Who Rules: Travels and Travesties

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Six

“Betrayal! Cursed, cursed betrayal!”

The words burst through the room, striking every ear with defined resonance. Cadance’s head spun around first, followed quickly by her husband. Twilight just stood there, her mouth hanging open, a trail of saliva hanging loosely from it.

In the doorway to the Royal Archive stood an earth pony mare, grey coat with a black mane pulled tight into a long bun. Strict, black clothes covered her from neck to tail, while a pair of out-of-fashion glasses sat on her nose, a chain connecting them around her neck.

“I had thought you a kind and noble stallion!” Harridan said, stepping fully into the room. “But this? This is beyond reprehensible! Not only cheating on your wife! Not only doing it before her very eyes! But cheating on her with YOUR OWN SISTER?!”

The glaze on Shining Armor’s eyes was thinning, and the realization of what he did was starting to hit him. “I..I...”

“You are a scoundrel and a rake! You are no better than common street trash, and CERTAINLY not worthy of the affections of our purest, most kind princess!” Harridan yelled, stepping into the room.

“Madame Harridan, you--” Cadance was cut off by the ranting mare, who held up a single hoof to her face.

“No need to thank me, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! I have been searching for you all night! I am glad that I was able to save you from this...this...”

“...stallion?” Shining Armor offered weakly.

“MONSTER!!” Harridan shouted. “This beautiful, loving creature is going to guide us to a new age! A new era of peace and love in true and proper ways! I had thought that you were the right stallion to stand by her side, but seeing this horrific display makes it clear that you should be removed from her presence immediately!”

“I--I didn’t mean to...” he stammered back, thinking on his actions. He looked over to his sister. His sister didn’t look at him--she was just standing there drooling, actually. “I don’t know what came over me. I--I’ve never, EVER, thought of doing anything like that!”

“The defense of the perverted!” Harridan snapped back, her head pulling back sharply with her words. “You lack the strength and commitment to keep yourself in check! It takes willpower and clarity to know your place and position!”

“But I’ve always--” Shining Armor was cut off again by the lecturing mare.

“Not always! If it was always then I would not have walked in upon this scene! I’m surprised that your poor, loving wife didn’t break down into a ball of tears!” Turning towards the princess, Harridan calmed her tone--while she could speak. “Don’t worry, dear. I’m...here...”

Love is the greatest emotion. It powers songs, stories, feats, and marvels. It rises others up to heights that they never thought they would see. It brings the downtrodden up and out of their depths. It is the thing that every pony, everywhere, longs to experience.

And when it’s avatar is angry, there isn’t a scarier thing in the universe.

A glow of red energy pulsed around Cadance, her eyes were pools of solid crimson and she seemed to be standing about a foot taller than normal. Her head was high as she stared down her muzzle at the ponies in front of her, seeming to judge them all without hesitation. Harridan froze, her body no longer willing to listen to any commands that she could issue. Shining Armor blinked and swallowed, witnessing a side of his wife that he had never seen--or even considered. Twilight remained virtually catatonic, drool easing from the side of her mouth.

“THAT! IS! ENOUGH!!” Cadance slammed a hoof down, sending a shockwave through the building. Every door and window in the place slammed shut, firmly locked in place. The ponies inside recoiled and gasped as the wave struck them. Twilight Sparkle felt the jolt of energy, and was brought back to the world of the living--even though she was never dead.

“What? Who? When? Where?” Twilight spun her head back and forth quickly, her senses trying to catch up. And then she saw Cadance. “Oh...”

“I have been patient,” the Goddess of Love stated as she stepped forward. Everypony stepped back awkwardly, giving her plenty of room. “I think I have been amazingly patient these past couple of days, actually. In that time I have been put in an unwanted position of power by my aunts, insulted by my husband, quite possibly had sex with my sister-in-law...”

Shining Armor turned to look at Twilight, his eyes huge. Hers shrunk down to dots as she let out a faint, “eeep.”

“...accidentally set off a spell that turned on all of the city, had to talk my way out of a threesome with two hot mares, avoid the latent come-ons of the royal guards...”

With every step, she turned to look at the other ponies. Every statement brought a new pair of eyes into her gaze.

“...most DEFINITELY had sex with a beautiful spy--though only to try and save everypony here-- and then had to figure my way through a maze of tunnels, had to fight off a throng of ponies chasing us--twice!--once while performing an erotic ballet with previously mentioned sister-in-law, had to suppress the growing desire to DEFINITELY have sex with twice-mentioned sister-in-law, and then watch as my husband first tried to molest me and then his own sister!” She took a breath to catch up with herself. “I am NOT going to listen to you stand there and belittle him, me, or anypony in Canterlot for that matter! I am officially in a BAD MOOD!”

Spinning her head suddenly to face her friend, Cadance barked out orders. “Twilight! Force field around the building! NOW!”

The unicorn’s horn sprung to life before she told it to, sealing the building from outsiders. “Yes, ma’am,” she said softly.

“Now, Shining Armor,” she turned to her husband, “I want you to know that I will never do anything to hurt you. You are the love of my life and there is nothing that is more important to me than our marriage. But understand that I have my limits! And I’m about at the end of my rope right now, okay? I spent a couple hundred years being the Goddess of Love before you were born, so I’ve seen and been with my share of ponies--both stallions and mares. Just understand one thing: you are the first pony that I have ever loved, but I need you to be a little understanding of my position. Love is love to me! It doesn’t matter who or what or where, it’s LOVE.”

Turning to the next pony in line, she continued. “Twilight! You are a hot little mare! And if things were different, I would totally be all over you--but they aren’t. I know a lot of what is going on right now--in so many ways--is our fault, but that only helped to bring out what was already there. You want me. I want you. It isn’t going to happen, okay? Don’t be sad, because under different circumstances... But I love your brother. Deeply and truly. I don’t want to betray that with his sister, okay?”

One last pony to address. “Madame Harridan,” she turned to the other mare, “if it is the last thing I do, I’m going to make it perfectly clear to you that my aunts rule this country, and I am just a shadow of a fill-in for what they can do! They have wisdom and power and control WAAAAY beyond anything that I am capable of! And what’s more, they are in LOVE! So, I want you to stop following me around, sniffing up my butt, trying to get me to usurp the throne--that I have NO interest in, by the way--just so...so...” She stared down at the mare whose breath was visibly heavy.

“Oh sweet Celestia,” Cadance mumbled, “you’ve never been this turned on in your life, have you?”

“NO!” Harridan shouted, ripping her clothes off of her body in a single amazingly dramatic motion. Her grey coat shimmered in the dim light, a wash of sweat covering her completely. Under her belly, a pair of piercings on her nipples gave way to chains that followed under to her groin where they synced up with a row of piercings along the outer lips of her marehood. A glance at her flank revealed a cutie mark of a chain crossed over by a bullwhip. She fell to the ground, pressing her face down and holding her plot high in the air. “I’m a bad mare! Wicked and naughty! I deserve to be punished!”

Bringing her hoof up to her face, Cadance slowly rubbed her eyes. “Yes. Of course you are.”

“Y--you want to have sex with Twilly?” Shining Armor asked softly, his eyes still fixated on his wife.

Turning to look at her husband, Cadance’s mouth opened, suddenly aware of everything that she just said. “Shiney, I--”

“That is sooo hot,” he said before she could finish.

“Uh...what now?” Cadance asked, her voice sounding like she was just slammed with a frying pan in the face.

“You and a mare is hot enough,” he said, “but you and my sister? Wow.” His eyes glazed over again.

“Oooo-kay,” Cadance let out slowly, “I think this one will probably get chalked up to magic influence. Still...” She turned to look at Twilight, whose mane had several odd spikes staring to appear in it as her face contorted slightly. “Twilight! TWILIGHT!”

The unicorn turned to Cadance, who slapped her across the muzzle--politely. “Snap out of it! I need you!”

“Yeah! That’s what you and my brother were just talking about!” she stated in a rush.

“No! Look!” She took her hooves and turned Twilight’s face towards Madame Harridan. “I need you to take care of her! And don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about! My aunts aren’t as good as keeping that kind of secret from me as they would like.”

“But...but...” Twilight stammered.

“Twilight,” Cadance’s voice softened, finding its target, “I need you to help me. We’ve got to take care of these two or we won’t be able to finish our task, okay? Can you do that?”

“I...I...” Twilight looked up into Cadance’s eyes, now back to their normal shade of purple. She smiled down, and Twilight couldn’t help but reciprocate. “Yes. I can do that.”

“Good.” She turned to Harridan. her expression suddenly ice cold. “Bitch! Get your ass over here!” The earth pony scrambled along the ground to lie at Cadance’s hooves. “You aren’t worthy of my attention, so I’m giving you to Twilight to be punished. If--and I do mean if--you listen to her and obey her without question, I might consider you worthy of being in my presence? Is that clear?”

