"Luna? Luna! Princess Luna!"

Twilight hurried through the winding corridors of the castle, passing though the sections used by the servants and guards to move between the more decorative public chambers. There was no sign of the missing Princess.

Beginning to wonder if she'd imagined the glimpse of star-speckled mane, Twilight turned to a staircase and began climbing, calling out again. Under normal circumstances, she might have hoped some other pony might have seen where Luna had gone, but with the castle all but empty, she was on her own.

"Luna!"

"I am here, Twilight Sparkle."

The soft voice came from above. Glancing up, Twilight saw a door standing open at the top of the staircase, and took the remaining steps two at a time. Only as her new, longer legs slipped out from beneath her did she realise the mistake she'd made.

A cry of surprise rang in the air as she toppled backwards, her new wings awkwardly paddling at the air without slowing her fall, and she tumbled back down to crash heavily to the ground at the foot of the stairs. Her transformation hadn't entirely erased the bruises she'd suffered at the hands of the guards, and her entire body ached.

"Owww," she groaned, rubbing her head dazedly. Had she sprained a wing? Was that what that pain in her back was?

"Twilight!"

The Princess of the Night crouched over her, sudden worry etched into her proud, noble features. "Twilight, are you alright?"

Oddly, the expression of concern on Luna's face almost made the fall worth it. "I... yes, I'm fine. Sorry, I was hurrying, and I... guess I'm not used to this new body, yet."

Luna's arms wound around Twilight, gathering her into the Princess's embrace, and gently lifted her to a sitting position. "You must be careful, Twilight! You could have been hurt."

"It's fine, I promise. I'm just a bit sore. I'm... glad you care, though." Twilight felt her cheeks heat in a blush, looking to one side.

"You are an enormous fool, Twilight. Of course I care for thee. Have I not demonstrated it enough?" Luna's voice was soft. Gently lifting Twilight to her feet, Luna half-shepherded, half-carried her back up the stairs.

The chamber above was small and domed, gilt coating the stone ribs supporting the ceiling. The dome itself was painted with an intricate mural of stars and nebulae, reaching down to frame a wide pair of doors leading out to a sunny balcony. A long couch took up much of the floor, upholstered in deep blue and strewn with pillows. Luna guided Twilight over to it, and sat down with her.

"How do thy wings feel?"

"Um. A little sore. I think I landed awkwardly on this one." Twilight reached behind her and adjusted it, wincing. "I'm not really used to the idea of having wings."

"You will grow accustomed to them, with time."

"Luna..." Twilight hesitated, then forged on. "Did I see you watching the celebration we were having downstairs?"

Luna's lips pressed together, and she glanced away. After a moment, she nodded.

"Why didn't you join us? Was there something... the matter?" Like the fact I was humiliating your sister in front of everypony?

"It was... strange. To see my sister treated in such a manner. More than that, I had never seen her so exposed, so lustful. I know that she has used the charm upon me in the past, but I do not recall it."

"Do you find it, um, unsettling? To see her that way?"

"Yes. ...no. Perhaps. Certainly I hath seen my sister naked before, but the way she looked under your care..." Luna trailed off, looking steadily into the far corner, away from Twilight's face. Her star-dusted mane billowed softly around her.

Twilight gently laid a hand on Luna's thigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, Luna. I really didn't."

Luna blinked, then glanced back at Twilight, with a look of incomprehension. "Why would you assume the fault was thine? It is I that looked upon her, and felt... jealousy."

"Jealousy?" Twilight echoed in turn, her brow furrowing slightly. This was not where she'd feared the conversation was going.

"Yes." Luna bit her lip, then sighed, "I saw you with her, and I felt replaced. It was a foolish emotion, and I am ashamed of it. I had thought myself to have purged such selfishness."

"Luna, no! Of course not, no pony could replace you!" Twilight reached up to turn Luna's head back towards her, and leaned up to kiss her dark lips. She felt the other pony stiffen for a moment, then slowly relax into the kiss. Luna drew her closer, until Twilight was all but sitting astride her lap.

Finally breaking the kiss, Twilight told her sincerely, "Luna, you chose to stay mine. You brought back who I was. I risked you deliberately, I sent you here to be caught, and I'm so, so sorry about that. I couldn't think of any other way. But now everything is over, I want you in my life. I want you to stay with me, all the time that you can. I love you. No matter what happens, nothing will change that."

Luna sniffed, resting her head against Twilight's. "You hath always been closer to my sister than myself. She taught you, all but raised you from a filly. I was merely a scary story, and then a monster. For a while, I became more special to you, one you could depend on when you opposed her. But now my sister has willingly surrendered to thee, you are closer than ever. I would not be offended if you wished to spend more time with her than myself."

Oh, manure. Untangling this was going to be much more difficult, and delicate, than she'd thought. If she wasn't careful to balance the time she spent between the two sisters, she might provoke jealousy between them, or worse, this tragic self-flagellation from Luna. Twilight made a decision, and straightened her back.

"Luna, you're talking complete nonsense," she said firmly.

Luna blinked. "Twilight-"

"No. Listen. I feel different things for you and Celestia. Of course I want to be near her, and we do have a relationship that's built up over the course of my life. She's also been manipulating me that entire time, even if it was done lovingly and for a good reason. I care for her, so much, and I have a lot of feelings bound up in my relationship with her, but it will always be complicated between us. With you, it's... simple. You're noble, and wise, and beautiful, and I trust the purity of your intent, completely. There aren't any layers in the way you speak to me, any cunning tugging of my strings. You always say what you mean."

"You cannot possibly mean such things, Twilight. How could you, or anypony, call me wise? Or noble? I was foolish, and I hurt many. I forced my sister to do unspeakable things to try to contain my darkness, and it broke her heart. You spoke of punishing my sister, but it is I who needs to be punished. I shall always deserve to be punished. Not her."

"Oh, Luna..." breathed Twilight, feeling an aching tightness well up inside her chest. Foolishly, she'd thought that Luna had been cleansed of her guilt by her redemption. Even, if Twilight was honest with herself, cleansed by loving and being loved by Twilight herself. She had been wrong, terribly wrong. "You've been punished enough, Luna! You lost a thousand years, you had everything taken away. Sometimes... sometimes, when ponies get hurt, that makes them wise. You've been hurt so much."

"Not enough. I was banished to save others, cleansed in order to stop my darkness, and when my existence had been nothing but trouble for everypony around me, my sister forgave me. To think that she sought my forgiveness, when the only reason she created such a darkly tempting spell was to try to save me from myself. I have tainted all around me, even thee, Twilight." Luna's voice gathered strength and forcefulness as she spoke, her mane snapping back and forth in agitation. "I can never punish myself enough."

A hollow feeling dropped into the centre of Twilight's stomach. "Luna, are you punishing yourself by giving yourself to me?" It was a ridiculous question, but she couldn't shake the image of Luna secretly using everything they'd done together as a way of hurting herself. Twilight felt tears beading in the corners of her eyes.

Luna jerked, distracted from her deepening pit of anger and despair. "What? Twilight - no! Of course not! I would never have surrendered myself to thee with such false intent. I chose truly to accept thee as my Mistress. You had shown thy love, thy strength in conquering temptation. In conquering myself. I could trust you to guide me, and I would not fear mine own moods and impulses."

"...so you don't trust yourself. Even now."

