From a high cloud well above Canterlot, Luna looked down as she watched Guardian Angel drag Amethyst through a series of flying tricks. This was not the first time she had watched her stallion take the filly for joy rides. Letting the distraction take her the Princess smiled at how happy the stallion looked every time he made Amethyst squeal with delight on their various flips and inversions. She pondered when it would be that they would start their family and stop borrowing the daughter of a different couple.

In truth, Luna often wondered what prevented Guardian Angel from making such a request. A family had long been one of his chief goals in life. Perhaps the number of times it had been stripped away from him, by circumstance or tragedy, had slowed his pace. Since their very first date, she rathered he had pursued that portion of their relationship with more vigor. It was not as if they had been unknown to each other for the past twenty-five years, though they had only been truly dating for two of those years. However, with her competition in the form of both Gusty Twilight and the impending doom that surrounded that mare, it seemed that was not likely to happen any time soon. The thought made Luna take a deep breath and force a very long sigh.

She had come to terms with her jealousy, confident that regardless of his feelings for Gusty, Guardian would not act on them. In fact, he was much more interested in her and their collective future than her teal counterpart. His foolish endeavors to reach the point where he could act on such feelings had been quite the disaster. In the end, she actually felt rather happy that somehow against all odds, her stallion was willing to jeopardize the whole of the earth just to make her feel better. It was his decisions that had led them to this point and now the world hung in the balance of whatever starcrossed fate occurred at each passing moment.

“You hopeless romantic. How am I supposed to compete?” Luna commented to the air. Behind her voice Amethyst made a particularly high pitched scream as Guardian Angel completed a particularly dangerous stunt. It made her smile once more.

On a whim she tightened her legs and pushed herself off of the cloud with short hop. Gliding down on still wings, Luna only flapped her feathers when she came close to her stallion, following him through a wide banking turn. Amethyst caught sight of her, the filly’s eyes sparkled with surprise. She might not be the best in the air but Luna always tried to fly with grace, so when Guardian Angel pivoted in a wide corkscrew she moved to fly through its center. Coursing up and down in a simple wave she matched his roll with opposite crests and falls. Her whimsy satisfied, the Princess pulled away, gently circling as the unlikely pair finished their ritual.

They landed in a small park that was nestled next to the mountain, a short jaunt from the public school. Luna watched from above not willing to land, instead pretending she was aloof to their presence. She took to staring at the clocktower that hung over the Market Square which was a distance away from where they were now.

“Hey! Are you just gonna stay up there or come down to talk?” Guardian Angel called up to her once he safely let Amethyst dismount.

“For what reason should I lower myself to your level, fairest of lords?” she teased.

“Well, if you want to be difficult I guess I’ll have to come get you.” His wings unfolded again from his sides.

“You would not dare!” She shouted already turning with a sharp motion trying to make headway before he got airborne. There was no chance she could outdo him in a straight contest of flight, nor did she intend to try. Frankly, she just wanted attention, but it was much more fun to pretend she was haughty royalty in order to get it.

To her surprise, he caught her twice as fast as she expected. Letting out a rather low, unlady-like scream she bucked on instinct. Luna caught him somewhere in the stomach from what her hooves told her and immediately began apologizing. Tickling started in response as Guardian Angel wrapped his body around her and glided them down to the ground.

“I take it back! I’m not sorry! Release me, you foul ruffian! You’re going to make me piss myself!” Luna cried as he continued to poke at her ribs. He did not stop his assault on her bodice even when they were on the ground where the stallion laughed at her bright red cheeks.

“Not until you stop acting like a pampered prude, you stuck up demon fucker!” he play-growled back. Pinning her legs down he stretched up to meet her eyes.

“Who are insulting you idiot? Me or yourself?” She replied before kissing him. Moments like these had been few and far between. After how she had been feeling a few minutes ago, Luna intended to relish it while she had it.

She knew in her heart that these times of calm were to be short-lived. That did not stop her from enjoying it, and made her heart wish for more. Nothing was going to be normal again, not unless some miracle happened and Luna was not such a fool as to hold out hope for it. Everything would fall apart slowly, then all at once and it would be a horrid, draining experience. Suddenly, a soft clearing of a small throat caught her attention, forcing her to part lips and tongue with Guardian Angel.

