The two alicorn Sisters exit the Equestrian Embassy, embark onto the bow of the Lunaris Priestess, and stand at the bow flanking Doug and Rarity. They wait, solemnly watching the city below shrink as they lift off. There is a subdued energy about them, a giddiness hid behind a paper facade, that they escaped this ordeal not merely unscathed but with new allies and a renewed sense of purpose.

Their horns light blindingly bright against the sky’s brown haze as they levitate above the barrel-high walls. Halos of gold and cobalt shine around the two, a casual display of power, pure joy radiating from each at the fulfillment of their mark. It can’t be a coincidence that they timed their departure to this moment, interrupting the flow of traffic, the drab dots meandering around below pausing their hurried errands to stare upward. The ponies likewise gaze in wonder, supplicating by bending a knee.

On the southern edge of Klugetown, a dark orchid muzzle peeks out from under a brown hood that covers her broken horn. She scowls as she watches the muted sun complete her journey across the sky, the lambent moon taking her place on the opposite horizon. The only thing missing is watching the sky shift from reds to blues to a dark cobalt intermixed with twinkling gold. She shakes her head, tosses twenty bits to the bored parrot captain and boards the cargo-laden airship without a word.

The two alicorns slowly descend, their duty complete, and land on the deck with gentle thuds.

“I don’t think that will ever get old,” Doug comments, the first to break from their collective awe. He tugs Rarity as close to him as possible, the unicorn glad to snuggle affectionately.

“I am glad to say it never fails to bring me joy,” Celestia says by way of greeting, exchanging a fond nuzzle with her stallion. She grins as Luna dips down to do the same. “And that joy is made all the sweeter by those with whom I share it.”

Luna’s sigh could probably be heard by those walking along the city streets and not just those aboard their first destination, the Storm King’s flagship. “Indeed,” she intones darkly, studiously watching Grubber and a Storm Guard carrying a hard-backed suitcase about the same size as the small hedgehog.

“Thup,” Grubber greets as he deftly saunters across the gangplank laid between the two ships. He doesn’t even look down, yet the slim possibility of falling makes Doug pine for his parachute backpack. “Nithe playth you got here.” His eyes light up as he sees a three-tiered tray of baked goods. A sprint would accurately describe the way he waddles over if you were to compare him to Fluttershy; his stubby legs, bulky body and upright posture combine to limit his top speed to a plodding trot. Once there he eyes each cupcake and confectionary with a harsh eye, squinting and debating which to take.

The Storm Guard gently drops off the suitcase on the Equestrian airship, snapping Celestia a brief salute. She nods curtly. He shuffles backwards, careful not to slip off as he retreats.

“Mm,” Grubber moans as he tests the first one, a pink cupcake loaded with icing and sprinkles. He wanders over to Doug, Celestia, and Luna, taking a huge bite, spewing bits of cake. “Theeth are tho delithuth.” The alicorns glance down disdainfully as he cranes his neck to look up and inspect the rainbow mark, then a bit of a leering gaze at Rarity’s curvaceous flank. “Wanna keep working on that?”

Doug’s mouth purses; he’d rather level with Luna, yet progress on the tattoo needs to get done at some point. He glances at Rarity, one hand digging into her withers, an unvoiced question she understands quite clearly.

“Go,” she whispers, almost regretfully, her words accompanied by a light push from her magic. She smiles softly, an enticing lure that draws Doug in for a final kiss before he stands, fingertips trailing along her back.

“Just sketch the outline before we go.” Doug holds out his left arm against the blue diamonds on that posh flank. It takes visible effort to not sink his fingers in and instead stay steady.

“Wait,” Rarity quibbles with a roll of her eyes and a harsh huff. “You can’t rush perfection. If that’s your plan, I would much rather you take the time to do this right. Especially something so permanent. My dresses take a few iterations to refine, but at least you’re starting with an elegant base.”

Doug chuckles at Rarity’s good-natured wink, ruffling her mane as he leans back. Rarity goes back to sketching her designs as Grubber drags over the suitcase. Inside is a collection of tattooing equipment; he selects black and light blue inks that match Rarity’s cutie mark and goes to work. His forearm hurts less than the shoulder, tolerable if distracting, only interrupted when Pinkie Pie brings more cupcakes.

Celestia doesn’t bother to stifle her yawn, taking a deep inhale through mouth and nostrils, her smile broadening as she detects Twilight’s musk. She smacks her lips a few times before settling down just like the first night on the airship. When Doug’s hand reaches over she leans into him, eyes closing and rumbling a low, appreciative coo.

“Does this sort of nonsense happen very often?” Doug asks with a heavy sigh, sinking into Rarity’s side. Grubber growls, threatening to tie Doug down if he doesn’t stop moving. “I would absolutely despise going through this more than once.”