"How could I, after what came before? I must always be vigilant, for any sign that I could become what I once was."

"Oh, Luna..." breathed Twilight sadly. Lying back along the couch, she gently drew Luna down to lie against her side, and the Princess followed her direction without resistance. "You're not the pony that you once were. You never will be again. I won't let you. Celestia wouldn't let you. But more importantly, you wouldn't do that. You wouldn't. Not after all you've been through. Everypony makes mistakes. But everypony deserves a second chance, too."

Twilight swallowed. "I was going down a path that could have ended badly, when Celestia stopped me. You helped me come back to myself, and made me look at what I was doing. I'm not clean of that temptation. There are times I don't want you to stop me. Oh, Luna, the things I could do... but I'm holding myself back. Ponies deserve to decide what they want."

"Other than Trixie Lulamoon?" Luna murmured.

"...she has six months. Less than that, now. Then she gets to decide what she wants." If she could possibly choose to want anything else, by then. Which, deep down, Twilight knew she was counting on. "She agreed to this in the first place. She's just being punished a little bit for what she was trying to do."

"You know I find such arguments tenuous, Twilight. Six months only." Luna sighed, resting her head on a cushion and gazing quietly into Twilight's eyes. "I do find it comforting. That you can stop me, that you have before and will again, if you must. I cannot relax my grip upon who I am, but it helps to know that others will not suffer if I do fail. But I am not blind to the temptations of thy new power, Twilight. You have proved that you have the strength to defeat myself, and my sister. Not only that, but the ability to turn us willingly to any cause you desire. I shall never stop watching thee for signs of darkness."

"Then we can watch each other. Luna, you must learn to forgive yourself, and I can't do that for you." Twilight hesitated. "I mean - of course I could, but I don't want to. I don't think it would be right. You need to work through this on your own. But being guilty about it won't help you be the pony you want to be. It will only make you obsess about everything that happened, and taint all your happiness. You must stop punishing yourself."

A strange look entered Luna's eyes, something defiant and ashamed in equal measure. "I do not believe I can obey that order, Twilight Sparkle."

There was something wrong with that answer, not just the refusal. There was something wrong with the whole conversation. Something badly wrong, something Twilight couldn't see. She stared at Luna, trying to pin it down. Something that Luna knew, and she didn't. "...Luna, what aren't you telling me?"

Luna's lips pressed together, and she said nothing.

"...Luna. Luna. What are you hiding from me?"

Silence.

"Luna. This conversation isn't going to end, and I'm not going away, until you speak to me."

"It is none of thy affairs, Twilight! It is between myself and my misdeeds alone." Luna's whole body was stiff now, as if she were trying to erect a barrier between them despite their intimate embrace.

Frustration and worry slid towards anger, sharpening Twilight's tone. "Luna, when you gave yourself to me, that wasn't just a game. You're mine. If there's something going on with you that I don't know about, I'm not looking after you properly. I can't protect you from things I don't know about."

Rolling up onto all fours, Twilight planted both hands on Luna's shoulders and stared down at her. "Tell me what you're hiding."

"I will not!"

"You will."

"Wilt thou use thy power upon me to loosen my tongue, Twilight Sparkle? Wilt thou drag it from my lips by force of thy magic? Is that the truth behind thy certainty?" Luna demanded angrily.

"No. I shouldn't need to compel you by force of the charm just to be honest with me!"

That hit home. Twilight saw the defiance in Luna's eyes flicker, a flash of guilt momentarily replacing it. Whatever she was hiding, she was hiding it with a terrible determination that scared Twilight deeply. What was Luna doing that she could be so ashamed of?

Luna bit her lip, and refused to meet Twilight's gaze. "...I cannot tell you," she finally whispered.

"...okay."

Twilight gazed down at Luna sadly, and took a deep breath. "Okay, Princess. I'm not going to force it out of you. But I want you to know that you can come to me, any time, and talk."

Luna looked wrong-footed, a slightly lost expression on her face. "You... are not going to make me comply with thy demand?"

"No, Luna. I won't." Twilight sighed, and pushed herself off the couch. Standing up, she flexed her sore wing slightly, then winced and left it alone. "I'm going back downstairs. You can join us, if you want to."

Turning towards the stairs, Twilight walked slowly, tensed for the sound of Luna's voice calling her back. It didn't come. The stairs spiralled around her, before releasing her into the corridor below, and still, no call came.

Twilight went back to the party.

After that, it hadn't been quite the same. She'd laughed with the others, playing party games, eating the biggest desserts that Canterlot's well-stocked kitchens could provide, then inventing several new ones, hurling ingredients at each other across the pantry, and still, a part of her had been stuck in that tiny chamber, looking down at Luna. Their scanty outfits were wonderful and enticing, reminding her all over again of just how beautiful her friends were, but her appreciation had lacked the spark to drive her to arousal. Perhaps they could tell, for their games had been playfully innocent.

When she'd pictured conquering Celestia, she'd imagined a great pile of her friends and lovers in the aftermath, with Princesses on either side of her, filling up the biggest bed they could find. Instead, despite everything, Applejack had wanted to go back home to check on Applebloom, and to let Big Mac know that everything was alright. Once she'd said that, Rarity had admitted that she wanted to make sure Sweetie Belle was safe, and even Fluttershy awkwardly added that it would be best if she got back to tend to her animals. Pinkie was so torn as to who to go with, she'd grabbed handfuls of her fluffy mane and tried to pull herself into two separate ponies, before Twilight had taken her aside and told her that since Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy might be feeling bad they'd left her side, it would be best if she went with them to keep their spirits up.

That left Rainbow, who was in no hurry to rush back to weather patrol, Zecora, and Trixie. Not to mention Celestia, and Luna. Still enough to fill up quite a large bed, but she hadn't felt like it. Instead, she'd gently sorted out separate rooms near hers for the three of them, and told Celestia that she'd see her in the morning. From the look on Celestia's face, it was clear that she sensed something was amiss, but she gracefully let it go.

And so, Twilight lay in her old bedroom, by herself.

If anything, the familiar bed and the massive exertion of the day ought to have tired her out to the point she couldn't have stayed awake if she tried. That, however, didn't account for the changes in her body. Every time she laid on her back, her new wings were crushed, when she rolled onto her stomach her newly enhanced breasts were flattened uncomfortably, and having grown taller, the bed felt too small, even if there was still plenty of room for her. The tattooed rune circle across her chest ached.

She tossed and turned fitfully, snatching sleep in fits and starts, now and then waking enough to groan in heartfelt protest. Glimpses of the intricate wall clock in the pale moonlight showed that time was passing intolerably slowly. Finally, Twilight sighed deeply and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Luna was standing by her bedside, clad in a deep blue nightgown.

Twilight's heart juddered in her chest, and she let out an involuntary squeak of surprise. The Princess of the Night looked up at Twilight, and in the tenuous light of the stars, Twilight saw the glistening tracks of tears running slowly down her face.

"...Luna! What's the matter? Are you alright?" Twilight jerked upright, heedless of her nudity, and reached for Luna's hand.

A very small noise escaped Luna's lips, and she squeezed Twilight's fingers hard.

Tugging Luna closer, Twilight guided her down to sit on the side of the bed. Running her free hand gently through Luna's feathers, she asked softly, "Luna, what's wrong?"