Amethyst stood a short distance away. The filly had grown some since the last time Luna had seen her face-to-face. Her body had filled out more and she was at least a foot taller. The light pink mane of the budding teen was now combed evenly, still curly, but clear effort had been put in to make it shine and set lower along her neck.

“Hey, punk. I thought you said you were going to head onto to school?” Guardian Angel greeted her.

“Well. I realized I had an opportunity to ask both of you some questions. And I probably won’t get another chance to do it so...here I am,” the filly replied with a shrug. There was a certain look in her eyes that made Luna especially uncomfortable.

Amethyst had proven time and again, in any dreamwalk she had taken to visit the filly, she was very much an adult. Most importantly she was a highly intelligent adult. Even if Luna’s visits had been to deal with nightmares they were always of fears of her future and what other ponies thought of her. Amethyst’s questions would hit the heart of those matters and do so quickly. She did not disappoint.

“My mom’s not going to be okay is she?” the filly asked solemnly.

The question hung in the air like a hangpony swinging on their noose. Guardian Angel lowered his head and looked away, leaving Luna to stare at Amethyst warily. It was the truth, and trying to speak it made the Princess’s tongue dry and lumpy. She pinched her brow and opened her mouth to try and respond anyway but instead only sighed.

“It’s not like last time. I can feel it.” Amethyst continued as neither actual adult could respond. “I know I shouldn’t be poking around with the sort of magic that she’s affected by but I was curious. I don’t totally understand all of it but I know that what was keeping her safe is gone.”

“Yes. T-that is correct.” Guardian Angel’s voice shook when he replied. Luna looked at him but he still looked only at the ground.

“I remember...I remember when I was still part of the Nyxian Cult. They used a similar magic on ponies...made me use it. I remember reciting things in a language I didn’t understand. It’s the same kind of magic. I know it is. But it’s so much stronger. Is-isn’t there any way we can help her?” Amethyst pressed.

Lost for words, Luna looked away from the filly. She knew the answer but could not bring herself to say it. It had only been two days since the last incident and she had not adequately steeled her nerves for such a conversation.

“No,” Guardian Angel whispered. His voice was just loud enough to reach their ears, like murmurs of conversations carried by the wind. He looked up at Amethyst as Luna was forced to blink away the feeling of tears.

“We’ve done all that we can. Luna, Celestia, and even your Uncle Zeccaran have helped make some impressive barriers to keep her mind safe but in the end it is only a matter of time.” The stallion stood after he finished those fateful words.

Though she was no longer touching him, Luna could practically feel him twitching from frustration as he stamped the ground with a hoof. Amethyst moped her head down and looked as if she was to start crying when a new wave of inspiration crossed her face. She was not happy, but at least she was not falling apart. If the filly started to cry Luna would have to join her on simple empathy, the situation was too close to home for both of them.

“What happens when her time is up? That dark magic…what will it do to her?” Amethyst asked.

Silence was the only answer after Guardian Angel released a sigh. The young pony’s face grew ever sadder, but the glint of determination in her eyes kept her seeming resolute. Luna watched her stallion for a moment. He looked hurt, beaten. It did not suit him and the Princess wanted anything to have him forget their troubles if for but a moment so he might relax. But that was not Guardian Angel, and his stalwart attempts at perfection were what made her love him. In this moment, however, he needed her help: it was her turn to answer.

“Amethyst. This may be hard to hear,” Luna tried to start it gently.

“You know I don’t care. I need to know Auntie Luna. I need to be ready. For mom.” The filly’s brow knitted down in a hard glare, persistent in her cause.

“Once the Curse recovers enough power, it will win. No barrier we can put up will stop it from taking over Gusty’s mind.” Luna cleared her throat and continued, doing her best to not truly look at Amethyst as she spoke for fear of breaking down into sobs. “Best case scenario is somehow Gusty holds onto enough of herself that she is trapped within her own mind. Forever to be tormented by relieving the atrocities she survived.”

“That’s the best case scenario!? That’s awful!” Amethyst cried in shock.

“Yes. But that gives us the chance to use the Element Bearers. It exposes the Curse’s magic, making it manifest itself within Gusty’s body. There, we can destroy it.” The Princess explained.

“Then...after that...she’ll be alright?” The filly grasped at straws.

Luna shook her head repeatedly unable to speak her words for a moment: “In such a case we expect her body to be destroyed in the magical effects caused by the Harmony Magic. The Curse will be destroyed alongside it and at long last Gusty will be free and be at peace.”

