Archmage - Chapter 28 “Feelings and Farewells”

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After Rarity left her chambers, Twilight set about to packing right away. She wasn’t entirely sure how well she would survive out in the wilderness. The terrain between Canterlot and their destination varied from ocean to forest to desert, highlands, and even a bit of tundra from the crystal empire’s frozen northern area… What to bring along was making her worry.

“You’re absolutely sure you need to do this?” Luna’s sudden appearance made Twilight jump, her pulse racing.

“Gah! Luna!” She gasped, panting as her heart thundered in her chest.

“Hehe. Sorry.” Luna smiled at her, slowly walking forward. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“’S fine.” Twilight blushed as she took a deep breath, her cheeks flushed. Luna nuzzled her neck affectionately, making her relax a little more. “Sorry, Luna... I should have told you sooner…”

“I think I found out on my own well enough.” Luna teased. She kissed Twilight’s cheek. “Getting Rarity to visit Regal was bound to raise some alarms somewhere along the way, right?” Despite Luna’s friendly demeanor, Twilight could tell that she was bothered with the sudden development. It had been yet another stressful day, and it wasn’t even over yet. Twilight looked Luna in the eyes, frowning slightly.

“Talk to me, Luna.” She said quietly. “What’s on your mind?” Luna looked back at her for a few long moments before giving a soft sigh.

“Do you really think leaving Canterlot is the best thing right now?” Luna pulled away and looked down at Twilight. She could tell this was a serious question, not one posed by a teacher, or a lover, or even a friend. Luna was asking as a princess.

“I do.” Twilight nodded firmly. “It’s my job to preserve the balance in all things, Luna. I can’t just ignore an entire library’s worth of lost knowledge. If what Regal speaks is the truth, and I have reason to believe it is, then we must act quickly.” She felt strongly about this. Probably because of all the trouble Regal had been making the past two weeks, but mostly because she didn’t want to lose the knowledge kept in that library. Luna looked at her for a long while, her expression very serious. After a few minutes, she gave a soft sigh and hung her head.

“Very well, Twilight. But consider a few things… If Regal’s party of eighty only managed to get one pony through the storm… How do you plan on getting through it alone?”

“I’m not going through the storm.” Twilight said, turning back to her packing. “At least, not for very long. Not all the way to the library. The way his directions sounded, I won’t be in the storm for more than about ten minutes. I’ll defend myself, or counter-attack if I’m targeted. I can make it ten minutes.” She hefted two books, trying to decide which would be better for her to take along to the library.

“You can… But what about Rarity?” Luna’s quiet question made Twilight pause. She stared intently at her bags for a few long moments before slowly turning to Luna.

“I can’t ask her to stay here.”

“Yes you can.” Luna said curtly. “It’s not that hard.”

“It’s not that easy, either.” Twilight slowly sat on her haunches, frowning at Luna. “She feels like she owes this to me. I can’t come between somepony else and their debt. Not Rarity. Not my friend.”

“She’s hardly been your friend the past few weeks.” Luna glanced to the side.

“She was duped. Granted, it’s not that difficult to influence her, but I don’t think she’s to blame for the things Regal made her do. And even if she were to blame, who are we to keep her from trying to redeem her mistake?” Twilight’s counter-point made Luna fall silent for a while, so she pressed her advantage. “I can protect both of us, Luna. Even against the creatures in the storm. If I must.”

“I hope so.” Luna whispered, still looking away from Twilight. “For both your sakes.” Twilight looked closer, and saw tears glimmering in her lover’s eyes.

“Luna…” Twilight slowly walked forward, drawing the princess’ attention. “I have to do this. Not just for me, but for Equestria.”

“I know.” Luna muttered. She stepped closer, wrapping her forelegs around Twilight. “I just don’t have to like it…” Twilight sagged into the embrace, breathing deep the scent of Luna’s mane. With the stress Regal had put on her, Twilight hadn’t had much time to spend with Luna. Though, there was the few days she had spent reading Blaze’s journal underneath the protection of Luna’s spell. Those didn’t really count, though. Twilight had spent hours on end squinting at fuzzy words, with Luna’s magic running interference on the spell’s influence. They didn’t break often, and definitely didn’t partake in anything more than a quick discussion. Despite the stress of packing for what was likely a month-long trip, Twilight found herself pressing closer to the princess.

“Somepony’s awfully eager.” Luna teased, running one hoof up and down Twilight’s back.

“It’s been a while…” Twilight returned, her words slightly muffled in Luna’s beautiful mane. Luna’s hoof was rubbing all the right spots along her back, and felt incredibly wonderful.

