The Cosmos rolled out before Twilight, expanding infinitely in all directions, as far as she could see. The stars shimmered and ceaselessly moved over the face of the abyss she found herself in. She was not aware of any up or down, only floating along with the river of stars. The stars glittered and gleamed like rubies and sapphires, specks of gold and emerald, the deep velvet behind them causing them to pop with luster.

Twilight didn't know where she was, but she did not feel afraid. The blackness wrapped around her like a blanket. The stars that shone down on her with infinite hues of light were guiding her towards someplace. She went along with it, not resisting the current that drew her along the universe. Great, swirling clouds of novas spun in an endless turning. Quasars and pulsars burst and exploded, filling the void with thousands of shards of energy raining down throughout the emptiness of space.

A figure coalesced, a Pony with dark blue wings and a spiraling horn. Her wings flared out and a floating star-covered mane flowed down her back.

Twilight rushed to her, though she wasn't sure how she managed it in this strange, ethereal place. Luna rushed to meet her and pulled her into a rib crushing hug. Twilight gasped and patted Luna's back. "Nice to see you too, Princess."

Luna eased up, but kept the embrace tightly around Twilight's middle and pecked her cheek. "Oh, Twilight, my first friend in a millennium! I don't know what I would have done if you had been harmed!"

A slow blush crept up Twilight's cheeks. "Aw, Luna, I'm glad you're happy."

Luna blushed herself and drew back. "A-apologies, Twilight. That was a kiss of friendship, common in my age, which is, of course, not your age. I do not love you as my sister loves you, but I do love you-"

Twilight pressed a hoof to Luna's lips. "It's alright. It's alright, I understand."

"I'm heterosexual."

"I get it Luna."

They exchanged a friendly nuzzle. Luna started to pace. "These nobles have fallen so far from their ancestors, seeking power in such wicked, underhanded ways! Their ancestors must be rioting in the Otherworld!"

Twilight laid a hoof on Luna's shoulder. "They're not all like that. I'm a noble too, y'know, as I keep reminding Ponies lately. My house hasn't fallen, not in virtue anyway. Well, most of us. And there are good houses. The House of Fancy, most of the House of Clover, most of the De Lis."

Luna nodded. "I understand and did not mean to insult your honor."

"You didn't."

"But it is difficult to see such plots and schemes. Naturally, it happened in my own day, but usually not with an attempted assassination!"

"It doesn't normally happen in this time, either."

"Still, Twilight, I would be cautious. I have ordered three of my Night Guards whom I would trust with my own foal, if I had one, to guard your library."

"I understand."

"Be cautious, Twilight. If they can not take your life, they will target your reputation."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "There's nothing I have in my past I would want to hide."

Luna smirked. "When has truth ever gotten in the way of a good story?"

Something about the way Luna said that made her shiver. "What do you think they might do?"

"I can't say for sure. I only ask that you exercise the utmost caution." She kissed Twilight's cheek again. "My duties call, friend. Till tomorrow."

Twilight returned the kiss. "Until tomorrow."

Luna vanished. The world around Twilight flickered out of existence. Vertigo washed over her and she found herself in Celestia's bed, curled up in the center of a large white wing. Celestia murmured in her sleep, some cheerful babbling about cake. Twilight snuggled close to her and soon fell back to sleep, into a dream about roaming in some primitive meadow, wandering stone-strewn valleys, with Celestia at her side.

...
The gentle rays tickled Twilight's eyes. She buried her face in softness and felt a blanket of feathers press her deeper into a cuddle. A moan of contentment escaped Twilight's lips, the strands of a hairbrush running through her locks and taming the split ends and general mess that was her mane in the morning.

Twilight melted, relaxing into the ministrations. The brush went down lower, tickling the fur of her back and soothing the hair of her tail. Celestia placed the brush aside. "Time to wake up, Love."

Twilight sleepily protested. The bristles of the brush pulled and tugged at the strands of her mane, slow, gentle, caresses, lulling Twilight back into dreamworld. "If you're trying to get me to sleep, it's working."

Celestia hummed to herself and continued the brushing, drawing out each stroke of the brush, running through her mane with a tantalizing slowness, the bristles tickling and soothing at the same time, leaving Twilight's scalp feeling tingly. "Hey, Tia?"

