“It is so good to have you visit my sons.” Celestia gushed in joy as she lead her children and Rarity up the stairs of one of the towers of the castle. Kamina had extended an offer for one of their friends to visit Canterlot while he and Animak were there, since he knew that most of them were busy.

Rarity jumped at the chance to have an extended stay in Canterlot. Although she wanted Spike to come too; he had to sadly decline since Mayor Mare kept him busy a lot, and he knew enough about tailoring at this point to stand-in for her, especially since she'd taught him all the spells he'd need for it already. He already had started on his own fashion line, for stallions. His style was more informal and casual than hers, but since he started making suits and other clothes, the male customer base skyrocketed.

Twilight could follow the base designs for the more effective pieces of the armor, Rarity was going to do the fine tuning. Armoring was a combination of being a blacksmith and a tailor, but since Twilight was mostly a blacksmith, she'd need Rarity to finish off the rest with her tailoring expertise. So she said Rarity could have some fun before she came back to finish the sets of armor. When Twilight made Gurren, it wasn't hard since she had two bases to work off of and combine into one, Animak and Kamina both together could make Lagann, but Twilight couldn't make a fresh suit without Rarity's help. It would just be enchanted armor before she got her hooves on them, but after she did; all the fine tuning would come into play.

“We're mostly here on business mom. We can't let us fuse back together completely. We won't let that happen. Not after finally getting things together.” The Twins replied to her from either side of her. They were bigger than her, and their towering 8 foot, or 16 hoof heights made them loom over their mother like the glorious beasts they were. Celestia was personally very proud of the fact that special circumstances or not; they were her children, and they surpassed her some time ago.

“Regardless; I and the rest of our family will be very happy to see you again.” Celestia left out Blueblood in the intention of the statement, and they all knew it.

“I'll be spending more time around you all actually. Part of the plan is to have us spend time apart...even if we don't want to.” Animak informed their mother, and the twins looked to each other in sadness. “I...I don’t'....”

“Me either....” Being apart for prolonged periods of time made them feel...empty. Incomplete. Even ache in longing for each other. It was worse than being away from their loves for the same time, because they could still feel each other, but wouldn't be able to reach out and grab hold of the other like they felt was right. “But it has to be done. I'll be taking Rarity out to see the city, show her the sights, even mingle with the...ugh...nobles.”

“There's also the business of the Church of Will to speak of.” At Celestia's near off-hoof statement, the brothers froze on the steps, and gawked at her. She paused upon realizing they weren't at her sides, and looked back at them. “What?”

“We...have a religion?” The Twins asked, slightly disturbed, and also somewhat impressed. They knew this was coming eventually, but so soon? It took years for Cadence to gain a following in the Church of Love. It wasn't so much individual churches, so much as it was the clergies that formed for Celestia in the Church of the Sun felt it was only fair to offer proper homage to the other “Equusly Deities” that formed or “graced the living with their presence”. They almost instantly welcomed Luna into their worship, as the clergy was ironically one of the few who kept tabs on the legend of Nightmare Moon, and that it would eventually come true, as well as her true identity. Luna was ecstatic about this when Archbishop Priest announced this to her personally.

“Yes, is that hard to believe? You've done great, and amazing things since you've arrived here my sons. You, Kamina; are the aspect of the Will of Others, while Animak is the aspect of the Will of Self. Two completely different forms of Will, separate, yet united. The church is having a field day trying to puzzle you out, they take everything you do as proof of who you are, and they make it into lessons for those who would follow your examples.” Celestia informed them as she began up the winding staircase again, and the group followed behind, including the bellhop that finally managed to catch up whilst carrying Rarity's ungodly amount of luggage.

“Are you SURE you don't want any help?” Kamina asked worriedly at the straining stallion.

“Aw, let him have at it. He said he could do it alone; let him.” Animak sternly declared, making Celestia smirk at them proving her right just now.

Kamina wished others to improve, and to help them however he can. Animak only felt they should improve of their own volition, and shouldn't be helped. The bellhop; Bell Hop, was clearly falling under Animak's aegis of Will of Self, as he wanted to prove to them and himself he could do the daunting task alone. It was his job after all, and he had his pride in his post.

“I'm fine sirs! I'll be just dandy...if we keep moving.” Bell Hop kept climbing, so they continued upwards to the highest room on the tower. While the staircase was external, it was mostly because this was one of the oldest towers in the castle, and wasn't renovated or reconstructed as of yet since it's structure was still sound. They soon made it to the top, and they all moved aside to let Bell Hop set the massive amount of luggage on his back down. “Whew...sirs and madams, should you need me for further assistance; just ring the bell. I'll answer shortly.” Bell Hop bowed and exited the room with pride, and Animak grinned cheekily at Kamina, who pouted.