Luna gave another tiny, choked sob, before whispering huskily, "I dreamed that you were dead, Twilight. I saw thee broken on the ground, and it was my fault. I dreamt it over and over, finding thy lifeless body a dozen different ways. I had to come and be certain that you yet lived."

"Oh, Luna," whispered Twilight. "It's okay, I'm so sorry, but it's okay, I'm here, nothing is going to happen to me." She crawled out of the blankets and hugged Luna tightly, wrapping her wings and arms around her. Luna closed her eyes, curling into Twilight's body, seeming suddenly small and vulnerable in a way that had nothing to do with her size. Stroking the back of Luna's neck, Twilight murmured small, soothing noises.

After a few moments, Luna's breathing steadied, and she gave Twilight a shaky look of gratitude. It was enough for Twilight to risk asking the question that occupied her mind. "Luna, you... get nightmares?" she asked softly.

Luna's body went rigid in her arms.

Twilight winced, wishing instantly that she'd never asked. "I'm sorry, that wasn't the time to ask that. I'm very sorry."

"You do not understand." Luna's voice was choked with emotion, and she shuddered as she heaved a deep breath. "I choose to. I deserve to."

Something precious, essential, froze solid within Twilight. Her lips parted, but nothing came out.

"The Tantabus. I created it, to, to punish myself. Every night, it gives me the nightmares I deserve to suffer," Luna pushed out in a rush, as though she didn't dare stop talking for fear she would never start again.

Twilight's voice was soft, horrified. "Luna... how long has this been going on? When was the last time that you slept without nightmares?"

"I do not remember." Luna hung her head. "I did not sleep, the night after I was stopped by thee and thy friends. I was too consumed with guilt. The night after, I created the Tantabus. Only then, knowing that I would be punished as I needed to be, could I consign myself to sleep once more."

"So... the night that I woke up to find you sleeping in my bed... you were having nightmares, the whole time you were sleeping beside me? I thought you were happy." Heartbreak filled Twilight's voice, too complete to even try to conceal. Her chest ached, a strange pressure clamping down too tightly for her to draw a full breath.

"I was! When I woke, I was very happy to be occupying thy bed."

"But when you were asleep, you were being tormented. Why didn't you say anything?"

Luna looked aside, and on her face, Twilight saw the same mixture of shame and stubbornness that had defeated all attempts to get have her open up before.

"Okay." Twilight's tone was brittle, and she spoke slowly and carefully. "I'm going to talk now, Luna, and I don't want you to speak. Not a word until I'm finished."

Luna's lips twitched, and she nodded once.

"I'm going to tell you how I punished myself for everything I've done wrong." The words came slowly, toneless. "You see, Luna, I know I've made mistakes, and hurt ponies. They've told me, shown me. Then they told me that because of what I'd done to them, they were forced to forgive me, and be mine anyway. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten that they didn't choose all this. So I got upset. Then, when they were gone, I put my hand flat on a table, and picked up a heavy bookend."

"Twilight!"

"Hush, Luna. I broke my hand. Then I kept smiling and acting normally, and didn't tell anyone. The next evening, I healed it up with magic, and then, I did it again. And again. I-"

Twilight yelped as she was forced onto her back, Luna pinning her down with an iron grip. Tears flooded the Princess's sparkling eyes, and she breathed in tones of frightening determination, "Twilight Sparkle, I swear by all that I stand for, you shalt never injure thyself again! Not ever! I shall ensure it! I will not stand idly by-"

"I didn't! I didn't do it!" Twilight all but yelled.

Sharp, dangerous silence fell.

"I didn't hurt myself," Twilight said more softly. "I wouldn't. But Luna, you are. The way you just felt, the hurt, the horror, the desperation and determination to make me stop... that's how I feel. It frightens me that you're doing this to yourself. It frightens me that you believed me when I said I'd done something like it. Luna, you're hurt. Deep inside, you're wounded, and that hurt is making you hurt yourself more. This has to stop. You have to let yourself heal."

Luna didn't move, her hands resting on Twilights shoulders, her chest rising and falling against the neckline of her dark nightgown with each breath. With a look of terrible loss on her face, she whispered, "You don't know what you're asking me to do, Twilight."

"I'm asking you to forgive yourself. I know. You hurt ponies before, and that can't be fixed. But you've hurt yourself too. You're not a monster, Luna. I wouldn't love you if you were." Twilight hesitated, feeling frustration well up within her. She couldn't argue Luna into forgiving herself by what other ponies thought of her. Luna had to believe in herself.

"Luna - what you've done to yourself. Would you have done that to any other pony?"

"Never! I would never do such a thing." The question seemed to rekindle a little of Luna's customary certainty.

"Even if they had done something really bad?"

"I would not use my power in such a way, Twilight. I understand thy point."

"I'm not sure you do. Why wouldn't you do that to someone bad?"

Luna pushed herself up into a sitting position. "Because my power is a sacred trust, Twilight! It is my role to guard the dreams of all ponykind. I would never bring a single pony to harm, no matter what they had done. But I am betraying no trust when it is myself that should suffer."

"That's not the point." Twilight propped herself up on her elbows. "Luna, no pony could be a more dedicated guardian than you. You're a good pony, and nopony else should be trusted with that power. That's why I'd never interfere with your duty. A pony like that... strong, trusted, faithful to protecting all around her... that's what I see. What we all see. I believe in you."

More quiet. Twilight listened intensely to the sound of Luna's breathing, staring at the dim outline of her face, trying to divine the feelings and emotions moving beneath.

"...and what if thy trust is misplaced?" she asked, finally.

"It isn't. But you have ponies around that could help you, if you ever felt yourself slipping. Celestia would help you. I would help you. I'm going to be around... forever. I won't leave you alone."

"You wish to maintain this arrangement, indefinitely? It was made when thee were mortal. I had thought, with the weight of time settling across your shoulders, you might wish to reconsider." Luna's voice was filled with a carefully constructed calm, one that hid her emotions.

"I want to keep you. I don't know what will come next, and maybe I'm too young to really understand what I'm promising, but I want to keep you."

Luna's shoulders slumped, as if an invisible wire had been cut. "...what would you have me do? Mistress."

Relief flooded Twilight, so powerful that a shudder ran through her. Unshed tears gathered in her eyes. "I want you to destroy the Tantabus, Luna. Right now. Then you're going to sleep in my bed with me, and Luna, you're going to have nice dreams."

Luna nodded, unable to fully meet Twilight's gaze. Her voice hoarse, she whispered, "As you command."

It had taken hours, and Twilight hadn't slept for any of them. She'd wondered if Luna might disappear entirely, her body physically walking into the world of dreams, but it hadn't worked out like that. Instead, she'd lain back and simply glowed, softly. Her expression, at first serene, had quickly become troubled, and groans and whimpers had fallen from her lips, each one making Twilight jerk with nervous worry.

Triumphing over Celestia should have meant she never had to feel helpless again, not with the power of three alicorns and the charm at her beck and call. Of course, that idea was stupid, but she hadn't expected the folly of it to be pointed out to her so quickly. Eventually, with Twilight on the verge of rousing Celestia, Luna's eyes had opened. The Tantabus was gone, she'd said.

It took a lot of willpower not to use the charm to check that Luna spoke the truth, but Twilight managed not to speak the words. Instead, she had simply drawn Luna down beside her, and held her tightly.

