Chapter 30

Royal Palace Guest Chambers, Megálo Margaritári

Sunset cracked open her eyes slowly as she observed the pale light that trickled into the bedchamber through the window. The Hydronepitaens certainly knew how to keep track of time, as evidenced by the clock mounted on the wall. However, natural sunlight simply did not reach this deep underwater. Instead, they’d opted to use a massive, yellowish orb of light (magically based no doubt, but Sunset had no clue how it worked) that functioned just like a miniature star.

Since their numeric system seemed to be virtually identical to surface dwelling cultures, Sunset had no trouble figuring out that it was about five forty-eight in the morning. Her natural circadian rhythm prompted her to wake up, rather than any innate desire to leave the confines of her luxurious, comfortable bed.

Sunset was about to get up, do some stretches, and grab a cup of coffee, when she felt something warm pressed up against her side. She smiled when she glanced over and saw Ember cuddled up next to her. At some point, the young tomboy had decided to use one of Sunset’s voluminous breasts as a makeshift pillow. Not that Sunset particularly minded. It had been a long time since she’d enjoyed the company of another bedmate.

Ursas were plenty fun to snuggle with in their own right, but it just wasn’t the same as having another person lying next to you in bed. Without even thinking, Sunset shifted her arm so that she could play with Ember’s hair. Although she made sure to be very gentle, the affectionate gesture managed to rouse Ember from her slumber. Rather than be upset about it, Ember sighed happily and hugged her mate closer.

“Good morning, Ember. Did you sleep well?”

Ember kissed Sunset’s breast and stretched out the rest of her body like a cat. “Mhmm. Is anyone else awake yet?”

“Nah. It’s just us.”

Ember yawned. “Figured as much. Still pretty early…”

“For sure. Hey, since we’re already up, how’d you like to spar with me?”

Ember glanced over at her other mates. Delmira was snuggled up against Spike’s side, her legs intertwined with his own and very much content to be in such a position. It was a bit strange, she had to admit, to see Spike without his signature morning erection. Ember supposed its absence made sense, if only because Hydronepitaen physiology was so vastly different from what they were accustomed to. It was equally bizarre not having the urge to answer nature’s call either.

At least, not in the traditional sense. Hydronepitaens excreted all of their bodily waste in a concentrated, film-coated ball (it looked far more disgusting than that, Ember was simply trying to find a polite way to describe the thing) that slid out of what they considered to be an anus. While the hole was located in the same general vicinity as a human one, taking care of business was a completely different process that Ember hadn’t been prepared for.

She’d accidentally relieved herself right in front of a palace guard while trying to ask where the privy was. Fortunately for Ember, the female guard handled the situation with the utmost professionalism. She understood that the Emperor’s newest guests weren’t used to their new bodies just yet and explained the basics of what to do if the need arose again. Despite her extreme embarrassment, Ember accepted the fact that it was just how things were now.

“Hmm. I don’t see any reason why not. I could use a good warm up to help get the blood flowing. Umm… just one problem though. Where’s the sparring room?”

Sunset leaned over and nibbled on Ember’s ear. “I’m sure one of the place guards will know.”

Ember giggled in response and traced her fingers along Sunset’s stomach. She continued to slide her hand down further and further until her fingers rested atop Sunset’s vulva. Thus encouraged, Ember proceeded to rub her thumb along the outer edge of Sunset’s silky folds as a gesture of trust and affection between mates. Much to her delight, Sunset seemed to enjoy the act of intimacy with great enthusiasm.

“Should we wake up Spike?”

“No, I think those two deserve some alone time together.” Sunset hummed.

Ember nodded emphatically. “That’s… probably for the best. Delmira was really worried about him. Especially, right after we got marooned on that tropical island. Not that I can really blame her, of course. I was worried sick about him too. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so upset before. She’s usually quite good at keeping herself together in situations like that.”

“I think it just goes to show that Delmira shares the same concerns we do, despite being a goddess. Even more so, because she knows how fragile mortal life can be. One of these days, I’d like to sit down and have a talk with her about it. You know, to make sure she’s ok.”

Ember got up and walked over to the windowsill. “Yeah. I think she’d appreciate that.”

