Who Rules: Travels and Travesties

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Five

“Did you say something?” Twilight broke the long silence between she and Cadance.

“Hmm? No. No, I didn’t say anything. I was just marveling at how long these corridors seem to go on,” she replied.

“I know. It feels like we’ve been walking forever,” Twilight said, “and I would swear that we hadn’t said anything in--well, forever.”

“Forever is a very long time, Twilight,” Cadance laughed. “But even so, I wouldn’t worry about it. I think we’re at the end.”

“We are?” Twilight pushed alongside Cadance to try and look ahead of her. The narrow stone corridor was a very tight fit for two ponies, especially when one was an alicorn. Twilight found her flank wedged up against the other mare’s. “I--uh--I can’t really see that far.”

“Um, well, it’s not much to see, actually,” Cadance answered, trying to un-wedge her posterior from the situation. “The corridor comes to an end, with what I assume to be a door.”

“Yeah, but--excuse me--but can you see where it leads?” Twilight’s rump pushed hard against Cadance as she tried to back up.

“Well, no,” Cadance had tried to move backwards, too, making the situation worse. “I was hoping to find a small peep-hole though, so maybe we could--”

Cadance cut herself off. Twilight was wriggling in an attempt to free herself, and had somehow managed to twist her body just right so that she was lodged completely against Cadance, now fully pressed against her body.

“Okay, stop!” Cadance proclaimed. “This is silly. Just stand still and I will move back. Don’t move, okay?”

“Hey, don’t blame me!” Twilight argued. “It’s not my fault that these halls are narrow.”

“No, but it is your fault you’ve got such a wide flank,” Cadance teased.

“A-are you saying I’m fat?” Twilight’s voice was crushed.

“No! No, not at all. You’ve got a great flank. It’s a beautiful, round, sexy flank. Not like mine. Mine’s just a narrow, flat one. You’ve got great curves and--” Cadance cut herself off again, shaking her head. “This isn’t a good conversation to have. Just...hold still.”

The alicorn pressed backwards, trying to slide past Twilight to free up space. Both mare’s bodies slid against the other one, creating a variety of friction. The result of that friction was a suddenly extruding wing from Cadance.

“Ow!” the princess blurted out. “Ow, ow, ow.”

“What is it? Are you okay?” Twilight turned her head, finding it suddenly right next to Cadance’s muzzle, and accidentally put her lips on the mare’s cheek.

“I’m...uh, I’m fine,” Cadance said, turning her head so that she was facing towards Twilight. The narrow confines and the odd predicament placed them face-to-face, their lips barely separated. “It’s just...an awkward response. But, um, it does have me kind of...stuck.”

“Oh,” Twilight said, her voice throaty and soft. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault. Not directly,” Cadance said gently. Twilight could feel the heat of Cadance’s breath blowing against her face as the alicorn spoke. She could also feel the heat rising to her cheeks.

They stared at each other, neither moving--mostly because they couldn’t. Finally, Cadance spoke again. “Twilight?”

“Yes?” the mare answered with longing in that single word.

“Can you...” Cadance turned her head slightly.

“Yes?” Twilight moved her mouth even closer to the princess, ready to remove the gap completely, closing her eyes slowly.

“Can you go ahead and teleport about three feet ahead?” Cadance asked. “You know, to get us out of this situation.”

Twilight’s eyes popped back open.

“Oh! Oh, yes. Yes, I can totally do that!” She laughed, its tone just off. “Ha! I really should have thought of that myself. Ha ha ha.”

A purple flash of light and an implosion of air later, Twilight was standing three feet forward, facing away from Cadance. She winced and started muttering silently, chastising herself. Her face was now burning crimson, and she was grateful that the princess couldn’t see it from where she stood.

Cadance, on the other hoof, now had a very clear view of Twilight’s flank. Her cheeks turned red, too--and her wings were pointing straight up. She licked her lips unconsciously, and then was suddenly grateful that Twilight was facing away from her and couldn’t see what she did.

“So, there seems to be a door up here,” Twilight stated stiffly.

“Right. I mentioned that a minute ago,” Cadance replied with equal stiffness.

“So...now what?” Twilight asked, still stiffly, but in genuine wonder.

“Well, obviously we’re going to have to go through it. From what Fleur implied, it should take us outside the castle, and somewhere into Canterlot,” Cadance explained.

“But where?” Twilight turned her head back finally, her cheeks still flush but rapidly returning to normal.

“I don’t know. I haven’t been here before either,” Cadance smiled, calming Twilight somewhat.

“So, do we just open it up? What if there is somepony outside?” Twilight turned back to the door, looking at it curiously.

“I can’t imagine that my aunts would create a secret passage that doesn’t have a hidden secret exit. What’s the point?” Cadance, too, focused on the door rather than the shapely pony immediately in front of her.

“But, if we are wrong, and we open it, and there is somepony outside, then they’ll know about the secret passage! And if they know, it isn’t a secret anymore! And what if they tell somepony? That would create an avalanche of ponies knowing about the passage making it totally NOT secret at all! And when Celestia finds out about that, she’ll know it was my fault, and then I’ll--”

A hoof placed on Twilight’s flank stopped her rant.

“Twilight, it’s okay. No pony is going to do anything to you. Celestia is far too wise to make a secret passage that somepony is going to find accidentally,” Cadance reassured her. “Just go ahead and open the door.”

“But--”

“Twilight. Open the door,” Cadance’s voice was calm, but firm. The tone gave Twilight another shiver through her body.

“But I can’t see a handle,” Twilight said.

“Then find it,” Cadance urged.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight brought her hoof up, searching for something that might open the door. She gently raised the light in the area by causing her horn to glow a little brighter. She brushed her hoof up and down the doorway, hoping to find a special latch or lever.

“Maybe it opens by magic?” Twilight suggested.