“That it has.” Luna chuckled and gave Twilight’s collarbone a gentle kiss, sending shivers up her spine. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well…” Twilight pulled back just enough to look at Luna in her eyes, blushing a little as she spoke. “I’ve always had a thing for… The shower…”

“Say no more.” Luna’s horn glowed as she lifted Twilight in the air, eliciting a gasp and a giddy smile. Twilight let Luna carry her all the way to the bathroom, grinning like a schoolfilly the entire way. Luna made a beeline for Twilight’s shower, using her magic to crank the water on hot. Twilight exhaled as the scalding stream of water washed over her back, releasing even more tension from her stressed muscles. Luna pressed close against her side, their legs soon becoming tangled. Twilight wasn’t even sure when it happened, but both of them were laid out on the flat floor of her shower, kissing passionately.

“Hmmn.” Luna’s soft moan spurred Twilight on, her hooves roaming over Luna’s shapely flanks. The princess groaned at Twilight’s touch, her head rolling back as she opened her mouth in a breathless gasp. Twilight’s own mouth began to travel lower, kissing along Luna’s jawline and down to her neck. Her hooves travelled lower and lower as well, dipping in to tease the very insides of Luna’s thighs before sliding around to the base of her tail, back up to her cutie mark, and around again. Luna was panting by the time Twilight pressed her lips to her stomach, and as she went lower, the sounds became louder. Twilight took her sweet time, enjoying each new inch she kissed. The hot water had matted Luna’s coat to her skin, making the soft hairs all that more addictive to kiss and tease.

By the time Twilight’s lips were pressing against the inside of Luna’s thighs, the princess was all-out moaning. Twilight would have feared somepony hearing them under different circumstances. As it stood, though, nopony would have been within earshot. With a hot breath, Twilight began kissing higher and higher.

“T-twilight.” Luna moaned her name, the sound of which made Twilight shudder between Luna’s legs. “Please… I’m begging you.” She actually liked the sound of that… Her lips curled upwards in a devious smile, grinning at Luna.

“I think you can beg a little better than that.” She teased, kissing further and further away from Luna’s core. Luna dropped her head to the floor with an audible thump, groaning as her hooves rested on Twilight’s neck, urging her lower. Twilight resisted, keeping her lips firmly on Luna’s stomach.

“Please…” Luna moaned, her eyes fluttering closed. “Please, Twilight… I want it.”

“Oh come on.” Twilight teased, kissing Luna’s stomach even higher. “You’re not even trying.” The further and further Twilight moved away from Luna’s core, the more she whimpered and moaned. Luna lay there panting for a few long moments as Twilight worked back up to her neck, teasing the edge of her lips.

“You. Are. The. Worst.” Luna’s hips began to squirm. Twilight caught the faint scent of arousal, even from where she was, with the water falling about them. She grinned against Luna’s lips, her words coming as hardly more than a whisper.

“You know what you need to do.”

“I swear, I’m going to get you for this… Making a princess beg for release…” Luna growled teasingly. Twilight chuckled and kissed her lover deep for a few long moments.

“Say it.”

“Twilight, please…”

“Come on. Say it.”

“Fine.” Luna sagged down to the tile, looking up into Twilight’s eyes for a few long moments. The only sound was the patter of water hitting their coats and the tile around them. Luna’s half-lidded expression spoke volumes to Twilight. She could see the burning desire and passion for Twilight in those eyes, could feel the heat and emotion that the princess felt for her. Even if they were about to engage in wet, filthy lovemaking, Twilight knew in her heart of hearts that Luna loved her. And Twilight loved her as well.

Luna’s forelegs rose to wrap around her neck, and she pulled Twilight’s ear down to her lips.

“Lick me, Twilight. Please.” Luna moaned. “Lick me until I can’t walk straight anymore. Don’t stop, even if I beg for it. Bury yourself between my legs, and drink your fill. I want you to lick every last bit of me, Twilight…” Luna’s passionate words spurred Twilight into action. She could hardly resist anymore. With a soft whimper and a hot breath of desire, Twilight settled on the tile floor between her lover’s spread legs, and set in on her.

The taste was incredible. Twilight could hardly get enough of it. The hot water in combination with Luna’s musk was a combination that Twilight wasn’t about to forget. She licked fast and hard, her tongue digging deep into Luna’s entrance. The hot gasps and throaty moans that the princess gave her spurred Twilight on even more. She delved her tongue as deep into Luna’s pulsing core as she could manage, swirling it around to find that one spot.

“AHN!” Luna cried out as Twilight found it, her hips lifting to dig against Twilight’s open mouth. With an eager touch, Twilight swirled the tip of her tongue over the spot until it grew larger, easier to manipulate. She was able to depress the hard sphere, which in turn made Luna shudder and cry out even more. “TWILIGHT!” Her voice lifted in a scream, echoing around the tiled bathroom. “I’M… I’M… I’M CUMMING!”

