Twilight stared at the door her lover had just departed through. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the organ's heavy beating pulsing in her ears as she waited, hoping that the alicorn would return and relieve her of this new burden. Yet, despite how fervently she called for Nightmare with her mind, the black mare didn't respond. She couldn't even sense her feelings.

"Why...?" Tears burned in the corners of her eyes as she fought down her building anger. "Why now? Why!?" She could smell a hint of smoke in the air and gasped as she brought her magic back under control, but a deep nasally laugh tore her focus away and to its source.

"Ya ponies are weak.... Strugglin' to kill one of us...."

"Shut up! This is your fault! If you hadn't attacked, then I wouldn't have to do this!" Twilight's mane and tail burst into flames as her outrage grew. "We could have kept things how they were!"

"You are only fooling yourself, Twilight! Get a grip on your emotions!" Twilight yelped at the sudden outburst and looked to the doorway as the flames slowly receded back into their original maroon and blue state. "You know that you wouldn't be able to avoid killing! This is war!"

The one winged mare folded the lone appendage at her side and sighed as she stepped around the struggling griffon, kicking him as he tried to lash out with one of his useful claws. "You are a selfless mare, an admirable trait to have, but you cannot expect to adhere to this path of innocence if you desire to be everything the queen needs."

"But I can't! I don't want to fail...."

Twilight's words petered out as she spoke until nothing they were but mumbling, but the gruff pegasus smiled as the words reached her ears. "Say it, Twilight. Why can't you kill this griffon? What is it that's stopping you?"

"I can't. I don't-"

"What is stopping you?"

Twilight flinched at the slight edge to her friend's words, but shook her head regardless. "I just c-"

"What is it!?" Cloudy stamped her hoof, startling both of the room's other occupants, but neither of them spoke. She screwed her face up into a scowl as the dark unicorn turned her head away, her shame written clearly across her face. "Tell me, Twilight Sparkle!"

"Because I don't want Celestia to hate me!" Twilight burst into tears and collapsed to the ground, covering her head with her hooves. "I've already done so much! I can't.... I love them both so much.... I don't want to lose either of them...."

The pegasus' fierce glare softened as she stepped over to the sobbing mare and wrapped her good wing around her. "You remind me of my mate. He was a damned-good soldier, but the biggest softie." She chuckled softly and shook her head. "Look.... I can't give you any guarantees, Twilight. I do not know Celestia like you or the queen, but one of them is not right here, right now, whether it be by cowardice or Her Majesty's will. We are at war, a fact that I'm certain you are aware of by now, and that means that every second you hesitate more ponies die.

"Your role in this fight is pivotal. You are living proof of Griffonia's treachery and a powerful mage." She stood and stretched her orange feathers to their limit, then turned to the young mare as she slowly regained her composure. "I hold no love for Celestia, but if you truly care for her and her you, then she will understand if you kill to protect."

"I.... You're right.... I was being foalish. I shouldn't have-"

"That is not what I said, Twilight." Cloudy's quick rebuttal silenced the mare, but her tone was still calm. "You have held onto your morals for far longer than any lesser mare could hope for, but tonight is not the night for pacifism. They," she pointed a hoof to the griffon groaning dazedly on the floor, "have forced our hooves....

"Now, what shall I report to Her Majesty?"

Twilight stared down at their captive, her whole body shaking as the flightless soldier watched her. Once again, her heart thudded in her chest, but she ignored the sensation of dread it filled her with. She took a deep breath and loosed it slowly. I.... I can do this. I just....

The silence between the mares was broken as Twilight's horn twinkled to life and levitated her dagger to her side from its place on the room's sole desk. "Tell.... Tell Nightmare Moon that I'll.... I'll join her shortly. Just, give me time...."

Cloudy smiled and nodded as she placed a comforting hoof on the unicorn's back. "Look into his eyes as you do it. It does not make the task easier, but it will help to steel you for the future...."

Without another word, the pegasus commander trotted from the room, but cast a quick glance back to Twilight to see her holding the bloodied, leonine bird at eye level. Their eyes met for the briefest of seconds before Cloudy gave a curt nod and stepped out of view. The pegasus' form shimmered in the magically-lit hallway, shifting and expanding as several rapid flashes of lightning marked her movements upon the walls like a strobe.

The deep roar of thunder followed the alicorn's transformation and drowned out her heavier hoofsteps with its oppressive symphony. She nodded to her army's commander as she turned the corner, the white-maned pegasus stepping in to join her in stride.