"Hmm?"

Twilight buried her face in her chest and mumbled something to Celestia's rib cage.

Celestia lifted her chin, forcing Twilight to look her in the eyes. "Darling, I'm sure we've gone past the stage in our relationship where we need to mumble and be afraid to share our feelings."

Twilight steeled herself. "Last night, Luna came to me and, um, was happy to see me, so she kissed my cheek. And I kissed her back-on the cheek!"

Celestia smoothed the fur on Twilight's back, the brush guided by her golden magic. "And?"

"You're not mad?"

"Not for a friendship kiss. Ponies don't kiss their friends anymore?"

"Uh-uh."

"Huh. I should get out more."

Twilight focused her magic and brushed Celestia's wings. A purr of pleasure emanated from her parted lips as Twilight's magic played with her feathers, softly plucking out any broken ones and rustling misaligned feathers back into their proper place from where they had gotten jostled during the night.

The preening calmed Celestia, her lover's warm magic seeping into her primaries and enveloping her wings. The energy ran through her feathers, cradling them and caressing them. Celestia, in turn, brushed Twilight's fur. Twilight nestled close. "You know, some cultures claim mutual grooming is the height of love?"

"Do you agree, my beloved?"

Twilight lifted up and kissed her chin. "I do."

"Come closer."

Twilight obeyed and her reward was the feeling of Celestia's lips enveloping her horn. The pleasure exploding was enough to shut down her mind. Celestia slid along her horn. "Among ancient members of your tribe-"

"Horn sucking was-is-an act of supreme trust. Taking somepony's weapon into your mouth, trusting that they won't stab it through your skull." Twilight opened her mouth and fit the appendage into her lips. The fluted ridges tickled along the ridges of the roof of her mouth.

She suckled on it and was pleased with the squirming of her princess. Releasing it, she settled back onto Celestia's chest. For a few moments, they just laid there, curled into each other as if they dwelt in a world of their own which had been specially made for them.

Celestia's wings trailed along her sides, lingering against her cutie marks. "Unfortunately, I do have duties. I need to get up, Beloved."

Twilight remained solidly on her chest, like a stubborn cat. "I know. We should both get a bath though."

"Oh, certainly."

There was a knock on the door.

Celestia smiled and lifted up, planting all of her hooves on the floor. Twilight hopped off the bed.

"Raven? Is that you?" Celestia asked.

Raven entered. "Good morning, Princess, Lady Twilight. Breakfast will be ready in half-an-hour. Will I tell the chefs to prepare a meal for three?"

Celestia glanced over at Twilight. Twilight nodded. "Sure. Just need to send a letter to Spike."

...
Spike paced back and forth over the wooden floor, the tapping of his clawed feet a cadence throughout the otherwise silent room. He traveled to the kitchen, jumped onto the oak counter and opened a cabinet. He pulled out a box of batter. Purists might decry it, but batter was just easier. So, that's all there was to that.

He grabbed a skillet and jumped down onto the floor. He carefully directed his thoughts towards his task while he turned the stove on and placed the skillet on the blazing red burner. He opened the box of batter and poured the white substance into the black surface of the skillet.

Twilight was fine, he told himself. Twilight was fine and was going to walk through the door any minute and when she did, she was going to want her breakfast.

He shook the skillet, not needing to wear gloves as his scales were impervious to heat. He didn't know why the skillet was shaking so he put it down. The batter was turning golden-brown. The spatula he picked up trembled in his grasp. His face twisted into a scowl. Why was everything he touched trembling today?

Twilight was fine. Twilight was with Celestia and was going to come back any second now.

Spike sneaked a glance out of the kitchen, slid the spatula under the browning pancake and flipped it. It soared into the air and he cursed as it landed on the floor. The spatula was trembling so hard he almost lost his grip on it. Twilight was going to be so disappointed if he didn't have her breakfast ready.

He scurried over to the fallen pancake, took it in his claws and ran over to the trash bin where he had to lift up on his tiptoes in order to toss it into the trash. It landed with a satisfying whump. Spike hurried back over to the stove, leaping back up on to the counter and took back up the spatula. Now even the box of pancake batter was trembling in his claws. He cursed. What was going on today? Was there an enchantment?