“Yes!” Harridan answered quickly.

“Yes what?” Cadance shouted down at her.

“Yes, Mistress!” she immediately replied.

“I am your Goddess, not your Mistress! You will address me as such! You may refer to Twilight as Mistress, understood?” Cadance put some acid in her tone.

“Yes, Goddess! I’m sorry, Goddess!” Harridan answered.

Turning back to Twilight, Cadance smiled warmly. “See, it’s all in the approach,” she whispered. “Have fun.”

“Wait!” Twilight paused. “Where are you going?”

“Me?” Cadance took another step away. “I’m going to go tame my husband.”

“You’re going to what?” Twilight asked. “Wait...here? In front of me?!”

Cadance looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Yep.”

* * * * * * *

Stepping foot back onto the mainland of Tartarus, Celestia heard both her sisters hooves walking behind her. She kept her eyes forward, scanning for her target.

“The sun is back the way we came, Celly,” Selene stated with a mocking laughter in her voice. “Or have you given up already? Do you want me to find you a nice place to live? Well, such as it is, anyway.”

Luna stepped up beside her wife. “Why are you not destroying her?” she whispered rather loudly. “That wench is clearly a lying, manipulative, deceitful, dishonest, horrible--”

“I CAN hear you,” Selene interjected.

Luna turned around and smiled at her. “I know.”

Celestia continued her trek forward, her eyes scanning the skies and the horizon, looking for the one missing component.

“I know that I did not put a time limit on this task, Celly, but I don’t have infinite patience. And I am still waiting for an answer,” Selene baited.

“I have an answer to give to you,” Luna mumbled.

“Yes, but I was hoping for something that wasn’t monosyllabic,” Selene countered with a bat of her eyelashes.

Luna whirled about, her body tensed and primed.

“Ah-ah! You can’t attack me, Nightmare Moon. You are under my total command, remember?” Selene mocked.

“Oh, I do so remember. If only I was given the opportunity to show you how much I remember...” her threat trailed off.

“Oh please, do go on,” Selene urged. “I ever so love to hear the guilty suffer during their time here.”

“Oh, is that why you prattle so much? So that you can hear yourself? If you are willing to damn an innocent like Celestia, you are no better than the worst ponies here.” Luna tamped at the ground, her anger swelling without an outlet.

“You’re wrong. I am better than the worst here. I’m better than you,” Selene chided.

“Why you worthless speck of filth, I will--” Luna snorted out, cut short by her sister.

“Enough,” Celestia said calmly, her eyes still forward. “None of that is helping anything. And do not worry, Lena, you will have my answer soon enough.”

“What are you waiting for?” she asked.

“The missing piece of our puzzle,” she faintly stated, her eyes still working the grey and barren landscape. “Ah...and there she is.”

Descending from the sky on great bat-like wings, the red figure of a mare glided down, heading straight for the trio.

“Tisiphone?” Selene asked. “Whatever does she have to do with this?”

“In good time, sister. In good time,” Celestia took a breath and relaxed.

“Are you going to get her to kill Selene?” The tone in Luna’s voice reflected her outer demeanor.

“No pony dies today, Luna.” With a gentle motion, Celestia’s white brushed against Luna’s black, each feeling the warmth of the other on their cheek. “And some will get to live.”

“That has yet to be decided, Celly,” Selene let the words hang in the air.

“It will be,” Celestia looked over at her sister, “one way or another. And unless I am very mistaken--which I don’t believe I am--I will be leaving here with Luna very shortly.”

“And how do you propose to do that?” Selene asked, her wings fluttering out to her side.

“With her help.” Celestia nodded back to the figure that was landing behind them. The huge red mare stalked forward, her eyes fixated on both Celestia and Luna as she passed them to stand beside Selene, her wings flared out in a protective gesture.

“Perfect,” the smile grew on Celestia’s face. “It is good to see you well, Tisiphone. I know that you hoped I would be gone by now, but there have been...complications.”

A gurgling growl grew from the erinyes’ throat.

“Don’t worry, I still intend to leave, and leave you here in peace.” Celestia stood next to Luna, stretching out her wings--somewhat painfully--to mirror the large red mare’s action. “And I intend to leave her with my wife.”

“Wife?” Selene blurted out. “You married her?”

“In Las Pegasus,” Luna stated. “In a very private ceremony.”

“Of course,” Selene responded. “I’m sure it would be hard to invite all your friends. Nightmare Moon has so many friends, after all.”

“Tisiphone,” Celestia said loudly, stopping any further escalation, “I need a favor from you. If this works, then you will be rid of me, I promise.”

Raising her head up a gurgling noise came from the mare. Celestia understood it as clearly as any words ever spoken.

“Simple, you have to do the one thing that you excel at,” she explained. “You have to protect her.”

A light grew inside Celestia, illuminating the ground in an intense glow.

“What are you--” Selene cut herself off as she raised a hoof to block the intense shine that was emanating from her sister. Tisiphone threw her wings up and around the mare, shielding her from a radiance too strong to look at directly.

“Tia, you aren’t...” Luna’s voice was wavering.

The world went white.

* * * * * * *

“Mistress?...” a desperate sounding voice called up from below.

“Just a second!” Twilight snapped back at the mewling mare. “I’m trying to not have a breakdown here!”

“Twilight, attend to your package,” Cadance said calmly, her rage passed.

“It’s not my package I’m worried about! It’s my brother’s!” Twilight blinked, and her eyes became dots. “Can I re-phrase that, please?”

“Oh, you can phrase it anyway that you want,” Cadance stated, “but it’s not going to change anything. We both have a duty to perform, and we’re both going to do it. Right here. Right now.”

“Uh...couldn’t you go into the next room?” Twilight could feel a series of kisses start to pepper her hooves.

“I doubt it, but let’s check,” Cadance said as she turned to her husband. “Shiney, do you want to go into the next room for a bit of fun?” she asked seductively.

“Um...well, I...I kind of want to stay here, hon,” he was splitting his time between staring at Cadance and at Twilight’s hooves and the action going on there.

“That’s what I thought,” she said, turning back to Twilight. “See.”

“Okay, fine,” Twilight responded, looking down at Harridan. “Okay, we’re gonna take this into the next room!”

“Oh, please, please, Mistress, no! No, I must be here to please my Goddess! To let her know how good and faithful I can be! I must stay here! I must, I beg you!” Harridan pleaded.

Twilight looked down and let out a deep sigh. “And I suppose if I ordered you to go there, you would still sneak back in here, right?”

“I--I cannot disobey you, Mistress, but I must be near my Goddess tonight! She is Canterlot’s only hope, and I must please her!”

“And besides,” Cadance said, stepping up beside Shining Armor and running a wing along his back, “we still need to stick together. We’re too close to have something stop us.”

“I am going to need so much therapy after this...” Twilight could feel the mare’s tongue working across her fetlock.

“No, Twilight,” Cadance said, turning back to look directly at the mare, her other wing now gracing the underside of her husband’s body. “This is the therapy. We need this, too. Concentrate on me. Work her, but concentrate on me.”

Looking down, Twilight saw the mare wriggling beneath her. Her mind flashed back to the image of Celestia on the floor, her mouth on Luna’s hooves. “Take off your glasses,” she said, a slight tone of authority to her voice. Immediately, the glasses went skidding across the floor far away from the pair. “And undo your mane. I want to see what you look like.”

A single pull released the mane, tied up tightly but with great care. The locks fell to the side of the grey mare as she shook them loose, cascading down her neck with a single shock of hair crossing over her face and hiding her eyes. Suddenly, the mare that looked old lost a good many years in appearance.

“Better,” Twilight said honestly.

“Thank you, Mistress,” she answered. “I’m glad that I pleased you.”

“Yes, you did,” she answered. Her vision shifted, moving over to Cadance, trying to keep that connection alive.

Walking around her husband, Cadance’s wings never left his body. Dragging and teasing, scraping around every inch of his body. “Are you watching her?” Cadance whispered to him. “Do you see Twilight taking command of the situation? She’s going to use that pony. Make her a toy.” The feathers reached far beneath the stallion’s underside, pulling a gasp from his mouth. “But your task is very different.” Her magic went out and grasped his muzzle, turning him to face her. “You have to please me--and I’m not easy to make happy.”

“Cady, I--” he began.

“Shush! Don’t speak unless I tell you to,” she instructed. “You just do what I tell you to do, understood?” Emphatically, his head bobbed in affirmative.

“Good. The first thing you have to do is make sure your cock is hard. Can you do that? Or do I have to do that for you?” she asked, her tone very imperious.

“No. No, it’s hard,” he answered, his voice almost getting lost in his throat.

“But is it hard enough?” she asked. “Let me check.”

Her horn flashed again, and he felt a firm grip surround his member--and then slowly begin to move back and forth.