“Will of Self is so much more rewarding.” Animak boasted.

“Will of Others breeds unity and friendship.” Kamina defended, and they actually glared and butted heads as they growled, their tiger portions of griffin DNA making the growls loud, deep, and genuinely terrifying for Celestia and Rarity, who backed away on instinct.

“B-boys, I don't think there is any real reason to be so at odds.” Rarity tried to diffuse the situation, and the brothers snorted before they backed off from each other.

“Know what? Some time apart would do us good.” They said to each other. “Fine! Be that way!” They both huffed, and Animak stormed off out the door, and Kamina panted a bit in anger, before it suddenly faded and he wilted.

“It hurts....” Kamina clutched his chest with a talon so hard it pierced into his flesh, making him bleed. Animak felt it on the way down, along with his brother's emotional pain, and he shed a tear as he resisted running back to comfort him, and kept going. They had to do this. “Why does it have to hurt like this?”

“You're two halves of a whole son.” Celestia comforted him in her motherly tone, with even extra love added to it, and nuzzled him as Kamina sniffled, and hugged him with both forelegs, neck, and wings. “Twins are blessed and cursed with eternally sharing a connection. Should one feel pain, the other often feels it as well. Should one die, the other is often soon to follow.”

“But it feels like we're dying just spending time apart.” Kamina bemoaned as he buried his face into his mother's warm fur. “We feel...broken. Hollow. Aimless.”

“And that is why you are here son. I will be working with Think Tank, Luna, and Animak to see about stabilizing your conditions. Hopefully we can create some form of trigger that can allow you to willingly disconnect from each other. So that you don't feel so wrong at greater distances.” Celestia let him go, and kissed his brow. “You'll be fine son. Just stay away from Animak until this is resolved. That's the hardest part for you. Animak has the Will to force himself to remain, but your Will of Others won't let you do it alone. That is why Lady Rarity will see to your well-being. Can I trust you with my son Lady Rarity?”

“Absolutely Princess! I shall ensure that his mind is away from his problems in whatever way I can! So long as he helps me with ideas for Twilight's dress.” Rarity reminded them of Twilight's incoming birthday next week. She was a planned foal, and so her birthday was actually in November since her parents conceived her in December.

Twilight regularly tried to make her birthday seem unimportant, but she was turning 19 this year...wow...Kamina's known Twilight for almost two years.... “Time flies....” Kamina again looked off into the distance with a soft smile and glazed eyes, making Rarity roll her eyes while Celestia became worried. If he was so nostalgic over such a short time frame...how bad would he be in a decade? Century? Eternal life made looking back more painful than looking forward. She hoped Kamina could retain his fondness for the past after so long.

“Well...you two go on ahead. I'll be with Animak and the others. DON'T humor Scoddri or Nyx. Their tricks are becoming bothersome.” Celestia left the room, and Kamina took a deep breath to try and calm down.

“O-okay...so Rarity...where would you like me to take you?” Kamina almost regretted his offer upon the diva beaming with sparkles seeming to come off of her. 'What have I gotten myself into?'

===//////>

Kamina practically collapsed into Rarity's room, carrying a mountain of things that Rarity bought, or was gifted with by nobles impressed with her bearing in spite of her commoner background. This was the twelfth party Rarity was invited to in the past WEEK!

Kamina took her on a tour through the city. Said tour of course caught the eyes of everypony, especially the “elite” of society. It didn't take long for those craven rumor mongers Jet Set and Upper Crust to figuratively swoop down upon the naïve and earnest Rarity, who was so swept up into things that she didn't realize the two rumor mill sources were trying to dig up authentic dirt on her to ruin her image. She was a Knight of Equestria; a Duchess by extension, and thus a noble. She was everything the two elitist unicorns despised the thought of; that somepony of “low” birth could be considered their equal in any measure.

Kamina ran damage control though, stopping Rarity from putting her hoof in her mouth, and even managing to completely dismiss her familiarity with Hayseed Turnip Truck; one of AJ's cousins, to be irrelevant beings he was familiar with him too from the reunion over two years ago. Kamina was immensely pleased and lucky when they ended up happening upon Fancy Pants.

Kamina was all too happy to formally introduce Rarity to who he felt was Canterlot's most earnest, and true NOBLE pony. Sure, Fancy had pounced at the idea of spending time with Kamina, beings they are sort-of friends, but he also had the earnest desire to get to know Rarity. This was doubled when he discovered that most of his wife's; Fleur De Lis' clothes were actually from Rarity's shop. It would seem that his butler wasn't forthwith about the source of the wonderful clothes, and had been telling him they were from a premier “ghost” designer in Manehattan. He was going to have a talk with him later about that.

