The moon was slowly setting, sinking to her rest beneath the western sky. Soon, the sun would also have to rise. The shepherdess of the sun, her royal highness Princess Celestia, wrapped her wings around her marefriend and drew her closer into the embrace. Twilight in turn hugged her and nuzzled into her chest fur. An insistent tug pulled onto Celestia’s horn, a nearly painful ache. The sky was lightening changing from the deep black of night to the soft, dark blue of dawn. The proud evening star surveyed the realm from her eternal throne. Soon, she too would have to make way for the Queen of the Heavens.

Celestia’s eyes fluttered open. The last rays of moonlight danced through the room, bathing it in a silvery glow. Outside, she could hear the shuffling of early risers, whispered conversations and upraised laughter. A tent village was loud as it came awake. Young stallions slumped back to their herd tents, their hooves a hard pounding on the ground. They would face a scolding from their wives or mothers (possibly both, the unlucky bastards) before collapsing to sleep off their drunkenness. The drunken gait of nearly grown fillies was softer, but still contained a clumsiness to Celestia’s well trained ears. Centuries of observation could tell her the relative age, gender and sobriety of a Pony from their hoof steps. While stallions out drinking would be chastised, a filly out drinking was simply being a filly. That was part of Mustangia’s matriarchal culture. On the other hoof, stallions were allowed multiple mates while mares were expected to abide a strict code of chastity. Such attitudes were giving way to egalitarianism under Equestrian influence, but were still ingrained in Mustangian culture.

Older Mustangs slowly made their way to the grazing fields, their steps soft upon the earth. Foals raced each other, their hooves like the beat of a distant drum as they ran to get breakfast. Celestia’s stomach rumbled. Clover and lemongrass sounded quite appealing this early in the morning. Something light and sweet. She nuzzled her sleeping paramour who groaned and ducked under the covers. Maybe, just maybe, they could spend all day in bed. Her horn lit up as she cast the ancient enchantment to call the sun. An explosion of yellow and orange light flooded the tent as the dawn broke over the horizon.

A song to the sun broke out in the camp, a rhythmic, throaty song of joy in a language so old that it was now only remembered in prayer. Celestia closed her eyes and listened. Twilight nestled up against her. “So, are you mad at me?”

She should have been. Twilight had deliberately violated her trust, broken inside her mind and drawn out her deepest secrets. She had shown no regard for her privacy. She should be furious. She should be shouting at the Unicorn in bed with her, breaking up with her, something to show her displeasure.

Twilight laid her head on the pillow and looked up at her. “Tia?”

Celestia nuzzled her and laid her head beside Twilight’s. Their muzzles brushed together. “No, I’m not. You did something wrong and I don’t want you to do it again, but I’m not angry at you. You only did it out of love.”

Twilight burrowed into her chest. “I’m glad you understand and I am sorry. Those memories...they’re going to haunt me for a while.”

Celestia frowned. “You understand why I would be mad if I were?”

“Of course. I shouldn’t have gone inside your mind without your permission.”

Celestia’s hoof lingered on Twilight’s cheek, caressed the lavender fur. “No, you shouldn’t have. Of course, you’re not the only one that did something wrong.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Yes, I did. I worried you and you had a right to be worried. Just like when I hid out in the Everfree after what happened with Luna. I haven’t changed. I close myself off from others so I don’t get hurt.”

Twilight nuzzled her beneath her chin. “You still didn’t do anything wrong. You have a right to your space and your secrets. I was the one that violated that.”

“Alright. Let’s just both promise each other that we’ll find a way to be healthier.”

“Pinkie promise.”

Celestia blinked. “What?”

Twilight went through a strange ritual ending with her placing her eye against her hoof. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“What.”

Twilight giggled. “It’s just something Pinkie Pie came up with.”

Celestia shook her head. “No, it isn’t. It’s one of the most solemn rituals of the ancient Stein Kindred of Earth Ponies. Fly is a euphemism for death and oathbreakers had cupcakes shoved in their eye. Pinkie must be a descendant.”

Twilight blinked. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Of course I am. There’s no logical explanation for anything Pinkie Pie does.”

This set off a round of giggling. Twilight wiped away a tear. “But I still love her.”

Celestia softly smiled. “I’ve had friends just like that.”

“It’s her being psychic I don’t get.”

“Unicorn ancestry probably.”

“Probably. Gods, I was a Tribalist back then. I just couldn’t accept an Earth Pony with Unicorn magic.”

Celestia’s hoof trailed down her chest. “You’ve blossomed since getting friends though you’ve always been a kind, good-hearted Pony which is more than I can say for most other nobles.”