"Do you think that was wise, My Queen? I know it's not my place to speak on this matter, but I am concerned about her reaction should she find out."

"I will admit that I am not fond of such manipulative tactics, those being my sister's preferred method, but it had to be done. She is too valuable of an asset against the griffons to have her hidden away and I love her too dearly to send her out unprepared." Nightmare looked to the smaller pony and presented her with a small bow of her head. "I thank you, though. I, as myself, could not have been the one to help her with this. I feared that the results would have been too similar to the last time."

Cloudy nodded, but kept her focus on the halls ahead of them. "What of her reasoning? Do you think it will cause any issues later? The princess practically raised her."

"It has not caused any issues thus far and I cannot foresee any future complications." Nightmare Moon cast a fleeting glance over her shoulder towards her distant room. "I will have to thank my sister when next we meet, however much I loathe to do so.

"I am more concerned about leaving her with our incompetent soldiers than her feelings for Celestia, though. This is not the first time these fools have failed to prevent infiltration. Oh, how the once mighty have fallen...." She heaved a heavy sigh as her head drooped. "Regardless, I cannot entrust my Twilight's life to a squad of blundering oafs, even if you hoof pick them. I would send you, but your services are needed elsewhere and I do not think Moon Beam will be enough."

"What of the minotaurs serving under Lord Jahurl? From what the girl told me, it seems like they subdued the intruders with little difficulty." Cloudy stopped outside of the war room's doors and turned to the black queen, her typical serious features somewhat softened. "It is not my decision to make, but we would benefit greatly to have that pair permanently in our service. We could make a request to have them join Twilight's escort."

Nightmare stood silently and stared at the large black doors before her as she considered the proposal. "I have not seen the girl's prowess for myself, but I have seen her... actions before. I cannot imagine her being a capable warrior...." She paused to bring her magic to life to envelop the war room's passage. "But she is diligent. If they truly were the ones to end our would-be assassination attempt, then the request will be made."

Without further pause, Nightmare pushed through the doorway and strode confidently to her place at the head of the conference table. Taking a seat upon the plush cushion provided for her, the alicorn looked to the room's five other occupants, nodding to them each in passing until her eyes fell upon the out of place pegasus. "Why is she present here?"

Jahurl grinned and slapped the small mare's back, terrifying and winding the mint green pony. "You don't have to worry 'bout little Scoop. She isn't the one making trouble for us."

"You are aware that the castle was just subject to griffon infiltration, are you not? All it would take is a look into her dreams and the truth would be revealed...." She glared at the massive minotaur who simply grinned back at her with his carefree smile. "Would you continue to protect her knowing that conspiring and harboring a traitor means death?"

The alicorn's glare locked the terrified mare's pink eyes to hers, making her tremble under such scrutiny, but a quick ruffle of her chocolate mane broke the spell. "Of course! It was all just a misunderstanding, after all." Jahurl laughed as he hid a pointed finger behind his other hand. "Little girl's just overly enthusiastic about her job. Don't tell her I told you, though." Another chuckle followed the minotaur lord's noisome whisper along with another clap against the dumbfounded pegasus' back.

"Very well. If you would go so far as to lay down your life, then I shall trust her. Do not make me regret this, or you both will suffer greatly."

The beings in attendance silently nodded their agreement as they allowed a short silence to fill the air, broken only by the heavy patter of rain and occasional clap of thunder. Nightmare took this moment to close her eyes and remove the ward she had cast on herself. Her senses were immediately assaulted by a feeling of despair, but, hidden under the tumultuous emotions, a mote of accomplishment brewed. You have done well, my Twilight.

The lull in conversation extended past the group's expectations, passing far into unnecessary lengths as the attendees watched the seemingly meditating queen. The ponies and minotaurs glanced amongst each other, unsure of what they should do, until Jahurl leaned calmly over the table. "So, where's Lady Sparkle gotten off to? I figured the lass would have been the first one here considering her strict devotion to timelines."

Nightmare stared at the minotaur for several moments, ignoring his cheery smirk as she attempted to discern his words' intent. His smirk grew wider at the queen's hesitation when he motioned at Tyro who promptly retrieved a thick scroll from a pouch at his waist. That's the scroll that Twili-. "Ah, I see...." She swept her vision across the room and caught the same questioning look from the rest of the occupants. "She is currently dealing with a delicate matter for me and will be joining us shortly. We will begin when she arrives, but, first, I have a request, Lord Jahurl."