So it was that Rarity was suddenly dragged squealing and cheering into the life of an upper-society pony via Fancy's desire to show her what being a noble meant, at least most of the time, beings Rarity already had experience with the business side of things since she helps Spike govern Ponyville. Really; the mayor was all too happy to leave the biggest decisions on the poor kirin, but Rarity was all too happy to provide him her aid.

Kamina, of course; couldn't leave her to the hyenas like that, so he tagged along on every one of her ventures. She was party hopping! Kamina thought only Pinkie and Game were the ponies among his friends who could actually party hop! Two nights ago in fact; Rarity had gone to three separate parties in a single day, and night. She even made the mistake of getting sloshed from so many things going on at once, and not noting her wine intake over the duration of the day. Kamina actually had to jump in and save her when an opportunistic stallion was trying to get her to “talk business” back at his place.

Oh~ Kamina let him have it. Lord Regal wouldn't be showing his flushed face at any parties anytime soon from the blistering public tongue-lashing he'd received from the prince.

“Why are you so popular?” Kamina asked rhetorically with his face still buried in the carpet of the room.

“Because, darling; I am simply that fabulous.” Rarity pompously replied as she trotted into the room. Her most recent outfit of a flowing velvet red cocktail dress was quite an eye-catcher, especially with the emphasis it put on her flanks. It was far more racy than what any of the mares at the private ball had dared to wear; and she was the envy of every mare there for her drawing the eyes of all their stallions. Rarity's plan? Shock and awe. She shocked the mares, awed the stallions, and made an impression with her beauty, while also remaining of refined stock as she refused any advances in favor of the fact that she was already happily in a relationship, and that Kamina was her friend accompanying her, and it would be rude to dismiss him.

“No doubt. But with you going everywhere with me; the gossip columns are going to be saying we're an item, and we both already have significant others. Shouldn't we...I don't know; relax?” Kamina asked tiredly, as Rarity feigned a thoughtful expression.

“Oh, fine. We have been rather “occupied” this past week, haven't we, hm?” Rarity felt it prudent to point out, and Kamina blinked...before finally noticing.

“I...can't feel him....” Kamina, rather than feel calmed by the realization, began to hyperventilate. “I-I can't feel him! WHERE IS HE?!” He tried to bolt back out the door, but Rarity managed to use her magic to pin him to the floor, but his immense strength made the mare sweat and grit her teeth in effort. “Something's wrong! I have to find him!”

“Darling calm down! They should be along soon!” Rarity had been told earlier that the efforts of disconnecting the twin's connection was going to be brought to fruition today, and to keep up the good work of keeping Kamina distracted. She knew they'd be meeting in the room she was staying in, so she had the perfect chance. But, she realized too late she should've kept quiet, and hoped he didn't notice until his brother had arrived. “S-stop...struggling!”

Animak suddenly entered the room, looking smug, until he saw the situation. “Uh....” Kamina was beyond relieved to see his other half in the doorway, and stopped fighting Rarity's magic. “Am I...interrupting something?” 'Bro, seriously? Rares is Spike's man.'

'ANIMAK!' Animak flinched at the volume and power of his brother's elated thought. “You're okay! I was terrified when I realized I couldn't feel you.”

“That's because we got the switch working. Or knob if you will. Since we can adjust how much we subconsciously share.” Animak explained just before Rarity relaxed and let Kamina go, and was pounced on his desperate brother.

“Turn it on! Turn it back on!” Kamina was practically throttling Animak until suddenly they both felt it, and Kamina relaxed upon feeling the familiar sensation of sharing everything with someone. “You beautiful, evil, sexy, asshole!” Kamina locked lips with his twin, who groaned and returned the kiss as they began to make out, making Rarity flush.

“B-boys! There is a lady present! One who is in a loving relationship with her sexy dream stallion. Could you please not tempt me like this?” Rarity covered her eyes, and her ears were turned back as she heard a grunt and some moans. “I'll just be leaving! You two can have the room tonight!” Rarity teleported out just before Animak jumped the gender fence and things got very wild.

===//////>

The Twins were both panting, sweating as they laid on their backs under the blankets. Animak still a queen. “Wow....” She grunted as she moved her right wing, and it snapped back into place. They were really rough this time, enough to dislocate a wing even.

“Yeah....” Kamina was surprised. They actually swapped roles. Kamina just utterly dominated Animak, and it was always the other way around. They started on the floor by the door, moved to the wall, the window, and finally the bed. The whole time, Kamina was just a feral beast, even worse than Animak at his worst. “Want another go?”

