Arin had never been so exhausted in his life. His eyes burned with the lack of rest, his limbs felt heavy and slow… yet he couldn’t sleep. The Princess was in the same boat, struggling faintly against the crippling urges of the brain as they both tried to keep talking.

“Tia, stay with me…” he yawned, the Solar Princess murmuring against his chest in the warmth of the sheets. “I’ll open the tent again. I’ll do it as many times as it takes. If Nightmare Moon finds us, I can’t fight her. I can barely even resist her. I don’t even know how I broke free of her words earlier. And if you’re going to slump, I swear on my feathers - I will pack up this tent right now.”

“I’m awake, I’m awake. It’s harder for me, Arin - I’m just… spent. So empty…”

Her eyes began to dip again, and he quickly shook her. “That’s it…”

Zip.

With a rip of the blankets, the now shivering Seraph watched as Celestia began to stir in the cold. “Nooo…” she whispered faintly, patchy fur unable to save her from the chill.

It was time to move, anyway. His legs didn’t feel like jelly anymore - and sure, he might not be able to stand up without stumbling, but he was fit to move again. Celestia, on the other hand… she still looked rough. He had already checked her for injuries - but only found serious scars that shone through the thin, unkempt fur. None of which she had before her tenure here.

Her skin still looked like it was draped over a skeleton, her gaunt cheeks a worrying sign of her former starvation. Some definite progress had been made, thanks to her still potent regeneration - but it would be weeks until she made a full recovery. A recovery that would take normal ponies years to scratch.

A click of the watch. Five days, six hours. Had they really whittled away over half a day here? It was hard to keep track of time, as sleep exhaustion often forced your mind to wander. It just… took so long to recover from the work, and even now, his muscles felt stiff. Battered. He would take small meals when he could, out of fear of drifting away from a comfortably full stomach - and it started to take its toll from him, as well.

They needed to escape these tunnel-like crags and cliffs. Without the day cycle, time was just a concept - but the darkness did not help, as without the faint glow of blue, the urge to sleep grew intense.

Armored against the cold, the tent soon found itself back in its proper position against Arin’s pack. If Twilight’s calculations were correct, they should be over half way there - if they were on the right track.

Right now, Nightmare Moon had nothing but time to track them down. It's common sense to assume that they’re hunting for something considering their gear, which leaves her three options - attempt to guess what they’re looking for, intercept them, or wait for them to succumb to exhaustion.

So if anything, taking a peak above the ice walls around them could inevitably give away their position; it’s one thing if they’re free above the cracked walls of freezing death, where they can at least attempt to run. But down in the depths of these tunnels, it was a deathtrap. At times the roughshod natural paths were steep or barely accessible; or worse, extremely tight and claustrophobic. More than once, the sleigh had to be snapped shut and the duo had to squeeze through a much too tight gap.

Four days, twenty hours remained when Arin ordered a break, the shaky legged mare now joined by an equally shaky legged Seraph. He had spent the last few years of his life with only moderate exercise in Alma Sol, as he was no longer a struggling peasant. Of course, he travelled frequently - but in Erenorn, extreme distances were covered by airships, and more moderate adventures could be handled from the back of a pegasus.

It was curious that his world had flying horses that were, by comparison, mere inches taller than Celestia. And perhaps a bit more blocky in the snout with smaller eyes, but many were vastly intelligent and old, often spanning three hundred years in age. Though few had the gift of gab, plenty could communicate either through mild magics, or simply emotion - unlike their less intelligent, earthbound counterparts. Those were often used for labor.

Segregation was a serious issue in his world, he supposed. But perhaps meeting Celestia first helped him warm up to the idea of being in a world of fully sentient and sapient horses. After all, when he worked the barracks as a stable hand, he had made some form of friend with a lazy pegasus. She enjoyed her carrots, and would often inquire about either more of them, or news from the outside. Work agreements with sentient creatures made life easier than forced slavery, thus her willingness to stay stabled.

With the tent roughly in place in a tight pinch of the cavern, Arin collapsed inside with a grunt. Hands reaching to knead blood into his legs, Celestia struggled to bring the last of the pillows in with worry. She already knew things were rough; without proper sleep, one’s body couldn’t heal or recover from a day’s labor. Even with his fast healing, he couldn’t undo exertion - he needed proper sleep to do so. Just one good night’s rest, and he would be fit as a fiddle. A very, very tempting idea...

“I’m so sorry for putting you through this, Arin,” she stated quietly, after her hooves managed to unclip her jacket. She had problems with refined movements like that; lack of experience, coupled with degraded muscles meant her fine motor skills with her hooves were lacking. It didn’t help that her hooves were almost always hidden behind gold regalia.

“No, it’s fine. I’m here to rescue you, after all. All I need is a nap, and…” He yawned, rubbing his stinging eyes. Celestia couldn’t resist the instinct, and did much the same. “...A nap… A nap sounds lovely.”