“Woah!” Twilight managed to pull her head away just as Luna’s slick marehood squirted a prodigious amount of thin, clear liquid. It spattered all over her front and into the tile floor, coming out at an incredibly fast rate. Twilight likely would have choked if she tried to swallow all of it. But she wanted to try. Diving in, she caught half of the long stream in her mouth, savoring the delightfully vile taste, the way it covered her tongue and swirled around her gums. Some of it sprayed onto her face, forcing her to close her eyes. The muscles inside Luna’s vagina flexed and pulsed as she continued to ooze the delicious fluid, and Twilight felt like she couldn’t drink enough of it. Luna’s legs twitched and shook as she kept licking, moaning directly into her lover’s crotch.

“Haah… Haah… Haah… Guh.” Luna’s chest heaved as she fought to catch her breath, and Twilight stretched out between her legs. “By… The night… That was… Amazing.” Luna panted, raising her head just enough to grin stupidly down at Twilight. Twilight returned the silly grin, her chin resting on Luna’s twitching stomach.

“I’ll say. You’re delicious.” Twilight punctuated her sentence by licking her lips, grinning up at Luna.

“I don’t suppose… I’ll be able to return the favor?” Luna panted, her chest slowly steadying as she caught her breath.

“I don’t think you can stand right now. And besides.” Twilight grinned at her. “I’m not done with you yet.”

“Twilight, what are you- AUGH!”

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Despite her exhaustion, Twilight couldn’t sleep. Luna slumbered peacefully at her side, her chest rising and falling slowly atop the damp sheets. But Twilight couldn’t get her mind to calm down. All of the recent developments ran through her head over and over, playing out one after the other. Her memories began to go further back, as well… She remembered when she was first named Archmage, at Nocturnal Glow’s ceremony. Shortly after that, the whole fiasco with her virginity, and then her parents passing away. Then came the ordeal with Bastion and the shields, the uprising and the first attempt on Celestia’s life.

Even then, she didn’t get to rest. She had to master her anger, and began studying the magic of nature, which uncovered the whole plot with Regal and the movement… Now that that was wrapped up, Twilight had to go and investigate this library. She lay next to Luna, looking at her lover’s beautiful face as she slept, and Twilight felt a profound sense of sadness. Carefully as she could manage, she reached out to stroke Luna’s mane, and whispered a simple question to herself.

“Will things ever be normal?” Twilight’s whispered question roused Luna from her sleep. Her brilliant eyes blinked a few times before settling on Twilight.

“Can’t sleep?”

“No… I’ve got a lot on my mind.” Twilight muttered, tucking herself closer against Luna. The princess drew her tight, running a hoof through her mane. Even now, tucked in her arms, Twilight couldn’t stop the whirlwind of thoughts and ideas.

“Maybe you should go for a walk?” Luna suggested, kissing Twilight’s jaw gently. Her muscles were kind of tight… Twilight might actually benefit from a calming walk.

“I think I will. Come with me?”

“I think I’ll stay here.” Luna gave her another teasing kiss. “Keep the sheets warm for you when you get back.”

“Hehe. I won’t be long.” Twilight kissed her softly, moaning into the princess’ lips for a few long, blissful moments. When she slipped out of the bed, Luna laid her head back down and drifted off once more. Twilight watched her chest rise and fall for a few moments before turning and leaving her quarters.

The castle was deserted at night. She met one pony on the cleaning crew, and smiled at them as she gingerly stepped around the area of the tiled floor they were scrubbing. After that, she met no one. A thought struck her, and she made her way through one back hallway, out into a major intersection, and out into one of the castle’s gardens. The moonlight hit the fountain perfectly, and Twilight could see the two fish circle one another lazily in the bottom bowl. She watched them for a few moments before making her way across the lawn to the lone sapling, hardly as tall as she was.

It was the same tree she had fostered back to life after Gable had poisoned it. The first tree that had ever been planted in a Canterlot garden. It looked healthy, and it’s leaves were a vibrant green. Glancing to the side, Twilight saw the same watering can she had used when caring for the seed. She sprinkled a little more over the leaves, smiling as the silver moonlight reflected off of the droplets, making the leaves of the tree shine and glimmer, almost like metal.

Her tiredness came then. Her eyes began to droop, and her muscles ached for rest. Whatever it was about the tree, it calmed her. She made a note to return here if ever her thoughts ran wild again. She made it back to her room and curled up next to Luna, sleeping peacefully through the night. Luna woke her early in the morning with a gentle kiss.

“Come on, Twilight.” She said quietly. “It’s time.”

“Hmm… Five more minutes.” Twilight muttered, laying a hoof over her head.

“Come on, silly. The sun doesn’t wait.”

“Ngh… Fine…” Twilight gave Luna a tired smile as they both left her bed. Luna left to her own quarters to prepare for the day, while Twilight double-checked her packed bags and showered. They met again on the observatory balcony, and only had to wait a few minutes before Celestia arrived.