Luna had now been sleeping for hours, while the best Twilight had managed was a tentative half-doze, startling awake every so often to make certain Luna looked relaxed and at peace. It was a pretty terrible way to recover from the trials of her battle with Celestia, and ascension to Princesshood.

All the same, it was worth it for the moment that Luna stirred, looked up at Twilight, and whispered, "My dreams were without suffering. Thank you."

Twilight leant down from her sitting position, and gently kissed Luna's forehead beside her horn. "Thank you for telling me. And listening to me. Don't ever do something like that again, okay?"

"I shall not. I promise thee."

Twilight smoothed her hand across Luna's cheek, and down the side of her neck, marvelling at the softness of her deep blue skin. Nopony spoke for a few moments, because nothing needed to be said. Warm sunlight shone gently through the arched windows.

Finally, Luna sighed contentedly and gave Twilight a small, wry smile. "You did not sleep this night, did you, Twilight?"

"Not very much," Twilight confessed.

"Foolish Mistress. Dress and come with me." Luna swung her legs out of Twilight's small bed and stretched magnificently, her wings spreading wide.

Twilight blushed, tugging the sheet a little higher over her chest, and asked, "Um, Luna, where are we going?"

"To breakfast! I shall not take no for an answer!"

Unable to quell a giggle at Luna's imperious tone, Twilight got up and moved to her wardrobe, moving with a trace of shyness as she exposed her nude body. Immediately, a problem presented itself.

"...none of these are going to fit me, are they. Even my clothes from just before I left for Ponyville."

"Where is thy admirable adaptability, Mistress? For shame." Luna smiled, strolling over to stand at Twilight's side.

The gown Luna wore was a little translucent in the daylight, and Twilight couldn't help but be very aware of every hint of her statuesque body beneath. Stealing glances at her, she hesitantly replied, "I could... see if any of this might sort-of fit me. But the underwear really won't."

"Then I shall restrain myself, and not chastise thee for thy lack of decorum, Mistress."

"You aren't wearing underwear, either."

"Do you wish me to change that?" Luna inquired smoothly.

"Um, no. Not at all."

"I did not think so. Perhaps this skirt? It is long enough, and was once loose upon you." Luna took down a purple skirt, that might previously have been knee length, and held it out for inspection.

"Well, I can give it a try..." Twilight accepted the skirt, looking at it dubiously, then unfastened the side and stepped into it. Her face went crimson as it became stuck half-way up her thighs. "This isn't going to work, is it."

"Nonsense, Twilight. Girdle thy determination." Luna gripped the waistband, and tugged firmly, working it up Twilight's legs. "There, it does fit."

Twilight wriggled, trying to get comfortable. The skirt was skin-tight across her ass, and ended several inches up her thigh, clinging to her body with a dedication that suggested a sudden movement might split the entire thing. "I'm not sure I'd really call this fitting." she murmured.

"I consider it most fitting," Luna declared with satisfaction. "Now, my Mistress, what of this blouse? It is elegantly cut."

"It'd end mostly up my stomach. That wouldn't look right."

"Your point is not without merit. What else might you attempt?"

Twilight winced. "Well, there was a top I was given as a present. It wasn't loose before, but it's stretchy?"

"That may do. Bring it out."

Pulling open a drawer, Twilight sorted through the scant contents. She hadn't had much variety in her clothes even before she'd gone to Ponyville and taken a trunk with her, and what was left mostly consisted of things she hadn't worn often, or even at all. Her fingers touched deep blue cloth, and she drew out a strap-shouldered top with a copy of her cutie mark prominently displayed over the left side of her chest. The way it bared her shoulders had previously led to its relegation to the bottom of a drawer, but now offered the best chance of fitting around her new body. Pulling it over her head, she began struggling into it.

Luna's lips parted approvingly. "I have not always appreciated the shifting fashions of Canterlot, but now I see that these modern clothes do indeed have potential."

Twilight looked down at herself.

"No."

"Truly, Twilight?"

"No way."

"Not even at my request?" Luna asked innocently.

The top fit, which is to say, it had not ruptured, nor was it attempting to crush Twilight's rib cage. It was, however, short enough to bare a wedge of her stomach, and made shorter by the way it stretched over her expanded chest. The image of Twilight's cutie mark framed one firm breast with a bright star, and her nipples showed visibly through the cloth.

Twilight groaned. Luna had trumped her. "...fine. For breakfast. I'm not going out in public like this."

"Then let us dine. There is a private dining hall nearby, which I often avail myself of. I trust thee to assist me in avoiding public areas along the way."

"Believe me, Princess, nopony is going to see me like this but you."

Pushing open her chamber door, Twilight peered around it. The top of her little stairwell was deserted. "Okay, Luna. Let's go."

"Are we to play at spies, Mistress?" Luna's tone was gently teasing. "I always enjoyed such games with my sister while we lived at our Castle together. There were marvellously elaborate secret passages! Canterlot Castle appears to have a little less of them, though I suspect I have yet to discover most of them."

Twilight gave Luna a sideways look, thinking about Celestia sitting invisibly behind a two-way mirror as her guards fucked. "I think you'll find there are a lot," she remarked cryptically, creeping up to a corner, then hurrying down the corridor beyond. "Which way is it from here?"

"Up the fourth stairwell for two floors, then down a long passageway with a crimson carpet, and the last chamber on the right."

"Oh! Yes, I know that one. I used to read in there." Twilight smiled in recollection. "It was always so quiet, and you could open the balcony doors to let in the breeze."

Luna captured Twilight's hand and squeezed it. "It pleases me that we have such things in common, Twilight. I enjoy feeling close to thee."

The gentle pink flush on Luna's cheeks was matched by Twilight, a secret, giddy feeling of happiness welling up in her chest. All but skipping down the hall, she took the familiar staircase upwards. After two complete turns of the spiral, she led Luna out and along the deserted corridor. "It seems like the castle is still pretty quiet. I wonder if everypony was let back-"

A door slammed ahead, and the sound of voices came from a side passage.

"-never mind!" Twilight grabbed Luna by the hand and yanked her sideways. The Princess of the Night yelped in protest as Twilight dragged her through a small door and slammed it shut behind them. Darkness. Twilight lit a tiny light at the tip of her horn.

Shelves of mundane cleaning implements, spare curtains and cushions and a rack of candles stared her in the face. There was scarcely enough room for her and Luna to cram into the tiny space between shelves and door.

"Is this the place for a sudden tryst, Mistress? Shall I get on my knees?" Luna inquired calmly, with a glint of mischief in her sparkling eyes.

"Luna. Stop that," Twilight whispered. pressing her ear to the door. Footsteps were approaching outside, at least two voices. Mares. She listened hard.

"-haven't been in there myself, but Crystal Chime says the audience chamber looks like a thunderstorm happened in there, a really bad one."

"I'm glad I don't have to clean that up."

"They have to get a stoneworker first, there's a crater in the floor."

"I mean, it's not the first time there's been a big fight in the castle, but a new Princess? I can't imagine it. That just doesn't happen."

"Well, they say - hang on, let me get some candles from the cupboard."

Twilight's eyes went wide. They were going to catch her and Princess Luna, in a cupboard, half dressed! Seizing the door handle with both hands, she pulled as hard as she could, giving Luna an urgent, panicked look.