"Oh? And what would that be, our beautiful Queen?"

Nightmare glared at his infuriating grin, but relented as it only served to amplify his mirth. "You know that we are sending Twilight into the Drakenrange, a necessary endeavour if we wish to end this war with even a semblance of haste, but I cannot entrust her to the incompetent foals under my service." She sighed and rubbed a hoof on her helmet in an attempt to alleviate the morning's stress. "It pains me to say it, but Celestia's rule has made my ponies weak, a mockery of the once proud mares and stallions of the United Years. We have already chosen to send our child with her, but I cannot expect her to be Twilight's sole competent defense."

"Well! That shouldn't be too much of an issue now, should it?" Jahurl chuckled and unrolled the bottom of his scroll. "I'll just organize a squad to accompany the little lady. With the reinforcements Borea is gonna be sending, a group of twenty shouldn't be any-"

"No. We cannot risk such a large mobilization. Your folk are too large and noticeable to move stealthily. I only wish for two and, should you agree, I also wish to incorporate them into my personal guard." The oak-furred lord arched an eyebrow at her, but patiently waited for the mare to continue.

Nightmare nodded towards Tyro, then bowed her head in deference. "I request of you, Lord Jahurl, your closest aides, the young twins, Tyro and Tyra."

The massive minotaur sighed and stood to his full, intimidating height. "I'm afraid I have to refuse your request." He placed a hand on his aide's shoulder and frowned. "Tyro here is going to be my successor, after all. I can't have him running off on a suicidal mission like this and I don't want his sister involved either. He's going to need his own aide, after all."

"My Lord, you know that you can't just decide who-"

"Silence, boy. I've been training you for a reason. I have no doubt that you'll succeed me when I die." He turned back to the queen and her subordinates. "You understand why. I can't let Tyro or Tyra go with-"

"I'll go with her." All eyes turned to the doorway and the group of newcomers. Tyra smiled at the already gathered attendees, pointedly ignoring the pair of fillies perched on her shoulders. "Twilight already asked me to join her and I won't refuse."

"Sister, you heard Lord Jahurl. You don't have approval to-"

"What? You'd want to leave her alone just 'cause Jahurl said so? Well, I won't." She balked as her words finally reached her brain and glanced over to the minotaur lord. "Uhmm.... Not that I don't respect your decisions! I just...! She needs...."

The room was filled with Jahurl's deep laughter as he reclaimed his seat at the table. "No need to be so fretful, girl! Your mother would be proud! Don't think there's been a woman that's openly stood up to me since she passed." His grin dropped and was immediately replaced with a serious glare. "Now, I will only ask this once. Are you certain that you want to do this? You are aware of the risks, so, if you agree, I will not tolerate going back on this decision."

Tyra swallowed heavily and glanced down to the bleary-eyed mare at her side, then steeled her face and nodded. "I'm sure. If they need my help, then I'll give it."

"Good. Now then...." Jahurl turned to the black queen, his stern gaze remaining fast. "I must refuse your request to take my personal aide under your command, but through the grace of free will, I offer you Tyra Slatemane to serve with my blessing." He leaned over the table, smiling as he rested his rust-red muzzle on his intertwined fingers. "Will this be sufficient, Queen Nightmare Moon?"

"It will more than suffice. Now, with that matter settled, I believe it is time to discuss our immediate plans." She glanced to the byzantium mare still standing warily in the entry and raised a wing. She waited for the still-shaky unicorn to take her spot and draped her wing over her as she leaned down to her ear. "We will talk when this is over, but, for now, know that I am proud of your choice." Twilight nodded wearily as the alicorn returned her attention to the gathering.

"We were going to take our time and ensure that everything would play in our favor, but tonight's intrusion shows me that we cannot risk postponing anything any further. Lord Jahurl, your soldiers need to be fully divided to fill out the ranks already present in my army. I understand that Lady Borea has not arrived with the supplement soldiers, so your forces may be spread thinly, but there is little we can do for now.

"Commander Horizons, you know what you are to do. Have your force ready within four days' time. Ensure that you have sufficient squad sizes. You cannot fail if we wish to push the griffon positions back towards the border." The pegasus nodded and scribbled on her own scroll as the queen turned back to the minotaurs. "You shall remain at the castle as opposed to our previous arrangement. It would not be wise to send you to perform a role better suited to an aerial force. I will be sending my griffon guard and her legion in your stead."