“Holy Tartarus Kamina...I should spend time away from you more often if this is how it'll turn out when we meet back up.” Animak laughed, her husky voice sounded melodic. “But no. Seriously. I've got to change back. Don't want any eggs now do we?” Animak turned back into a king, and Kamina shrugged. “So yeah. Now we can turn our connection off whenever we need or want. Either one of us can turn it off, but we both have to want to connect to reconnect.”

“That's great bro. Ugh...we're all sticky.” Kamina got out of bed, and grunted as he stretched on his way to the bathroom. “I'm taking a shower.”

“I'll join you.” Animak groaned as his injuries rapidly healed, and he sighed as he entered the private bathing room with his twin.

===//////>

“I can't wait to see the look on their faces.” Blitz gushed as they all prepared to burst into the room. Rarity returned to the stairwell to her temporary room only to find her friends all there and about to go up. They all came to Canterlot so they could all celebrate Twilight's 19th birthday together, and meant it to be a surprise for Rarity and the Twin Princes. Rarity warned them the Twins were really frisky right now, but she said it was hours ago, and their mates all said it shouldn't take them that long.

However, they didn't answer to the knocking, so they all curiously looked to each other, and entered quietly, to hear the shower running, and a lot of grunting, moaning, and slapping sounds to come from the bathroom, making them all blush. “They're STILL at it?” Rarity gaped as she looked to the others, and especially Spike, who grinned sheepishly. “Why have you never rutted me like THAT before?”

“R-Rares...Twilight....” Spike blushed and his ears fell back at Rarity asking that in front of his mother figure, who leered at Rarity in turn for her uncouth question.

“Just answer Spike.” Rarity really wanted to know why, because really; if Animak and Kamina had the stamina to go for THIS long, then certainly Spike had it.

“W-well...if I get really, REALLY into it...I can go for hours. Had a lot of fun hiding from Twilight when I had long masturbation sessions.” Spike admitted, making Twilight blush at realizing that was why he'd disappeared sometimes. “And I mean HOURS. I don't want to put you through that Rares. And I know you wouldn't stand for me having to finish myself off....”

“Oh...you wonderful gentledrake. Fine. But someday I expect a romp at least as wild as the one the princes are participating in.” Rarity conceded, knowing she wouldn't have that kind of stamina.

“Well I'm going to put a stop to it. It's my birthday and I want serious sex to be one of my gifts.” Twilight licked her lips, ready to intrude and get an eyeful of her loves. “Just wait out here.” She trotted to the door, and opened it. “Okay you TWO?! WHAT?! GET OUT OF HER NOW!”

“T-Twilight?! What're you doing-?!”

“YOU'RE KNOTTED AREN'T YOU?! DO YOU WANT KAMINA TO BE PREGNANT?!”

“Ugh, finally. Twi, can you get this horny bastard off of me?”

“Oh I'd better! I'M the one bearing our herd's first foal!” Twilight stomped into the bathroom, and slammed the door. Shortly...more moans were being heard, and the rest of the group sighed in exasperation.

“She couldn't resist.” Trixie shook her head in pity. Seeing them at it was always one of the hottest things about their relationships.

“Well she is the birthday filly. I say let her have our stallion's willy.” Zecora chuckled as she turned to head down the stairs. “To the ballroom we will wait. Lest we stay here, and need to masturbate.” Zecora laughed again at how flustered the rest of the group was, but they all headed down to the main ballroom to wait for the birthday mare and the princes.

===//////>

Twilight practically waddled into the ballroom with two sheepish princes in tow a half-hour later. “Ugh...I've never taken you both at once...it's tiring.”

“Sorry. This whole connection and disconnection thing is really intense. When we actually boosted our connection...well....” The Twins looked to each other seductively, and licked their lips. “We couldn't resist the body next to us. Also, you got between us. Sorry about the rough treatment.”

“Not my usual thing, but both of you at once? A nice treat. I'll think of it as my birthday present.” Twilight smiled earnestly at her stallions. “Thanks boys. You make life a lot more interesting.”

“You would be doomed without us.” They winked, and they had a laugh as they approached their mingling friends over by the buffet table that was set out for Twilight's birthday. Even the princesses showed up! Celestia, Luna, Nyx, and Scoddri were attending too. They were chatting with the others and laughing amicably over things.

“Mom! Aunty! I thought you'd be busy.” Animak commented as they approached.

“Well we were, but we decided to take the night off for Twilight. Consider it a bonus gift.” Celestia winked as she materialized a wrapped present, and levitated it over to Twilight. “Happy birthday my wonderful student.” Celestia said as she nuzzled Twilight, who happily returned the gesture.