Sunset padded over to the window and wrapped her arms around Ember’s stomach, pulling her mate into a loving embrace. She too lamented that they weren’t still in their original forms. While their Hydronepitaen bodies were streamlined and aesthetically pleasing, they lacked the subtle scents and textural imperfections that their human skin did. Ember must have felt much the same way because she let out a frustrated sigh.

“Staying in the palace is nice and all but I—”

“Can’t wait to get your old body back?” Sunset finished.

“Mhmm. I guess you feel the exact same way I do about this whole situation, huh?”

Sunset took hold of Ember’s hands and squeezed them gently. “Don’t get me wrong: it’s pretty cool visiting the Hydronepitaens and seeing all of their advanced tech. But I want to go back to being me. The real me. Do you know how weird it was when I noticed that my scars had disappeared? I had those things on my stomach for years. Now they’re just gone. Poof!”

Ember looked down towards her waist and blushed. “It is a bit disconcerting…”

“Huh? OH! You mean going full smoothie down there? Yeah, that was a bit weird too, I guess. Wait a second. I didn’t happen to stumble upon some major Wyvertii taboo, did I? Shit! I totally did! I’m sorry, Ember. I didn’t realize that it was such a sensitive subject.”

Ember shifted uncomfortably. “No, it’s ok. You couldn’t have known. In our culture, pubic hair is often seen as a rite of passage into adulthood. A sure sign that someone, be they a boy or a girl, has matured and is ready to start looking for a potential mate. If one were to completely remove it, they’d be stigmatized by the entire village as appearing juvenile.”

“Wow, that’s kind of harsh. Even for a tribal society.”

Ember bit her lip. “Yes, I suppose it is. Being somewhat of an outcast myself, I’ve always felt that people shouldn’t be ridiculed for how they choose to groom themselves. On the other hand, I feel childish without having any hair to cover me. It’s as though I’m not a woman anymore.”

Sunset hugged Ember tightly to her chest and kissed her neck. “I’ll have none of that kind of talk. Don’t worry about what you can’t help, Ember. We’re all going through the same thing right now. Even Spike. I promise that none of us will think any less of you for having doubts.”

Ember let out a long, frustrated sigh. “I know. It’s just hard for me to shake this feeling of unease. It’s like I’m shamelessly exposing myself to everyone. Delmira might not have a problem with being hairless but I—it’s like I’m… naked.”

Unsure of what else to say, Sunset chose to remain silent, lest she upset Ember any further. Instead, she focused on giving her mate as much physical affection and comfort as she was able. Much to Sunset’s relief, the strategy seemed to work. After plenty of intimate cuddles and kisses, of course. After a while, Ember reluctantly broke the embrace and headed towards the door, urging Sunset to do the same. After walking a few paces down the hallway, sure enough, they found a guard who was willing to point them in the right direction.

Under normal circumstances, Ember preferred to spar without the aid of weapons or even her own magic. She figured that if worst came to worst, it was better to hone her most basic hand-to-hand combat skills with deadly efficiency rather than rely upon anything else. Today was a bit different though. She wanted to take full advantage of the Empire’s state of the art training room and equipment. When Ember looked over at her mate, Sunset agreed with her wholeheartedly.

Mounted along the wall were various melee weapons: knives, swords, staves, and polearms. Both women went straight for the retractable staves as their implement of choice. After depressing a button in the center, they transformed into full-length staves with mild polarity fields on either end to help prevent combatants from injuring themselves. A good thing too, as both Ember and Sunset had a tendency to get a wee bit overzealous when it came to fighting.

Once they finished up a set of pre-spar stretching exercises, the two warriors stood on opposite sides of the mat and readied their stances. Ember was the first to strike. She charged forward and swung her stave towards Sunset’s chest to try and catch her off-balance while she simultaneously spun around to deliver a kick to Sunset’s undefended side. Years of hunting in the forest had honed Sunset’s reflexes to the same caliber of a professional athlete. She easily parried her opponent’s strike, and swiped her stave across the floor to try and knock out Ember’s foot.