"Of course, Queen Moon. May I ask where this soldier is? I would expect all of your generals to be present for such an important meeting." Jahurl sighed and scratched his chin as he leaned back in his seat. "I cannot speak for you, but I don't think such an undisciplined soldier is fit to lead a precision attack of this magnitude."

"She is a fine soldier." Cloudy nodded to the the minotaur and stood to move closer to the map spread across the table. "She is... stoneheaded, but she isn't one to give up. She will be able to pull this off, of that I'm certain. She doesn't have a choice, after all.

"Now, our main objective is to push the bulk of Griffonia's forces out of Equestria. If what our captive says is still true, then they will be heavily entrenched in the northern expanse of the Whitetail Woods, here." She took a moment to tap on the red circle enclosing the furthest reaches of the woods, then traced an imaginary line up to the north. "I will be leading the majority of our deployed soldiers in this endeavor, but Gilda and her squad will be joined by the newest drafted ponies in Trottingham where they will evacuate the citizens and guide the griffons further into the north."

She paused and looked up to the group to ensure they were still following her, then turned to Twilight. "You already know what you need to do, but it's crucial that it's done as quickly as possible. Our drive is only going to buy us so much time before they regroup and strike back with the entire country at their backs. Succeed or fail, you will need to be the one to organize everybody in the final march."

Fancy Pants cleared his throat, drawing the group's attention for the first time since the queen arrived. "No offense to Miss Sparkle, but I do not think it wise to leave the final offensive to her." He gave the unicorn an apologetic smile which she returned. "There is no guarantee that she'll return. The dragons of Drakenridge do not take too kindly to your rule, My Queen."

“I would advise you to hold your tongue, chancellor. We are fully aware of the risks and will be taking every precaution to ensure that my life-mate will be returning. Of that you can have no doubt.” Nightmare glared at the middle-aged stallion, yet softened her gaze as she recognized the fear in his eyes. “The dragons will not openly attack our envoy. They have seen what I am capable of and many of them surely remember mine and my sister’s campaigns centuries before. It is the griffons and the traitorous filth that I fear. They have already shown that they do not fear our might.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. I apologize for my presumption. Now, as for the soldiers....” Fancy levitated a large list to the table and spread its length across the surface. “Here are the records of each squad stationed in, and around, the castle. Not including the minotaur supplement, we have eighteen-thousand, nine-hundred and two soldiers minus the poor souls we lost tonight. Each of these are sectioned into squads of five-hundred and from there the squads can be dispersed into groupings of four mixed divisions. This leaves us with nine and one half divisions of capable mares and stallions of all races.”

Cloudy stared at the extensive list of soldiers, a deep frown etched into her features as she sorted out the nearly incomprehensible mass. “Only nineteen-thousand? With all of the draftees we’ve pulled, we only have nineteen-thousand ponies....” She sighed, but replaced her concern with acceptance. “It... isn’t nearly as much as I had hoped, but with the limited timeframe and the necessary pre-deployment requirements.... It will have to be enough. Very well.

“My generals and I will be taking four divisions and marching upon Whitetail, leaving five to be split between Your Majesty, Gilda, and Twilight. We will require at least one division here at all times to maintain control over the Lunar Palace and to help ensure the staffs’ safety. This leaves four.” She paused and looked to the hence-silent unicorn. “Twilight. I will be leaving you with fifty ponies, all hoof-picked, to escort you. Will that be enough?”

Twilight flinched at the sound of her name, but quickly nodded to the commander. “Y-yes. It’ll be more than enough. I should have the smallest group we can afford. I don’t want to be seen crossing into the dragon’s territory.” She finally took a chance to look over the map and list, analyzing the markings with practiced swiftness, then levitated out a quill. “We should keep three divisions here, at least until Lady Borea arrives with reinforcements. We can send Gilda with a division and a half, then Queen Moon and I will arrive with as many as we can spare without leaving New Mareland defenseless for the final push. With, or without the dragons’ help.

“Will that be enough?”

Nightmare beamed and casually pulled her lover in closer. “That will be fine. Given our limited resources, this will be the best division of power we can hope for.” The alicorn turned to her present company and bowed her head before rising. “Ponies and Minotaurs, that will be all for tonight. We will be setting everything in motion within the week’s end, so take this time to prepare. Chancellor, ensure that Commander Horizons has the resources needed to sort the soldiers. Allow them some time to relax as well. They will need the rest if we wish to keep morale high.