“I think you can do better than that,” she whispered into his ear, her breath causing him to swallow the tension back down his throat. “Watch your sister. Watch what she is doing with that mare.”

Twilight kept her eyes on Cadance, hearing what she could of her tone, and feeling the warmth grow in her loins. She glance back down at the mare beneath her, who had gone back to kissing Twilight’s hooves.

“Did I tell you to do that?” Twilight asked instinctively.

“N--no, Mistress,” she answered, pulling her head back sharply.

“Then why did you do it?” Walking forward a step, she moved ahead of Harridan.

“I--I’m sorry, Mistress. I thought you might enjoy it,” she whimpered.

“You--you aren’t here to think. You’re here to do what I tell you!” Twilight tried to sound stern. “Stand up!”

A picture of a long rod came into Twilight’s mind, and magic focused it into a facsimile of reality. “Kiss my cutie mark!” she commanded, and the mare obeyed without pause.

Just as her lips fell down upon the side of Twilight’s flank, a short, sharp crack announced the arrival of the magical construct. The sudden outcry from Harridan only gave her a moment’s pause, and seemingly pressed her interest in showing affection to the unicorn’s cutie mark.

Twilight was amazed. She saw Luna do that to Celestia, but didn’t understand why--until now. There was a rush of adrenaline coursing through her, and the mare she struck not only seemed okay with her action, but aroused by it.

“Take your tongue and...and trace my cutie mark,” she instructed, “and don’t mess up. Keep it right on the cutie mark.”

Warm and wet lines melted into her coat as the mare followed directions. Her tongue jolted when the rod struck again, but she dared not pull her it free. A moan pushed out of her throat on the third strike, her tongue slowing but not stopping on it’s journey.

Stealing a glance between Harridan’s legs, Twilight spied something else warm and wet tracing along the coat of her inner thigh. She turned to look back at Cadance in amazement, and was instantly struck by the purple fire burning in the alicorn’s eyes.

Cadance’s magic was still working on her husband’s shaft. It was harder than she had ever seen it before, but that wasn’t slowing her down. “I want this cock to be able to withstand anything, is that clear?” she whispered again.

“Uh-huh,” was all he could manage to say.

“Your sister has an amazing body, don’t you think? I was staring at her plot earlier, taking in all of its curves. I wanted to bury my face in there and just drink her up,” Cadance suggested, and felt an immediate response in her husband’s dick, drawing a smile on her face.

“All I could think about was my tongue invading the soft folds of her marehood, licking and tasting everything that she had to offer.” Cadance moved her hoof up the back of Shining Armor’s withers, stroking up his mane while her magic stroked him below. “Do you want to see that? Do you want to see Twilight eaten out by a hot sexy mare?”

“Uh-huh.” His brain was operating on a base level.

“Well, the only way that is going to happen is if she makes that other mare do it. I think she will. I think she’s a natural. What do you think?” she asked, her teeth latching onto his ear after her words.

“Uh-huh.” He was stuck in automatic mode, though each time the words came out they were a little more emphatic.

Twilight brought the rod down again, wincing a little as it struck the mare’s plot. A visible shiver ran through Harridan and teeth came out, nipping at Twilight’s flesh.

“Ouch!” she reflexed. “You bit me! Do NOT bite me!” The rod came down hard to emphasize her point. “If you aren’t gentle with me, then I will...I’ll stop! I won’t do ANYTHING to you. Understood?”

“Yes, Mistress. I’m sorry, Mistress, it won’t happen again!” Harridan groveled, her mouth once again kissing Twilight’s hooves.

“And stop doing that!” Twilight commanded, her face wrenched up in frustration. “If I wanted my hooves licked, I would tell you to do it!” The rod struck once more. “What do I have to do to get you to behave?”

“I will behave, Mistress! I’m so sorry!” the mare pleaded from the ground. “I will do anything for you!”

Looking down into her eyes, Twilight could tell that she meant every word. No matter what Twilight asked her to do next, Madame Harridan would obey without question. Twilight’s sex flinched at the thought. A mare totally under her control.

“Touch yourself,” Twilight said off-hoof. Immediately the mare moved her hooves between her legs, stroking her dripping wet pussy. “Don’t cum, but play with yourself.”

“Y--yes, Mistress,” she answered. Since she was lying on her belly, with her leg and hoof underneath her, Twilight couldn’t see exactly what the mare was doing, only get a sense of her response. “Turn over. I want to watch.”

Shifting her weight, Harridan rolled onto her back without her hoof once leaving her sex. For the first time Twilight got a clear view of the piercings and chain. Every motion of her hoof chimed a small metallic tone as they moved in time with her actions.

Staring down, Twilight dismissed the rod, and concentrated her magic on the piercings and chain. Fine tendrils of magic wrapped around the chain, securing themselves in the links of metal. And then she pulled.

A loud moan burst from Harridan, her hoof redoubling its efforts on her marehood. With a single motion she slid her hoof inside her cunt, much to Twilight’s disbelief. Wide-eyed, she turned to look at Cadance.

“I want a closer look,” the alicorn stated, stepping towards Twilight, a firm magic gripping her husband’s cock to pull him along. Cadance stopped them before they reached the mare, turning to her husband. “You are not to cum until I tell you to, understood?”

There weren’t any words left. He simply nodded profoundly.

Walking up to Twilight, Cadance looked her directly in the eye as she spoke, “These two are going to burst very soon, but I think we deserve something, too, don’t you? Why don’t you sit down?”

“What? And just watch?” Twilight asked.

“No, no. On her face,” Cadance gently pushed the mare backwards, bringing Twilight’s sex in line with Harridan’s open mouth. Without urging or instruction, Harridan brought her tongue out and began to lick along the length of Twilight’s gaping slit. A sharp gasp expressed Twilight’s feeling about this action.

Lowering her head and shifting her tail to the side, Cadance turned back towards her husband, who just stared for a moment. “What? Do you need instructions?”

His lips curled up as he shook his head, raising his body up and setting it down on Cadance’s back. With practiced precision he lined himself up and buried his shaft to the hilt.

“Oooh, yes,” Cadance hissed. “That’s what I wanted.”

Twilight gulped, watching this beautiful mare, inches away from her, being rutted by her own brother. Her sex dripped down, falling onto the tongue of the mare beneath her. She lowered herself further, allowing Harridan to bury her muzzle into Twilight’s cunt.

Cadance pushed back, opening herself to her husband’s firm thrusts. His rod impaled her, her tender flesh squeezing against it, trying to milk its contents from him. He pumped hard, slamming in and out of her with driving passion. Her lower lip was clenched between her teeth as her eyes fluttered with the motion.

“Harder,” Twilight said, and then directed the words beneath her. “Lick me harder, um...slave. I’ve decided that...I want you to cum, BUT not until you make me cum! Got it?”

“Yes, Mistress! It will...be my...pleasure,” Harridan answered when her tongue was available, her voice slightly muffled. In response, Twilight yanked harder on the chain and attached piercings, a groan tickling her clit even more.

“Twilight,” Cadance’s voice was soft and seductive, and Twilight glanced up to meet dark, half-lidded eyes, “lean over here. Bring your horn closer to me.”

“My...horn?” Twilight’s breathing was becoming labored, and she could hear Harridan’s hoof as it worked its way into the mare’s pussy.

“Yes. Please.” Only when Twilight saw Celestia in the throws of pleasure did anything ever look as beautiful to her. And only when Luna was directing her when she was in Celestia’s body did she ever experience a mare quite as sexy.

“I...okay.” Twilight lowered her head, bringing her horn down near Cadance’s mouth--only to have it pushed away. Blinking in shock, Twilight saw the alicorn stretch her own neck, placing her horn next to the unicorn’s. Sharp magic lit up, cascading over Twilight’s horn.

“Match me,” Cadance said. “You can do it...I know.” With every thrust behind the other mare, Twilight felt the flutes of Cadance’s horn rubbing against her own. Her pussy flooded in arousal, and Harridan worked to lick up every drop.

Purple magic ignited, tempered by the light blue from Cadance’s horn as the two aura’s mingled. Instantly, Twilight felt a new sensation--she felt Cadance. She felt everything that Cadance was experiencing, and could tell that she shared all of her sensations as well.

The two horns pressed against each other, sliding back and forth as both mares moved with their respective lovers. Cadance could feel Harridan’s tongue working magic on Twilight’s clit. Alternating between licking, sucking, and a combination of the two, she imagined the sensitive nub must be rock hard.

Twilight knew that her brother’s cock was hard. She could feel it sinking to the depths of Cadance’s pussy, each stroke being matched by a tight contraction. She could feel his breath on the back of Cadance’s neck, and his teeth as they bit down next to her mane.

And both felt their own sensations. One mare’s became the other’s, and the line between them began to blur. Their bodies became as one, each riding out the other’s wave of erotic euphoria.

“Yes! Suck that pussy! I want every drop swallowed!” one of them yelled at Harridan.