“That’s possible,” Cadance stated. “The mirror worked that way. See if you can’t use a bit of magic to open it up.”

“If it was a similar spell to what made the mirror work, then...” Twilight’s face tightened. Even from her vantage-point, Cadance could see her running through the possible spells and combinations that might unlock the doorway. She smiled, impressed with the mare’s natural skills.

A beam of magic burst forth from Twilight, striking the stone jamb surrounding the stone. From where it hit is quickly scattered around the rock, dancing in and around each crevice of the stonework. A click caught both of their attentions, as the doorway went from solid stone to a shimmering pool of magic on the wall. A golden glow filled the area, reflecting the magic’s origin.

“I think you found it,” Cadance smiled.

“Wow! I just took the spell from the room and sort of inverted it, looking for a way to open a passage out of the corridor. At first I was going to use the same magic, but I realized that would be kind of silly, since it obviously was an interior passage spell, and this is--in theory at least--and exterior exit. So I just--”

“Twilight!” Cadance blurted, her tone and face obviously amused. “Just...step through, okay?”

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry,” Twilight smiled awkwardly behind her and then turned and took a big step through the passageway.

From Cadance’s point of view it was simple. One moment Twilight was there, and the next she wasn’t. It was a bit like the teleportation spell, but without the added dramatic effect.

She stood there for a moment, wondering if Twilight really did use the proper spell. If not, it was entirely possible that she had just encouraged the unicorn to step through a portal that led to someplace horrible. Maybe even as bad as Tartarus!

“Don’t be silly, Cadance,” she said to herself out loud. “What in love’s name would Aunt Celestia be doing with a portal to Tartarus.”

She laughed as she stepped through the doorway.

The disorientation was great enough that Cadance didn’t see the figure that tackled her. She fell to the ground with a loud grunt, a heavy weight pinning her there as something covered her mouth. She struggled, twisting her head to try to free it from whatever was over it, but it was on there tight.

Just as she was about to unleash a magical retaliation, her vision cleared up and she saw Twilight Sparkle on top of her, forcing a magical gag over her mouth. Suddenly it didn’t seem quite so bad.

“Shhh,” Twilight said, looking over her shoulder. “We need to be very quiet.”

Looking back, Twilight saw understanding in Cadance’s expression and removed the magical gag. “Twilight,” Cadance whispered loudly, “what is going on? Why did you tackle me like that?”

“Look over there,” Twilight stood up from Cadance, moving to stand alongside the wall to avoid notice. She briefly gestured ahead.

Cadance stood up, quickly looking around to get her bearings. She recognized several of the shops and buildings in the area. They were outside the wall of the castle, near the west gate. She cantered up alongside Twilight and peered ahead.

A large crowd of ponies was standing in front of the gate, wielding various farm implements and torches. Cadance had no idea where they got the farm implements. Canterlot was more of an industrial town, and not a rural farming community. Sure, there were a few gardens that some ponies kept, but hardly enough to warrant that many farming tools. And the ponies were dressed in Canterlot style, so it didn’t seem likely that they had come into town from a more agrarian area. The torches she could understand, even if they did seem a little unnecessary. But at least it wasn’t a host of ponies with implements of sexual pleasure--and farming.

“They don’t seem happy,” Twilight stated, getting to the more important aspect of the gathering.

“What are they doing?” Cadance asked, trying to see details.

“I’m not sure. But it is pretty clear that they are trying to get inside the gates of the castle, by any means necessary,” Twilight said.

“Well, I hate to say this, but we can’t worry about that right now. If we don’t raise the sun, this whole town is going to go absolutely sex crazed. And we REALLY don’t want that to happen,” Cadance said. She moved forward to stand on the corner of the building, staring down towards the crowd. Her body right up against the front of the, fortunately, closed store.

“Right,” Twilight nodded in agreement, “if we stick to the side streets, we should be able to sneak over to the Archives in only a few minutes. Assuming we don’t run into anypony. But then, I suppose between the two of us we can wrestle them down long enough for me to use my magic to tie them up and gag them so they won’t draw attention to us.”

The description, along with the very recent first-hoof experience of Twilight doing that exact thing caused another involuntary response in Cadance. Her wings popped straight up.

A loud metallic, melodic sound rose from above Cadance. Just loud enough to be heard by the stragglers at the back of the crowd. The stragglers turned to look at the two mares just as Twlight and Cadance glanced up to see a large string of decorative items hanging in front of “Harmony Zephyr’s Wind Chime Emporium.”

“Oh, you gotta be kidding me...” Cadance said in disbelief.

“THERE THEY ARE!!” The loud outburst drew the attention of the rest of the group storming the gates of the castle. Everypony in front of said gates turned and saw Cadance and Twilight Sparkle, standing alone and nearby.

Cadance turned to Twilight and spoke clearly and plainly, “Twilight, this would be a good time to run.”

Breaking into an instant gallop, Cadance swore that she heard a single guitar chord chime behind her and a song break out as she and her friend fled from the screaming affections of the crowd that was now chasing them through the heart of Canterlot.

* * * * * * *

Celestia heard the wings beating and the hooves touching ground somewhere above and behind her, but all she could see was the pitch black eyes staring down at her from behind a leather mask. And all she felt were claws digging into the flesh around her throat.

The combined impact of her and her assailant left a crater some twenty feet across, and a few feet deep, with her lying at the center of it on her back. Her own hooves wrestled with the single clawed leg that was seemingly trying to crush her windpipe.

The guards and others who were in the area when the pair landed had scattered. Whether from fear or concussive impact wasn’t clear, but neither them nor their reason for not being present was a concern for Celestia at this moment. She was far more concerned for the mare standing above her.

“Strong, isn’t she?” Selene’s voice spoke clearly from the edge of the crater. “In fact, I would say that she is easily the strongest pony I’ve ever encountered. Would you agree, Celly?”