The blow struck true but Ember’s legs (as Sunset would find out) were sturdier than tree trunks. She took a moment to admire the taught muscles that rippled across Ember’s body before elbowing her straight in the gut. This time, the attack took Ember completely off guard. She hadn’t tensed her abdomen quickly enough to absorb the impact of the blow. Instead, it wound up knocking the wind right out of her. After wheezing for a few seconds, Ember staggered back a few paces, placed her hands on her thighs, and took a moment to catch her breath.

Sunset rushed over to her mate. “Are you ok? I didn’t mean to hit you that hard.”

“I’ll… be… alright,” Ember rasped, “Just…. gimme… a second.”

“Seriously! We can stop if you want. There are plenty of other things we can—”

Ember’s cheeks lit up in a fierce blush. “NO! We can keep going. I just… forgot how strong you were. I agreed to sparring, so it’s my fault for letting my guard down. Take your stance.”

Sunset could tell that the injury to Ember’s pride as a warrior was far more severe than what she had just endured physically. Through her many bedroom conversations with Spike, Sunset got the impression that he was still a little frustrated with Ember’s reluctance to embrace her desires or discuss them openly with him. Particularly, when it came to intimate situations.

While not an expert on such matters herself, Sunset deduced that Ember was going through the process of becoming an adult and the responsibilities that came with it. Through trial and error, she was just like any other young woman at her age. She was simply trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted: both emotionally and sexually. Not entirely unlike Sunset herself.

Spike always took the time to listen and possessed a keen sense of empathy that could rival even the best professional counselors Equestria had to offer. It was one of the many reasons why Sunset fell in love with Spike in the first place and didn’t hesitate to come to him with any problems she might be experiencing. But some things just needed to be discussed between girls. Sunset hoped that Ember would eventually open up to her about whatever misgivings she harbored regarding their relationship and just life in general.

In the meantime, Sunset would continue to get to know her fellow mate better. One day at a time, if necessary. What transpired earlier in the bedroom between the two of them was definitely a step in the right direction. It showed that Ember was starting to get more comfortable around Sunset and willing (by small degrees) to show intimate affection towards another woman.

It was quite obvious that Ember was having a difficult time hiding her embarrassment. To Sunset it appeared as though the stance her mate took was a bit sloppy, but when Sunset charged ahead with a well-placed lateral strike, she was taken completely by surprise when she slid in-between her legs and performed a low sweeping kick. Sunset promptly crumpled to the floor with a meaty thud. Although her bare bottom was sore, Sunset shot Ember an impressed smirk.

“Damn. You really had me fooled there, Ember.”

Ember grasped Sunset’s arm and helped her stand up. “Well, to be fair: I wasn’t actually faking my embarrassment. But like my father always told me: exploit any advantage over your opponent you can get, even if it’s just a distraction.”

“Your dad seems like a really smart guy. A good leader with plenty of wisdom to share. As for me, I never had a father to look up to when I was growing up. Makes me wonder how different things would be right now if I… hadn’t been abandoned. Sorry, I didn’t mean to get sentimental all of the sudden. I’m just so happy that you guys have accepted me as part of the family.”

Ember slid her arms around Sunset’s waist and hugged her tightly. “We all love you, Sunset. Don’t get me wrong: I love Win—Delmira too, but… she’s always been more like an aunt to me. With you, I feel like we connect on a deeper, more personal level. I think I can finally—”

Not wanting to waste an opportunity, Sunset cupped Ember’s cheeks and pulled her into a passionate, tongue-filled kiss. In a matter of moments, the two of them became lost in their own little world, oblivious to their surroundings. What surprised Sunset the most was not Ember’s willingness to return her affection in kind, but the sheer amount of lust that proceeded it. Sunset hummed with pleasure when she felt Ember begin to massage her breast and roll the nipple in-between her fingers ever so slightly.

Sunset slid her hand down Ember’s stomach at a deliberately slow pace. She wanted to relish the feeling of her mate’s hardened abdominal muscles as they brushed up against her fingers. She only stopped when her palm made contact with the smooth surface of Ember’s lips. Sunset took her mate’s lack of resistance as a sign of consent, so she carefully rotated her hand in order to make what she was about to do more comfortable.