Amethyst shuddered and her mouth worked but she did not speak beyond a few quiet girly grunts. She flopped down on her flanks and heaved haggard breaths.

“I-I don’t need to kn-know anymore. Oh, by the stars...mom.” The filly shed a few tears her face completely distraught.

Her own tears starting in full, the Princess quickly made her way to the small pony. Sitting down in a graceful motion she pulled Amethyst close as the fIlly sobbed harder. It was a tender moment, one that made Luna ponder the future with a sort of heartache she had not felt before. Things were only going to get worse, and good ponies were going to suffer because of it. The best she could do was try to minimize the damage. There was nothing to stop the emotional trauma, but at least she could stop the physical kind. Amethyst drew a shaky breath and pushed up off of her neck where she had nuzzled to cry leaving the fur on the Princess somewhat matted from the tears.

“Mr. Stormwalker. Y-you promised mom that everything would be okay.” The filly’s voice shook as she spoke. Luna had to commend Amethyst she knew what to say to send her message the clearest. However, it was to the Princess’s surprise that Guardian Angel’s promise had meant something to a pony other than him.

“I know,” he replied with no tone in his voice. She looked at him seeing his face turned down and even some of his mane drooping with his snout.

“A-and you promised me too! There must be something...anything!” Amethyst sniffled. Luna loved her courage and her hope, perfectly reflective of a naive child.

It was remarkable that such a flame of innocence even remained within Amethyst. As mature as she may be the prodigal child was somehow still just that, a child. That realization made her feel worse. Knowing that Amethyst would be put through another hardship. Her stallion must have agreed with her thoughts, he closed the distance to them and snuggled up against her so he could meet the filly’s eyes.

“I know, Amethyst. But I can’t keep those promises, I failed. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He slipped a wing behind the filly as Luna took in the gravity of his words and how pained he sounded.

Guardian Angel had proven to be totally stolid in the face of the impossible odds. Occasionally his excitement and frustration would come out but for the most part it was that cool confidence that had led to the many improvements to Gusty’s condition. To hear him speak with such frank melancholy made Luna freeze in terror. A tiny bit of her had held onto the hope that perhaps they could wriggle their way free of this trap of time and find a solution. His words brought home that the game was over and now all they could do was make Gusty comfortable as the inevitable came.

Stuck for a moment, the Princess barely noticed as Amethyst and her stallion leaned into her chest together. A part of her refused to let him be sad over this. He had made some mistakes but so what? This was not his end as well. However, his words from the few days before hit her. “I’ll lose myself..I’ll fall and take everyone with me,” he had said. That was nonsense. Even for his power his success or failure did not destroy the world, it would only destroy one mare, a mare he loved.

For the briefest of moments Luna was overcome with jealousy. She bit back new tears as she looked down at his face as he and Amethyst shared their tender moment, each with silent droplets of the clearest liquid falling down their snouts and onto her fur. Then the sensation passed and she stared on at the broken face of her lover. Guardian Angel was in love with her. He was not in love with Gusty he only loved her. And what would fall with him was how he viewed the world, how he felt, and the value he placed on himself. Of what worth was he if he could not return the favor of live-saving grace that Gusty had given him? Luna could hear him say it. That was when she realized this was much bigger than Gusty to him. It would dictate how happy he was in their relationship, whether or not he could move on from the tragedies that he had survived. Guardian Angel needed hope.

Luna smiled, a mix of happiness and empathy forcing a waterfall over her cheeks. It was like she fell in love with him all over again. Just like always he was hopelessly perfectionist and stupidly lost in romantics.

“You crazy fool,” She whispered into his ear. “You don’t need to fall apart yet. You still have at least one more chance before everything goes to Tartarus.”

Surprisingly, Amethyst gave a giggle in response. The filly released the stallion’s head and neck and leaned back into his wing. She wiped her snout and sighed.

“Yeah. The Princess is right. There’s still a chance we can do something! Quick, what’s the craziest idea you can think of?” she chirped excitedly, even if her happiness was clearly a bit faux.

Guardian Angel sat up from where he had nestled his face in her chest fur. His look was vacant as he wiped his face however his eyes twinkled with thought.

“The craziest idea I can come up with is removing the barriers and letting the Curse run wild in hopes that Luna, Zeccaran, and I could destroy it while its not attached specifically to any one part of Gusty’s mind. But that would probably wreck Canterlot and cause thousands of deaths!” he proclaimed, color returning to his voice and face.