The answer was slow in coming, and raspy when it finally was able to escape her throat. “I’m trying...not to hurt her.”

Selene raised an eyebrow, laughing. “Hurt her? Sister, dear, Tisiphone spent years being tortured by one of the most cruel beings to ever live, and then kept herself alive out of spite. I’m not sure that you COULD do anything to hurt her.”

“Then...dear sister...you do not remember me,” Celestia’s voice was ragged as her horn came to life. Blinding white energy erupted, causing Selene to jerk her head to the side. When she turned back, she saw Celestia rising to her hooves--alone--gently rubbing her throat where a trickle of blood worked its way down. She scanned the skies, and saw the figure of Tisiphone quickly descending from the skies once more.

Celestia saw her, too. Another flash of light erected a shield of pure sunlight between them, as the sun goddess braced herself for impact. The huge figure slammed into the shield, pushing it back towards the alicorn, cracking the magical guard upon impact. The red mare reared up, and the shield broke into fragments as her powerful forelegs pushed past it.

Allowing no recovery, Celestia lowered her head and thrust forward, her horn aimed at the mare’s chest. Her head jerked to the side, a powerful claw slamming against her muzzle before even nearing it’s destination. Her body followed suit, shocked by the force of the impact, as she staggered to her left. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw just enough to throw up a wing, deflecting the next attack while sending feathers flying.

Spinning, Celestia bucked backwards with her hind legs. She could feel her hooves sink into the other pony’s chest, and hear the breath pushed out of her from the impact. Without pause, she whirled her head, unleashing another magical blast. The huge red mare lowered her head, prepared for the assault this time. A shield of magic seemed to form around her horns, and magical sparks streamed past her, scorching the ground as they struck the already morbid landscape.

Turning to face her foe, Celestia redoubled her efforts, the magical energy pouring from her horn too blinding to look at directly. The figure in the midst of the outpouring of power became a blur. A shadowy figure moving against the light--but it was moving.

With painstaking slowness, every moment showed another inch that the figure moved closer to Celestia. The sun princess strained, a shimmer of sweat appearing on her coat. Once again, Selene was forced to turn her head to the side, her long-standing reign in darkness not allowing her to look directly at something so bright.

The sounds that followed were terrifying to Selene. A roar of power, followed by the crack of bone, and a deadened thud. The light was gone, and she turned back to look once more upon the scene.

Fangs were deep in Celestia’s shoulder, with claws pulling back on her wings. The princess lay on the ground, the red mare on top of her, pinning her down. Celestia’s chest labored as she fought to regain her own strength.

Selene smiled. “I might suggest that this is a good time for you to surrender, Celly,” she said confidently.

“I...cannot. I will not!” she countered, her eyes still aflame with passion and determination.

“And if you do not, Tisiphone is likely to tear your wings off,” Selene explained. In response, the great mare growled, and pulled harder on the alicorn’s wings. Celestia winced, no sound coming from her lips.

“Please, Celly, it would be so sad to see serious harm come to you. Yield. There is no dishonor in it,” Selene said, a tone of satisfaction creeping into her voice.

“Not so long as Luna remains captive!” she spit back, her defiance belaying the prone condition of her body.

“She is not captured, Celly,” Selene said simply, “she is dead. This is her fate. It was what she wrought in life.”

“She was not given the chance to make amends for it! She was willing to sacrifice everything she was to save me!” Celestia’s eyes turned to Selene. “Do you truly think that I will do no less for her?”

“I think you are far too wise to not consider the fate of those other ponies who depend on you. I think you are far too understanding to let her sacrifice be in vain,” Selene said, her voice suddenly chilling. “And I think that you know you are beaten. Surrender. I will not offer this another time.”

“And I will not--” she never finished her sentence.

The red mare sank her teeth deeply into Celestia’s neck, and a sharp cracking noise was heard from her right shoulder as her wing fell limp to her side. Celestia’s eyes flared, and her pupils shrank to dots as the pain rushed through her.

“Tisiphone,” Selene said calmly, “that’s enough for now. Give her a moment.”

There was a pause, but only just, and then the red mare removed her teeth and stood back from the fallen princess. She stared down at the mare, her lips stained with royal blood as Celestia struggled to regain her hooves.

Celestia’s porcelain coat ran red down her neck and onto her chest. Her right wing hung motionless, feathers dragging in the dirt. Slowly, Celestia raised up her head, her eyes back to their normal appearance, her face twisted in a pain-induced look of strength. She glanced at the red mare, and then over to Selene who had not moved from her spot at the edge of the crater. Several of the guards had joined their mistress, staring over the edge towards the princess, their resolve strengthened by her attitude.

“You will leave, Celly. This time for certain. And you will not return here unless invited, unless you wish to face the most serious of reprisals,” Selene’s voice was ice.

“And you would do this to me?” Celestia’s voice wavered, despite her best effort. “Defy your own sister the only true love she has ever found?”

Selene stared down, raising her head up and pulling her lips back. “True love has no place here. I learned that long ago.”

“No, Lena,” Celestia said calmly, “you just forgot about it.”

“Tisiphone,” Selene said slowly, “escort my sister out of this place. If she even looks as though she is going to try to defy my command, I want you to rip her to shreds. Is that clear?”

Moving up to stand next to Celestia, the red mare let a growl and glare at the sun princess be her only answer.

“Very good.” Selene turned away, her wings fluttering out to her side briefly. She half turned her head back when she spoke again. “Good-bye, Celly. I hope that you are able to forget both these events and what brought you here. You will be better off if you do.”

“I will never forget what you have done,” Celestia responded.

“Your choice. Nonetheless, you are to leave here. Tisiphone?” Selene turned her head back around, but heard a soft grunt as Celestia was physically urged to begin her trek out of Tartarus.