Ember let out an audible squeak when she felt Sunset rub her clit in a series of slow, lazy circles. In her mind, Ember had always pictured a moment of shared passion with another woman as awkward or unwarranted, but it wasn’t like that at all with Sunset. It made the fire in her belly burn with desire just as much as it did with Spike. And most importantly of all: it felt right.

The tomboy didn’t waste any time returning the favor. She squeezed Sunset’s breast a little bit harder and leaned forward to envelop the other woman’s nipple with her lips. With a few affectionate nipples and some teasing with her tongue, Ember giggled when she heard Sunset let out a strained gasp. A short time later, she gasped as well when Sunset started pumping two of her fingers in and out of her womanly folds. Ember found it increasingly difficult to stay on her feet afterwards.

Sunset laughed when she felt Ember’s walls tighten around her fingers like a velvety vice. “I guess Spike wasn’t kidding when he said you were tight. Almost wish I had a dick right now just so I could feel what it’s like to be inside of you. Would you like me to keep going?”

“Oh Goddess! Yes! Please don’t stop!” Ember whimpered.

Just as Sunset was really starting to get into the mood, she saw someone enter through the training room door out of the corner of her eye. Loath as she was to leave Ember hanging on what she assumed was going to be a pretty intense orgasm, taking care of a potential intruder was far more important. Sunset immediately turned around and took a defensive stance.

“Hey! Just what do you think you’re doing—oh. Erm… Princess Adagio, it’s you. What an unexpected surprise! Ehehehe.”

Adagio at least had the decency to appear surprised. “Yes, well… I was just heading back from my daily exercise routine when I heard some strange noises coming from the training room. It would seem that I have discovered their source!”

Sunset found herself blushing but was more concerned about Ember’s well-being than her own. It was obvious that the tomboy was incredibly aroused and couldn’t possibly hide that fact from anyone else standing in the room. She promptly cupped her hands over her privates and fidgeted in place. The awkward silence that soon followed felt like it was going to last for an eternity.

Adagio rubbed the back of her neck. “If it makes either of you feel any better, I’ve fucked the guard trainer in here a few times before. There’s something about sparring together with someone that gets the blood running hot. I’m not sure if it’s because of the close contact or—”

“I get what you’re trying to do Princess, but can we just not talk about it and move on?”

Adagio chuckled awkwardly. “Yes, of course. Whatever suits your needs! Why don’t the two you take some time to freshen up a bit? I’ve got a proposition for you once you’re finished.”

Cleaning up was a quick affair. Partially because Hydronepitaen technology made it so convenient, and neither Ember nor Sunset wanted to drag out the process and keep Princess Adagio waiting for too long. Despite their mutual embarrassment at being caught in the throes of passion together, Sunset took it as a good sign that Ember gave her an affectionate kiss on the lips as they parted the bathroom.

As expected, Adagio was patiently waiting for them in the hallway, with a somewhat smug expression plastered upon her face. Sunset sensed that Ember’s rage was at its boiling point just underneath the surface of her barely contained, polite smile. If it wouldn’t have caused a diplomatic incident, Sunset would have been half-temped to punch Adagio too. On the bright side, Adagio seemed aware of the tension building in the room and immediately switched her expression to something more neutral.

“Ah, welcome back ladies! All freshened up, I presume?”

Ember crossed her arms underneath her breasts and scowled. “Yeah, we’re clean now.”

“Erm—so it would seem. In any case, I was wondering if you two would like to accompany me to the market district for a bit of shopping. I know we toured that area once before, but I had to keep it brief for the sake of punctuality. Oh, and don’t worry about money! I’ll cover whatever you’d like to buy. Consider it an apology for interrupting your… training session earlier.”

Sunset shrugged. “Sure, why not? It sounds like a good offer to me. Can’t even tell ya how long it’s been since I’ve gone out on a proper shopping excursion. Around a decade, at least. Uh… mostly because I lived in the Everfree Forest with Ursas for most of my adult life.”

Adagio cocked her brow. “Oh? That has the makings of an excellent survival story. If you wouldn’t mind indulging my curiosity, I’d very much be interested in hearing about it.”