He murmured. Even though he was still in his winter gear, simply laying on the blanket was tempting enough. Celestia’s horn prodded his leg through the long coat, fighting the urge herself.

“Huh! Awake, yes… we’re both awake.” Still, he could barely struggle to stay halfway conscious. Celestia blinked slowly, half mumbling her words.

“If only we had some coffee, or caffeine… I could down ten pots now.” She rested her chin on Arin’s spent legs, staring blankly at a tent wall. “I have a private selection that I keep hidden away in a secret cabin in the kitchen.”

“Oh yeah, I know. I stole a big bag of it as a bargaining tool.”

That snapped her awake. “You did what?”

“Well, you see… I needed to get away from Luna before she ordered me to do something I’d regret. And I also needed a way to raise her ratings before the autumn elections. So… I swiped a bag, and offered it to Vee to use her kitchen for a fundraiser.”

Her anger quelled, at the mention of a certain purple pegasus. “Ah. For that, I can understand. At least she can appreciate the vast quality and extremely high price of Royal Canterlot Coffee. I hope you know that, on a retail market - one cup sells for roughly two hundred bits.”

“So uh… I shouldn’t have made a pot for myself?” he chuckled nervously.

“If we were not already on the moon, I would banish you here for a thousand years at the thought.” She rolled her eyes, her hoof gently stripping the Seraph’s coat free from his chest. “As punishment for your crime, instead, you will have to hold me and keep me awake.”

“Alright… but Celestia, how-”

“Tia.”

“Sorry! It’s a habit. Tia, how do you know Vee?”

The Princess needed time to collect her thoughts; both from the exhaustion, and the long memory that stretched behind her.

“I’ve known Vee since she was a very young pegasus. Back before she went a touch insane, she sent in dozens of requests to join my Magic Academy for Gifted Unicorns; listing her father - a Royal Guard - as the only reference to her name. Each time, I replied that a Pegasi lacked a horn to cast spells. Instead of her giving up, she took to alchemy - and then, Lunar Magics. In the end, she joined a coalition of Witches, which later formed the College of Pointed Hats; a hornless institute of magic, devoted to channeling Planar Arcana specifically. But like all great things, something must stain it. I believe it was on the cusp of Nightmare Night, when a rogue Witch communed with dark forces beyond the school’s recommendation. The College - situated in Hollow Shades to the East of Canterlot, after the town was rebuilt - was soon set ablaze. I believe Vee, with a band of other witches, managed to quell the fires and challenge the now possessed witch, but…”

“The damage had already been done, both to the school - and its reputation. Hollow Shades quickly abolished the practice of Witchcraft, after the fires spread and decimated over a half of the town; it didn’t help that the few residents who survived quickly abandoned the restoration process, claiming the land cursed. And for good reason; it was the birth place of the pony of shadows, thousands of years ago. On top of that, the student - still under dark forces - escaped. What became of them, nopony knows. Since then, Vee has been… strange. Maybe it was the smoke of the blaze, or possibly the loss of something great, but… It changed her. I kept my eye on her for years, and when those years grew to centuries…”

Celestia went quiet for a moment, uncomfortable with the thought. “I’ve known her to dabble in the dark, but it’s obvious her long life isn’t natural. It’s something I’ve investigated before, and could never draw a solid conclusion from. I half expected her to turn into some great… villain, or enemy to the crown, but it’s never happened. Indeed, she seems to be more interested in helping ponies change who they are, usually for the better. Potions to change fur, brews to change race, charms and trinkets to aid in daily life or even protect it… she even developed a rare draft that could swap one’s very sex, at the great cost of ten years of their remaining life.”

Finding Arin enraptured of her knowledge of the purple pegasus, he was inclined to ask for more info. “So why is her shop so busy at night?”

The Princess blinked, unsure. “That is a question best saved for Vee herself; the more seedy customers typically desire privacy. But I’m happy she could help you, even if it cost me nearly five thousand bits. Yes, a bag of Royal Coffee costs five thousand bits.”

A nervous laugh soon followed, the Seraph quickly changing the topic. “But hey, I’m happy you know her! She’s a great pony. And she offered me a place to stay, after this was all said and done.”

At that statement, a frown formed on Celestia’s muzzle. “You… don’t wish to stay at the Castle anymore? Is it the accommodation, or?...”

“I never said that! No no, everything has been great since the day I arrived. It’s just… I’ve had time to think, and maybe it’s best if I see the world first before committing to anything. And Vee’s shop is a great way to start; it’s able to move locations, after all, and it would give me the ability to work and learn more about magic.”

After digesting that, Celestia gave a nod. “Perhaps you’re right. It would be cruel to trap you in the Castle, especially if your relationship with my Sister is in jeopardy. You’ve come such a long, long way, Arin. And I’ve watched you, since the very first day. I knew you just needed the right friends to draw you out of your shell and grow into who you are now.”

Celestia dragged herself up meekly, popping the rest of the buttons free as her hooves wrapped gently around his midsection. As touchy-feely as ever, but Arin gave in. Cuddles were always appreciated, and he started to really enjoy these tender moments. In fact, the new Celestia was intent on every moment being tender, due to her isolation.