Selene never looked back. She walked on into the courtyard, surveying her subjects. She looked up at the hole in the side of the tower, shaking her head.

“You there! Organize a detail. I want this crater filled in immediately. And gather all of the brass fragments from the tower. We need to get it re-smithed and restored.” The guard nodded, his bones creaking as he rushed off to obey his mistress’ commands.

Selene stood there, staring up at the gaping hole in the tower. “Such strength. I don’t know how you are able to endure such things, Tisiphone. It’s amazing what you are able to do when you are enraged. And it’s a miracle that you didn’t destroy Celestia when you drove her through that wall.”

Once again she started to walk across the courtyard, looking at the guards now rushing to pick up the fallen pieces of brass that lay scattered. She took several steps before slowing, and then finally stopping. Her head raised itself back up to stare at the hole in the tower.

“A miracle...” her voice trailed off as her eyes narrowed to slits.

* * * * * * *

Sitting on a park bench reading a paper, Twilight Sparkle hid herself as best as possible as a large group of ponies raced past her in hot pursuit of, well, her. Or in this case, a magical illusion that looked exactly like her and Cadance, running for dear life. Slowly she lowered the paper, and looked over at the mare sitting next to her. Cadance lowered her own paper and looked back.

“Did it work?” Cadance asked.

“So far. Well, for that group anyway. Let’s go!” Twilight jumped up and waited for Cadance to stand before taking off running down another side street, hoping to find no pony there waiting for them and ready to begin the chase anew, Cadance right on her heels.

Of course, they weren’t that lucky.

Running back the way they came, Cadance--now followed by Twilight--did her best to find the avenue most likely to help them escape the throngs of ponies that were chasing them. Unfortunately, avenues were the problem. Every street in front of them was a major road with clear and open views.

“Misdirection spell?” Cadance shouted back to Twilight.

“That’s what I just did! I don’t think we’ll be so luck a second time!” She answered. A quick glance over her shoulder at the galloping group caused her to reconsider, but only for a moment. “Maybe a force field?”

“To what end? So we can watch them pressing against the shell until they get ahold of us?” Cadance shouted. “No, we need to find a way to lose every one of these ponies somehow!”

Twilight looked over her shoulder again, and then turned back to Cadance. “Um, just how many ponies do you think are actually chasing us?”

The princess glanced back briefly, and then thought for a moment. “Can’t be more than, oh, about a fifth of the city.”

A twitch developed in Twilight’s right eye suddenly. “A...FIFTH...of the city. The WHOLE city?!”

“Yeah, that looked about right,” Cadance said. “I’m sure there are plenty of ponies that haven’t realized we’re out here to chase, yet.”

“Wait, are you suggesting that there might be MORE that show up?!” The twitch became visibly worse.

“It’s possible,” Cadance said, “but I’m hoping that we figure something out before then.”

A quick glance to the left caused a twinkle in Cadance’s eye. “Quick! In here!”

“Right!” Twilight replied.

“No! To the left!” Cadance clarified, pushing her way through the door. Twilight followed with only a small grumble.

The doors to the Canterlot Whinny Garden Theater are small, and only allow for a couple of ponies to enter at a time. While that was no issue for the two ponies in the lead, it became a much more pressing matter for the throngs of ponies that were trying to follow them inside.

Still, their determination was stronger than the architecture, and they pushed inside, forcing their way into the theater itself. A murmur built among them as they entered, all the seats were empty, a massive red curtain concealing the stage, and there was no sign of anypony--especially not Cadance or Twilight--anywhere inside. The continued flow of ponies from the entrance pushed the whole of them deeper inside until the whole auditorium was filled, and that was when the voice spoke up.

“Mares and gentlecolts!” Magical amplification spread the mare’s voice--which sounded something like Cadance--through the room. “Prepare your senses for a journey to the outside of your reality. A trip to the unknown parts of your imagination. An expedition to the exotic and the erotic. Prepare yourself for...”

The huge red curtain flew open, moving quicker than it should from its size and apparent weight, coiling upwards into the rafters above the stage. Standing on the stage were two ponies--two very familiar ponies to everypony in the room--wearing tight-fitting costumes with brilliant colors painted softly onto them in cascading patterns. Inviting blue lights shone up behind them, washing the background in a watery landscape. They both raised up a single hoof, and then dropped it down, bringing themselves almost totally against the floor of the stage.

“Cirque du Ponei!”

The crowd of ponies in the theater paused, staring up at the events unfolding. It was an odd hesitation, filled with curiosity and desire--and just a touch of anxiousness.

“This is never going to work,” Twilight whispered.

“Just go with it,” Cadance whispered back. “If it doesn’t, we can always start running again.”

Music started up. Soft and ethereal, it filled the arena, surrounding the ponies and helping to entrance them. On stage, Cadance and Twilight stood and moved around each other, their eyes locked on one another as they stepped carefully and precisely. The ponies in the crowd watched, waiting to see what these two were going to do. Slowly, they began to make their way to the seats.

“I have no idea what we’re doing,” Twilight whispered again.

“Follow my lead,” Cadance said.

“That’s what I’ve been doing!” she answered in a slightly louder whisper. “And don’t do anything too dramatic. I’m not the most graceful of ponies.”

“Can you dance?” Cadance asked.

“No!” Twilight answered. “I’ve been told that very plainly.”

“Oh.” Cadance considered options as they circled each other, their legs stepping high in a prance, the circle between them tightening. “Well then, let me do all the work. You just...let me do all the work.”

Cadance moved up alongside Twilight, stepping in rhythm with her, the pair prancing around in a very tight circle. With careful grace, Cadance raised her wings, bringing them up above them, even as she lowered her horn until the tip of it touched against the very point of Twilight’s horn.