He wasn't afraid. Twilight was fine. Why couldn't he catch his breath?

His eyes kept roaming over to the clock. It was only half past eight. Why wouldn't Twilight linger with Celestia? If he was with Rarity, he'd never leave.

The white batter splashed onto the pan and sizzled on touching it. He eyed the pancake batter carefully, watching as the heat of the burner slowly transformed it into a golden-brown color. Finally stilling the spatula, he placed it under the pancake and flipped it onto the side. Satisfied, he sat down and watched breakfast cook.

A familiar churning started in his gut. He opened his mouth and emerald flames shot out. He eagerly grabbed at the scroll, cut through the ribbon and unfurled it so quickly he was afraid he would cut it to ribbons. He sighed in relief (although, he hadn't been scared!) when he read that Twilight was fine and having breakfast with Celestia.

He grinned at the pancake and set the missive aside. "It looks like it's just you and me, pancake." He jumped up and opened the cabinet right above the stove, pulling out a crystal bowel full of crushed amethyst which he liberally sprinkled into the pancake batter.

He turned down the heat and went back down to the floor, taking a stroll into the living room which also functioned as a library. A happy, morning tune broke from his lips and he pushed the door open. Twilight liked to read the newspaper and he liked the funny pages so he would just bring it in.

The Ponyville Times was seated outside their door just like it always was. He picked it up, the front page story immediately catching his eyes. He took several shuddering breaths as he read through the story. He could no longer deny the way his claws were trembling. With each word, the desire to burn, rip, destroy beat within him, his rational mind warring with his instincts.

As he reached the last paragraph, instinct beat his rational mind into submission and his fire raged within him in a burst of flames that reduced the paper to ashes.

He marched inside, slamming the door.

...
Twilight hummed happily as she strolled through town. The little village had woken up completely now. Her two stalwart guards were at her side and that, she presumed, was the reason for the strange looks she was getting. She strolled through the market place, the stalls flowing with vegetables and fruits.

That wasn't her destination this morning, however. She turned a corner and headed towards the wide gingerbread house known as Sugarcube Corner. The second she stepped through, a pink blur threw her arms around her neck. Twilight returned the hug. "Um, Pinkie? What's up?"

Pinkie broke away. "Twilight, I just want you to know..." She held Twilight's hoof in her own, her expression strangely serious. "I don't believe a word of that hooey! I know you're a good Unicorn and a good Pony! You're not a warlock!"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Of course I'm not a warlock. Who's saying otherwise?"

She noticed for the first time that everypony in the shop was staring at her, including Cup Cake and Carrot Cake. Her friends were circled around a table on which was an open newspaper. Applejack's face was screwed up in disgust like she'd bitten into a lemon, Dash was pounding one hoof into another, Fluttershy's mouth was hanging open and Rarity's mouth was a tight line. Spike was sitting in her lap and she was rubbing his spines comfortingly.

On seeing Twilight, Spike hopped out of Rarity's lap and rushed over to Twilight, throwing his arms around her leg. She hugged him. "Twilight, it isn't true! Nopony will believe it!"

Twilight spoke through gritted teeth, reminded of what Luna had told her. "What isn't true? What won't anypony believe?"

Rarity stalked over to her. "You might want to take a look at the paper, Darling."

Twilight sat down next to Fluttershy who gave her a pat on the shoulder. "I just want you to know, Twilight, that everypony makes mistakes. Nopony is going to judge you, not after everything you've done for us."

Twilight grasped the paper in her magic and her teeth clamped together. On the front page was a picture of herself as a teenager. She was dressed in black robes, an upside down pentagram hanging from her neck. It had been from a Nightmare Night party. She didn't dress like that normally as anyone who spent more than five seconds around her would know. Her mage robes were blue, not black, not the robes of those who worshiped demons with obscene rites under cover of darkness.

Black eyeliner and blue lipstick completed the image of her teenage self. It was just her in her goth phase. The table filled with punch would clearly tell anyone reading that this was just a party. Just pretend. No one would seriously believe...the headline proclaimed "Twilight Sparkle: Rise of a Warlock."