“Just another Frienday,” Celestia replies, smirking. “A worthwhile, if occasionally harrowing, experience. Sometimes I wish it were not so, that there existed an easier route. Yet if we forced our ways of life on them, like they are foals in need of instruction, they would resent the unfair imposition on their customs. But if they take it upon themselves to improve, invest their time and energy and make any progress their own? What better way to learn than to undergo such an enlightening experience yourself?”

A wry smile crosses Luna’s muzzle. “So they must see their best efforts fail, and the most advantageous way forward depends upon a desire to master the ways of Friendship? Thou art more cunning than we gave credit, Sister.”

“I learned from the best.” A burst of energy infuses Celestia as she nuzzles her Sister, wishing she could have spent the millennium with her at her side instead of imprisoned in the moon above. “I studied all I could recall, running through our encounters, asking myself what you would have done. But I fear I am but a poor imitation of the master.”

Luna snorts, trying to push her Sister away as the white alicorn bows low and grovels. “Stop it! St-a-a-ahh!”

Luna collapses as Celestia grabs hold of her hoof and deftly slips off the ornate shoe. The tender nuzzles to the sensitive frog quickly become too much for the cobalt alicorn to take. She writhes, yet playfully, careful not to buck her Sister in the face, as her controlled expression devolves into unfettered laughter. In a moment she finds herself on her back, her legs automatically spreading and body readying itself as if to accept her stallion, the conclusion of the vast majority of times she has found herself in this compromised position. She can smell her musk, heavy in the air; she is sure her Sister can, too.

Yet Celestia does not exploit Luna’s vulnerable state as she pushes herself between her Sister’s legs, past the slight mounds to rest her head on the middle of the cobalt belly. One ear lays flat, listening to the rapid beats that would be drowned out in anything other than utter silence. Forelegs slip past the thick flanks, wrapping a reverent hug around the belly just starting to swell.

Luna’s legs settle against her as she luxuriates in the pleasant warmth of her Sister. She can’t help but think that it has been too long since they relaxed like this. No stallion to serve as their focus as they compete for his affections. No tall stack of reports to read or long lists of meetings to attend flitting about in the back of their minds. Just the two of them, together, as they should be. Sisters. They have their differences, of course, serious ones at times. And yet...

And yet, she can’t help but recall that it was her actions, her conceit that drove the two of them apart. Her soft nicker breaks the silence, her Sister’s magenta eyes raising in concern. They stare, not demanding, but curiously checking on her well-being. The white muzzle breaks open but the unspoken question dies on her lips.

Instead, Celestia’s head droops lower, her breathing slows, and it doesn’t take long before the only things coming from her are soft snores.

Luna stares upward, her view of the night sky obstructed by the large, ornate balloon. The Princess of the Night is more than capable of replicating where each and every star is placed, yet despite this fact she misses being able to relax and view the stars in all their golden glory. Much like how she knows her Sister loves her, truly and more than anything. With the possible exception of the foal growing inside her.

Soon enough they break out of the haze surrounding Klugetown, zipping across the barren desert. Luna’s head rolls to the side, watching her stallion. His eyes are on her, a faint smile curling on his face at the endearing sight. The butterflies dancing in her stomach slow, chilled by the thought that he thinks their display is for his benefit.

“Is it worth it?” Doug asks, quiet and somber as he notices her shift in demeanor. He leans back into Rarity with a heavy sigh, breaking eye contact and staring up at the ceiling.

“What dost thou mean?” Luna questions, a sharp edge in her voice. She resents his placative tone, how in a few short words he conveys how afraid he is of offending her, like she is a thin-coated foal that must be coddled.

“Being with me.” Doug motions at his chest, though from her angle it could easily have been at his exposed crotch. “Do you wish you had someone else? That, like Cadance, you had chosen a stallion. Somepony better, I don’t know. Like Shining Armor?”

Around the ship the ponies are settling down. At hearing his name Cadance and Shining Armor glance from their spot in the middle, but otherwise stay quiet. Using Doug purely for studding doesn’t sit right with them; they trade soft nuzzles, glad they are able to make manifest their love and not need to hide their affections for each other.

“We wish a great many things,” Luna retorts, her gaze fixing on Doug. “We regret the issue being pressed on us, of following our Sister along an uncharted path at breakneck speed. Thou art not a perfect match for her, and neither art thou one for us.”

“So what would it take?” Doug asks, having to bite back the manifesting anger. “What sort of actions are you looking for, what kind of person would you want your stallion to be?”

“Dost it not occur to thou,” Luna coldly states, “that the very act of asking such questions means that thou art not suited to be my suitor? Dost thou believe we owe thou our adoration? To be a loyal broodmare, fawning every time thou deignst to rub against our cheek?”

Doug frowns. “So I can’t even try to improve? You want to just, what, wait until the perfect stallion comes along?”

“Are we not a Princess of the realm?” Luna glares, holding her head high. “Should we not have our choice among stallions?”

Next Chapter: Ch. 53 - Volley Fire, Part Three Estimated time remaining: 23 Hours, 25 Minutes