“No problem. We can chat on the way to the market. Is it far?”

Adagio shook her head. “It’s just within reasonable walking distance of the palace grounds. Unless, you’d rather I get one of the guards to drive all of us there.”

“Nah. Ember and I don’t mind the exercise.”

Adagio clapped her hands. “Excellent! Follow me then, if you would please!”

Even though Sunset and Ember had seen the market district once before, there was still plenty of things on display there that managed to pique their interest. Before they began shopping in earnest, however, Adagio insisted that they make a pitstop at one of the food vendors for a quick bite to eat for breakfast. She ended up buying a few pancake-like discs that were made from sweetened kelp dough and had chunks of underwater fruit mixed in them.

The princess explained what they were called but neither of the Wyvertii could pronounce the name of it worth their lives. The taste of the fruit reminded the girls of a cross between a tomato and an orange with the texture of peaches. It was served with a side of a whipped cream-like substance and a caffeinated paste called: Frilak. They both agreed that Hydronepitaen cuisine was palpable (for the most part) but not something they’d develop a taste for any time soon.

At Adagio’s insistence, the first stall they perused after breakfast was that of a jewelry smith. The elderly man running the stall was clad in a protective apron and gloves. A pair of worn goggles were propped atop his bald head. Despite his advanced age, his entire body rippled with powerful muscles, a sure sign that he had worked a forge for many decades. He smiled kindly at Adagio and kissed her hand when it was offered.

“Good morning, Master Trothnar. How’s business today?”

The old smith bowed slightly. “Brisk as always, your majesty. How may I be of service?”

“Well, I wondering if you might have some suggestions for my lovely guests. They’re visiting from the surface on official business, but I’d still like them to have an exquisite piece of jewelry as a souvenir. As it so happens, they also have a handsome mate back at the palace to impress~ I imagine he’d appreciate the jewelry as well, don’t you think?”

Trothnar bellowed with laughter. “Indeed! They are a fine pair of young women as you say, your majesty. In the very prime of their youth! Quite fetching too! Pardon my frankness ladies, but I couldn’t help but notice that the two of you possess a warrior’s build. You’ll want something that catches the eye but doesn’t hold you back in combat, no?”

Both women nodded slowly and introduced themselves.

Trothnar rubbed his chin in thought. “Hmm. So many choices. You’d both look divine wearing just about anything, I reckon. Heh. I’ve half the mind to suggest a matching set of rings with opposing gems, but…”

Sunset’s ears perked up. “Why is that a problem?”

“Many surface-dwelling cultures place a great deal of symbolic importance on such rings. I wouldn’t want everyone to think that they represent the bonds of matrimony when that clearly isn’t the case. Whatever the reason, please take a moment to decide. I can wait.”

Ember tapped Sunset’s shoulder. “What should we tell him? Granted, I’ve never been a huge fan of jewelry but I’d like to get something that’ll make me look pretty. Uh—for various reasons! But I don’t know the first thing—what?! Don’t look at me like that! I’m a girl too, you know!”

Sunset leaned over and kissed Ember’s cheek. “Of course. I’m well aware of what’s in-between your legs, Ember. I just think that you should get in touch with your feminine side more often. There’s absolutely wrong with it either. I like to make myself look pretty on occasion too.”

Ember blushed and shuffled her feet. “Yeah, but you’re so much better at it than I am.”

“I dunno about that,” Sunset mused, “You’re talking to a girl who lived in a cave for—”

Adagio cleared her throat. “Pardon me, ladies. But might I offer a suggestion?”

Ember and Sunset were slightly taken aback by Adagio’s sudden interruption of their conversation, but they both recognized that she might have more insight regarding such matters considering that she was several centuries old. In the end, they nodded mutely and allowed the princess to offer whatever advice she deemed necessary.

“Given our peoples’ penchant for wearing as little attire as possible, or none at all in this case. I believe it would behoove the both of you to wear a piece of jewelry that accentuates your feminine charm in the most direct way possible. Definitely, something eye-catching.”

Sunset furrowed her brow in confusion. “Oh, yeah? And what would that be exactly?”