"Do you have any inquiries you wish to make? After tonight, there will be no room for revisions." She scanned the room, meeting everybody's gaze, and nodded when nobody voiced any further concerns. "Prepare yourselves. This war will be ours. Come, Twilight. We have much to discuss." The war room's occupants watched as the midnight queen departed from their presence with her dark furred partner trotting at her side before rising to follow suit.

As the ponies filed through the door, Jahurl was stopped by a soft prodding at his waist and turned to see the mint-colored mare trembling at his side. "Tyro. Escort your sister and her precious cargo to have her fitted for some new armor. I'll join you when I'm done here." The young minotaur nodded and followed his twin as she stepped out with a giggling pair of fillies perched upon her shoulders.

As soon as the heavy metal doors clanked together, Sweet tossed herself at the massive lord, weeping as she nuzzled up against his leg. "Th-thank you! Oh, thank you, s-so m-much!" She hiccuped as she pulled away and looked up into Jahurl's soft eyes. "I.... If th-there's anything.... Anything you want me to do, I will! I owe you s-so m-much!"

Jahurl smiled and lifted the pegasus up to meet his gaze. "I am loved by my subjects for many reasons, mercy being one of them...." In an instant, his mirthful grin disappeared and was replaced with a piercing glare. "But I did not achieve my title by wooing my subjects with niceties. I placed my life in your hooves, child, and if I come to regret it, then know that I will personally tear you in half before I meet my end. Do you understand?"

Scoop stared, horrified into the once jovial eyes of her savior, the dark orbs now full of undisguised hostility, and barely managed the slightest nod in response. The grim fierceness slipped from his features as his mouth curved back up into his signature grin. “Good! I think that’s enough of this oppressive line of thought, so how ‘bout we head back to my tent and get ready?”

Sweet nodded again as Jahurl tucked her under his arm and patted her mane. She was conflicted, terrified of the lord and his threat, yet relieved that she would never have to betray his, and the queen's, trust, but one thing was certain in her mind as they departed the room.

She was his.

"Luna, can we.... Can we go somewhere else for tonight? I don't want to be anywhere near our room."

The onyx alicorn cast a worried gaze to her lover, stared into her puffy, lavender eyes, and nodded. "We will spend the night in the bath chamber, if you wish. We need to clean the blood off of you, regardless."

Twilight gave a curt nod and followed as closely alongside the queen as she could without tripping either of them, a task made all the harder by her incessant shivering. Her eyes closed as she leaned further into Nightmare, taking a measure of solace in her lover’s proximity. She allowed the slightest smile to grace her lips before flashes of a bloodied griffon erased all semblances of joy from her once more.

She shuddered, suppressing the urge to break down into tears, and powered on, ignoring the look of concern the alicorn shot her way. We’ll just... work through this. We’ve been through worse, so this isn’t anything that can’t be solved with a little thought. “Luna?”

The black mare’s eyes shifted their focus towards the unicorn, locking their cool, turquoise gaze on the haggard-looking pony. “Yes, Twilight?”

She watched as a multitude of emotions played across the younger mare’s face, shifting freely until they coalesced into a heavy look of resignation. “I need to tell you something, but... not here, okay?” Their hoofsteps halted as the pair gazed into each other’s eyes, the deep-seated fear in Twilight’s sorrow-rimmed orbs getting drawn into the piercing serenity of her counterpart’s draconic pupils. “It’s imperative that you let me tell you everything I have to say before you react to it, though. I love you too much to risk it over a misunderstanding.”

“Twilight. What could you tell me that could enrage me beyond rational thought? I already have your promise of love and you have mine.” Nightmare nuzzled the side of the scarred unicorn’s face and smiled as she leaned into the caress, pointedly ignoring the hushed whispers of the castle staff as they passed by. “We promised to speak our concerns to one another and overcome any hardship. You have proven yourself to me time and time again with tonight being the greatest obstacle thus far. There is not a thing you could tell me short of declaring my death by your own hooves that could change my feelings for you.”