“Get that cock in there! Rut me! Rut me hard!” the other one shouted to Shining Armor.

And very shortly after that, they both screamed. Simultaneously, the two mares reached their plateau, their cunts squeezing tight and flooding their lovers with cum.

Harridan swallowed as fast as she could, her mouth drinking in the fluid as though it were precious nectar. And with the release into her mouth, she finally allowed herself to cum as well, her hips bucking up wildly as she drove her hoof as deep as she could into her marehood.

And with a deep rumble, Shining Armor released his seed into Cadance. He continued to fuck her, feeling a little more cum shoot out of him with every thrust. Spasms of pleasure rocked through him with every small burst.

And the two mares--Twilight and Cadance--sat there, experiencing every moment of it together. Wordlessly, they felt each other’s peak of pleasure, and the final throws of sexual climax. Their bodies grew limp, and their horns slid down, the spiraled ridges riding against each other until they were both free and their sensations were uniquely their own once more.

Feeling the body go limp beneath her, Twilight quickly jumped off the mare, fearing she had cut off her breathing and hurt her. A check confirmed that she was fine, just collapsed and unconscious from the orgasm. Twilight joined her, collapsing on the ground nearby.

Shining Armor slid off of his wife, falling over onto his side. He took a single deep breath and then his whole body went slack as he faded off into sleep himself.

“A-are you okay?” Cadance asked, slowly rising to her hooves.

“I have no idea,” Twilight answered, her breath still labored. “And I’m not sure I care.”

“C’mon,” Cadance walked over to her, offer a hoof to help her stand. “We still have a job to do.”

Nodding, Twilight took the mare’s hoof, rising up to meet her--face-to-face. “Uh, that was...nice,” she said.

“Yeah, I think so, too.” Cadance smiled and took a step back. “Let’s get going.”

“Okay, sure.” Twilight thought for a moment before continuing. “I used a similar spell once before, but...it was kind of one way. How did you do that?”

“I didn’t,” Cadance answered. “We did. That’s not the type of thing that can happen without co-operation.”

“I’ve never felt anything so intense,” Twilight admitted. “Do you and Shining Armor do that?”

The alicorn shook her head. “No. I don’t think that he would be comfortable feeling what a mare feels. I don’t mind feeling what a stallion feels, though.” she smiled playfully, “it’s kind of fun, really.”

“Y--you’ve done that with other stallions before?” Twilight’s voice fell.

“And other mares. I’ve been involved with others before I met your brother, Twilight,” she admitted.

“Oh yeah, you just told us all that. I just never really thought about it,” Twilight stated.

“Shiney knows. He’s okay with it. Great with it, actually. It’s because of the love that we share,” she explained. She turned and began to walk the hallway, heading towards the central archive. She turned and looked over her shoulder as she walked, “But that was the best one I’ve ever had.”

Twilight blinked. “Um...me too.”

“I thought that was your first time doing that?” Cadance asked.

“Ha! Uh, yeah! Um...but it was the best one, too! It would have to be, right?” Her smile was awkward at best. Cadance’s in response wasn’t.

“Do you know where we go next?” Cadance asked.

“I’m scared to know...” Twilight trailed off.

“Why? I thought you knew this library pretty well,” she replied.

“Oh! The book! Yes! I do know that!” Twilight ran forward to take the point, hoping to hide the red on her cheeks. “At least I know where it should be. In theory, that is. The ancient history wing should contain all of the ancient texts on practical magic. And while this isn’t really practical today, it was still a commonly used ritual back before Celestia began to raise the sun.”

“I hope it works,” Cadance stated.

“It should. Assuming, of course, that they really document the actual magic of the spell and not just the period under which it was used,” Twilight expressed her concern.

The Royal Archive is a huge, circular building, with a single, long hallway wrapping around the central part of the building, four separate corridors linking the main hall to the central archive. On both sides of the main hallway were smaller chambers, containing offices, storage, and other archives meant to hold more private books from the populace as a whole. But there was one archive that held the most precious of spells for the kingdom, and it rested at the very core of the building, inside the central archive. And that was Twilight’s destination.

“I don’t know how to get into the core archive,” Twilight expressed her thought verbally.

“I might be able to do that,” Cadance said. “I do have authority right now, so hopefully my magic will do it.”

“Yeah, like the way Celestia told you about Fleur and the secret passage?” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Think positive!” Cadance suggested.

They ran as one, turning into the corridor that took them into the central archive, and immediately they could see the spire. Tall and omnipresent in the core of the building, it rose up to the ceiling, appearing as a primary point of the structure. And indeed it was, but that was just one of it’s purposes. The ornate tapestries that covered it also served as another means of documenting important times and dates in the history of Equestria. Dozens upon dozens of fabric illustrations encircled the massive column, covering the diameter of the ten-meter-wide structure. It stretched up the twenty meters to the domed ceiling, providing a focal point for the shelves on the main floor and the balconies that lined the outside of the room.

And there was, of course, a door. Most ponies that came into the archive knew that there was a room inside the column, but very, very few had ever entered. Twilight had been inside once, when her mentor had given her a guided tour of the building. She was told that the most sensitive and valued magical spells were enshrined inside, and that it was off limits without special permission.

“Cadance?” Twilight asked, running straight towards the column. “Uh...this might sound a bit odd, but... Can I get your permission to enter the central tower archive?”

“What? Why would you need--” Cadance started.

“Can you just say yes?!” Twilight insisted.

“Yes! Yes, you have permission,” Cadance replied.

“Whew!” Relief washed over the unicorn. She glanced up at the tapestries, looking for a particular one. “There!” she shouted, her hoof pointing up at the artwork she had in mind.

Following Twilight’s indication, Cadance looked up at an ornate piece woven in gold and purple fabrics. A dozen unicorns stood assembled, their horns pointing in towards each other in a great circle. Behind them graphic representations of both sun and moon played along the horizon, each equally a part of the landscape. The colors merged and played off one another, creating a warmth in cold fabric.

“The ritual?” Cadance asked.

“Yep. But one thing bothers me,” Twilight said.

“What’s that?” Cadance asked, both ponies now very close to the spire.

“The number of unicorns. There are only two of us, and there are twelve of them. If that’s accurate, we might not be able to do this,” she explained.

They ran to the doorway and stopped. Cadance took a deep breath and focused for a moment. “Well, we won’t know until we try.”

A spell played across Cadance’s horn, the blue light echoed in the lock resting inside the door. For a moment, nothing happened, and Twilight felt her anxiety begin to rise, quelled suddenly by a clicking sound and the door moving ajar.

“Okay!” Twilight said. “First part done. Now to find the right spell!”

“How are you going to do that?” Cadance asked.

Smiling at her friend, Twilight’s eye glimmered. “This is a library, right? Well, I’m a librarian! I can do this!”

The door swung open, lights igniting automatically with the ingrained magic of the spire, showing four levels of shelving running up the inside of the spire, reaching towards the simple ceiling.

“Uh...okay,” Cadance said looking at the impressive collection. “But, how long is it going to take?”

“As long as it takes!” Twilight said enthusiastically. “And the sooner we start, the less time!”

“We? I thought you were going to do this?” Cadance asked.

“I am--with your help.” Twilight smiled. “Hopefully, this library is organized by one of three basic systems: alphabetical, by date, or by subject matter. And if I remember correctly, it’s a little bit of all three. So that means we have to first find the right time frame for this spell. That would put it back in the earliest parts of the library, before the founding of Equestria and in the time of pony-pre-history. At least in theory.”

“So, top or bottom?” Cadance asked.

“Top! Let’s go!” An implosion of magic later Twilight had transported both mares to the upper balcony. “You start left and I’ll go right. Look for anything about raising the sun!”

The two mares went straight to work. They scanned quickly, taking in titles and names, pulling anything that looked like it had a chance of being the desired treasure. Creaking spines and cracking pages echoed across the empty space of the tower, followed by muttering and covers shutting for the most part.

“Here’s one on raising the moon by somepony named Selene,” Cadance said. “Would that work?”

“No! Different part of the heavens. We need the sun, and--wait! I think this is it!” Twilight spun around, a huge book floating in front of her. Cadance rushed over to her side as the unicorn placed the volume down on a reading table. The cover of the book looked very similar to the tapestry on the outside of the tower. A circle of unicorns, their horns pointing inwards towards each other, but this version had a representation of the sun in the middle of the circle. Twilight opened it up and started to read.

“The Tome of Aubade Heavens,” she began. “My ancient Equestrian is a little rusty, but I think that it states that--” Twilight froze, jerking her head to look at Cadance. “Oh no! It’s what I feared! You have to have a circle of at least nine ponies to do this! That leaves us seven short! What do we do?!”

Smiling, Cadance nodded comfortably. “In that case, we prove them wrong, Twilight.”