“Well, let’s not kill a bunch of ponies over it. We could take mom out into say the Everfree Forest or maybe the Misty Mountains and try it out there!” Amethyst replied. Luna went to respond, suddenly taken aback by the filly’s exuberance, intent to comment on it when she continued. “Now how about the simplest thing that could help?”

“We could have Gusty and Guardian Angel connect their minds again. Though it was accidental before it proved pretty useful,” Luna instantly answered.

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea…” her stallion let his voice trail off.

“Why not? If it has worked before what’s the difference now?” Amethyst asked with a tilt of her head.

“First and foremost: my position emotionally. Secondly, putting that sort of stress on Gusty could only make matters worse.” Guardian Angel glowered at Luna as he replied. She raised a brow at his sudden change in mood, and in an effort to ask: why he felt the way he did.

“I’m shocked that you think it is a good idea, Luna,” he explained his face softening. “You know how I felt about that sort of intimacy with Gusty. And I know how you felt about it too.”

The Princess half-smiled half-grimaced. He was right of course, but that mental bridge was still the easiest and least risky way of buying more time. If not for Gusty’s sake then at least for himself, she believed it would help him realize he still had to try. Giving up on things was his old self, not his current self and Luna hated the way he felt about himself right now, she could see it in his eyes.

“Wait...intimacy? Mom never mentioned that thing you guys had was anything like that!” Amethyst chirped with a bit of a blush and Luna quickly forgot all about the dire situation for a moment.

“Don’t you have to get going to school, punk?” Guardian Angel raised a brow a slight color raising even to his cheeks. It was clear he was trying to deflect Amethyst’s attention to something beyond Gusty. And as if to answer his question the clocktower that just peaked its head over the buildings chimed. It cycled three-quarters of the way through its chimes, not ringing the hour.

“I still have fifteen minutes,” the filly replied coolly.

“Ten since you are walking.”

“Nah, I think I’ll teleport.”

Luna giggled at the sass and banter. Guardian Angel narrowed his eyes looking between both of them as Amethyst started to laugh as well. He sat back on his rump and folded his forehooves in defiance, momentarily looking away.

“Amethyst...while I appreciate the humor at my expense: I’m not getting into the details of how having one’s mind bonded to an other’s behaves.” He lowered himself back into a regular sitting position.

“One of these days, you will. You can’t hide that information forever!” The school filly proclaimed.

“You’ll have better luck squeezing water from a stone. He’s very stubborn,” Luna commented with a smile.

“He’s not that bad. You just have to give him the big, super sad eyes.” Amethyst showed her the look just as soon as she finished speaking. They were pretty convincing but unfortunately for the filly, Guardian Angel had closed his own eyes, refusing to fall prey to such an obvious trap.

After a moment of holding her pouty face Amethyst released a sigh. To Luna’s great surprise she hopped up and hugged her. It was a short, sweet little embrace that she then shared with the stallion as well. A happy hum and a skip down from Guardian Angel left her to stand right between them.

“Thank you, Auntie Luna, Mr. Stormwalker. I feel better.” Her face waxed serious but calm. “I-I...I could have never pictured myself like this. I actually have a family that cares about me.”

For a moment tears seemed to well up in Amethyst’s eyes again but she blinked them away with a beaming smile. However, it was not a smile that was without its tinge of worry and sadness.

“I can do today now. Please, take care of my mom. Gusty’s been so good to me and I’m proud to call her mother. I want her to hear me keep calling her that.” She paused, looking down to the ground. Luna could tell that she wanted to say more but Amethyst stayed her tongue.

“I’m going to be late!” She perked up with a jump. “See you later!”

With a pop and fzzt Amethyst disappeared, leaving behind a cloud of sparkles. Huddled next to each other Luna and Guardian Angel remained silent each lost in their own thoughts. At some point he scooted next to her wrapping a wing around her gently pressing their bodies together. Luna nuzzled him on near instinct, wondering vaguely how regular they had to have looked just sitting in an otherwise empty park as a couple. The thought pleased her.

“As much as I adore Amethyst,” her stallion said, breaking the peace of the morning birds’ chirps, “I would never want my own children to feel the way she has had to. I don’t think I could ever knowingly allow that.”

