Author's Notes:

This chapter contains a sex scene. Please skip to the next chapter if you don't wish to read it.

My gear had thoughtfully been brought in already and neatly placed on a chair by the little fireplace which was merrily roaring away. The rug in front of it looked comfy and inviting, but then, so did the bed; as did Shadow.

She moved up to me, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her eyes burning hot and fierce. I suddenly realised just how much I’d missed her. It may have been one year for me, but it had been five for her. She’d never given up on me even so, desperately trying to reach the mortal world all that time, but five years is still five years and despair eventually took hold, leading her to seek comfort in the monastery. As it turned out, a monastery full of murderers. If I hadn’t come when I had…

Shadow pushed her nose into my neck and huffed deeply, “Fairlight…” she purred.

Unbidden, a horrible thought crashed through my desire with all the subtlety of a derailed locomotive. The heat of my passion was gone in a heartbeat…she didn’t know about Tingles, or Lumin. Oh goddesses, I couldn’t…not now, but I had to tell her or else…

I hung my head, ashamed to even be near her, “Shadow…there’s something I need to…to tell you, love”

She cocked her head on one side, surprised by my words. Hell fire, this was going to be bad. I took a deep breath and ploughed ahead,

“When I returned to the mortal realm, I…” I swallowed, “…I met a pony who helped me, who saved my life. We…we became close.”

Oh Luna, this was it, “We’ve had a foal together. Meadow knows and she’s happy for us, but…Shadow…I don’t know what to say…”

She turned and walked over to the fire, sitting on her haunches and gazed into the flames,

“Five years…”

I stood there, my emotions in turmoil and heart aching. I could only nod.

“Fairlight? You don’t want me?”

I looked up suddenly, “Yes! I do want you! Shadow, I love you…I’ve never stopped loving you. It’s just I…I love her too. I don’t know how all of this happened, it just seemed to-”

“The orange one?” she interrupted quietly.

“Yes…she’s the…” I stammered, “hang on, how did you know? I didn’t say what colour she is.”

Shadow shook her mane, “We dream together. Meadow, Tingles…all of us, together”

I stood there, my mouth hanging open like some stupid fish, “Tingles said she’d seen you in her dreams”.

“The dream world, the Wither world. Close”

She continued to stare into the fire, “You don’t want me?”

“I want you,” I said gently, “Meadow wants you, Tingles wants you. All of us, we want you with us Shadow. You complete me, complete us all.”

Shadow stood tall, her tail swishing as she approached, small burning tears forming in the corner of her eyes,

My felt like I was dying inside, “Oh no, Shadow, please…please don’t cry, goddess knows I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry, look…I’ll go and sleep in the hall with the others, I’m sure you don’t need me…”

A foreleg shot out and blocked my movement toward the door. I followed the slender leg up past the elegant neck to the sharp teeth and burning red eyes. Shadow glowered at me and in a blur of legs and surprising strength, took my hooves out from under me and threw me bodily to the floor on the rug. The thestral stood over me, her eyes blazing and teeth bared…For a moment, I thought she was going to rip my throat out and I closed my eyes expecting the worst.

Seconds passed. I could sense Shadow drawing closer, feel her breath caress my muzzle. The warm cinnamon smell of her tickled my nostrils and I shuddered involuntarily. Clenching my eyes tight shut, I waited for the teeth to close on me, yet incredibly, instead of the expected retribution, a long tongue snaked across my muzzle, sending a shock of sensation into my addled mind. The mares rumbling voice blasted into my head, “MINE!” Then, as barely more than a whisper, sneaking seductively into the back of my conscience…”Mine”

Bringing her muzzle up to mine, Shadow gently held my head in her fore hooves and slowly placed her lips against my own. Her tongue pushed and probed until I opened my mouth to her insistent advance and returned the kiss in kind. Tasting and rolling our tongues around the others, I breathed in her scent, remembering all I did about this incredible mare. I’d missed her so much and at long last, after all this time, she was with me once more.

Shadow let out a soft wordless rumble, pulling on me more and more until with a loud gasp, she released me. As I opened my eyes, I could see her red eyes glowing in the mist I’d inadvertently released, surrounding us in a fog of shining white-blue cloud. The warmth from the fire was still there but Shadow didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes were locked onto mine, focussing only on what was before her. I’d never seen a look in her eyes like this before, even in the prison cell. This…this was primal animalistic drive. I could almost hear her heart hammering in her chest. In wonderment, I watched the midnight coated mare, her chest heaving and nostrils flaring as she ground herself against me before settling back and angling herself just so…

With a loud gasp and a deep sigh, Shadow pushed herself down onto me only to collapse onto my chest, shuddering. A moment later she pushed herself back up and looked down into my eyes, growling menacingly. I was a little taken aback by this aggressive side to her, but she knew what she wanted and as her mate, I was here for her whatever her desires. Reaching down, I took her hips in my hooves and in answer, she rose a little before pushing down again slowly, closing her eyes and hissing out a jet of steam to mingle with the mist.

Shadow began to quicken her pace, pushing faster, harder, and I bucked up to meet her making her cry out. Together we rutted until the whole room filled with steam, mist and our combined groans and gasps. In the white fog, Shadow’s eyes lent a deep red corona to my vision and I reached out to pull her down into a deep kiss, sharing my silver life essence with her. The mare’s tongue took up the silvery magic hungrily, until with an animalistic cry, she pulled away snapping her wings out and suddenly lunged at me.

I gasped when Shadows sharp teeth sank into my shoulder, the pain both sharp and sweet at the same time. I groaned in ecstasy, I’d never felt anything like this before in my life and I wanted more. I leaned forward and gently bit her shoulder opposite where she held mine. The mare moaned wordlessly and ground herself into me ever faster. Little whimpers began escaping from her jaws and she began to shake uncontrollably until, with a final ear splitting cry, her whole body shuddered and she collapsed on top of me.

Before my eyes, Shadow looked down at me with bright silver glowing eyes that made my heart leap in my chest. As I watched, gradually, the ethereal colour faded away, replaced with the red fire I was so familiar with. I’d seen this before, in the prison cell…it was scary but incredibly erotic. What it meant, I had no idea, but it was the same silver as the colour of the essence I had given her.

Shadow pulled herself from me and moved to the bed, eyeing me meaningfully. I picked myself up and went to her. The thestral mare held her forehooves up to me,

“More”

I had to oblige.