Adagio grinned like a shark. “A clitoral ring, of course! Or a stud, if you prefer. It really depends on your personal tastes. That being said: I assure you that Trothnar has a fine collection of pieces to choose from and at reasonable prices—”

“Absolutely not,” Ember shouted, “There’s no way in hell I’m gonna let ANYONE give me a piercing down there. Even if… Spike ends up liking the ring.”

Adagio waved her hand. “If you’re worried about that, then I can enchant the piece to adhere to your body magically, instead of physically. I understand that some women are uncomfortable with the prospect of having any part of themselves pierced. Your thoughts, Sunset?”

“Well, I guess I wouldn’t mind getting one. Just so long as we don’t have to get our… nubbins pierced directly. I’m with Ember on that hundred percent. We tend to move around a lot in combat and I wouldn’t want anything to—uh—tear accidentally.”

Ember nodded emphatically. “Exactly what I was getting at!”

“The enchantment is a bit tricky, but I’ve used it a fair number of times over the years. It’s settled then! Trothnar, my good sir, would you be so kind as to offer these two beautiful ladies your finest wares?”

The jewelry smith bowed with a smile. “Of course, your majesty. Might I make a suggestion?”

“Suggest away~ You are the jewelry smith, after all.”

Trothnar ducked underneath the counter and pulled out a box full of rings. “This must be destiny. It just so happens that I have a pair of lovely silver studs with jewels that match their eye colors. Hmm. You know what? I’ll give you a deal on them. Two for the price of one. Sound fair?”

“Sold,” Adagio exclaimed as she handed the smith a few coins, “Now, if the two of you wouldn’t mind, please stand over there while I prepare the enchantment. This shall take a while longer than usual, simply because it’ll have to be extra durable in order to accommodate your lifestyle.”

Unsurprisingly, a while longer wasn’t actually that long at all. Adagio was a powerful, experienced, spell-caster with many years of the best tutelage available. When she scampered over to the girls with studs in hand, the princess looked at them expectantly. When Ember and Sunset didn’t react, Adagio rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Ladies: spread your legs apart, please.”

Ember’s mouth gaped open like a fish. “What?! You’re putting them on now?!”

“The enchantment needs to bond to its host right away or the magic will fade from the object entirely. So, yes. I need to put them on as quickly as possible. C’mon. There’s no need to be shy. It’s not as though we’re seeing anything that isn’t out in the open already.”

Ember hesitantly spread her legs apart to give Adagio access. “Just do it quick.”

In no time at all, the stud adhered itself to Ember’s clitoris as if it were a magnet. There was a slight tingling sensation afterward but otherwise, she barely noticed that she was wearing a piece of jewelry. Adagio made quick work of doing the same for Sunset, and once she was finished, the princess allowed the two warriors to inspect their new pieces in front a full-body mirror that Trothnar kept around the shop for just such a purpose.

Ember struck a few different poses and blushed. “It looks… good, actually. I like it.”

Adagio let out a girlish giggle and clapped her hands together. “I happen to think so too, Ember. Just think of how your man will react once he sees it~”

Sunset admired herself in the mirror and hummed in approval. “Huh. I gotta admit: I was skeptical at first, but wearing it does make me feel pretty sexy. Good call, your highness.”

“You’re quite welcome, Sunset. Now, if you’re both satisfied with the pieces, how about we explore the rest of the market district a bit more? There’s no telling what else we might find. Or you could always grab a snack or something. My treat! I want you girls to enjoy yourselves.”

For the most part, Ember and Sunset hadn’t really planned on buying much else despite the princess’s generous offer to get whatever they wanted within reason. Neither of them where what anyone would consider materialistic girls. So, they followed Adagio’s advice and stuck to snacking and enjoying the scenery instead of purchasing useless trinkets. While all three of the women were enjoying a grilled squid kebab, Sunset paused for a moment.

Even in a highly civilized metropolis such as Megálo Margaritári, Sunset kept her eyes peeled for any danger that might be lurking just around the corner. For the most part, however, it seemed like a pretty safe place to live. There were police patrols every so often, and many of the people went about their business unimpeded. Yet… something didn’t quite feel right to Sunset. An eerie chill sent shivers down her spine.