“Prove them wrong?! This isn’t a levitation spell! This is raising the whole sun!” she blurted.

“Which is just another form of levitation. We can do this,” she smiled reassuringly. “You are the most talented unicorn I’ve ever known. Look what we did to this whole city when we were drunk and not even trying. We can do this, okay?”

Twilight looked into Cadance’s eyes, and the panic that should have swept over her in that moment simply...didn’t. Her heart beat faster, but her demeanor was calm and assured. She felt like she could do anything, just so long as Cadance was with her.

“O--okay,” Twilight said.

“Good. Then tell me how this is done, and we’ll get to work.”

And that’s what they did.

* * * * * * *

The light faded.

First Luna regained her vision. Then Tisiphone. And finally Selene’s eyes focused once more on the landscape.

“Thank the stars!” Luna’s voice was filled with relief. “I was afraid you were bringing another shard down.”

“No, Luna,” Celestia said as placid as a lake at dawn, “that was another me. I would never do such a thing. That could wreck untold havoc. I’m surprised you even thought me capable.”

“As I told Selene,” she explained, “I have learned to never underestimate you, my love.”

“What...is this?” Selene’s voice faltered as she took in her surroundings.

Three of the ponies took a slow look around, wondering at their odd situation. They stood amidst a veritable sea of boxes. Some stacked, some not, all of the same approximate size and shape, and each one decorated with various colors and inlays. They stretched out in all directions for hundreds of meters.

“Don’t you recognize them, Lena?” Celestia asked, her face hopeful.

“Should I?” she responded, staring back indifferently.

A deep sigh escaped the sun goddess. “I suppose not. Still, I made them for you, and now I want to give them as gifts.”

“Made them for me?” Selene asked.

“Tia,” Luna broke in, “what are these things?”

“A very long time ago, shortly after you were born, Luna, I made a gift for my other sister,” she explained and then turned to Selene. “I brought it to you on my last visit. Surely, you remember that?”

“That...ball of light?” she asked.

“If you want to call it that, yes. But not just light--sunlight. I wanted to bring you the light of a day, to help brighten your life. But I discovered that you were too dark to accept it. It crushed me, Lena.” A light grew inside Celestia. “But I never lost hope.”

Walking over to a box, Celestia levitated one up, holding it in front of her. “You asked me when I got here why I never came back. I did. So many times I did. Every month, at least once. Cerberus and I became good friends, in fact--because I never went any farther. I stood at the gate, staring at it, carrying a present for you that I had just made.” Celestia looked around at the vast number of boxes around them. “There are over twenty-five-thousand presents here for you, Lena. Twenty-five-thousand days of sunlight--sunrise to sunset. Each one left at your doorstep, hidden from view.”

She looked directly at Selene, her face becoming stoic. “Until today. Until now. You asked me to give you a sunset? Well, I think that I can do that.” Her horn glowed, and the thousands of boxes began to move. “I can give you the light of twenty-five-thousand sunsets.”

A single box lid opened, light pouring out of it and into the grey light of Tartarus. A growl rumbled from deep in Tisiphone as she stepped in front of Selene. Slowly, a ball of sun rose from that one box, rays of light pouring out over the landscape, washing color onto something that hadn’t seen it in the entirety of its existence.

And then another box opened. And another. And a dozen more. Then a hundred, a thousand, and finally, all of them. Gradually they all rose into the sky, each following the first orb as it reached for the zenith of the Tartarus sky.

Selene cowered behind Tisiphone’s outspread wings, hiding from the light of the day. The shadow of the massive mare stretched out as the balls rose into the sky, slowly narrowing as they gathered together high in the dome above them.

Across all of Tartarus eyes turned skyward. Figures stepped out of dim shadow to stare up at a sight they never thought they would see again. Color flushed over skin, revealing hues never before noticed. Mouths opened, lips curling up as warmth spread over a place so cold, seeing the sight that no pony expected. And something grew inside them.

Slowly, the huge ball of light began to move across the sky. Every pony in Tartarus found their eyes staring up into the heavens above hell. Every pony save one.

“Lena!” Celestia’s voice charged through the distance, striking her sister who hid behind her protector, her eyes cast downward. “Selene! Look at me!”

Eyes shifted, painfully glancing over at the sun goddess.

“Now, look west! And watch,” Celestia commanded, ignoring the posturing erinyes interposing herself between the pair.

The newborn sun covered the sky, passing through air unused to such a visitor. Venturing out over the red sea beneath it, the light from it penetrated down, striking the ponies lying beneath the surface, causing their eyes to open in a way they hadn’t since their arrival.

The journey changed, the course of the sun arcing down towards the horizon of the sea of blood. Celestia moved to stand nearer to Selene, glancing to make sure that her sister was still watching the event.

Warm colors spread out over the world, oranges and reds, purples and yellows. Ponies looked around, seeing their companions in a very literal new light. Smiles spread and conversations started.

“The warmth of the day ending, Lena,” Celestia said to her sister. “Shared with you one last time,” she turned to look at her, “just as you wished.”

The newborn Tartarus sun settled into the distant sea, disappearing slowly from view as the populous of the land watched--including its ruler. As well as her guardian and protector.

As the grey of the land settled back into place, the light changed, but the mood did not. There was something new in this land.

Leaning over, Luna kissed her wife on the cheek. “That was beautiful.”

Celestia blushed. “Thank you.”

Together, the two alicorns turned to look at the figure of Selene, her face once again turned to the ground. Tisiphone’s wings and form moved, the intense need to shield the mare fading from the erinyes.

“I hate you.” The voice was barely more than a whisper, but it was clear as the sheen of ice on a winter’s morn. “Why do you do this to me? I hate you.”

“Lena, I--” No other word made it out of Celestia’s mouth before a primal scream and blast of power both erupted from Selene. Reflexively, Celestia threw a shield between her and her attacker, but it was too late to completely stop the unexpected attack, and the sun goddess went tumbling violently.

Rushing in front of her wife, Luna reared back, ready to attack as Selene raced forward. And when the ruler of Tartarus got to her, Luna did everything she could--nothing. Her mind commanded her to attack--to defend Celestia with everything she could--but her body would not obey. The incarcerated of Tartarus cannot attack its ruler. She could do nothing as Selene rushed past her on the path to once again attack Celestia.

Another mare did not have Luna’s limitation.

A wall of red fell between Selene and Celestia, stopping the maddened mare cold. A snort of anger and a pawing hoof began Selene’s conversation. “Move.”

Tisiphone only shifted so that she was facing Selene directly.

“I told you to stand aside!” she shouted, her eyes flaring. “I am going to destroy that deceitful mare!”

Tisiphone shook her head slowly, her gravelly voice creaking out a single word. “Noooo.”

“DO NOT DEFY ME!!” Tears began to form in Selene’s eyes. “I am going battle her, damn it!”

The response was the same: a slow shake of the head and a single word. “Noooo.”

Selene screamed, loosing an outburst of power that struck Tisiphone squarely. The huge red mare lowered her head, dug in her claws, and withstood the assault.

“WHY?!!” Selene’s voice sounded raw as she wailed, her eyes now streaming tears down her face. “I HAVE TO! SHE HAS TO!! If--if she doesn’t then she can’t...kill me. Please, Tisiphone,” Selene’s words turned to open sobs, “please. L--let her kill me. I w--want to d--die. I want to die.”

“Noooo,” Tisiphone’s wings wrapped around Selene once again, cradling the mare as she collapsed to the ground weeping. “I...waaaant...yooouuu...toooo liiive.”

Looking up into cold black eyes, Selene suddenly saw nothing but warmth. Her front legs flung around the mare’s neck, her face buried into her shoulder as she wept, her tears soaking the red coat of the erinyes.

“Lena?” Celestia had found her footing and moved to stand beside the pair. “I--I don’t understand. Why?”

Deep, ragged breaths slowed Selene’s reponse. She turned to look at her sister, her eyes once again growing dark. “Th--the dead ca--cannot kill me, Celly. Th--they cannot even tr--try.” Her sobs fought against her. “O--only the li--living can. O--only y--you can.”

“But why do you want to die?” Celestia asked.

“Wh--why?” she asked, her face wrenching in confusion. “I rule in hell, Celly. I live among the damned. Why would I want to live?”

“Because you are loved,” she explained.

“If you truly love me, you would kill me,” Selene answered.

Celestia shook her head. “I wasn’t speaking about myself, Lena.” The sun goddess looked over to the red mare, her body and wings hovering over the fallen mare. Tisiphone stared back at Celestia and let out a primal growl.

“But I’ve only ever known one love, and he--he’s gone. I don’t know what became of him,” Selene explained.

“You’ve known love for a very long time from what I see,” Celestia answered. “You’ve just been holding on to pain and anger so hard that you didn’t allow yourself to realize it.”