An electric charge ran through Twilight, which was felt by the crowd watching them perform. More than one pony in the audience felt a lump growing in their throat, and a good number licked their lips at the display.

Twilight stopped, standing still in the middle of the stage as Cadance continued to step around her, keeping their horns connected at the point of the spire. In what seemed to be an impossible act, Cadance began to lift herself off the ground, her wings carrying her with a minimal amount of movement. And still, she kept the horns connected.

A gasp escaped the crowd as a whole as Cadance spun upwards, leaving her head down. To everypony observing the show, it almost appeared as though Twilight was balancing the alicorn on the tip of her horn.

“Hold tight,” Cadance whispered down.

“What? What do you--” Twilight’s voice was cut short as all her breath was taken away by the princess’ next action. Using magic to grip her horn, Cadance pulled Twilight up into the air, her wings now flapping out at their full width.

Staring into each other’s eyes, Cadance could feel Twilight’s body through the physical connection they shared. Twilight’s racing heart throbbed over to Cadance, and she felt her pulse step up to meet it.

The tension in the audience was growing, as they felt the energy growing between the performers. A voyeuristic quality began to take over in them, and their own breath and pulse picked up.

With a deep breath, Cadance focused herself. This wasn’t going to be easy, but if it worked, it would be worth it. Suddenly, Cadance began to spin the pair around, keeping Twilight at the center of the spin. Again, to the crowd it appeared that Twilight was holding onto the mare and twirling her around, but the unicorn knew the truth. She was in shock at Cadance’s ability. And when she began to corkscrew herself around Twilight’s horn, a small moan exited the mare’s lips.

Cadance let the magical hold on Twilight’s horn slip intentionally, letting her drop down dramatically. Just when it seemed that she was going to fall, Cadance spun about and grasped Twilight with her forelegs, holding her tightly to her chest as she did a deep dive across the stage and then banked back across the other way. Looking down into Twilight’s eyes, she felt her breath quicken. She rationalized it away as physical exertion.

The crowd began to shift nervously in their seats, some of them rubbing their chests with their own hooves. And a few rubbing a little lower.

Extending her forelegs, Cadance held onto Twilight’s hooves tightly, letting her body begin to swing once more, this time in a more pendulous motion. “Grab my rear legs with your magic,” Cadance whispered.

“I--I...okay,” Twilight stammered out.

Magic wrapped around the alicorn’s rear legs, and when she felt a tight hold, Cadance dropped her grip on Twilight. She dropped fast, but was able to stop her fall by not allowing the grip to go any further down. With the mare hanging beneath her, Cadance pulled up into a high hover above the middle of the stage, and with one quick turn of her hindlegs sent Twilight into a spin.

The crowd watched in awe as Twilight spun around faster and faster, her body closed up tight in a twirl. Sparks were flying from Twilight, a show created by a magical aura pouring down off of Cadance’s body and being thrown off of the pony below her. Ponies were now looking to the audience members sitting next to them and began to share in mutual affections, mostly just touching with hooves--but a few were more bold.

Twilight, in the meantime, was reasonably sure she was going to die. A firm mix of complete terror and total excitement overwhelmed her. She wanted to scream, but couldn’t. Her mind just wasn’t able to comprehend whether it was supposed to be one of fear or passion. A warmth had spread through her body, culminating between her legs.

And then she stopped. Suddenly and quickly, the spinning ended, and she and Cadance were staring out into the audience. The audience was paying them little attention at this point, and was closer to resembling an impromptu orgy.

“Hold tight,” Cadance whispered and flew straight up, weaving through catwalks and lights, finally exiting the building through a skylight above and into the dark sky. Just as she was about to leave she announced one last thing.

“And up next: The Blue Mare Group,” hoping that would make their departure seem like a part of the show. If any pony there still realized it was a show.

“Th--that was...amazing,” Twilight gasped.

“You did great,” Cadance answered, lowering the other mare to the rooftop. “Especially considering the circumstances.”

“You mean me not being athletic at all?” Twilight asked, her breath still ragged from the experience.

“Actually I was talking about how much ambient love energy I was throwing out to try to get them to react the way that they did,” Cadance explained, landing next to her companion. “It’s amazing you didn’t notice.”

Twilight swallowed hard. “Notice? Hahahaha! Nope! Not me! Didn’t notice anything like that at all!” Her eye twitched again.

Cadance stepped up and looked at Twilight closely. “Twilight, are you okay?” she asked.

The moment stood still. Twilight stared back at her, a thousand and one thoughts racing through her mind. Her body was helping about nine-tenths of those thoughts move along one particular path, and before she knew it, the mind had given in to the body.

Twilight lunged forward and kissed Cadance deeply.

* * * * * * *

“Admit it,” Celestia said in a low voice, “you enjoyed that a little too much.”

The red mare was walking beside her, just as she had since they had left Selene’s presence. A deep growl grew in her belly, echoing through her throat.

“How long has a part of you wanted to sink your fangs into me that deeply? To actually taste my flesh?” Celestia’s voice stayed low and even. “And it hurts, by the way. Then again, I think you already knew that part.”

A throaty chuckle emanated from the large red mare, who kept her eyes forward.

“Well, we are almost to our destination,” Celestia stated. “The gate isn’t that far ahead now.”

“And you shall not near it,” a voice called from behind them. Celestia and her companion turned to see Selene standing on the path, a smile on her face. “I forbid you from leaving this place.”

“Forbid me?” Celestia spoke up, anger swelling in her tone. “You just commanded me to leave and never return! Make up your mind, sister!”

Selene took several steps forward, the smile on her face steady and collected. Eventually she stood directly in front of Celestia. “I wasn’t talking to you,” she stated gently. She turned to face the red mare. “And you can drop the disguise.”