While Ember and Adagio were still chatting, Sunset discreetly scanned the immediate area around them for potential threats. For the first time, in what felt like forever, Sunset felt naked and helpless. She groped the empty space on her back where a quiver full of arrows would normally be and cursed underneath her breath. In her current, fishy form, she wasn’t certain how her mana reserves would react if she used magic during a fight. Without knowing how stable it was, Sunset assumed that it had the potential to cause serious damage. Both her own person and innocent bystanders. Not to mention Ember and Princess Adagio.

Her only option was to rely on her hand-to-hand combat skills and hope that they would be good enough. Otherwise, she had no weapons at her disposal to speak of. It begged the question why Adagio didn’t feel it was necessary to keep at least a minimal guard detail on escort duty. Perhaps, she had simply become complacent by the lack of crime and violence in the city.

It happened in the blink of an eye. A mere instant and sheer luck were all it took. Sunset happened to be looking over towards an alleyway that they were passing by and noticed a figure slip out of the darkness. It began to follow them. She couldn’t tell if the person was a male or a female because they were wearing a helmet of some kind and a few pieces of protective armor. An unusual sight, considering that most people preferred to wear as little attire as possible.

Sunset didn’t alert her companions just yet. After all, it could be a mere coincidence that the armored figure was following them. Maybe he/she was simply traveling in the same direction. Sunset highly doubted it, but she didn’t want to attack an innocent citizen without provocation. All doubts were erased from her mind when she saw the figure discreetly unsheathe a dagger from the holster hanging around his/her belt. It was now or never.

With speed and grace borne from years of training, Sunset dashed towards the assailant and grabbed hold of his/her wrist. She gave it a good twist to ensure that the attacker would drop his/her weapon. Judging by the baritone grunt of pain, Sunset assumed it must have been a man. Not wanting to lose her slight advantage over the assailant, the amazon wasted no time using the man’s shoulder as a fulcrum. He went hurtling to the ground with a loud clank as his helmet hit the paved surface of the street.

While he was dazed, Sunset kicked away the dagger and went about removing his helmet. By this point, her companions had noticed the commotion and Ember was already doing her best to shield the princess from further attackers. Sunset flipped the man over onto his stomach and twisted his arm behind his back in order to keep him from escaping.

“Hey! What’s the big deal trying to attack us?”

The man said nothing, he merely chuckled in response.

Sunset grabbed ahold the man’s hair and yanked it hard enough to pull his head up off of the ground. “Answer me, you fucking coward! Those are my friends you tried to stab. If you think I’m gonna let you get away with that, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“Believe what you will, surface-dweller. Neither you nor your blue-haired companion were my intended target. I was sent to kill Princess Adagio. She must suffer for her transgressions against our people. It is the will of the Golden Kraken that she not be allowed to ascend the throne after—”

Sunset slammed the ball of her foot right into the man’s ribs and dug it in for good measure. He cried out in pain. “Don’t care. Hydronepitaen politics aren’t really my concern, but that doesn’t change the fact that you tried to murder someone. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t splatter your skull against the pavement.”

“Do it then, girl. My conscience is clear and I have no intention of revealing any more information about my comrades. I die with honor. LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!”

Before Sunset had a chance to do anything else, the man’s chest glowed with an eerie, green light, then suddenly exploded, spraying bits of gore and bone all over the place. Sunset was lucky enough that none of the bone fragments had injured her, but she wasn’t too happy about being covered in remains of what used to be the man’s internal organs. With a heavy sigh, she wiped off the gore as best she could and approached her friends to see if they were ok.

Adagio glanced at the corpse and frowned. “I’m… sorry that the two of you had to experience something so unpleasant.”

“Your highness, that’s not what I’m concerned about right now. Are you ok?”

Adagio nodded slowly. “Yes, thanks in no small part to your vigilance and quick action. You saved my life, Sunset Shimmer. You have my eternal gratitude. If there’s anything I can do to repay the debt I owe, you have only but to—”

Sunset blushed at the praise. “I wasn’t looking for a reward, Adagio. I would have done that for anyone who was in danger, not just you. So—uh—there’s no debt to repay. I would, however, like to know just what the hell is going on. Why did he want to kill you? And what is the ‘Golden Kraken’? None of this makes any sense to me.”