Twilight’s cheeks colored. “I’m not that noble.” She paused. “Hey, maybe we ought to get you some friends. Maybe it’ll help you open up a bit.”

Celestia lightly tickled Twilight’s belly. “I have you and Luna. I’m not so lonely anymore.” The thought worked its way into her head. “I’m not alone anymore.”

She planted a kiss on Twilight’s muzzle which Twilight returned. All around them the insistent chatter and movement of the waking world called to them. They ignored it as they burrowed deeper into their blankets. Soon, sleep claimed them once more.

...
Only the insistent rumbling of both their stomachs finally roused them. By Twilight’s calculations it was at least mid-morning. Twilight lifted up and knocked the blankets away from her, prancing onto the grassy floor of the tent. Celestia followed a few moments later.

Twilight stretched. “So, what do you want to do today?”

Celestia gave a few flaps of her wings. “Take a bath?”

“Want to go back to the hot springs?”

“Sounds nice to me.”

They went by the springs and did their morning ablutions before wandering to the meadow from yesterday for breakfast. Twilight buried her muzzle into the good earth and inhaled the scent of lemongrass. It was light, almost airy, and held a tangy sweetness. The taste was just as sweet as she munched onto it.

Celestia beside her dug into the grass with wild abandon. Twilight glanced at her as she chomped onto the patch of lemongrass, her muzzle staining green. It was adorable and she couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from her throat.

“You look just as funny, y’know.” Celestia shot, lifting up her head.

Twilight innocently whistled and moved onto a patch of zoysia which she held a fondness for. Grass from the root had a different flavor and texture from the cultivated grasses of settled areas. It was richer and almost bitter, but not unpleasantly so. She nibbled on the zoysia while Celestia silently nibbled on her lemongrass.

Twilight swallowed a clump of zoysia. “You like lemongrass, don’t you?”

“Love it.”

While they had been eating other Ponies had entered into the fields and started grazing. Twilight paid them no mind, keeping her muzzle in the grass. She felt somepony’s eyes on her. She looked up and noticed a large, brown stallion staring at her.

She moved closer to Celestia. Celestia looked up and shot him a look before spreading a protective wing over Twilight. The scent of other Ponies and the musk of estrus hung heavy in the air. It was, after all, heat season a fact that had nearly escaped Twilight until she realized why her desires for Celestia had grown so strong.

The stallion ignored Celestia’s protective gesture and trotted over. Twilight whirled around to face him. He stepped back. Celestia also turned.

He slightly lowered his head, his body relaxed. He knelt to Celestia. “Welcome to our little herd village, Princess and...”

“Twilight Sparkle.”

He pressed his cheek to hers. Twilight stepped back and Celestia stepped forward. “A greeting Twilight, nothing more.”

The stallion frowned. “I don’t intend to make you uncomfortable. Please accept my apologies.”

Celestia pressed her cheek to his for half a second and then both broke away. Twilight, understanding that no offense had been meant, did the same. The frown on the stallion’s face disappeared and he sniffed the air. “Are you two in a herd?”

Celestia nodded. “We form a herd, yes.”

“Ah, I see. You would not be interested in...right, you Equestrians do not have herds like we do. Two of my wives have a relationship like yours. It keeps harmony in the home when wives love each other like a wife and husband do.”

Twilight made that expression of curiosity that Celestia found so endearing. “How does that work, polygamy? Is there a lot of fighting?”

The stallion chuckled. “Of course. Couples fight, it’s just something that happens. Sometimes, they get jealous or other issues come up. We all sit down and try to discuss things without throttling each other-though that can be hard.”

“I imagine. I’ve read about relationships between polygamous couples. I find it amazing how you can have such a relationship and still have harmony. Maybe we can learn things from your culture.”

The stallion smiled. “I’m certain we can learn from your culture as well. My name is Wildfire.”

Twilight extended a hoof. “A pleasure to meet you, Wildfire.”

He stared at her hoof before pressing his own to hers. “The pleasure is mine. I am sorry about the misunderstanding earlier.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

“Perhaps you would like to come to dinner at my tent? My first wife is making roasted barley.”

Twilight felt her mouth water at the thought. There was nothing like roasted barley. “Sounds delicious. Wait, I thought Mustangs solely grazed.”

“We do, mostly. But we also collect grasses and cook them. We do not farm like our brethren do. Our faith forbids us from striking the earth.”

Celestia nodded. “You’d think that you’d have a limited diet, but Mustangia has done amazing things with their food. Their only deficiency is that they have no cake.”

The stallion threw his head back and laughed. “We have no cake, yes, but try our desserts! My first wife will delight you.”