The libel continued.

Twilight Sparkle's interest in power began as an adolescent. Already blessed with magnificent power and yoked to a familiar known for corrupting influences-

Twilight stopped reading, closed her eyes, counted to three, and continued. She was drawn first to mind control magic. A proprietor of a Canterlot bookstore specializing in dark magic, who would prefer to remain anonymous for obvious reasons,
said that Twilight would come in every evening and read books on mind control magic as well as other forbidden arts. It is unknown if she used these powers while a student, but her fellow students report that she exhibited odd behaviors.

"Yeah, Twilight was always off to herself. Never wanted to hang out, never wanted to have fun," Stated Lemon Drops, former alumni from Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns. It should be noted that warlocks are often lovers of solitude as they fear their perverse desires and experiments will be discovered. Just what was Twilight studying?

"Twilight was brilliant and she knew all the branches of magic, even the dark arts," reported Mr. Wiseman.

Rarity rubbed circles in her forehead. "For the non-Unicorns in the audience, some knowledge of the dark arts are essential to graduating any magic school."

Twilight looked up. "It's about balancing the polarities within oneself. Kiss the flame and it is yours."

Of course, student Unicorns are expected to study all branches, but did Twilight's research go beyond mere academic interest? Dusty Pages, Canterlot librarian, reports that Twilight would spend hours in the restricted sections of the library.
Was she perfecting her deviant knowledge? This reporter says yes. Twilight, after graduation, was sent to Ponyville for reasons that remain unclear. She happened to "redeem" Nightmare Moon and become the Element of Magic. It is well known that the Elements of Harmony tap into the Rainbow Magic and no mortal can bear the power of creation without their minds being twisted towards madness. Princess Luna was a bearer and she was driven into madness.

Twilight, as far as this reporter can tell, first used her dark magic when she cast the forbidden want it-need it spell over Ponyville for murky reasons revolving around a late assignment. This led to the entire town battling over a single doll. One wonders what corrupted mind would use a symbol of foalhood innocence as a conduit for demonic energies. Celestia herself pardoned her for this crime raising suspicions about their relationship.

It is also known that Twilight's familiar is Spike the Dragon. Warlocks almost always have reptile familiars. Now, Twilight is in a relationship with Princess Celestia, her former teacher. She lured the Princess off to Mustangia, an uncivilized nation, where she apparently proposed. Will a warlock be our next ruler? What is Twilight Sparkle planning?

Twilight laid her head down on the table. Her friends crowded around her, pulling her into a hug. She pushed them away, tears welling up in her eyes and splashing down onto the paper. "It's all true. Every word. I did have an interest in dark magic. I...I did want power. I was on the path to becoming a warlock."

Rarity pushed her chin up. "Darling, listen to me. Every Unicorn struggles. What matters is that you didn't give in." She wiped away Twilight's tears.

Applejack gave Rarity a flat look. "Every Unicorn, Rarity? Try every being that has ever walked the face of Equus. Good and evil, it's in all of us. And when you're that age, you're trying to figure out who you are. Hell, I'm glad this article ain't about me."

"I'm glad it's not about me either, Darling."

Dash punched the table. "I know Ponies. You want me to call'em up, Twi? Some of them are actually out of jail."

Twilight shook her mane. "Thanks, but no. I just need to figure out who got all this information. This has some noble's hoofprints all over it."

Rarity examined the article, chewing her lip. "That reporter, Ink Letters. House Letters is a subordinate house to-"

"House Shimmer." Twilight growled. "Earl Shimmer told me her son will marry Celestia and it would be unfortunate if I didn't get out of the way."

"Maybe Earl Shimmer needs her face bucked in."

Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "No, Applejack. You'll end up in jail or hurt by her private security forces."

"What are you going to do then, Sugarcube? You gotta do something."

Twilight laid her face back on the table. "I just don't know."

...
Celestia strolled into her throne room and was stopped by a mob of noble Ponies who were all shouting at each other. The upraised shouts and clopping of hooves filled the chamber, shook the very walls.

Celestia stomped her hoof, but the discord didn't end. If anything, the shouting got louder.