“What are you talking about, Lena?” Celestia stepped up, bringing herself muzzle to muzzle with her sister. “I understand you treating me this way, but why treat--”

“Enough!” Selene interrupted. “Don’t take me for a fool, Celly! I went into the tower. I saw the truth.”

“Well,” the red mare stated, “it was a good try.” Her form shimmered, shifted, and suddenly transformed into the regal form of a black alicorn.

“Luna, no!” Celestia turned, her eyes pleading. “We were so close.”

“Close or not, it doesn’t matter, Tia. If she denies it, I cannot leave,” Luna stated, looking at her beloved sister.

“She knows her place, Celestia. It’s disappointing that you do not,” Selene stated.

“Do not think that of our sister,” Luna said, leveling her eyes at Selene. “I know from personal experience how foolish it is to underestimate her.”

“Yes. OUR sister,” the words rumbled from her mouth. “I don’t believe that we’ve ever been properly introduced. I am Selene, Ruler of Tartarus and Mistress of the Damned. And FORMER Goddess of the Night--your predecessor. And of course, I know who you are.”

“I am Luna, Goddess of the Night and Princess of--”

“Wrong!” Selene stepped over, looking Luna in the eye. “You are Nightmare Moon, prisoner of Tartarus and under my rule. Is that clear?”

Celestia interposed herself between her two sisters. “Lena, show her respect or so help me...”

“What?” Selene spun her head to stare at Celestia. “What will you do? Invade my home and try to steal her from my good graces? Oh, I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way, dear sister. You cannot take this prize from me. She must be given, and I’m sorry, but it just isn’t a giving atmosphere around this place.”

“You did give permission,” Celestia stated calmly. “You told her to accompany me out of this place.”

“Oh, but I didn’t know who she really was at that time, did I?” Selene barked back. “Which reminds me, how did you defeat Tisiphone so easily and switch places with her and Luna?”

Celestia stifled a laugh. “I didn’t.”

Selene waited a moment before resonding. “That’s not an answer. She was in Luna’s cell--disguised, but still her--while the two of you were out here. I assume it happened after your battle with her.”

“No. No, not at all. That fight was with Luna,” Celestia stated.

“And it was a good fight!” Luna added.

Celestia glance towards her beloved for a moment with a slight roll to her eyes before addressing Selene again. “Tisiphone was in Luna’s cell the whole time.”

“The two of you looked like you were ready to kill each other!” Selene said in shock. “How did you fake that?”

“We didn’t,” Luna said. “We knew you would see through a fake fight, so we battled in earnest.”

“It wasn’t the first time,” Celestia added. “Though I did tell you I was holding back because I didn’t want to hurt her.”

“You drew your own sister’s blood, and broke her wing? I am impressed with your commitment,” Selene smiled.

“It was rather enjoyable, actually,” Luna stated.

“I knew it,” Celestia stated under her breath. “But as to my wing...” Her horn came to life, a glow surrounding the wing that hung loosely at her side. With a loud pop, the wing began to move once more. “It wasn’t broken. Just dislocated.”

“You still haven’t told me how you defeated Tisiphone,” Selene countered.

“Oh, I didn’t. We didn’t fight at all,” Celestia said. “It turns out that she is a very wise and observant creature. She could sense the pain that I was causing you--much in the same way that I did when I stopped coming here--and wanted me gone from this place. She also knew that a battle wouldn’t garner that result, even if she were able to defeat me. So, she suggested that she and Luna switch places so that we could escape together.”

“She betrayed me...” Selene whispered in disbelief.

“Not at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. She loves you very much, Lena, though I don’t believe she understands fully what that means yet. All she wants is your happiness,” Celestia explained.

Her wings fluttered out to her side briefly as Selene squared her jaw, staring over at her sister and Luna, her eyes flat and cold. “Perhaps. But she failed in this, didn’t she?”

“Where is she, by the way?” Luna asked.

“She refused to come,” Selene’s eyes glimmered in the pale light, “and now I know why.”

“Do not be harsh with her, Lena,” Celestia urged, her own eyes softening. “She only did what she thought was right.”

“Well, I’m glad that you are here to support her. That’s one of us that you are happy to help, at least.”

“You know that isn’t true! I only want the best for you!” Stepping up, Celestia found it difficult to stand all the way beside Selene.

“You aren’t going to leave without that monster, are you?” A short nod of the head towards Luna indicating the monster in question.

“Don’t call her that,” Celestia said in a controlled tone.

“No, it’s somewhat appropriate,” Luna chimed in, “at least in part. I take no offense.”

“But I do!” Celestia turned to Luna. “And you aren’t helping!”

Luna smiled.

“But you are right, Lena,” Celestia turned back to her other sister. “I won’t leave here without her.”

“Well, that only leaves two options then, doesn’t it?” she said, raising her head up to look down at Celestia. “Either she goes out with you--or you stay here forever.”

“I have no intentions on staying,” Celestia stated.

“Neither did I when I first came here.” Turning, Selene started to walk past the pair, leaving them behind. She looked over her shoulder without stopping. “Coming?”

A quick glance between them and the alicorn couple followed. “I thought you wanted us nowhere near the gate?” Celestia asked.

The clip-clop of their hooves on the stone echoed past their ears, timing their steps and measuring the time. “Oh, I don’t. Well, I don’t want HER being there, but as she explained, she can’t leave without my permission. Still, I think that it is the best place for me to explain what is going to happen.”

“What do you mean by that?” The sun goddess kept pace, staying beside her wife as she walked, allowing her wing to stretch out and fall over Luna’s back--a slight wince of pain as the injured appendage flexed. Luna rubbed her head back against it lovingly.

“There seems to be a tradition in this place,” Selene stated as she walked. “You want something, and the ruler of Tartarus opposes the idea. So, a wager is set. A simple goal to be established, with the winner getting what they want.”