“Do your wives take turns cooking?” Twilight asked.

“No, but First Wife is a professional chef so she doesn’t let anypony else near the hearth. Ran my second wife out with a wooden spoon. They’re the ones that later got involved in a relationship like yours. Hatred and love are both fires are they not?”

“That’s a quote of the great Mustangian poet Golden Voice.”

“Indeed it is, my new unicorn friend. So, I can expect you for dinner?”

Twilight turned to Celestia. “Did you have any other plans?”

“Not at all. We’d be delighted to come.”

He took his leave, wandering back to a group of four mares who shot a few suspicious glances at Twilight and Celestia. Twilight had eaten her fill, though Celestia stayed a few minutes longer to nibble on a patch of sweetgrass. They wandered from the grazing grounds into a expanse of rolling hills where other Mustangs ran and lept.

Foals darted around, dancing and chasing each other, their little hooves kicking up dust. Adult stallions and mares chased each other, sweat glistening off their bodies as they exulted in the thrill of the race. From somewhere in the distance came what sounded like the pounding of ten-thousand drums.

The sound was like thunder as the wave of Mustangs rushed down the hillside. The unicorn and alicorn watched in awe at the sight as the Ponies streamed over the verdant hillside, dirt and grass thrown up in a storm that erupted from the land and enveloped the herds.

The participants in the stampede must have numbered in the hundreds. The pastel colors of the participants blended due to the speeds at which they were running so it resembled a rainbow river.

Celestia nudged Twilight’s shoulder. “They’re stampeding from old grazing grounds. There’s must have worn out. They may be shown hospitality or driven out as invaders. Or, perhaps they’ll pass through to find grounds that aren’t inhabited. Want to join in?”

Twilight stared. “How?”

“I’ll show you.”

Celestia darted forward and nudged her way into the middle section of the stampede. They made way for her. Twilight hesitated before jumping in herself. The Ponies nudged and jostled her, streaming all around her. Twilight felt dizzy as the other Ponies crowded ahead of her and behind her and to the side of her.

She ducked and weaved, feeling the herds as they accepted her presence, until she found Celestia who drew her close with a wing. They ran together in order to keep up. Slowly, Twilight began to feel the rhythm to the cascade of bodies. Her hooves joined with the thousands of hooves around her as she fell into step with the others.

The bodies surged around her and she found herself part of it. She was part of the gathering of herds, her rhythm in tune with the rhythm of the others, her heartbeat forming part of the heartbeat of the herds. With each stamp of her hooves, with each beat of her heart, with each breath she took, there was a sense of joining. There was a loss of herself, but a sudden sense of a greater self.

She understood why the herds were moving, why the herds had come together to form a great herd. She saw the worn away lands upon which they had once grazed, felt hunger even though her belly was full, accessed the memories of thousands, felt it going back, further back, even to the beginning of her race and the tender green fields of creation.

She felt the determination of warriors to take a new land by force if necessary, cruel necessities, the skill of the peacemakers that led the herds and the sweet words they may use to find a new home, felt the love and trepidation of parents for their foals, the playfulness of the foals themselves as they joyfully followed the elders they trusted without reservation, the passion of young lovers, the exhaustion of the old that had done this far too many times and longed for rest, felt, knew, loved, belonged.

Belonged.

Celestia pulled her with her wing and the vision passed. She felt a return to her smaller self as they left the herd. Celestia drew back her wing and they watched as the herds rushed past and then slowed before stopping altogether. By mutual agreement the herds split for a moment and began to graze. They had found an acceptable new home.

Twilight could feel the palpable relief of the other Ponies. She breathed, returning to the center of her self. “What...what was that?”

“The kal’arah-the herd consciousness.”

“I...I know what the kal’arah is. The Elements of Harmony are powered by it. I’ve felt it with my family and the girls. It’s like, I’ll suddenly know what Rarity or Pinkie is thinking or if Dash is secretly scared or sad and only pretending to be okay. I’ve felt it, but nothing like that. I was remembering things that had occurred thousands of years ago.”

“Ancestral memories are liable to crop up during a stampede. The kal’arah is intensified by about one-thousand during a stampede and the ancestor’s memories form part of the herd’s memories.”

Twilight’s face broke into a broad grin. “That was incredible!” She bounced up and down. “I can’t wait to write an article about it!”

“I’m certain it will be a lovely article. I can’t wait to read it.”

Twilight stretched out on the grass and Celestia joined her. “So, what do you want to do now, Twi?”

“Hmm...just rest here a bit? Kind of winded.”

“So am I.”