Raven decided to join in, crashing her leg onto the ground. Luna flared her wings and marched directly into the room. "CEASE THIS AT ONCE!"

The shouting was replaced by dead silence. Earl Grey marched to the Princess. "Princess, we are owed an explanation."

Celestia stepped back, but then went forward, pushed her muzzle against Earl Grey's. "An explanation for what?" She pushed past her, ascended the dais and sat down on her throne. Luna joined her. Celestia flared out her wings and lifted herself to her full height.

The sun shining through the windows sent streams of pastel light over the floor and highlighted her rainbow mane. "I believe I am the one owed an explanation. I do not come to your places of business and riot. I am owed the same courtesy."

"There is something to riot about!" Earl Grey threw a paper at her hooves. Celestia lifted it up and quickly scanned it, her lips curling.

Luna was the first to regain her composure. "This is libel, Earl Grey. Plain and simple."

Earl Grey approached the throne, but had the good sense to keep a few inches back. "Is it? Or does it all make sense? The Canterlot Times is a reputable paper. They do not report libel. By this time, that story will be on every front page on every newspaper in Equestria. Lady Twilight has exhibited a pattern of behavior. Of solitude, control, manipulation. She's manipulating you, using you."

"Get out."

"You know my words are true."

Celestia rose. "Get out."

The earl came closer. "The House of Lords is going to take a vote. If your mind has been compromised-"

Luna darted to her sister's side. "Her mind has not been compromised! You don't know what you're talking about, you traitor!"

"Treason is a serious offense. Don't bandy the word about. It is not treason to be concerned with the destiny of the empire. Indeed, perhaps you have committed treason, Princess Celestia."

"How dare you-"

"Now that this is known about Lady Twilight-"

"Twilight is not a warlock!"

"Do you deny she cast forbidden magic on the minds of her fellow citizens?"

"She was suffering psychological effects from facing Discord!"

"Ah, I see. Yes. She is not just a warlock, she is a mentally imbalanced warlock. Much better."

Luna trampled the ground and stared down Earl Grey who didn't budge. "In my day, I would have challenged you to a duel on my friend and sister's behalf. I would have killed you and decorated the throne with your head."

"Thank the Gods such dark days are behind us."

"They can always come back."

Earl Grey still wouldn't budge though Luna looked ready to kill her where she stood. She smirked. "This is how you run your domain now, Princess? With medieval threats of barbarism? With implications of returning to the dark days of duels and ridiculous bloodshed to avenge archaic notions of honor?"

"Oh is honor archaic now? Well then, now I certainly understand this degenerate age!" Luna roared. "You are making a mockery of your ancestors! I do not understand how you let this happen, Sister!"

Celestia turned away. "Nor do I."

Velvet strode through the herd of nobles. She was surrounded by representatives of her own house, House Clover, House Pants, House De Lis and House Glitter. "Earl Grey, I will have you know I am submitting an official complaint against you for slandering my house."

Earl Grey's faction crowded around her. "Are you now?" She asked. "It isn't slander when it's true."

"It isn't true."

Celestia cleared her throat. "If anypony has an actual petition, they can stay. Lady Velvet, I highly encourage you to do so. We can get the slander charge filed right now. Everypony else can leave. Earl Grey, I order you to leave the throne room immediately."

Most of the nobles filed out. The representatives of House Grey, House Shimmer, House Blue and House Prancer stayed where they were, crowding around Earl Grey. Velvet remained standing far to the side of them, surrounded by her relatives and allies.

Celestia once more cleared her throat. "Are you losing your hearing in your old age, Earl Grey?"

Earl Grey bowed stiffly and quickly straightened up. "Today, the House of Lords will convene. All house representatives will be required to be there. If your mind has been compromised, we will pass an edict stripping you of your title and returning power to us."

Celestia took in a sharp intake of breath. "This is treason, Earl Grey."

"No, it isn't." Earl Grey levitated a book out of her saddle bag, flipped it open and started to read. "'In the event of mental incompetence by the Princess, her authority is to be returned to the House of Lords.' This is all perfectly legal, Your Highness."