“A wager?” Luna said softly. “Those always go so well for us...”

“Shush!” Celestia responded first to Luna, and then directed her comments to her other sister. “And how is this fair? You could easily set a goal that I could never accomplish. Something that ensures my failure.”

Selene laughed, shaking her head. “And some things never change, it seems.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “No. No, this will be something that you can easily do--or at least, should be able to do with little trouble.”

“And if I do this task, you will release Luna? You will allow her to go?” Celestia asked.

“If you do this one thing, then I shall not hinder her from leaving Tartarus. You have my word,” Selene stated.

“Tia, do not do this,” Luna said, her voice hesitating. “There is more to this than she is letting on.”

“I trust her word, Luna,” Celestia stated. “Lena is many things, but she is not a liar. If she says she will let you go, then she means it.”

“But what if you do not succeed? What will happen to you then?” Luna asked.

“Oh, that’s simple,” Selene said as they reached the top of the pathway. “If Celestia fails in her task, then the both of you will stay here in Tartarus with me.” She turned and looked at them, the gate visible in the distance behind her. “Forever.”

“No,” Luna stated, stepping up in front of Celestia, her wings flared out and her mane flowing out in a display of size. “I will not allow it. She has done nothing to warrant that.”

“That is my decision,” Celestia said, resting a hoof on her wife’s withers. “And I have already made it.” She turned to Selene. “I agree. Give me your task, Lena.”

“Excellent.” Selene smiled.

* * * * * * *

Their lips lingered together. Cadance closed her eyes reflexively, feeling the softness of Twilight’s lips pressed against her own. It was inviting and welcome.

And not what she needed to be doing.

She pushed back, pressing the other mare away from her. “Twilight, no,” she said softly. “No, we can’t.”

“But why not?” Twilight looked up at Cadance, her eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “We both want it. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”

“Th-that’s the magic talking, Twilight.” It was so hard to not agree. To not throw herself at the lovely mare in front of her. “It’s so strong right now that we--that you can’t resist it, but you have to.”

“It’s not the magic,” Twilight insisted, stepping towards the other mare. Cadance took a step back for every one that the other mare stepped forward. “I felt this before the spell, I just always ignored it.”

“Well, keep ignoring it! It’s good for us to ignore some of this stuff, you know!” Cadance got a little wild eyed.

“Why?” Twilight asked.

Shaking her head very slightly, Cadance’s mouth opened and closed repeatedly. “Up! Look up!” Twilight did as she was instructed. “No sun, remember? Supposed to be a sun up there. We’ve got to go and find one.”

“Find one?” Twilight looked back down at Cadance.

“You know what I mean! There are millions of ponies that are counting on us, even if they don’t know it! Heck, there are thousands of ponies here in Canterlot that are going to be thrilled for us to succeed--including us--once we do this.”

Twilight nodded, her expression blank. “Right. Right, I can do this. It--it’s just so hard.” She looked up at Cadance. “And I don’t mean that in a double entendre sort of way.”

“Tell me about it. I’m all about the love, and denying it is something that goes very much against my nature, even if it’s--” she stopped herself. “Even if it’s something that we caused.”

Nodding, Twilight looked off into the distance, scanning and finally focusing on a single building. “Cadance?”

“Yes?”

“I can see the archive!” Twilight said, a smile growing on her face.

“Well, that’s great, but we still have to get there,” she replied.

“No, you don’t understand. I can SEE the archive. That means that I can teleport us there safely. We’re basically just one step away from our destination,” Twilight turned, her eyes dancing.

Blinking several times, Cadance stammered, “wh--what are we waiting for? This is it, Twilight! We’re gonna make it! Let’s go!”

“Right!” And with a pop and a purple flash, they were gone.

* * * * * * *

Despite the chaos around him and his own compulsion to serve the city, Shining Armor’s first thought was about his wife--and in this case, his princess. She had been missing for some time, and he was determined to find her and make sure she was safe.

And then rut her like there was no tomorrow.

Sure, he thought that all the time, but today it seemed like it was all he could think about. Normally, he considered it a nice bit of escapism from the tedium of the day, but today it was an amazing distraction. It seemed that every thought was of his wife, the way she smiled, the shape of her wing, the curve of her flank...and that special way that she could twist her tongue.

He kept seeing her smile as she dropped down to her knees and brought her hoof up under his barrel, working it down his chest and between his legs, her ministrations coaxing his shaft from its sheathe. Slowly, she would lower herself down, putting her mouth beneath him and extending her tongue, teasing the flesh on the inner side of his thigh and working her way up until he could feel that talented muscle working on his scrotum. Then she would begin to lick the length of his growing arousal, avoiding the head of his rock-hard member. He could sense himself throbbing, bobbing up against the underside of his belly as he stood stock-still, wanting to thrust forward, but knowing that she hadn’t wrapped her lips around him yet, so it would be a pointless task.

With a giggle she started kissing up and down the length, only to be joined by a second talented mouth. Two sets of lips and two tongues, each working their way up and down his package. He could feel their tongues moving across his flesh to the point where they would tangle against each other, performing an erotic ballet across his tool. In unison they pushed him back until he was lying down, facing up and giving them complete access to him and his sex. Finally, they moved to the head of his cock, licking all around it as a pair, and then in one warm, soft motion he felt it engulfed inside a mouth, disappearing all the way down until the lips were brushing up against his scrotum. Pulling back, the lips began to bob up and down on his dick, doing their best to coax his release. He dared a glance down, his arousal growing at the thought of watching the act as well as feeling it, and saw Twilight’s muzzle devouring every inch of his aching piece.

“GAH!!” Shining Armor screamed out loud. “What in Celestia’s name?! Get a grip on yourself, man!” He shook himself back to reality, suddenly realizing that he had stopped walking and was standing in the middle of the street, only a few feet away from his destination. “What am I thinking?” he mumbled. “That’s my sister! What they hay is she doing in my fantasies today? That’s just...”