Twilight looked up at her surroundings. Tall grasses waved in the wind and a ribbon of blue water coursed through the meadow. “How far did we go?”

“We were running for two hours and have probably gone about one-hundred miles.”

Twilight blinked. “One-hundred miles?”

“Yes. Time stops during the kel’arah. Past, present and future blend together.”

“It’ll take a while to get back.”

Celestia helpfully flapped her wings. “I’ll take you for a fly. One of these days, I’m going to have to give you a pair of wings.”

Twilight snorted at the thought. “I’d have a midair anxiety attack.”

Celestia nibbled her ear making Twilight squirm. “Hmmm...I’ll have to calm you down somehow.”

“You’ve been working on that project for over a decade...ohhhhh....” Twilight melted as Celestia massaged her shoulders, exploring the most sensitive regions. She relaxed and surrendered to her lover’s caresses as Celesta's hooves rubbed her back, moving down to slowly stroke her rump.

Twilight squeaked from the attention. Celestia cooed over her and kneaded the purple Pony’s posterior. “What you need is a solid hour of affection a day.”

Twilight pouted. “Only an hour?”

“Alright, alright. As much as you need.” She nibbled the nape of Twilight’s neck, lovingly grooming her fur.

Twilight squirmed. “Hold on a minute.”

Celestia paused in her ministrations and waited as Twilight turned to face her and buried her muzzle into her neck, licking and nipping at it. Celestia returned the gesture, licking Twilight’s throat. They groomed each other for a long time, delighting in the sensations and closeness of the mutual grooming session.

Once they were finished they broke apart and their eyes met. Their lips met in a deep kiss as they drank each other in. Celestia tasted of the sun. Twilight wasn’t sure how that made sense, but that was her taste. Light and warmth and an inviting heat.

Celestia was the first to break the kiss, albeit reluctantly. “We should probably be heading back.”

“Yeah.”

Twilight climbed onto Celestia’s back and rested her face in her mane. Celestia spread her alabaster wings. This wasn’t Twilight’s first time going for a fly, but she still felt the exhilaration as the air whipped her face and tore through her mane. She whooped and held on tightly to Celestia’s neck as they soared over the landscape.

Celestia grinned and picked up speed. Her rainbow mane and tail flowed and lifted, caught up in the wind whipped up by her flight. The endless hills curled and rose up, rushing rivers coursing down them to nourish the land. More jagged, rugged hills stabbed up at the sky.

Oaks and pines waved their leafy arms as they passed by the deep and dark forests. Twilight realized Celestia was taking the scenic route. This was a land that was astonishingly green where one could wander for days and see only grass and leaves.

“Tia, how will we know where Wildfire’s tent is?”

“You’ll see."

...
Celestia landed at last, having flown further than she really should have. She couldn't help it. Twilight had just been so fascinated by the way Mustangia looked from the sky. The smoke of hearth fires lifted into the air, carrying the scents of oats, barleys and other smells that would bring thoughts of home to anypony's mind.

The smoke of the crackling fires cast a grey sheen over the village at dusk. The sky was darkening, the rays of the sun turning reddish gold and purple shadows joining the smoke. Listening closely, Twilight could make out the pop of dancing flames.

The tent flaps were open which allowed the flames to go out rather than filling the tent. Twilight and Celestia could see the herds gathering over their meals. Wildfire's tent was in the middle of the village. Little blue and white flowers popped up around the dwelling and wild patches of blackberries curled around a fence.

Wildfire stepped out of the tent, accompanied by one of his wives and two small, brown foals. The foals hopped over and crowded around the new Ponies. One of the colts jumped up and bopped Twilight's horn. "What's that? Why you have a stick in your head? Did you run into a tree branch?"

The parents of the foals blushed. Wildfire rushed over and herded the colts away. "My apologies. My sons have never seen unicorns before, nonetheless alicorns. This is Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia. These two knuckleheads are Wild Heart and Stone Will."

"Hi!" Both colts shouted. Wildfire toussled their manes.

Twilight bit back her laughter. "Hello, Wild Heart and Stone Will."

Wild Heart was younger and had a black mane like the mare that stood at the entrance of the tent. Stone Will's mane was silver. Wildfire ushered his guests into the tent which was full of foals bouncing around. Wild Heart and Stone Will joined the others around the fire. A pan filled with barley was set over the hearth fire.

Celestia and Twilight joined the circle as the black-maned mare that was clearly the leader in the family urged everypony to sit. Her coat was a beautiful chestnut brown. A blonde and white mare sat next to her. Two other mares, one with a red mane and coat and another with a silver coat and violet mane. In turn they introduced themselves as Alydar, Dawn Run,Red Rum, and Silver Beauty. Wildfire sat in the center. The foals sat between their parents.