Luna couldn't entirely suppress her smile.

The door rattled.

"Oh, this stupid door's got stuck again. Help me get it open?"

Twilight reached back and gripped a shelf with one hand for leverage, hanging onto the door handle with all her might. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her distress must have communicated itself to Luna; the Princess's hand settled over Twilight's, and gripped the handle firmly. Outside, Twilight could hear the two maids straining to pull the door open, but they might as well have been trying to tow a mountain.

"Whew. I don't think it's going to open, this time."

"Maybe we can ask Gilt to do it? He's pretty strong."

"Oh, really? Any excuse to talk to him, right?"

"Like you can talk. At the servants and guards ball, you were-"

The voices faded down the corridor. Twilight became aware that her hand was being crushed beneath Luna's iron grip.

"I think they're gone now. You can, um, let go."

Twilight surreptitiously shook life back into her fingers as Luna released the handle, then eased the door open a fraction. Peering around it, she checked up and down the corridor. "Nopony. Come on, we're almost there."

Leading Princess Luna by the hand, Twilight stepped out of the closet and hurried down the corridor, ears pricked for the sound of the maids returning. Pushing the final door open a fraction, she peered inside and breathed a sigh of relief to find it empty. Sunlight gleamed from the polished surface of the long oak table, broad, comfortable chairs set around it, and the wood-framed balcony doors were ajar, letting in a cool breeze.

Luna closed the door behind them, a smile on her lips. "You are so nervous to be seen with me, Mistress?"

"Well - well, in a cupboard, dressed like this..." Twilight looked down at herself, gesturing mutely at the way the stretchy top strained over her chest. "What would they think?"

"They would think that we were lovers, I would imagine. Is this not the truth?"

"Yes, of course. But..." Twilight sensed a pit gaping open ahead of her, and stopped talking.

Luna looked a little more serious, seating herself at the table. "Twilight, you must understand that thy loves and trysts shall be impossible to fully conceal. Within a castle as busy as this one, furtive movements between rooms are noticed. In Ponyville, too, I should imagine that the intensity of feeling between thee and thy slaves has begun to become apparent. Unless thy earnest wish is to expend all thy efforts concealing the truth and hiding thy affections in front of all other ponies, you must resign yourself to this becoming an open secret, at best."

"...oh," murmured Twilight. "I hadn't thought of that." Of course, everypony had heard of somepony that lived in a complicated relationship, but she hadn't ever expected to end up in one herself, let alone with so many lovers. Even then, her complex relationships with the other Elements of Harmony might go unremarked, but if it came out that she was dating one of the Princesses...

If it came out that was dating both Princesses, at the same time...

She swallowed.

She'd be the subject of gossip for every idle tongue in the whole of Equestria. Which, she had to remember, meant that people would be talking about her lovers as well as her. That might make them unhappy too. She was going to have to talk to them, all of them.

Finally, she looked up. "Luna," she asked plaintively, "what am I going to do?"

Luna's gaze was not unsympathetic. "Rise above it, Twilight. Do not speak of thy relationships unless it pleases you to. You have no duty to confess them to anypony. Let those who will speak of such things guess at thy doings if they must. Thy loves are thine own, not to be held back for fear of what other ponies may think. Lives are too short for such things, both theirs and our own. Act without fear."

"Have you... before"? Twilight asked awkwardly, wincing at her inability to ask a direct question.

"Before the darkness came, I had taken consorts. I did not care to address questions upon the nature of my relationships, and others quickly learned not to ask."

Twilight inhaled deeply, and let the breath go. "You're right. I don't have to tell anypony. I shouldn't be worried."

"You may wish to tell one pony, however. If you seek guidance upon thy love affairs. Thy friend Cadence will be at the castle soon."

"Cadence is coming? Here?" Twilight looked around hurriedly, as though her former foalsitter might burst out of hiding at any moment and catch her and Luna half-dressed together.

"Of course, Twilight," Luna replied patiently. "You have become royalty. She will be coming to attend thy coronation."

"My coronation..." murmured Twilight weakly. Of course, it made perfect sense. She was an alicorn, and that made her royal, and so she would have to have a coronation. In front of everypony. "Is it too late to hide in my room and read books until everypony goes away?"

"You do not mean that. It will be a wonderful occasion, my Mistress. There shall be readings, and celebration, and in all likelihood, a parade in thy honour."

"A parade." Hiding under a pile of books was sounding better and better. No one ever warned her that becoming Empress of all Ponykind was going to involve parades.

"In the meantime," Luna concluded unperturbed, "some breakfast would be best. Shall I summon a servant?"

Twilight opened her mouth to answer, then paused. Think things through. Was it really so bad that somepony saw her in her tight-fitting clothes? ...not really, she concluded, though after a brief internal tussle with herself. Was it a problem if someone saw her with Luna? Of course not, at least, not now they weren't hiding in a cupboard together. "...Luna, do you mind the castle servants seeing you in your nightgown?" she asked finally.

"Not at all. It would not be the first time."

There was probably, Twilight thought, some rather heated competition for the role of tidying Luna's quarters. "Okay," she replied, nodding slowly.

Luna smiled approvingly. "Confidence in thyself, Mistress. With your leave, I shall request some food be brought here."

At Twilight's nod, Luna slipped out of the room, leaving the young pony alone with her thoughts. Cadence. Could she really tell Cadence that she was dating - she actually had to pause to count - nine ponies at the same time? Two of them sisters, not to mention the fact that they were the most powerful ponies in the realm. There was no way she could even hint about all of the twisted games she was playing with them. Except... if she didn't tell Cadence at least something, she was going to figure out something was going on anyway.

And under all of her fretting, a single memory, playing itself out over and over. The half-glimpsed shape of Cadence lying across the couch, her quiet groans hanging in the air. That brief memory, seen though an open door, had stayed with Twilight since she was young. If she truly wanted Cadence, she could have her.

No. She'd never disrupt Cadence's relationship, not when she was so obviously happy, and especially when it was Twilight's own brother that she was dating. The crush she'd nursed through her filly years was never going to be fulfilled, and that's how it was.

The door opened, drawing Twilight from her thoughts, and Luna stepped into the room once more. The sunlight struck her body, her nightgown floating out behind her in the breeze from the balcony. Her mane of stars shifted and danced, and a warm smile graced her lips. She was beautiful. She was nobility and grace incarnate, and she belonged to Twilight alone.

What ridiculous greed, to be pouting over not having Cadence, when she had Luna, and Celestia, and Applejack, and... all the ponies, that loved her more than she deserved. Twilight smiled at Luna in return, and said gently, "You look incredible. I feel so lucky, just looking at you."

"And I, thee." Luna leant down and kissed Twilight, unhurriedly, tenderly.

A long, soft groan of pleasure thrummed through Twilight. Her hands instinctively moved to Luna's sides, smoothing up and down through the thin nightgown, before rising to cup her firm breasts. "Mmm," she murmured against Luna's mouth. "These are so lovely... so full and warm in my hands."

Leaning softly into Twilight's hands, Luna breathed softly, "My body is thy plaything, Mistress. Do with me what you will."