Luna’s heart pounded in her chest. Her thoughts immediately jumped back to his position on their relationship. Lewd thoughts instantly muddled into the happy family-planning she had been thinking of before. Thankfully, she managed to hold the majority of her giddy smile from creeping into her voice.

“Finally considering children, my love?” She tried to tease.

“If perhaps you wished our relationship public I’d think about them more often. For now I’ll get my kicks with Amethyst. Since I am one of her legal guardians.” He replied.

“I thought Bunker had recently passed his citizenship test: What’s stopping you from switching the paperwork?” Luna asked jaw agape in surprise.

“Jealousy, of course.”

“How very much like you.” She sighed before continuing with a shout, “Well, since you are being such a sad jealous stallion...I hereby declare our courtship public! Tell who you like!”

Her voice echoed over the grass and seemed to bounce off the buildings lazily. If there were ponies in the area, none attempted to locate their Princess and her declaration. Luna felt a touch miffed but what was to be expected this early on a Monday morning. Much to her delight Guardian Angel leaned in and kissed her.

“I’ll have to make a more formal announcement at an upcoming event. I don’t exactly see throngs of ponies coming to congratulate and or heckle us. Which is quite disappointing,” she started after she placed a hoof firmly on his chest to get him release her lips. It did not seem to curtail his desire, his eyes gaining that lustful glint. Her stallion was going to get aggressive and she liked that idea. However, she still had more to say. Guardian Angel smirked devilishly showing off his fangs some while she mused.

“Nightmare Night is too far away...ohh what is close--ah!” she gasped. “Ciderfest! Perfect!”

“And so the Princess of Partying strikes again. Fine by me. The sooner the better, I kinda planned on parading you around wherever just as soon as you decided to let everypony know. And I figure you’d enjoy getting carried everywhere while lying on my back,” Guardian Angel breathed smugly at her. Luna noticed his teeth seemed to be discolored from their normal off-white to ivory and tinged a greeny-blue.

She went to point at his mouth but found her limbs rather heavy. However, with some effort she managed it. Luna remarked that she was suddenly feeling rather tired to which he merely chuckled.

“What’s on your teeth?” she finally asked.

“A paralysis poison,” Guardian Angel replied as if it was totally normal to have said substance in his mouth.

“What?!” she balked.

“Yeah. I was very serious when I told you I wanted to play out those fantasies of yours.” He answered. “Since this dosage size can’t affect me, a poison kiss seemed especially poetic.”

He nearly yawned as he spoke, that was how relaxed he was, as if the fact that he had just unsolicitedly poisoned her was boring. Luna was both terrified and excited by his timing, they had nothing to do today; the special meeting they had called to discuss Gusty’s condition was scheduled for tomorrow morning. Her heart pounded at the thought of having one of her guiltiest desires come true. Blushing fiercely, she tried poorly to suppress a moan.

“A-and what fantasy do you desire in return for granting me this wish?” she asked quietly.

He laughed with a hum through closed lips. “Oh...I think you know which one.” His fanged grin spread wide as he spoke.

“Agreed. I want this. I crave it. Do as you desire to me!” She rasped, leaning into his chest, mostly because she was finding it very difficult to remain upright.

Guardian Angel nuzzled her gently, slowly moving his mouth down the length of her mane. When he was at the base of her neck he bit into her flesh with his sharp fangs. The pain was just right, nearly enough to make her pass out in pleasure.

“Oh, by my stars. You devil, don’t tease me!” she cried. Her voice rebounded off the nearby fountain making a short echo.

“It’s just the rest of your medicine my perfectly gimped broodmare. No need to complain.” He picked her up gingerly as he spoke in a ravenous tone. Depositing her limp body on his back he flared out his wings. If she could have shuddered with anticipation, Luna would have.

“Now. Let’s have some fun before the shit hits the fan.” He peered back over his shoulder at her from where her neck had affixed itself against his right side. Pleasantly, though she could not move, she could still feel and that only made her more eager especially with the heat of his body and the soft of his wings press against her.

“You know...just...what I like...my love.” Luna tried to smile but found both her speech and face muscles impossible to use at the same time so chose the former, especially since it took everything to not hyperventilate in excitement.

“Hey, I’m just trying to take advantage of those otherworldly powers of mine to make my marefriend the happiest she can be. Let’s enjoy it,” he purred.

Luna most certainly did just that.

Next Chapter: Act 5: Chapter 2 - The Voices in Our Heads Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 55 Minutes