“But if I may make a suggestion, Arin. Magic can come from anywhere, but… it’s strongest when it comes from friends, and the heart. That’s why I was so insistent that you spend time socializing, and even offered to be your first companion. The magic of friendship can chip away even the toughest shells, and I knew it would do the same for you. If you do leave, please… write to me often. Make friends, be happy. Grow and learn, and never stop improving. That’s all I can ever ask of you.”

His heart melted at that, running his fingers through her mane. “Ha. Alright Tia. I guess the friendship lessons never stop, huh? Or are you trying to just win me over for more cuddles?”

The Princess gave an airy, familiar and full laugh; as if they were still home and her body still strong. “They never do. Every so often, Twilight, the Princess of Friendship, discovers something new she hadn’t experienced before. Even I find myself as the student at times; my long life is still just that, a life. And life is full of wonders, tragedies, mistakes, memories, and… love.”

She fluttered her tired eyes. It would have been effective, too, if they both weren’t on the verge of passing out. Instead, he gave her a soft flick on the ear, as if to say ‘nice try’.

“You’re no fun,” she snorted, amused that he caught on so quickly.

“And you’re persistent, I’ll give you that. Maybe one day I’ll stop playing hard to get, if I break it off with Luna.”

Oh yeah. She forgot about that part. “R-Right. Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m typically adept at holding back these feelings, it’s just a touch more difficult when the first friendly face you see after being harassed for three years is a handsome one. I believe the term is ‘rescue romance’.”

“Right, right. I was thinking the same thing.” He gently ran his fingers through the solar pony’s pink mane, giving a forlorn sigh. “I will not lie, though. It’s extremely tempting.”

“Right?!” She giggled. “I mean… I can keep a secret~” She ran her hoof along his chest. The second attempt at seduction was met with a more intense flick to her already abused ear. “Ow! Okay, okay. I’ll-mmf!”

A gentle kiss, right on the lips, was all it took to silence her. The bony mare melting in bliss, as the Seraph held it for several long moments. When he pulled away, she nearly fell forward - so intent on drawing as much affection from the moment as she could.

“There. That’s for saving my life earlier, when Nightmare Moon almost took off my head. Now we’re even.” He smiled, tracing her cheek with the palm of his hand. The fluttering in his chest snapped him awake, a pleasant adrenaline driving away the urge to sleep. Their little secret.

Celestia’s eyes slowly opened, a warm smile filling her features and bringing back a bit of the Princess she once was. “...Thank you,” she whispered in reply.

“Now please, please stop tempting me. I’ve been lonely too, these last few years. Though nowhere near your level, it’s just… nice, to feel wanted.”

“Mm, then you’ve gone about it the wrong way, I’m afraid. A kiss is like a box of chocolates; one treat just isn’t enough when there’s plenty more to be had.” She winked.

“Then I’m afraid I’m on a diet.” He stuck out his tongue, but it did little to dissuade the persistent Solar Princess.

“Unlike me!~” Celestia chimed; who knew that just one kiss was enough to bring back the bubbly, extroverted Princess he knew and loved?

He checked his watch - four days, seventeen hours. The time between rests were growing shorter, as his body grew more ragged. They needed to keep a steady pace, but navigation was taking its toll, and he knew it. Not just from his body, but from their limited time. The enchantment on the necklace would vanish eventually, and all of that pent up energy would exhaust out - undoubtedly killing them both where they stood. Or, simply becoming useless. Who knows! Not Twilight, at least.

“The next split in the ice, I’m going to risk checking the surface for Nightmare Moon. And if it’s safe, I’ll fly us out of here. Even with the lantern, I can’t stand this dark anymore. I’d take the wind and snow any day over another silent minute in this glacial abyss.”

“I could also walk, Arin. It would alleviate the stress on your legs, and…”

He shushed her with a finger, shaking his head. “We’re both tired, but you’re also recovering from starvation. If you want to survive, you need to rest, and start packing on weight. Luckily, you’re not an Inert - it could take up to a season for a starved man to come back from the brink. At the pace you’re going, you should be fine to walk within a week; no less than that. If I put you on your hooves, you stand the risk of outright dying by trying to match my pace. You can’t even handle a full meal yet, much less spare the energy to keep up with me.”

She went quiet, and with a heavy heart, the Princess nodded. “I just… I don’t want to be a burden.”

“And you aren’t. Your life is worth more to me than the entirety of Equestria; let’s not waste it over a walk through the snow. Because Twilight would kill me if you died now. On top of this, I’d probably cry for a full month. You’re still a close friend, Tia.”

Tia’s mood lifted, giving a reassuring nod. Survival first, dignity second. “I thank you for all you’ve-”

This time, he managed to slip his mitten on - locking the soft fluff around the Princess’s mouth. “You’ve thanked me more times than I’ve thanked you for saving me from Erenorn. Let’s get moving.”