"Oh, I will, I will... I have such plans for you, Luna." Sharp, urgent heat throbbed through Twilight, a rush of goosebumps prickling up her arms. Her nipples jutted against the tight embrace of her overly-clinging top. Kneading Luna's soft breasts, entranced by the feeling of power over the submissive Princess, she spoke softly. "I want to dress you up, like the prettiest, sluttiest maid in the castle. You're going to have such a tiny frilly skirt, and a tiny bodice that you spill out of every time you bend over. Which I will make you do. Often. You're going to be my cute, eager sextoy."

Gasping, eyes wide, Luna nodded jerkily. "As you wish, my Mistress. I shall be thy servant, dressed however would please you. My body is thine own, to do with as your heart desires."

"Yes, it is, and I have such desires for you..."

A clatter came from the corridor.

Before she knew what she was doing, Twilight had hurled herself into the next chair over, making some space between herself and Luna, straightened up, and tried her best to look calm and composed. Her cheeks felt hot, and the tingling in her chest was almost certainly betraying her. Luna, for her part, calmly settled into the chair Twilight had just vacated, seemingly untroubled by the way her nipples clearly jutted against the flimsy gown.

A tentative knock sounded at the door, and it creaked open. A minty-green mare backed into the room carefully, pulling a tray. She had a carefully combed mane of warm orange, and wore a neat maid's uniform.

Even facing away from them, Twilight recognised her.

Immediately, Twilight's thoughts flew back to when she'd infiltrated the castle in disguise with Trixie, gathering components for the new charm. Trixie had lied, and needed to be spanked, and they'd been caught in the act by this very pony. Thankfully, she had just stuttered something embarrassed, and left them to it. Of course, that had given Twilight a pony she knew was currently on the rota to clean Celestia's quarters.

Trixie had been sent to charm her, and instructed her to draw the hidden rune pattern of the defence circle on Celestia's floor, under all the rugs. The maid had chalked the pattern perfectly, and probably had no idea she'd done it. She had no idea how much she'd been involved in the plot to overthrow Celestia, and now, here she was.

"It's Misty Morning, isn't it," Twilight said before she could stop herself.

The maid spun around quickly. "Y-yes, miss! I - I mean..." She trailed off as she stared at Twilight openly, her gaze lingering on her wings and horn, before shifting to her tightly encased bust. Misty's mouth fell open. "P-Princess? I - I'm so sorry!" She immediately flung herself to her knees, and bowed her head.

Twilight frowned. For the first time, someone was kneeling to her because they were nervous of her rank, and it didn't feel good at all. Pushing back her chair, she walked around the table and crouched in front of Misty, careful not to let her skirt ride up her legs.

"Misty?" she asked gently. "It's okay. Hello. My name is Twilight."

Misty blinked, then lifted her head and looked at Twilight's face more carefully. "But - Twilight Sparkle isn't a... but you are. You are Twilight Sparkle, aren't you? I remember seeing you at the unveiling of the windows, after the changelings, I mean, I didn't see you at the time, but I saw you later, and I wasn't around when the fight happened, I was hiding in the bedrooms, and-" She cut herself off, her face crimson.

Plainly, Misty Morning was wishing the floor would open and swallow her up; Twilight recognised the look. "Misty, really, it's okay. I'm just a pony, like you. Something happened to me, and I look different, but... I'm just a pony." Taking Misty's hands, Twilight straightened a little, guiding the maid up onto her feet once more. "You don't have to call me Princess, or bow, or kneel, or anything. Please. Just call me Twilight."

Nervously, Misty Morning let herself be tugged upright, nodding quickly. "Anything you say, Princess! I mean, Princess Twilight. I mean, Twilight. I, um, I, um, I have your breakfast for you!" Dashing behind the trolley, letting it form a tiny barrier between herself and Twilight, she squeaked, and added hurriedly, "Good morning, Princess Luna, I'm sorry for not greeting you sooner!"

"Do not trouble thyself." Luna smiled at her. "I understand that Twilight's transformation is hard to ignore."

"T-thank you!" Swallowing, Misty pulled herself together. Struggling to reassert some professional dignity, she placed her hands on the two silver tureens. "Your breakfast, Princesses." Setting out one before Twilight, and the other before Luna, she laid out knives and forks beside each, then poured two tall glasses of clear water from a jug. About to back out of the room, she hesitated, then asked quickly, "Pr- Twilight, could I ask how you know my... my name?"

At some point, she really ought to tell the girl the truth. Or at least, some of it. But at that moment, Twilight couldn't begin to think how. "I, um, I heard your name. When I was visiting Celestia. I think you tend to some of her suite, sometimes?" She sounded lame in her own ears, but Misty Morning seemed to believe it.

"Oh, um, of course. Sorry. Enjoy your breakfast!" The door shut quickly behind her.

Luna looked sideways at Twilight. "Well, Twilight, that was thy first taste of royalty. How did thee enjoy it?"

"It was awful." Twilight stared at the closed door in borderline-horror. "She was terrified of even talking to me!"

"Not all ponies are like that, Twilight." Luna smiled wryly. "Some are nervous, some ingratiating, but you will find that many of thy subjects are simply delighted by your presence, and honoured by your regard."

"My subjects?"

"Twilight, what I saw did you credit. You did not attempt to play a role for her. Nor did you take pleasure in seeing her tremble before thee. I would not have expected thee to, and yet, it was still good to see. Thy warm heart will hold thee in good stead, as you come to grips with thy new role. Hold onto it." Luna's hand settled on Twilight's, and squeezed reassuringly.

Visions of the various inhabitants of Ponyville bowing down before her flashed before Twilight's eyes, each pony wearing an awkward, slightly unhappy look of confusion and intimidation. Finally, she shook herself free of the images, frowning unhappily. "I'm beginning to see why you really didn't want me to call you Princess. I'm sorry about that."

"Do not let it trouble you overmuch, Twilight. In time, the ponies you know and love will put aside thy change in status, and see the pony beneath the trappings of authority." Luna smiled at Twilight, and squeezed her hand again. "Shall we have breakfast, my Mistress?"

"Yes, I think that'd be best. You know, Luna, Misty Morning is part of how I managed to win. She just doesn't know it." Twilight levitated the lid off her plate, and blinked. Beneath sat a gently steaming pie, with a pair of cupcakes by the side for dessert. "This is an apple and berry pie, with cherry cupcakes, isn't it? I haven't had this for ages!"

Luna beamed. "I asked the castle staff to prepare thee thy favourite meal, from when you were a permanent resident here."

"That was very considerate, thank you! I'm amazed they remembered. This isn't really breakfast food, but I am hungry." Twilight picked up her cutlery and cut into the pie, sighing happily as a fresh curl of steam escaped.

"You underestimate how much people here cared for thee, Twilight. Thy name is also all over the castle, under the circumstances. I expect Misty Morning to fuel such speculation." Luna's expression turned curious as she lifted aside her own tureen, revealing a fresh salad. "In what way did this maid aid thee? You hath charmed her?"

A new voice rang out from the doorway. "Misty Morning chalked a rune circle across my floor, without my knowledge. It was very neatly done."

Twilight jerked. Celestia stood in the doorway, wearing a long dress of simple grey silk. The door stood ajar behind her. "Oh! Princess - I mean, Celestia. Good morning."

"Good morning, Empress. Good morning, sister, dearest." Celestia gave Luna a warm smile as she crossed the room to settle beside Twilight, setting down a tray before herself. Lifting her tureen and uncovering a complex salad, she picked up the delicate porcelain cup beside her plate and sipped the steaming tea within. "Perhaps Twilight could better explain her reasons to you," she suggested mildly.