His mind pictured her face, a smile in her eyes as she lowered herself back down his shaft, Cadance beside her licking the side of his sister’s face...

“OKAY!” he shouted again. “I think I need to distract myself--even if I am actually looking for my sister right now. Actually, ESPECIALLY because of that!”

Cadance was one of Twilight’s best friends, not to mention her royal advisor in Celestia and Luna’s absence, and he got the impression earlier that she was keeping something from him at the library. He was convinced that she knew where his wife was, and finding her was usually pretty easy. She wasn’t at the library or in her room, which left the archives as the next logical step. If there was anything that Twilight enjoyed, it was the company of an old book. She loved reading. And if she wasn’t there, then he would move on to the next step.

What else did she enjoy? She liked sweets, but wasn’t obsessed with them--not like the princess. She wasn’t much into sports or athletics. She didn’t really drink, so bars were out. Unless she was trying to pick up a stallion--or a mare--he always thought she was pretty open minded. Maybe very open minded. And she really did have a nice flank. Maybe he could convince her to be experimental? Go back to his and Cadance’s chambers where the three of them could--

“Ahhh!” He slapped himself across the muzzle. He shook his head and then, just for safe measure, slapped himself across the muzzle again. “Get ahold of yourself! You are the Captain of the Royal Equestrian Guard! Concentrate on duty!”

Taking a deep breath and holding his head high, Shining Armor marched up the stairs towards the archive doors. His horn glowed, igniting the unlocking spell that he and a hoof-full of the guards knew, and stepped inside the room.

Just in time to see a purple explosion of magic and the arrival of two mares, their flanks pointed directly at his face. He recognized both of them immediately, despite their odd, colorful attire.

“Cady!” The stallion rushed up, pressing against his wife and kissing her deeply on the mouth. There was a moment of surprise and hesitation, followed by a warm accepting mouth that invited him to continue--until hooves pushed him away.

“Shiney! What are you doing here?” Cadance asked in a panic.

“I was looking for you! I was so worried about you,” he answered, moving in to kiss her again.

“Oh! Well, thanks!” she stepped back, hoping to keep him from getting started in something that he wouldn’t be able to stop at the moment. “So, you found me. I’m good. Why not head back to the castle? I’ll be right along!”

“What are you talking about?” he asked, his eyes roaming all over her body. “I just--wow, you look great. What are you wearing?”

“No she doesn’t!” Twilight said from behind him. “She had a really bad night with her...” she looked at Cadance, scanning up and down. “Her mane! Totally bad mane day! We came here to find a book about ancient mane secrets to fix it!”

“Yes!” Cadance corroborated. “That works! I mean, yes, a book to fix my mane! I’m totally embarrassed by it right now and don’t want you to see it! These outfits are to...to...disguise my embarrassment! That’s it! So...bye!”

She smiled. Twilight smiled. Both were crooked and strained.

“What are you talking about?” Shining Armor asked, staring at his wife. “You look amazing! Both of you, do. Your mane is more beautiful than ever. And those skin-tight outfits really show off all of your curves. Very soft, sensual curves.” His head turned as he spoke to his sister, “What are you two keeping...from...”

The words just drained away as he turned to look directly at Twilight.

“Uh, BBBFF? What’s wrong? You’ve got a strange look on your--mmmff!”

Twilight’s eyes became the size of saucers as Shining Armor kissed her. His tongue pushed into her mouth, and did it rather easily since her jaw went slack in surprise and shock. She stood there, her body and mind arguing about the single best way to completely lose touch will all sense of reason.

“Oh crap,” Cadance announced in a massive understatement of the moment.

* * * * * * *

“Do you remember the time we used to spend together?” Selene asked. “What we did? How you would comfort me?”

“Of course I do, Lena,” Celestia answered, her voice melting into a distant time.

“Do the two of you still visit our old home? I understand you have a castle in your new kingdom, but...is it still there?” Her voice was winsome and light.

“It has been many, many years, Lena,” Celestia stated. “When the ponies accepted us we moved into one castle, and then--” she paused. “Events made it necessary to build another one. The last time I was there it was scarcely recognizable.”

“Of course,” Selene said softly. “Time has a way of eroding all things, doesn’t it?” She took a deep breath and smiled. “Even memories. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t have a particular fondness for them, does it?”

“Lena, I have only fond memories of our days together,” Celestia stepped forward. “And I always will.”

“Old memories. I think that it’s time for new ones, don’t you?” she responded.

“You prattle and dance around your intentions, mare,” Luna interjected. “Stop and speak your task!”

“Luna!” Celestia chided her wife. “Please?”

“No, no,” Selene growled. “She’s right. I don’t think it’s fair to keep you in the dark, Celly. Or any of us for that matter, actually.”

“Very well then,” Celestia pushed out her chest and raised her head and wings, preparing herself, “go ahead and speak your task.”

Selene laughed. “I already did, dear sister. You said that we have fond, old memories of our days together. I want new ones. Well, a single new one, that is.”

“A new memory?” Celestia asked.

“Not just a memory, but a memory of a day together. Sunrise to sunset, Celly. You and I, together again, watching the sunset,” her voice turned grey. “Don’t you think it will be wonderful?”

The milky color of Celestia’s coat did not match the paleness of her face as all color drained from it.

“B--but we cannot,” she stated. “If the sun sets, then Luna--”

“When the sun sets,” Selene interrupted her sister, “then a new Goddess of the Night will be born, and Nightmare Moon will no longer be an entity of the stars and must remain out of Equestria for all time. But if we do not witness another sunset together, then the both of you will have to remain here under my rule...”

Selene smiled, her teeth glowing in the darkness.

“...forever.”

...to be concluded