“Good morning, Twilight. I hear you’re taking a little trip.” Celestia smiled warmly at her, both princesses sharing a quick embrace atop the tower.

“Nothing gets by you, does it?” Twilight smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t need to explain myself to you, too, do I?”

“Well…” Celestia sighed and frowned at her. “Just know that I’ve sent many ponies to this library, Twilight… None of them have returned.”

“How many times have you sent an Archmage?” Twilight’s return made both princesses look at her with wide eyes for a few moments. After a short while, though, Celestia smiled at her.

“Not even once. Come now, let’s begin.” Celestia and Luna turned towards their horizons, and Twilight shielded herself. The burning waves of energy hardly even made Twilight blink as she helped the princesses adjust the sun and the moon. When they were finished, the sun’s warm golden glow cast long shadows across Canterlot, and beneath them in the city, ponies began to stir about and begin their day. Somewhere amongst them was Rarity. For everypony but the two of them, it was just another day. They would wake, go to work, or school, and have a normal life. But not the two of them. Twilight and Rarity were about to make a trek across perilous country to a library only a few select souls had ever visited in the past thousand years, brave a magical storm full of danger and death, and somehow return to Canterlot.

And yet… Twilight couldn’t help but smile.

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Rarity met her at the train platform. At first, Twilight almost didn’t see her. She was looking for a pony with much more luggage. When she realized the solitary mare carrying two saddlebags and a single messenger bag was Rarity, Twilight almost couldn’t believe it.

“Hello, darling.” Rarity smiled warmly at her, reaching out to give her a quick hug. Twilight returned it in kind, looking over Rarity’s provisions.

“I… Almost didn’t recognize you. I thought you’d have… I dunno, more stuff.”

“Hmm? Well, I took a look at the map just last night.” Rarity lifted her bag with a soft smile. “I don’t think I’d be able to carry it all that far.”

“Do you really think you can do this?” Twilight asked. She had her doubts about taking somepony like Rarity on such a dangerous journey, but seeing Rarity packed with the small amount of luggage she had, Twilight was beginning to re-think her trepidation.

“I’m allowed to be sensible now and then.” Rarity almost sounded hurt. “I know this whole business with Cross Stitch and Regal has made me out to seem almost like a criminal, but I’m not about to haul half my wardrobe across Equestria.”

“Hmm.” Twilight was honestly taken aback. She had almost planned on helping haul Rarity’s luggage, or at least putting up with a heavy load. Instead, she found herself standing opposite a perfectly capable and prepared friend. “Well. I’m surprised. Shall we?”

“I should think so, yes.” Rarity beamed and turned towards the train waiting on the platform. Twilight looked back at the city behind them, giving a soft sigh. Just as she was about to follow Rarity, though, something caught her eye. She squinted at what she saw, trying to make sense of the small dot in the sky. It steadily began to grow larger, until Twilight saw who it was.

“Luna.” She breathed, watching the princess land gracefully on the platform before her. Ponies all around gasped and backed away as Luna descended among them. “I-I mean, Princess… What brings you here?”

“Enough of the formalities, Twilight.” Luna’s expression was a cross between annoyance and a frown. She was blushing a little. “I came to say goodbye… To the pony I love.” Murmurs broke out in the crowd at her words, and Twilight found her blush mirroring the princess’.

“I don’t… Luna, I thought we were-“

“I don’t care anymore, Twilight.” Luna cut her off. Twilight saw tears welling in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment. “I’ve hidden my feelings for the ones I care about for too long. I think it’s time I show Equestria that their ruler isn’t some heartless despot.” Twilight watched as Luna’s horn began to glow. The light on the platform began to fade, dimming into shadow as she cast a spell. Before their eyes, a beautiful chain began to materialize, delicate and thin. Around the chain grew a pendant, in the shape of a teardrop. The shadows began to coalesce and form in the middle, filling out the bit of jewelry.

“Take this.” Luna said as the necklace finished materializing. “And wear it with you always. Wherever you go, Twilight, you’ll carry my heart with you.” The clasp fastened behind her neck, and Twilight felt the reassuring weight of the pendant rest against her chest. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at Luna. “I love you, Twilight.”

“I love you, Luna.” Before everypony on the platform, the two of them came together, sharing a passionate kiss. Twilight didn’t register the shocked whispers and murmurs all around them. She couldn’t hear anything. She didn’t want to. The only thing that registered in her mind at that moment was Luna, and her tender embrace. The kiss ended, leaving both of them breathless and blushing.

“This isn’t goodbye,” Luna said quietly. Their foreheads rested together, and she spoke the next words so softly that only Twilight could hear them.

“It’s ‘see you later.’”