Twilight swallowed, feeling abruptly self conscious. "Um. Well, I needed to prepare a defensive ward, to stop you immediately charming me. I, um. I never actually broke the charm. All you had to do was get my earmuffs off. I was lying. To you, and through Luna, too. Sorry about that."

Celestia narrowed her eyes, an amused smile spreading across her lips. "Truly, Twilight. The entire rune circle was a ruse?"

"Well, it did protect the other ponies from being charmed by you, but... yes. It was all a big trick. I couldn't break the charm, only change the activation words with the one I made, and I couldn't use that one on myself." Twilight smiled awkwardly as she looked from Princess to Princess.

Luna frowned. "So there is no way to remove the charm?"

"I'm afraid not. Sorry, Luna."

Celestia nodded thoughtfully. "I believed it was impossible to remove. Though you were always special, Twilight. I believed if anyone could do so, it would be you."

"I hoped you'd think that. If you guessed you only had to get the earmuffs off, I wouldn't have stood a chance. Even if you believed you had to charm me first, I had to stop you just doing it, and going straight for the muffs. Trixie helped me create a design that interrupts the charm's binding forces."

Luna gave Twilight a flat look. "Trixie. Truly."

"She did! We worked on it together, but Luna, she really tried hard for me. I didn't order her to do it, and I didn't charm her to want to work that hard, either."

Celestia gave Twilight an interested look. "What did you do to her? I had ponies watching over you in Ponyville, but when you left, they couldn't follow."

"...well, I offered to teach her, if she agreed to be mine for a while. Then when I charmed her, she told me that it was all a trick to steal everything I knew, then charm all my friends and take my place. So I, um. Punished her, a little." The words were getting harder to speak, especially in the face of Celestia's calm curiosity.

"How did you punish her, Twilight?"

"I just - made it so that she couldn't betray me. And she knew I knew what she'd tried to do. And if she lied, she has to ask me to... um." Twilight's face was growing crimson, and she sheepishly pushed one of her cupcakes around on her plate. "...spank her."

"Twilight." Luna gazed at Twilight reprovingly. "Those are not all the instructions she labours under."

"She has to insult herself all the time as well!" Twilight blurted in a rush, hunching her shoulders in embarrassment. Hurriedly, she dug her fork into her pie and ate a bite.

"You surprise me, Twilight." Celestia's tone was amused. "But you did not tell her to fall in love with you, which she plainly has."

Twilight choked, a lump of carrot going down her throat the wrong way.

"The ponies I had asked to watch over you had reported on it. I had wondered if you had gone so far as to compel her unconditional love."

"I didn't!" But now she thought about it, what other word could there be for the way Trixie looked at her? The way she'd given everything she had for her? "...but that's probably because I charmed her, and being charmed feels good."

"Or because you forced her to be trustworthy, and treated her as someone you cared about," Celestia riposted conversationally.

...or that, Twilight conceded. Of course, she'd known that Trixie was attached to her, even been working to make sure Trixie liked being hers so much that she wouldn't want to leave when the 'punishment' period was up, and yet to hear it in those words...

Think about it later.

"Anyway, I had a rune design which would work to block the charm, but I needed to get it into the chamber. I was pretty sure you'd want to confront me there again, the symmetry was just too perfect, and there were lots of rugs and coverings over the floor. If I could get the design chalked there in secret, I thought I could probably get away with triggering it at the last minute. It was a risk, but so was everything I was trying to do."

Twilight shrugged. "I knew Misty Morning was tending to your chambers, so she'd be the most likely to notice if the chalk was put in place, and the best pony to put it there in the first place. So I got Trixie to come to Canterlot in disguise - she changed twice on the train - and charm her. Trixie had very strict orders to only read the script I'd prepared to her."

"My watchers did lose Trixie on the train," Celestia agreed mildly. "Your preparations were very thorough, Twilight. Do you intend to tell Misty Morning what you have done through her?"

"I'm... not sure. I really wanted to let the guards and the Wonderbolts remember a version of what happened, because they fought hard, got hurt, and they deserved it. But for Misty, I think it might just upset her."

"As you wish, Empress. The decision is yours. As are so many others." Celestia smiled serenely.

Twilight pulled a face at her. Glancing at Luna for her opinion, Twilight found her gazing thoughtfully at Celestia. A slight frown touched Twilight's face, and she set down her fork. "...Luna? Is something on your mind?"

Luna nodded, but directed her words to Celestia. "Sister, I wish to apologise. I spied upon thee whilst Twilight paraded you before her friends." Ambiguous emotion rode her words, her expression conflicted.

Celestia cradled her cup in one hand, her gaze shifting slowly from the remnants of her tea to Luna's face. "I did not realise." Her expression remained serene, but somehow, something about it betrayed a hint of unease beneath.

"Sister..." Luna began, then stalled.

Watching the two, Twilight abruptly felt very much like an intruder, especially sat between them. She shrank back in her seat, trying to get out of the way.

"If you have questions, Luna, don't be afraid to ask them. It would be best if we are as open with each other as possible." A small, gently wry smile touched Celestia's lips. "After all the secrets we were keeping from each other, I'd like to clear the air."

"Then... sister. I have never seen thee like that before. I could not deny that you seemed to enjoy such treatment, but I would never have imagined it of you. Was that truly thy desire?" Luna faced the doorway as she spoke, her gaze straying to one side to meet Celestia's.

"Yes. If you were there from the beginning, you know that Twilight warned me of her desires, and that I willingly accepted them. From speaking with you, under the charm's power, I know that you desire to be treated this way as well." Celestia's voice sank to something softer. "I am sorry for using that spell, Luna. I was so enthralled by the game I played with Twilight, I lost all restraint. I shouldn't have intruded."

Luna's lips pressed together, and she glanced away again. "What did you find out? About Twilight, and the way I wished to be with her."

Now Twilight felt really awkward. Flattened against the back of the chair with no more room to retreat, she tried to sink down further out of the way.

"That you had not felt loved and cared for, in the way that she made you feel, for a very long time. That it was a relief to know that you couldn't order her to do as you wished. A relief that she wasn't scared of you. Not simply the fear of what you were, but the little fears of the ponies you speak with every day."

Celestia's tone slowly became meditative. "They fear that if they say the wrong thing, they will upset you. They would not dream of criticising you. You have to speak so carefully. A single word out of place could destroy a pony's heart."

"Sister... these are not my words. They are thy own." Luna spoke softly, her eyes filled with empathy.

A small, wistful smile tugged at Celestia's lips. "Perhaps we both share these feelings." The practiced, perfect calm of her expression didn't waver, but as her eyes flicked up to meet Luna's once more, her voice grew huskier with sincerity.

"I've longed for relief from the weight of responsibility I carry, for a long time. We both wanted to be seen as ponies, instead of Princesses. Luna, having Twilight tear the mask of rulership from my face makes me feel so light. I don't want her to treat me gently. I want her to prove to me, over and over, that she doesn't look at me and see a ruler of Equestria. I will give her anything, with a song in my heart."

Twilight's eyes filled with unshed tears. She'd never heard Celestia speak that way, not with that simple, raw truthfulness. Even if she was speaking to Luna, she had to know she was speaking in front of Twilight too. Her words were meant for both of them.