Twilight nodded, but kept her lips pursed tightly as doubts continued to nip at the edges of her mind. She wanted to believe what Nightmare was saying, to feel the reassurance that the mare’s words intended, but she couldn’t banish the mind-scarring memories of past outbursts. Instead, she chose to focus on another matter entirely and turned her mind to her imminent journey as they continued their trek towards the royal bathchamber. It’s going to take some time, probably months to make it there and back.... We'll need a lot of supplies, enough to last through our time in the Drakenrange.... We can stock up in Minneighsota..., make sure we're well rested and have the gear we'll need for-

"Twilight. Are you alright?"

The unicorn started as Nightmare's voice interrupted her thoughts. She scanned her surroundings, noticing the distinct lack of other ponies and fanciful decor. The bathroom.... We're in the bathroom. "I'm fine, I was just thinking."

"Love. You need not dwell on your thoughts alone." Nightmare stepped before the unicorn and stared calmly into the mare's wavering eyes, stroking the silky contours of her face. "I know that you hurt, that your soul aches with the agony of the world's eternal torment, but I will gladly assist in shouldering your suffering to lighten the load on your heart. We are bound in body, mind, and soul. Your sorrow is my sorrow and your anger, fuel for my justice.” Her hoof trailed down the roots of Twilight’s mane before tracing back up to her chin to pull her quaking mate’s muzzle to her own in a tender, soothing kiss.

The ponies’ eyes slid closed as they leaned into the embrace and pressed themselves further into each other until both mares stood at full height, their horns and tongues fighting against one another. They parted quickly, but neither alicorn nor unicorn worried over the abruptness of their separation; Twilight’s trepidation slowly began melting away and Nightmare’s heart thudded heavily in her chest.

The lunar regent brushed her lips across Twilight’s forehead one final time before she lifted her paramour with the slightest manipulation of her magical wellspring and gently eased her into the steaming basin of water. She watched as the scholarly unicorn’s fur quickly absorbed the soothing liquid as her body was submerged, taking great care not to cause any sudden agony as her blistered flank finally came in contact with the torturous heat.

Twilight hissed, tensing as her haunch seized from the suddenly molten pool, but made no effort to hinder her life partner’s actions. She trusted the alicorn wholeheartedly and knew that the burning was unavoidable. “Luna.... I’m ready to tell you about-”

Nightmare hushed the mare with the tip of her starry mane, then slowly sauntered to the opposite side of the bathing pool, her sensuous movements accentuating the bounce of her flanks with each step. She slid into the water-filled basin, tensing as the magically heated liquid stung her chilled body, and languidly closed the distance between her and her partner. Her hooves met with Twilight’s neck, her body pressed against the mare reclining on the tub’s raised seating, and she massaged her consort’s tense muscles with inexperienced care.

A soft moan escaped the dark lover’s lips as her ruler gently circled her hooves into the slowly softening contours of her neck. She could feel the bits of caked-on blood she had missed in her earlier frantic cleaning begin to flake off, the half-dried sanguine juices starting to float off in the water, when Nightmare gently turned her about. With her chin resting on her forelegs as she draped herself over the edge of the bath and the queen calmly working the stress-tensed muscles in her collar, Twilight finally relaxed.

"I wanted to tell you what I told Cloudy... when she came to check on me earlier." She, very carefully, arched her neck to look into the alicorn's eyes, fighting off the imminent tears in her own. "I was scared... to kill the griffon, but not just because I didn't want.... Didn't want blood on my hooves. Please, don't hate me, but... I didn't want Celestia to hate me!"

Twilight's vision blurred as her fearful sorrow overtook her willpower and allowed the tears left over from before to flow freely. She paused to allow herself a moment to regain her composure, quietly sobbing through the delicate, yet amateurish hoofwork of the moon goddess, before she recovered the strength to continue. "She spent so long teaching me what not to do and to value the lives of others, even if I didn't like them, or didn't know them. I just thought that.... I thought that if I didn't kill anything, she would still love me, still care for me." She returned her gaze back to the stoic eyes of her astral-maned monarch, terrified by the lack of visible anger in the mare's countenance. She shivered, still trapped under the wondrous massage, yet couldn't fight off the lingering feeling of dread. "I'm so sorry.... I should have told you before. It was so foalish of me to cling so desperately to a pony that isn't even-"

"Do not finish your sentence, Twilight." Nightmare stood from her position behind the unicorn, trailing her hooves down the sniffling mare's back as she once more retracted the tip of her mane from Twilight's lips. She stared sternly upon the quivering form beneath her for a moment before silently slinking back to the sullen girl's raised rump. She leaned down, never once taking her eyes from Twilight's turned head, and placed a soft, sensuous kiss upon each of her sensitive flanks.

