going." Chris said with a colossal, shit-eating grin, "Love that movie." upon seeing the puzzled expressions on the faces of the two Alicorns, Chris sighed, "Oh fine, I found a well-hidden item of Luna's, it's companions were a silver inlaid feather and a little black book. She obviously went through great strides to protect it, but I'll leave its identity for Luna to disclose if she wishes."

Celestia turned toward her sister, Luna looked equally puzzled for a few seconds,
"Concealed item?" she repeated the words over and over, "Concealed item. Concealed item. Concealed item . . . " her head suddenly snapped upright, "MY MEDALLION!"

Celestia tilted her head in confusion,
"What medallion Luna?"

Luna turned and scrambled over to the fireplace then reached her left forehoof under the mantle,
"The one that King Veritas of Gryphonvale gave me as a courting gesture before I . . . before the Nightmare Moon incident." Luna said quickly, "It was a . . . profound gesture." Luna watched as the little vault opened, "My medallion." she cooed softly.

"What makes this medallion so special Lulu?" Celestia asked, "And why did you never tell me about it?"

Luna reached her right forehoof up and caressed the medallion, shuddering as her magic was temporarily drained from her,
"It absorbs all magic from whatever it touches, as long as it is constantly touched." Luna murmured quietly, "It . . . King Veritas theorized that it could . . . it could give an Alicorn her greatest wish."

"I am so totally lost right now." Chris said, breaking the quiet spell around the room.

Celestia sighed lightly, eyes lingering on the medallion with an almost hungry shimmer before she looked back to Chris,
"Well then it seems that this was resolved quickly enough, the only thing still to be decided now is what punishment you will levy against my sister." Celestia said to Chris, "Her crime is grievous. I will let you decide, but I have final say. Beheading isn't an option."

"I'd like to return the favor," Chris quipped cheerfully, "I'd like her to wear a collar. It should be something low profile and harmless. A little reminder of what the difference between a gift and a punishment is." Chris winked at Luna pointedly before adding, "Don't worry, there won't be any leashes and bracelets involved."

Luna withdrew her hoof from the tiny vault and looked at Chris with bulged eyes,
"For how long!?"

Celestia was having trouble not giggling. She brought her right hoof up to her muzzle smiling and snickering silently.

Chris lifted his left hand twirling his fingers absentmindedly,
"Until I say so. However I think you'll grow to like it, just like you expected me to grow to like it. At any rate, keep in mind, you'll live for much longer than I will so you at least have that going for you."

Celestia struggled to keep her giggles contained, tittering quietly and turning an alarming shade of red, which went completely unnoticed by Chris or Luna.

Luna stepped toward Chris,
"Chris," Luna asked slowly, "If you perish without saying I can remove it, I will have to wear it eternally. I may be occasionally deceptive, but if I give my word I abide by it."

Chris sighed and sat back against the pillow again, noticing Celestia's condition for the first time,
"Let's hope I can forgive you before then. I was willing to put the a'dam on, full well knowing what it does. You should be at peace wearing a simple harmless scrap around your neck. Do you agree Celestia?"

Celestia, unable to hold back her laughter any longer exploded into long loud guffaws,
"Bwahahahahahaha!" she dissolved into a fit of laughter, all but rolling around on the floor.

Luna did not look amused.

Chris smiled and gestured to the elder sister,
"See Queenie agrees with me."

After several full minutes of Luna glaring at Chris and the Human still shining his cheeky grin at the darker Alicorn, Celestia recovered herself enough to speak again,
"Oh, oh dear! I haven't laughed like that in absolute ages." she cleared her throat to help calm herself, "Ahem, while I agree that the punishment should absolutely fit the crime, and fit it does, since you wore the a'dam for less than an hour, what say Luna wear her collar for one year. Is that acceptable? I also believe she promised you personal tutelage as well, those two combined should be more than enough to make sure she never forgets. Do you agree Chris?"

Chris smiled innocently,
"One year plus personal tutelage sounds good to me." Chris sat up and draped his legs over the edge of the bed, "But I get to design the collar."

"Well then I suppose I should be going then," Celestia smiled at Luna, "After all, I believe you have a pupil to tutor." she charged up her horn and teleported away in a flash of light.

Chris looked to Luna expectantly,
"So," he began, clapping his hands together, "What do we study first? Oh wait, that's right, I need a jeweler. That collar is going to be leather at its base, by the way." Chris grinned gleefully.

* * *

"And in other news the massive storm, which the U.S. Government has now named The Event, has finally begin to move . . ." Every single home in America that was tuned into the news stations was empty within a few minutes. Nobody wanted to suffer the same fate as the 786 had from Norfolk.

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