Celestia rubbed the spot below her horn. Luna flapped her wings. "Earl Grey, that seems to have been written after my banishment without me in mind and without the House of Commons in mind either. Power would go to me and I would return it to my sister."

"Perhaps. I'd best be going. The convocation is set to begin shortly."

She trotted out, followed closely by her allies. The room was wreathed in silence. Velvet shuffled up to the throne and tentatively rested a hoof on Celestia's shoulder. "She can't do this. You have too much support and she'd need a unanimous vote."

"I know." Celestia patted Velvet's hoof. "Come, let's get the paperwork for slander complaint filed away and then you can join your peers." She lifted up from the throne and headed towards the door. Then she paused. "Luna, if anyone comes, you can handle things, right?"

"Of course. I believe I'm actually beginning to understand this modern, constitutional monarchy idea."

"Great."

Together, she and Velvet entered into the hall.

...
It was closely approaching evening, the sun nearly completely its westward journey. The sun's light streamed down orange rays on the hills and fruitful valleys of Equestria. Celestia soared over it all, her wings lifted wide against the azure sky. Everything looked so small from down here.

Her own guards were nowhere to be seen. She had dismissed them. She turned to the left, floating on a thermal. Golden grain rustled in small, farming villages that popped up between valleys and within deep, untamed forests where industrious Ponies had carved out a civilization for themselves.

Her Ponies. Her civilization. The civilization she had guided for millennia. The towns vanished in a haze of greens and brown. The Everfree Forest, the last untamed place in Equestria. Rough howls and snarls lifted up from the thick, tangled branches, endlessly intertwining in verdant and mahogany knots.

Celestia soared past them. Deep in the heart of those woods, the ruins of a city stood. That city was long lost and Celestia did not want to recall it. She angled her wings and prepared for a landing in Ponyville, directing her flight pattern towards a library carved into the heart of a living oak.

She landed and opened the door after a brief nod to her guards. Twilight looked up from the couch she was sitting on, put aside her book and rushed to her.

They held each other.

Only after several minutes had passed did they part. Celestia wrapped her neck around Twilight's and Twilight returned the gesture. "Rough day, Tia?"

"I bet it wasn't as rough as yours."

"Ponies here love me. I had several patrons show up just to tell me they don't believe that story."

Celestia sighed. "I wish Ponies in Canterlot were as kind. Earl Grey is holding a convocation to have me impeached for being mentally incompetent. She's accused you of being a warlock and me of being under your influence. I can't even be there to defend myself because that would be seen as an act of intimidation."

Twilight ground her hoof into the wood. "She can't do that."

"No, she can. The motion will fail, though. It would need to be unanimous and the houses unanimously support me. Ponies fear change and this would be a huge change. Still, it's a direct challenge to my authority. I never thought she'd take her grudge this far."

Twilight pressed her muzzle against Celestia. "You're really hurt by this."

Celestia nuzzled Twilight. "I am. I don't always enjoy being princess, but it does feed one's ego. If I ever leave it, it'll be of my own free will. To be threatened with the equivalent of being fired...that hurts. Truly, it does."

Twilight rubbed her mane, the rainbow strands warm to the touch. "If you do get kicked out, you can always live here with me."

"Tempting, tempting. Also, your mother is suing Earl Grey."

Twilight smirked. "Remind me to get her a good Mother's Day gift this year. A really good one. Expensive."

"I'll chip in."

They sought comfort in each other's forelegs. "Do you want to stay here tonight?"

"I'd like to, but that would only raise further suspicion wouldn't it?"

Twilight bit her lip. "Tia, I never meant to cause you all this trouble. If this relationship is hurting your work, hurting the empire, maybe we should just..." She sniffled. "Just end things. I don't want you to be hurt."

Celestia pushed her lips to hers and Twilight's senses were filled with the tang of mint and sweetness of tea. Twilight kissed back.

"No, Twilight, never. We are not going to give them what they want."

Twilight reclined against her. "Want to go out? I think we could both use it. Spike is over at Rarity's, I'll leave note for him."

"That sounds lovely, Twilight."

Twilight floated over a notebook, ripped out a page and wrote a message to Spike which she tacked to the front door. She set aside the notebook and quill, pressed herself to Celestia's side and they went out into town.