Looking up, Selene saw the hooded face of Tisiphone standing above her. She was firm and strong, defending her from any enemies that might dare attack--as well as protecting her from herself. Gently she raised a hoof, touching the fleshy mask that hid the mare’s deep physical scars. Tisiphone’s head moved at the touch, shifting to look down at her friend and ruler. With care, Selene rose her neck up and brought her mouth into contact with the other mare’s, tenderly embracing lips.

Smiling, Celestia turned to her other sister. “Come, Luna. I think it’s finally time for us to leave this place together.”

Luna didn’t move. She stared at the couple in front of her thoughtfully. “No,” she answered.

“Wh-what?” Celestia fumbled over the single word.

“Not yet, Tia,” she turned to look at her wife. “Don’t worry, we will go in a moment. I am not giving you up that easily, but I want a word with...with my sister first.”

Hearing this, Selene broke her kiss and turned to look at Luna, her eyes narrowing. “What do you want with me?” her tone mingled confusion and defensiveness.

Stepping up beside the couple, Luna waited until Selene had regained her hooves. The Mare of Tartarus’ face was still disheveled from her emotional outburst, but she defied that appearance in her demeanor.

“You and I have much in common,” Luna stated. “And it occurs to me that we are as much sisters as you and my wife. And like you, I understand what it is to live in darkness--and to fear losing that which you love the most.”

“What are you getting at, Nightmare?” Selene asked.

“Simply this: I offer you something freely, no compensation asked. I will do two things for you. First, I will find this former love of yours, or find what happened to him. You are in no position to do it yourself, so I will do this for you,” Luna stated calmly.

“Y--you would do that?” Selene asked.

“I will do that. You have my word,” Luna stated. “Secondly, I offer you this: once a year I shall come to Tartarus and rule in your stead for one week while you do whatever it is you wish. A vacation of sorts from your duty.”

Selene blinked. “I--I...what? Why would you do such a thing?”

There was a slight laugh behind Luna’s answer. “Because, you are right. I belong here. At least a part of me does. And you...well, it seems that you could use a break now and then.”

“This is a very unpleasant duty. You do understand what you would be responsible to do?” Selene asked.

“Of course I do!” Luna answered, her face growing wide into a smile. “I look forward to the challenge of it. You do remember who you are talking to? Besides, perhaps it will be a good release for me as well.”

“I--I don’t know what to say. You are treating me with far more kindness than I would have thought possible, Nightmare,” Selene answered. “And I don’t understand why.”

“It was something that you said,” Luna replies. “That is all I shall say.”

“I don’t know how to repay you,” Selene stated.

“You already have,” Luna said calmly. “You have given me back my true love. There is nothing more that I want.”

“Then go with her, Nigh...Luna.” Selene raised her head up, holding it high. “And you may return one year from now to fulfill your promise.” She turned to look at Celestia, her wings ruffling out to her side briefly. “Tell me, Celly, is...she...doing well?”

Celestia lowered her head. “She was not immortal, Lena. She passed to beyond long ago.”

“I...see. And that is another thing that is taken from me,” Selene stated.

“Not entirely,” Celestia explained. “She had children. And they have had children. You have a great-grand-daughter that you would be proud to know, Lena. I’m proud to know her.”

“You see her?” Lena asked.

“Yes. She is a special child, Lena. Born of great love,” Celestia said.

“Does she know about me?” she asked.

“No,” her sister answered. “I thought you wanted it that way.”

“I...I do. I don’t want her to know me like this. But, if you could, show her love for me?” Selene stated. “And you...are also best kept far from this place. The part of my life that was shared with you is over, Celly, and I do not wish you to return.”

“But I was hoping that--” she didn’t finish her sentence.

“Then you were hoping in vain. I forgive you, but...” she thought for a moment. “If I change my mind, I can always let our sister tell you otherwise. Your time here is done. Go.”

The argument hung in Celestia’s mind. The desire to fight for her sister’s affection once more. The need to know that she could do more to help. The selfishness of thinking that it was something she could fix. Eventually she narrowed that argument down to a single statement.

“Goodbye. I hope that your are happy. I love you, Lena.”

Selene nodded, and Celestia turned, deciding not to take a second look back. Until Selene said one more thing, “And I love you, too, Celly.”

Celestia turned her head and smiled. There was a place for hope in Tartarus after all.

As she turned her head back, her view came upon that of Luna standing beside her. A smile spread across both ponies. Their walk turned to a trot, which became a gallop, and finally transferred to the air as they sped across the blood sea towards the gate of Tartarus.

There was no hesitance, and no need for secrets this time. They ran up the passageway, their hearts racing all the way to the brass gates that enclosed Tartarus. Celestia stopped, turning to Luna who matched her sister’s gait. “What are you waiting for? We are there.”

“You go first,” Celestia said. “I want to make sure you can leave before I do. I won’t lose you, Luna.”

Stepping over, Luna kissed her wife softly. “You never shall.”

Luna walked to the gates of Tartarus, opened them, and stepped through into Equestria. Without pause, Celestia galloped right behind her--and was immediately assaulted by a trio of giant tongues.

“Cerberus!” Celestia gasped, trying to fight off the affectionate attack. “Please, I--I don’t have time. We’re trying to... OH FINE!”

A flash of white light revealed an old, gigantic ball with more scuffs and scrapes on it than could be easily counted. Celestia held the ball in the air, her magic supporting it as it wiggled back and forth. Cerberus fell down on his front legs, his paws extended as he stared up. A nigh-deafening bark filled the cavern as it came from the trio of heads. “You ready? Are you? Okay...go get the ball!” Celestia shot the ball like a falling star into the back of the cavern, far away from Luna and herself. The massive three-headed dog pursued it with a loud yelp.

“That hound truly seems to like you,” Luna giggled.

“Too much time spent here. Let’s hurry!” Celestia said to Luna as she raced towards the exit.

“Are you not going to wait for his return?” Luna asked.

“No! If we do we’ll be here all week,” Celestia explained.

They exited the cave, the night sky spread out above them. Luna stopped still, her eyes staring up into the stars. Lost in the heavens.

“Luna?” Celestia stared at her sister’s disorientation.

“I...I thought I would never see them again,” Luna whispered. “Never feel them again.”

Moving to her sister, Celestia nuzzled her neck gently. “Of course you were going to. They are your stars, my love. I was just keeping them safe until your return.”

“They...feel odd.” She turned to look at her sister. “What did you do, Celly?”

Celestia blinked. “Celly?”

“I’m trying it on,” Luna smiled.

“And?”

“It doesn’t feel natural. I like Tia better.” Luna smiled. “But you haven’t answered my question.”

“Oh, that...” Celestia glanced around nervously. “I sort of...kept the night going.”

Luna’s eyes grew huge. “You brought about eternal night? YOU?!”

“Not eternal! Just...extended,” Celestia argued.

Luna’s laughter filled the sky.

“Fine, laugh all you like, but I would do it again for you!” Celestia smirked.

“Oh, then you don’t mind if we keep it going?” Luna suggested, her eyes slightly watered as she fought to stop giggling. “I’ve always like this idea, you know.”

“No!” Celestia answered emphatically. “I don’t even want to think about what has happened during this. We already have enough things to explain. Keeping this going is a bad idea. I’m going to end it right now.”

“Oh fine!” Luna said. “You are probably right, though. I can only imagine that Twilight Sparkle has entered into a state of complete panic over the situation.”

* * * * * * *

Twilight Sparkle was desperately trying to not enter a state of complete panic.

For the past hour she and Cadance had been hiding out on the top of the Royal Archive, doing their best to re-enact the spell they found in the ancient texts describing how unicorns used to raise the sun.

So far, nothing was happening.

“I told you!” Twilight’s voice was edgy. “I told you we needed nine unicorns! Or a dozen to make sure! Even with an alicorn, we are still several unicorns short! I’m not able to be more than one unicorn, and I don’t have a clue how many unicorns an alicorn makes up! If I had time and were able to put a control into the experiment, I’m sure that I could assess the alicorn/unicorn ratio, but we just threw ourselves into this without--”

“TWILIGHT!” Cadance yelled at her--again--trying to keep the unicorn on task. “We can do this. YOU can do this. We have to, okay? Let’s just try one more time, maybe with you taking the lead this time.”

“Me? But we decided that you should do that! You can channel way more magic than I can, so how is that going to--”

“Twilight!” Cadance used a softer tone this time. “Relax. It won’t hurt to try. We have nothing to lose.” The alicorn looked down at Twilight and smiled. “I trust you on this.”

“Okay,” Twilight answered weakly, “but I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it.”

Cadance nodded reassuringly. “You start, then I’ll join in.”

“Right!” With a heavy breath, Twilight began the ritual they had studied, concentrating her magic towards the heavens. She felt Cadance’s magic come in and mingle with hers as she tried her best to find the sun and urge it over the horizon. She kept her eyes closed tight, picturing the morning as it would come up every day. She wanted nothing special, just a typical morning bereft of night--and bereft of thousands of ponies hoping to find her and ravish her sexually.