Twilight could guess which foal belonged to which mare by the way the foals chose who they sat next to or leaned against. Alydar stood, collected several plates from a freestanding cabinet and placed them first for Wildfire, then the foals, then her co-wives, paused and then placed plates before Twilight and Celestia. She also laid out a tea tray.

She nuzzled the two in greeting, which they returned. "Welcome to our home."

Celestia knelt her head. "Thank you for your hospitality, Herd Mother."

After Alydar accepted their presence the other members of the herd, foals included, nuzzled Twilight and Celestia. They then all sat down to eat.

Dawn Run, sitting rather closely to Alydar, smiled at the newcomers. "So, what brings the Princess of Equestria and her friend to our humble village?"

Celestia nibbled on the oats. "Twilight decided I needed a vacation and brought me here."

Alydar swallowed some of the oats. "That was sweet of her. I hope you're enjoying your stay."

Celestia lifted the tea cup in her hooves and sipped it. "It's lovely."

Twilight sipped some of her own tea, detecting the subtle hints of jasmine. "I love your hot springs."

"Can you show me a magic trick?"

The question had come from a small pink filly so closely tucked to Red Rum's side that Twilight had barely even noticed her. Red Rum drew her close with a hoof. "That's not polite, Sweetie. This here is Rosemary. She's just curious."

The filly hid her head in her mother's mane. Twilight set down her teacup. "I'd be delighted to show you a magic trick."

Celestia had been using her hooves to handle the cup so as to not startle the foals with a display of her power. Twilight had followed her lead. Now free of any restraints she lifted up the tea tray in her aura. The foals oohed and ahhed and clapped their hooves in amazement.

Twilight set the tray back down.

"Do you know any spells to blow something up?" Wild Heart asked.

Twilight smirked. "I don't think your parents would like that." She took hold of the fire with a flick of her horn and increased the temperature just slightly. The dancing flames took on a blue shade. Even the adults seemed amazed. The meal passed quickly and soon the delicious roasted oats Alydar had prepared were all gone as did the fruit dessert Celestia relished.

Through the meal, Twilight continued to amuse the foals with little tricks. She caused miniature (well-contained) fireworks to spark out of the fire. She lifted everypony's plates and teacups. She teleported around the room and even had an impromptu game of hide-and-go-seek (the foals won).

After the goodbyes were said, Twilight and Celestia left the tent. The cool, evening grass tickled Celestia's pasterns. She noticed that Twilight's shoulders were slightly slumped. At first Celestia assumed it was just tiredness. She nudged against her. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Y...yeah, I'm fine."

Silence descended until they reached their own tent. Twilight stretched out on the bed.

Celestia joined her. "We had a good time, I think. You didn't use too much magic did you?"

Twilight rubbed her horn. "Hmm, maybe a little. But I'm getting over that. That magical therapy was expensive, but worth it. I'm just glad the Guild paid for it."

"Well, they wouldn't want to lose their best mage." Celestia embraced her with a wing.

Twilight snuggled into her side. "Celestia? You know I love you, right?"

Ceestia pressed her lips to Twilight's ear. "I still like to hear it every now and then. Come now. Tell me what's wrong."

Silence. "Okay Twi, I'm getting worried."

"I'm sorry. It's just, I was really having fun playing with those foals. If I'm with you..." She sniffled. "We'll never have foals of our own."

Celestia paused and ran a hoof through Twilight's mane. "You're really planning for the long term, aren't you? Twilight, we aren't even married yet."

"There's nopony else I'd want to be with."

"Twilight, we can adopt."

That brought something of a smile to Twilight's face. "Yeah, yeah we could. But what if we don't love them as much as if they were our own? What if they don't love us?"

Celestia continued running her hoof through her mane. "What about Spike?"

Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh my Goddess! Spike! I need to write him a letter to make sure he's okay! I'm sure he'll be okay, I asked Rarity to check up on him, but-"

"Twilight. Breathe."

Twilight stopped and took a deep breath. Celestia held her close. "You love Spike don't you? Like he was your son?"

"Of course I do."

"If-when we adopt, I'm sure we'll love the foal as much as we love Spike. We could formally adopt Spike of course."

"Hmm...ya know that's something we could talk about." She yawned.

"We can talk about it in the morning."

They kissed one more time and then let sleep take them.

Author's Notes:

More experimentation. Let me know if it makes sense. Yes, there’s a run-on sentence. It’s supposed to be.

My joke is bad and I should feel bad.

I don’t.