She flinched as the queen’s soft lips brushed just outside of her blistered cutie mark and spun her head to voice her objection, but jumped when she met with Nightmare’s muzzle only inches away. Her mouth opened in surprise and the larger mare dove in, locking them in another warm, sensuous embrace. Twilight melted into the kiss, moaned softly into her lover’s mouth, and groaned in dissatisfaction when the alicorn pulled away much sooner than she would have liked. “Luna....”

“Shh.... I have spent far too long taking your affection and doing little to return it.” She slid back down the unicorn’s body, casually dragging her fur along Twilight’s back and kissing along her spine as she passed, and calmly stepped back away from the mare. “You are not foalish for your beliefs, Twilight, nor are you as weak as you believe yourself to be.” She levitated a bottle of shampoo from the edge of the bath, squeezing out a generous portion onto her flushed lover’s rump, and lovingly massaged the soap into a lather, causing her to tense and instinctively raise her backside. “You are less influenced by my sister than you know, as well. You have spent the entire length of your time under me, even before we became lovers, trying to keep me from being the monster I am. That is not something Celestia could have told you to do.”

Nightmare slowly worked her way up Twilight’s blood-spattered body, delicately rubbing the cool suds into her dark coat and skin. The unicorn shuddered, cooing under the wondrous ministrations, and Nightmare smiled as she returned to the once-knotted muscles in the girl’s shoulders. She pulled away, keeping her forehooves on Twilight’s raised rear, then started her next pass, this time using her own stomach to work in the lather.

“You are lovely, Twilight. Both in body and mind.” Her lips slowly descended upon one of the unicorn’s rigid ears, gently nibbling on the tip as she breathed in the mixed scent of mare and shampoo.

Twilight moaned into the steamy air of the bathroom and shivered, not from the chill of her cooling, dampened fur, but the blissful feeling of her mate’s body on hers and the tingling in her ear caused by the oh-so-gentle mare’s teeth. She could feel each bristle of hair upon her back, tickling her, teasing her, massaging her, as Nightmare’s hot body burned the cold away.

It felt so strange to be given such wondrous pleasure and not be returning the favor at all, but it was a feeling she gladly accepted. Her stress washed away with each pass of hooves at her sides, the orgasmic pressure of powerful yet cautious bites, and every prod of the black mare’s teats on her backside. All of this, though, was nothing compared to the affection that Nightmare was pouring into her, the tender embrace of the black mare's love as their tethered souls intertwined.

Twilight's eyes filled with tears as she drew closer and closer to climax, but she fought off the telltale sobbing with another deep, throaty moan. I can't let her see me crying. She'll think something is wrong and- She yelped as the warmth on her back suddenly disappeared and she was magicked around until she could gaze up into the warm eyes of the mare standing above her.

"Talk to me, Twilight. You need not hide your tears in shame." Her lips parted in the largest smile Twilight had ever seen on the typically mirthless mare and she rested her body back on top of her mate’s. "You are not upset, not currently, but your emotions are roiling like a tempest. Do you wish for me to stop? If I was presumptuous in thinking that physical pleasure was an acceptable method of displaying affection, then I apologize. Out of the vast length of my life, I have not had much experience with matters of love."

Twilight clenched her eyes as tightly together as she could and shook her head as she weakly pulled Nightmare into the tightest embrace she could muster and buried her face in the mare’s soft neck. Her breath came in short gasps as she fought through her sobs, clinging to the pony she loved with unrestrained desperation. “No.... No, it was.... It was amazing. I-” She hiccuped, and beamed happily as she pulled back to stare longingly into a gaze not unlike one her mentor had often given her. She basked in the tender love of her chosen queen, friend, and lover, then kissed her with all of the passion her exhausted body could muster. “I’m just... so happy.”

Author's Notes:

Author’s Notes: The next chapter is done, and each version gets its own fancy make up love session! Weeeeee~ Hope you guys have fun with this, as things can’t stay so sweet forever *menacing cackling ensues*. There’s so much more to go and such little time to do it~ (or lots of time, technically). Well, hope you are enjoying and hope you ‘enjoy’. Anyhoof it’s go time! Peppy out~

P.S. Importante! Chapter title goes to Allington Sinclair and all his awesomeness for drawing this too. Still needs to be revised for my brain-messed errors, but it’s awesome~