“Oh~ thank you Princess Celestia! I missed you.” Twilight then took the offered present, and was about to set it on the table with the others when Luna presented her with another present.

“For my dear friend, and my nephew's lover. I hope it helps.” Luna winked, and Twilight blushed, already figuring out what was in the box, and teleported it to her closet back home.

“Mommy, why is Twilight embarrassed?” Nyx asked innocently, only for Luna to snort, and titter as she shepherded her daughter away to play with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle who had been brought by their sisters since they would otherwise be unsupervised with them here.

“You'll know in a few years dear.” Luna stated, getting a disappointed “aw” out of her daughter.

“Thanks for all your help mom.” Kamina said as he hugged his mother, who gladly returned the gesture.

“I'm just glad we could come up with a solution. But from what your friends have told me; the inverse is also true. Over an hour my sons? Really? Are you TRYING for an egg? Do I have grandfoal hippogriffs in my future already?” Celestia teased, getting the twins to blush.

“Mom~!” They whined in unison, and looked at each other in confusion, and intrigue...the idea was oddly attractive, but they weren't going to do something like that, even if their unique genetic structure would keep offspring from being deformed. “N-not for a few years at least....”

“Darn. I want grandfoals to smother with affection.” Celestia pouted cutely, and perked up as suddenly a big white scaly equine was leaning against her whole body.

“But you want more children period before you do that, don't you?” Scoddri teased as he rubbed her toned and lithe tummy, getting a blush and smile out of her at her lover. “Well now. It would seem that things have been focused too much on sex and procreation for my taste, why don't we chat over more simple matters? Such as your friend Rarity successfully party hopping between this one and the garden party outside?”

“Huh?” Twilight asked with a blink, before she looked outside and saw Rarity mingling with the elite of Canterlot society. “Oh! She's talking to Fancy right now. Good move. He owns most of the cotton farms in Equestria, and their processing plants.”

“Actually she already knows Fancy. We've introduced them.” The Twins explained as they too looked out at the garden party, which was full of the snobs they loathed. “She probably saw him out there and decided to chat him up. They've been talking business between her boutique and him supplying her with her bolts of cloth. Fancy's all too eager to do so though, so really they're likely shooting the breeze.”

“I don't mind. She deserves any good fortune she can get her hooves on.” Twilight commented, before turning towards the party, and saw a beautiful fiery dress laying on a chair. “Hey! Is that for me? From Rarity?” Twilight asked as she trotted up to the dress, and levitated it about to get a good look at it. It was a black one-piece dress, with a flame motif to match her Shift element, and it seemed to even move a bit, like a slow burning fire. “Wow!” Twilight slipped it on, and loved how it hugged her curves, and made her look like a dancing fire. “It's beautiful!”

“I made sure Rarity got to working on it between our rampant party spree.” Kamina commented as he looked his first love over, and he smiled softly, before bowing to her. “My fair lady. Would you perhaps grant me this dance?”

Twilight tittered and blushed. She loved when Kamina treated her like a Lady. “Oh, I would be remiss to turn you down good sir. Of course you may dance with me.” Twilight giggled as he kissed her hoof, and they went out onto the dance floor to slow dance, wrapping necks around each other. “I love you Kamina.”

“I love you too Twilight. Happy birthday.” He kissed her cheek, before they continued to just sway about together. Animak, Scoddri and Celestia looked on with soft smiles as the others continued to enjoy the party.

“I love you too.” Animak whispered to himself, and sighed quietly. 'Even though we're one and the same, we're also different. We hold different places in our love's hearts.' Animak was disconnected from Kamina right now, letting him have genuine privacy with his first love, the first one who gave him her heart, and stole his.

“My dear.” Animak happily turned his gaze to Zecora; the one who first took his heart, and kissed her softly when she approached, and she nuzzled him after the kiss. “Alone you seem to be, will you not dance with me?”

“Gladly.” 'I have my own first love too.' They too began to slow dance, humming contently to the soft music. 'Zecora...without you, what would I do?'

Author's Notes:

Yes, very raunchy this one, eh? My mind isn't in the gutter, but I wanted this to be a significant turn in the Twin's relationship dynamic. They're symbiotic, so being split off and reconnected can have interesting effects; like excessive euphoria.

Also, sorry for how long this took. Work is literally killing me. I've developed tendinitis in my wrists, and I've also been working on a side project you should see coming out soon. Soon as in relatively soon. I'm still working on LE first and foremost, and this side project is a short spin-off "prequel" so to say, that has no bearing on the relevance or content of LE. Just a shorty for shits-n-giggles.

...Hopefully short....