Luna, too, seemed overwhelmed by her sister's words. Reaching out to take Celestia's hand in hers, she squeezed it wordlessly. "...I understand. I had not thought things through in such a way, but I do understand thy feelings. I, too, wished to be seen as something other than my rank, and my mistakes. You spoke truly, about many things. I do feel looked after, feel loved. More than the pleasure I have taken in Twilight's actions, that is most precious to me."

Celestia's fingers slid across the back of her sister's hand. "I love you too, Luna. I always have."

"I know, sister. I know. I feel the same for thee."

Without releasing Luna's hand, Celestia looked at Twilight, her face full of quiet fondness. "I'm giddy with joy to look at you, Twilight. Until the day you grow tired of the responsibility, I will be yours."

"As will I." Luna's other hand moved to stroke down Twilight's arm. "I have been very foolish. I will serve thee, beside my sister."

Two pairs of sparkling eyes gazed into Twilight's, radiating warmth and love. It was almost too much. Twilight's heart soared, buoyed within her chest by a wash of incredible happiness that was only lightly seasoned by complete terror. She tried to speak, and found herself unable to make a sound past the lump in her throat.

"I, I will do my very best to look after you. Both of you." Twilight flushed pinkly with embarrassment, her shoulders instinctively hunching for a moment, before she breathed in deeply and made herself relax. "It's not like I'm going to take all the decisions away from you both. But I do want you to be all mine." The heat of her cheeks felt as though she must be visibly glowing red, but she forced herself to speak the last little worry that lingered on her mind.

"Will there be any... problem, if I wanted you to both serve me at the same time? Even... perform together?" Twilight managed to ask, her voice breaking slightly with nervousness.

Celestia looked at Luna, and her lips pressed together for a moment. "As other ponies have come and gone, I've grown attached to you. In ways that sisters shouldn't," she finally said. "That doesn't excuse what I chose to do. I am grateful for your forgiveness, Luna, and I want you to be happy. You must ask yourself truly what you want."

A complex expression occupied Luna's face, touched by nervousness and uncertainty. Finally, she straightened her back, with a stubborn look. Speaking as though determined to get to the end of her sentence before she lost her nerve, she said firmly, "I have not been entirely free of stray thoughts about thee, sister. We have been together a long time, and at times, I have felt as though thee were the only other pony in all the world that truly existed. I had always banished such thoughts in the light of morning, but - I will not deny our Mistress in this."

Facing Twilight, Luna addressed her directly. "Command me, and I shalt obey. Do with us both as you desire."

"Um." Twilight found herself at a loss for words. Luna was staring at her intensely, as though she expected Twilight to begin then and there, and under the pressure of that gaze, Twilight's mind went completely blank. The only thing she could think of was 'I order you to eat your breakfast,' which didn't seem as though it was ambitious enough for the occasion.

"Uh... I... think, you should..."

Without warning, the door burst open, and Rainbow Dash exploded into the room in a colourful blur of movement. Twirling into the air and nimbly ducking around the elegant, flower-shaped chandelier, she braked hard, and came to a stop in midair over the table, wings beating. Tugging her tanktop straight, she called out, "Morning, Twi! Hi Princess. Princesses."

Oh, thank goodness. Flooded with relief, Twilight looked up at the cyan pegasus and beckoned her closer. "Hi, Rainbow! How did you find me?"

Rainbow sank down to the ground, landing lightly on bare feet. Taking in Twilight's clinging top, she gawked unashamedly, whistling. "Yow. I am really glad I didn't go back to Ponyville last night." Jerking her thumb over her shoulder, she added with a grin, "Asked someone. They're coming."

Before Twilight could ask who was coming, a familiar voice rang down the hall outside. "Really, the slutty and submissive Trixie deserves far better than being abandoned without so much as a hint of breakfast, or presents, or anything. She didn't even wake up bedecked in jewellery! Everypony knows that all the ponies who stay in the Castle are given the finest of gold and gems, that's just manners."

A distinct smirk touched Celestia's lips, and she caught Twilight's eye.

Twilight cringed with embarrassment. "Okay, maybe I might have gone a little far with what I did to Trixie's vocabulary."

"I find it interestingly revealing, Twilight. Do you intend to do something similar to me?"

Twilight blinked slowly. Irresistible visions of Celestia verbally degrading herself flashed through her mind, and despite herself, she couldn't quite stop herself giving a little whimper.

"You're a very creative and clever pony, Twilight. I look forward to seeing what you come up with," Celestia remarked, and calmly resumed her salad.

The look of total disbelief on Twilight's face was mirrored on Rainbow's. The multicoloured pegasus opened her mouth, but whatever she was about to say was interrupted as the doors were once again thrown open, this time in a haze of pale blue magic.

"Never fear, Mistress! The sensuous and fuckable Trixie is here for you!" the showpony declared grandly, stepping into the room. Behind her, Zecora followed with an amused smile on her lips.

It was possible to see the exact moment that Trixie realised who she'd burst in on. She froze, arms spread wide, and the self-satisfied grin fossilised on her face. Her eyes darted from Twilight to Celestia, then to Luna, then back to Twilight again.

Zecora stepped past the paralysed pony, and greeted Twilight, "Good morning to you, my lovely princess. I have come to serve you; should I undress?" She lightly tugged at the shoulder of her artfully ragged brown top.

"Not yet, Zecora. Won't you join me for breakfast? You too, Rainbow."

Twilight couldn't help but smile at the look of outrage on Trixie's face. Broken from her paralysis by sheer indignation, Trixie strode forward and levelled a finger at Twilight. "Mistress! How could you invite all these ponies to breakfast with you, and ignore Trixie?"

Rainbow dropped into a chair and lounged sideways. "You are a giant pain in the tail."

"Why - you scruffy, dishevelled little barbarian! I put effort into serving my Mistress. When was the last time you woke up before noon? You weren't woken either, while she went off to dine with the kidnapper that stranded me in the woods and the very pony she's spent all this time trying to defeat, not to mention­-"

"Trixie!" Twilight cut her off, before she made things any worse. "I was teasing you, I'm sorry. I'm very grateful for all the hard work you did, I know I wouldn't have made it this far without you. Please come and have breakfast with me."

"Well. That's more like it." Trixie fussily straightened her clothes, already in perfect order, before she approached the table and took a chair, radiating smugness. Still, as Twilight watched her, she saw Trixie steal a glance at her from the corner of her eye, with a momentary look of profound yearning for approval.

Oh, dear. Celestia was right.

Trixie was in love with her. That wasn't what Twilight had expected to happen. All she'd intended was to effortlessly enslave Trixie, teach her magic, have her act like she was her apprentice, while simultaneously punishing and humiliating her. Oh, and having sex with her. All through the power of a charm that Twilight fully knew was addictive.

When she thought through it like that, it actually sounded pretty stupid.

Be More Careful.

Darnit.

Author's Notes:

This was a tough one, and it's dealt with some pretty serious emotional baggage. I was troubled when I saw the Tantabus in-series, and knew it'd have to be dealt with eventually in this continuity too. Fortunately, it came out in this timeline well before it came out in the canon timeline, and was still vulnerable enough for Luna to excise.

Next time, less sadness, more Princess smut.

Proofed by the stupendously speedy Setokaiva.