Okay, so maybe she wanted ONE thing that was special.

The ritual was complicated, and something she had never done before, so making sure that it was correct wasn’t easy. She ran through the steps in her mind over and over, trying to get them perfect. She was doing her best to concentrate, which she thought would be far easier if that stupid light was shining in her face.

“Wait...light?” Twilight opened her eyes and stared at the horizon. Rays of light were spearing through the darkness, showering the land with warmth and color. “Th--the sun. It’s--”

“DAWN!” Cadance yelled. “You did it, Twilight! You did it!”

“We did it!” Twilight said, spinning to look at Cadance. “I didn’t even think I was doing it right, but we did it! We really did!”

Cadance pulled Twilight up to her in a tight hug, holding the pony close. Twilight wrapped her legs around the other mare, overcome with the moment. Pulling back slightly, Twilight moved her head and kissed Cadance directly on the mouth.

A tongue moved past lips, and eventually found itself dancing with another of its kind inside a foreign mouth. The lips pulled and teased each other while the tongues played, pushing back and forth between mouths as the kiss lingered on. Time seemed lost for a moment as the warmth of the sun began to wash over the two mares.

A pair of hooves pushed back the other mare.

“No,” Cadance said, lowering her head. “No, Twilight. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Sorry for what?” she asked.

“This can’t happen,” she said.” I’m married to your brother. I already told you that.”

“But I love you!” Twilight left her heart bare. “And don’t tell me it’s any sort of spell, because it isn’t!”

Cadance took a step backwards, her head slowly nodding. “I know. Trust me, I know.”

“Then what’s wrong?” the unicorn’s voice was cracking, her emotions swelling.

“Your brother loves me, too. And I love him.” Cadance turned and started to walk away, slowly moving towards the edge of the roof.

“Wait!” Twilight begged, her mind searching for an excuse. “Wh--what do we do about the end of the day? We’ll need to get to be together again to lower the sun and raise the moon!”

“Perhaps,” Cadance said, not turning her head. “But we’ll wait and see what happens. Maybe what we did will spark Celestia into action. Time will tell.”

Her mind raced, and Twilight’s worst fears fought their way out, surfacing in her next broken, ragged words, “Y--you d--don’t love me, do you?”

Stopping on the edge of the roof, Cadance paused. Her wings unfurled, spreading out to her side. She turned back to look at Twilight, her voice suddenly very unsteady. “I never said that.”

A single leap and Cadance was airborn, winging her way towards the castle. Twilight sat down on the roof, her cheeks glistening in the morning light like dew.

* * * * * * *

Sitting at the desk, Cadance felt like she had been staring at the same paperwork for days. In reality, she had just been staring at remarkably similar paperwork for days, but it was actually different. She shuffled the papers back and forth, desperately hoping that they would provide her another days distraction. Or burst into a giant fireball. Either one was acceptable.

“I think that I will find every pony that advocates bureaucracy and make them fall in love with a toaster,” she mumbled. “IF they are polite to me.”

“That is a terribly cranky statement coming from the goddess of love.” The voice startled Cadance, causing her to jump and knock over a small jar of ink on the table, spilling across the whole stack of papers. Her magic reacted, grabbing the inkwell, and doing her very best to contain the spill, even as she turned towards the unexpected visitor.

A large white alicorn and a slightly larger black alicorn were in the room with her.

“Aunties!” She leapt from the table, forgetting the issue with the ink and the paper, sprinting to almost tackle them in a single hug.

“That was certainly a spirited welcome,” Celestia said, laughing.

Cadance pulled her head back, staring into the larger alicorn’s face directly. “You are NOT allowed to leave here, ever again!”

Luna laughed deeply. “Well, pardon us, niece, for wanting to share time together.”

“Time is one thing!” Cadance pulled herself back, trying to regain her composure. “But this is quite another. What happened with the sun? You keep it gone for a couple of days and then everything goes right back to normal? If Twilight and I hadn’t...” Her words trailed off.

“What about you and Twilight?” Celestia asked. “Where is she, anyway? I expected to find her with you.”

“She’s...around. She’s been helping out as needed. We’ve mostly been working on separate tasks,” Cadance explained.

“Well, then I do not see an issue,” Luna stated. “And besides, Celestia and I decided that we still wanted to enjoy the rest of our honeymoon after--”

“VACATION!” Celestia interrupted, screwing an awkward smile onto her face. “She meant vacation. The rest of our vacation.”

“No, Tia,” Luna bent over and kissed her wife on the cheek, “I meant honeymoon. I will not be keeping secrets about us any longer.”

Cadance’s eyes danced back and forth between her two aunts. Her jaw opened and shut repeatedly. “Honeymoon? The two of you got married?!”

Luna stood tall and looked down at Celestia, one eyebrow raised. Celestia took a deep breath and slowly answered. “Yes. Luna and I are now wed.”

“Th-that’s...” Cadance stood there in shock, “INCREDIBLE!” She leapt forward, wrapping her forelegs around Celestia’s neck. “I am so happy for the two of you! Oh, I wish I had been there, though. Where did you do it? Was it beautiful? Did you have fun? What did you wear? Are there pictures?”

“Calm down, calm down,” Celestia laughed. “There isn’t much to say. It was a small ceremony, with just Luna and myself.”

“Well, then we need to have another one! One where everypony can show up and enjoy it!” Cadance insisted, dropping from Celestia’s neck to immediately switch to Luna--who recoiled slightly from the intense hug.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Luna said, gently pushing Cadance away. “Our subjects are not overwhelmingly happy with Tia and my relationship.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that too much,” Cadance smiled. “They’ve had a bit of a...change of heart while you were away.”

“Oh really? Do you want to tell me what caused that?” Celestia asked, her eyebrow raised.

“Do you want to tell me why the sun didn’t come up for two days?” Cadance countered.

The two stared at each other for a moment, neither of them willing to blink.

“Well,” Celestia perked up with a smile, “it is good to be home! It’s always nice to sleep in your own bed after a long trip.”

“Yes, I was very disappointed in the beds in Prance,” Luna stated. “How do they sleep in those?”

“Prance?” A twinkle of light shined in Cadance’s eyes. “That is soooo romantic.”

“Actually, it really was,” Celestia responded, “and it was Luna’s idea.”

Turning to look at the ebon alicorn, Cadance smiled knowingly. “Soooo romantic.”

A furrowed brow from Luna was her only answer to Cadance. “Well, I want to bathe,” she addressed Celestia, “and I could use some help with that. Meet me in the bath in ten minutes.”

“Yes, Luna,” Celestia answered with a faint laugh.

Stepping over, Luna kissed Celestia on the cheek, and then looked to Cadance. “Thank you for watching over Canterlot, niece. We are appreciative.”

“You’re welcome,” she answered.

Turning, Luna stalked to the chamber doors, opening them with her magic as she stepped out into the hallway. Instant mutters and clamors of guards rushing up to greet their princess were heard echoing in the hallway.

“You two are so cute,” Cadance said happily to Celestia.

“Yes, I think so, too,” she agreed. Looking down at her niece, Celestia bent down and kissed the mare on the forehead. The goddess of love could feel the affection flowing freely from that one moment.

“What was that for?” she asked.

“Just a promise I made to...a friend,” she answered.

“A friend? Who?” Cadance asked.

“No pony you know.” Celestia walked over to the desk, looking at the ink covered papers. “Hmmm. Interesting way to handle the situation. I should have thought of that.”

“Sorry,” Cadance offered. “I don’t know how you deal with all of this, auntie. It’s just so...”

“Yes, I know,” Celestia replied. “But don’t worry, you’re off the hook.” She looked over at her niece. “I can take it from here.”

“Are you sure? You don’t need me to update you on anything?” Cadance asked, already stepping sideways towards the door.

“Go. You’re free.” Celestia didn’t even look as she answered, her magic already shifting through the loose papers on her desk.

Cadance’s voice came from several steps down the hall when she answered. “Thank you, auntie! I love you!”

Taking a deep breath, Celestia stacked the paper carefully, clearing the ink-stained pages to one side and cleaning the spilled liquid from her desk with a simple spell. She made a quick note to draft a special check from the royal coffers to cover any damage that she incurred while in Las Pegasus. It joined the rest of the notices, proclamations, and other paperwork that was part of her everyday life. She would come back to them soon enough, but for right now she had to go and join Luna in the bath. And she knew better than to be late.

“It’s good to be home,” she said as she walked out into the hall.

* * * * * * *

Epilogue One

Twilight stared out into the darkness of the night, her hooves resting on the railing of the balcony. Shrouded in darkness, her expression remained hidden from everypony except herself. Her chest swelled out as it filled with air, and then exited with a heavy sigh.