“To answer you question: The Order of the Golden Kraken is a political party. They are little more than a fringe group of nationalistic, extreme isolationists, who hold a few seats in the senate. As you may have guessed, contact with the surface world is very limited right now. I’ve gradually been trying to establish diplomatic ties with the surface nations over the years, despite my father disagreeing with me. I think we need to be more open about the possibility.

“However, there are many who share my father’s viewpoint. Like the Golden Kraken. Except they are willing to take more extreme measures to ensure that our empire remains isolated. That’s another reason why I tried to convince my father not to execute any of you. I think it’s a ridiculous law and should be abolished. But… I must also adhere to my duties as Princess.”

Sunset placed her hand on Adagio’s shoulder and rubbed it gently. “Man, that’s pretty rotten. I didn’t realize the Empire was so divided in opinion. I’m sorry if I snapped at you earlier, I—”

“Your reaction was completely understandable given the circumstances. It was my fault for not requesting a guard contingent in the first place. I was… under the mistaken impression that we would be safe since the Golden Kraken has been quiet for a while now. I—ah—It’s probably best if we head back to the palace as soon as possible.”

Sunset and Ember wholeheartedly agreed with the princess. Her safety was far more important than anything else, including shopping for trinkets. The three of them held hands together and made sure to walk only in the most open areas of the street. When they finally reached a guard station, Adagio explained what had happened and before they could so much as utter a word of protest, they were riding on the back of an armored transport straight to the palace.

Adagio let out a heavy sigh as she turned towards the hallway that led to Emperor’s personal quarters. “With the official investigation of my attack underway, there’s no point keeping the news from my father. He’ll be furious, of course, but I’d rather he hear about what happened directly from me than some random security officer or a written report. Rest and enjoy yourselves, girls. You’ve certainly earned it.”

Sunset placed her hand on Adagio’s shoulder. “Wait! Are you sure you don’t want us to come along with you? Erm—you know—as moral support?”

“While that’s very kind of you to offer, this is something that I must do on my own. Thanks again, Sunset. I owe you my life, my gratitude, and so much more. Mark my words: you shall be rewarded for your efforts this day. And I shan’t take no for an answer!”

Sunset rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled. “Well, alight. Just don’t go overboard, ok? I don’t need anything fancy or whatever. Can you promise me that, at least?”

Adagio winked. “Not to worry: I’ll be sure to give you something practical~”

Sunset watched as Adagio sauntered down the hallway, uncertain if what the princess just said had any sexual implications behind it. To be fair, during ancient times, it wasn’t unheard of for royals to offer betrothal to the warrior who saved their daughter (and her virginity too). Even if it did come to that, Sunset would still politely refuse Adagio’s offer. More out of principal rather than disinterest towards the princess’s, admittedly, attractive physique.

Without further ado, Sunset made her way back to the guestroom where Ember was currently reclining on a couch, enjoying a bowl of cooked prawns. Once Sunset got comfortable, she scooched closer to Ember and snuggled up against her backside like a big spoon. When Sunset slid her fingers along her mate’s hip, Ember leaned over, kissed Sunset on the lips, and popped a prawn into her mate’s mouth.

“Not much of a seafood girl, but these big ass shrimp things aren’t too bad.”

Ember nodded. “Me neither. Free food is free food though. So—uh—are you ok? You know, after everything that happened. I felt kind of bad that I didn’t do more to help stop the assassin.”

“I’m fine. And don’t feel bad, Ember. You made sure the Princess was safe too.”

Ember put down the bowl and rested her head against Sunset’s breast. In turn, Sunset began running her fingers through Ember’s hair. “Well, she’s safe now. I guess that’s what really counts at the end of the day. Wanna do anything else?”

“Nah, I’ve had enough excitement. Let’s just relax and snuggle for a bit. Sound good?”

Ember nuzzled her cheek against Sunset’s chest and sighed contentedly. “Mhmm.”