“Twilly?” The voice sent a shock through her system. Shaking her head clear, she turned around quickly, a smile screwing onto her face.

“Shining Armor! Wow, I’m sorry I haven’t seen you lately. I’ve just been so busy with all of the things going on, I didn’t have a chance to catch up!” Her voice was enthusiastic and her expression light. It was a good lie.

“Yeah,” he responded. “Yeah, me too.” He walked up to stand beside his sister, the tension palpable in the air. “How much longer are you staying here in Canterlot?”

“I--I’m going home tomorrow,” she said. “So, I guess my work here is done.”

“Good,” he said. His eyes grew huge and he stammered a continuation. “I--I mean good that you get to go home. That’s what I meant.”

“Yeah,” Twilight answered, maintaining her smile. “Yeah, that’s how I took that.”

They stood there in silence. Both of them wondering who was going to break first.

“Twilly, I...I want to apologize,” he began.

“Apologize?” Twilight was struck. “For what?”

“For...for what happened. At the Royal Archive. When I...you know.”

“Oh. That.” Twilight was immediately shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it. You were under a spell and you couldn’t help yourself. I’m just glad that it didn’t go any further.”

“Oh sweet Celestia, yes! That would have been a nightmare!” he exclaimed.

“Definitely!” she agreed. “In fact, I’m not ruling out nightmares about it.”

The silence returned, with something still hanging in the air.

“Uh, and one other thing,” Shining Armor’s voice was fragile.

“What?” Twilight swallowed back her fear, hoping it would help.

“Cadance told me what happened. On the rooftop, I mean. With the two of you,” he admitted.

Twilight took a step away from him, her eyes glistening.

“She said that you told her that you love her,” he stated. “Is that true?”

Tears would have been a relief at that moment. A breakdown would have been a comfort. Instead she simply stood there, nodding back at her brother.

“I see.” He lowered his head. “She told me how she feels about you, too.”

“S--she did?” her voice cracked.

“She’s my wife, Twilight. I love her more than I can explain.” He lifted his eyes to look at his sister. “So I understand. She’s hard not to love. It’s just her nature. But getting her to feel that way is something else. It’s...magical.”

“I didn’t mean to--” Twilight began.

“I know,” he interrupted. “I know, really. But as long as you’re here it becomes a problem. She’s conflicted, Twilight, and I don’t want her that way. I want her happy.”

“I’ve tried to stay away!” Twilight broke, her tears flowing. “Do you know how hard I’ve tried to stay away from her!”

“I know how much I’m asking you to stay away from her,” he replied, his voice hardening. “Don’t do this to her. Go home. Stay home. Stay away.”

“How can you be this mean to me?!” Twilight cried openly.

“This isn’t about you!” he shouted. “This is about Cadance!”

“Is it? Or is it about what YOU want for Cadance? What if she wants me to stay?!” she answered.

And the silence returned. The two ponies stared at each other, something suddenly standing between them that they never saw before.

“Go home, Twilight. Don’t do this to her. To us,” Shining Armor’s voice was cold and ruthless.

“You’re jealous!” she yelled. “You’re afraid that she’ll choose me over you!”

“No,” he answered. “I’m afraid what it will do to her if we force her to choose. Go. Home.”

Without another word, Shining Armor turned and walked off the balcony, pausing for a brief moment at the doorway and then continuing on beyond view.

Twilight’s legs gave out and she crumpled into a ball, faint sobs carrying off into the cold night.

* * * * * * *

Epilogue Two

Sitting on her balcony, Cadance let out a deep sigh. She wondered for a moment if it was one of stress or relief? Both seemed appropriate at the moment to her, but she wasn’t sure which one was the more prevalent.

“Excuse me, Princess?” The voice was hesitant and unsure as it spoke.

Calmly turning around, Cadance saw a prim and proper mare standing there, shifting uncomfortably.

“Madame Harridan,” she said calmly. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, I was...I was wanting to come and...and speak with you.” She took a few tentative steps onto the balcony.

“It seems you already are,” Cadance smiled.

“Well, I was wanting to...apologize for my behavior. It was wrong of me to badger you the way I was doing regarding your aunts and your position in Canterlot,” she stood as tall as she could as she spoke.

“Well, I appreciate your apology. I’m sure that wasn’t easy for you,” Cadance answered.

“Thank you,” she said, still shifting from hoof to hoof. “And, of course, there is...that other matter.”

“What other matter?” Cadance played.

“The...other matter. Regarding my...personal issues,” she said.

“You mean your kinky nature?” she asked bluntly.

The grey mare’s face flushed instantly. “I...well, I wouldn’t phrase it quite that way.”

“You should,” Cadance suggested. “You should embrace it, actually. There’s nothing wrong with it, Harridan. The only problem you have is with yourself. If you come to terms with that, I don’t think that you will have any problems with the ponies you see around you. Your projecting your discomfort outwardly. If you are happy inside, it will shine out from you.”

Becoming instantly apoplectic, Harridan shook like a leaf. “I...wh...well...th-that is totally inappropriate! Y--you should be ashamed of that line of thought, Princess!”

“There is very little that I’m ashamed of, Madame. It’s just part of my nature,” she explained. “And I meant every word I said.”

“Well, surely you understand my position,” she fought to restore her composure. “If this news were to get out--”

“Then you might be attacked by somepony with a limited point of view?” Cadance interrupted.

Opening her mouth, Harridan found that no words were coming out. She stood there looking like a fish waiting for bait to crawl into its mouth.

“Is there a problem, Madame?” Cadance asked.

“I believe that I should leave,” she said softly.

“Ah!” Cadance held up a single hoof. “Is that any way to say goodbye to me?”

Harridan stared at the hoof hanging in the air, her body trembling. A bead of sweat appeared on her forehead, her mouth opened as she tried to take in more air.

Suddenly, she rushed over and fell to her knees, her hooves coming up to grasp Cadance’s outstretched hoof. Kisses peppered it liberally as she gushed. “Thank you, Goddess. You are too kind to me, Goddess!”

“Much better,” Cadance said with a smile. “You may leave me now.”

“Thank you, Goddess,” Harridan said, bowing down and slowly working her way backwards away from Cadance. “Please call me if I can do anything to please you, Goddess. I beg of you.”

“You may go, Harridan,” Cadance repeated. “And don’t make me say it again.”

“Yes, Goddess!” And with that she disappeared through the doorway.

Cadance smiled, shaking her head. “Poor mare,” she said to herself.

She turned back to stare out into the night sky, pondering what was to come next for her life.

* * * * * * *

Epilogue Three

“Yes. This works nicely.” Luna sounded satisfied as she stared up into the night. She always critiqued her own work, every night, making sure that what she had done met with her own personal standards. “Not my best work, but certainly acceptable.”

She turned to a patch of nearby shadow and spoke again. “Don’t you agree?”

After a moment, the figure of a pale pony stepped out of the darkness to stand near the lunar goddess.

“You know, most ponies don’t notice me at all. That makes twice for you,” Death stated.

“Well, we do have a previous relationship, you and I,” Luna stated. “But I am curious, why are you here now?”

“I can’t just come for a visit?” the pale pony asked.

Turning to face her directly, Luna dropped her head slightly and closed one eye halfway, her lips pulling back tightly in a scowl.

“Well, it has been a while, I suppose,” she said. “And you are involved with your sister now, and not me.”

“Our relationship was never meant to last,” Luna stated. “Not to say that I didn’t enjoy it at the time.”

“So, no chance to reignite old flames?” the pale pony asked.

Laughing, Luna answered, “No. When I courted Death before, I was far darker than I am now. I may still have dark desires, but I am not the fiend that I once was. I love Celestia--truly--and will be with her as long as my life holds out.”

“Yes, well, about that,” Death began. “You see, you’ve already died, Luna. You’re life is over--and this is something else. I can’t take it from you a second time.”

“What are you saying?” Luna turned to her, a look of curious distrust on her face.

“You mean besides the fact that you and I can be intimate without fear of repercussions on you?” Death waggled her eyebrows. Luna lowered hers. “Yeah, I figured as much...” She took a breath and smiled before continuing.

“You are immortal. Truly immortal. You cannot die, Luna. I didn’t like the idea of you being gone, so I sent Celestia after you. Call me a hopeless romantic. Call it a wedding present,” Death explained. “But it does come at a cost. You will outlive Celestia. You will even outlive me.”

“Is that possible?” Luna asked.

“Ask me that again some day,” the pale pony answered.

“I didn’t think that I was going to see you again,” Luna stated, turning to look back up at her stars. “You said you couldn’t take my life.”

“Everypony sees me. You’ll just get to do it more than most,” Death stated.

“What is that--” Luna stopped herself as she turned back, because there was no pony there. Death was gone.

She turned back to the night sky. “Immortal again, eh? That does open up some options.”

Luna smiled thinking about the future.

THE END