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Blood Moon Part 2 By DontWannaKnow

By Anonimoose
Created: 2022-06-06 06:30:45
Expiry: Never

  1. Created: 2014.06.18 06:23:37 UTC
  2. Last modified: 2014.06.18 06:23:37 UTC
  3. Archived from https://pastebin.com/6gEku3M1 on 2020.10.25 06:10:09 UTC
  4.  
  5. >Oh…
  6. >God…
  7. >OH GOD IT HURTS
  8. >The moment you open your eyes, you desire nothing more than to jump off the balcony and faceplant into oblivion
  9. >Not only did you ingest enough alcohol to slay a manticore, you spent the entire night – or day rather – sleeping on cold stone, outside, naked, in the middle of autumn
  10. >You’re pretty sure that if it were winter, you’d be dead
  11. >As it is, you only feel like death
  12. >No, actually, death would be welcome
  13. >You feel like life
  14. >All the pain that all the beings who ever existed experienced in all their untold lifetimes, crammed inside one cold lump of flesh
  15. >You decide to kill yourself immediately
  16. >Fortunately for the small part of your brain concerned with self-preservation, you can’t move
  17. >First of all, just the small muscle twitches you’ve made in awakening have proved agonizing
  18. >The only movements you make are a few shudders as you realize how positively frigid you are
  19. >Second of all, there is an alicorn on top of you
  20. >Slumbering peacefully
  21. >Through the swimming haze of your bloodshot eyes, you glance down at her face
  22. >She looks…serene
  23. >A tiny smile tugs at the corners of her mouth
  24. >The rise and fall of her breath is slow
  25. >As you study Luna, her eyelids flutter and she yawns, stretching out her neck
  26. >“Mmm…why did you stop dreaming?” she mumbles
  27. “Luna”
  28. >“Mmm?”
  29. “Luna, help me. I’m v-very cold, but I c-can’t move”
  30. >“Anon!”
  31. >You must look real bad, because she’s on her hooves in an instant, and she looks a little freaked out
  32. >She picks you up with her aura rushes you over to her bed, throwing the covers over you
  33. >Her horn sparks again and you feel the mattress and sheets begin to heat up
  34. >Oh man that feels so good
  35. >After a moment, enough warmth is returned to your muscles that they unseize, and you begin to shiver violently
  36. >The princess climbs in and wraps herself around you
  37. >She looks pretty upset
  38. >“Anon, I’m so sorry! Oh, your lips are blue”
  39. >You wonder why she’s in such chipper shape
  40. >Then again she had you insulating her
  41. >That, and the whole immortal demigoddess thing
  42. >Still, you’re feeling better
  43. >After a few minutes you stop shivering and she ceases her spell
  44. >Now that you’re back from your brush with hypothermia, her body heat is plenty
  45. >“We spend one night together and I almost kill you…”
  46. “That wasn’t your fault”
  47. >There’s still a hint of chill in your voice
  48. >She ignores your words
  49. >“Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
  50. >You don’t even need to think
  51. “Anal?”
  52. >She grins at the speed of your reply
  53. >“Something that I wouldn’t have done anyway?”
  54. >You fistpump internally
  55. >Then you frown
  56. >You’re having trouble coming up with anything else
  57. >She kisses your cheek
  58. >“You don’t have to think of it right now”
  59. “How about some aspirin?
  60. >Despite the drastic improvement in your situation, you still have the worst hangover of your life
  61. >“I can do you one better”
  62. >You and Moons share a wonderfully comfortable recliner, watching the technicolor display put on by the setting sun
  63. >You’ve nearly finished another glassful of what in your head you’ve come to refer to as “magic Gatorade”
  64. >This stuff is amazing
  65. >You feel as though you’ve never had a drop to drink in your life, let alone last night
  66. “So, explain to me exactly what this stuff is”
  67. >“It’s a restorative tonic, my own recipe”
  68. “Right, I know that part, but what’s in it?”
  69. >“It’s basically just diluted dragon semen”
  70. >You spit violently
  71. >Judging by the way she’s chuckling quietly, that was bullshit
  72. >If it were true, you’re sure she’d be laughing way harder
  73. >“It’s actually just a lot of mundane ingredients, fortified with vitamins, electrolytes, and a few healing spells”
  74. >“Also my sister’s tears”
  75. >What
  76. >The
  77. >What
  78. >She sees you giving her the kind of look a man gives his wife when she’s on the rag and working with cutlery
  79. >“Alicorn tears have all sorts of remarkable medicinal properties,” she explains matter-of-factly
  80. “Soo…why not just use yours”
  81. >“Because the properties are different for each alicorn”
  82. “So, are you just all ‘hey sis, I’ve got a real gnarly hangover today, could you cry into this cup for me’”
  83. >“Yes…?”
  84. >You find yourself wondering for the first time what the dynamic of their relationship is like, exactly
  85. >Maybe if you’ve known someone your entire life – a life that has spanned untold millennia – asking for her tears to fix your headache might not actually be as off base as it sounds
  86. “So…what do your tears do, then?”
  87. >“If you can keep up with me for the rest of the week, maybe you’ll find out”
  88. >Hrmm hrmm hrmm
  89. >“Anonymous…”
  90. “Anon”
  91. >“Oh just cope with it”
  92. “Fine”
  93. >“I…I was a bit forward with you last night”
  94. >Apparently it is once again time for restrained, reserved Moons
  95. >Her personality is going to give you whiplash
  96. “Hey, we all say crazy stuff when we’re drunk”
  97. >“No!”
  98. “Okay, we’re all completely sane when we’re drunk”
  99. >“I mean no, it’s not that I didn’t mean what I said…”
  100. >“I just didn’t intend to put any pressure on you”
  101. >“And I’m afraid I did”
  102. >You give her a squeeze
  103. “Look, I’m not gonna lie, that was a surprise”
  104. >She winces
  105. “But, I’m pretty sure one of the biggest things we have in common is overthinking things”
  106. >You feel as though you’re on the verge of talking down to her, but she doesn’t seem to mind
  107. “So let’s not. Let’s just do this party of yours and see what happens”
  108. >“Very well”
  109. >“Speaking of which, it is time I proceed with my evening duties. Once the moon rises, we have quite the night ahead of us”
  110. “I can’t imagine it could get much crazier than last night”
  111. >“Oh, Anonymous”
  112. >She smiles at you indulgently
  113. “Last night was only the beginning”
  114. >You are definitely traveling down the rabbit hole now
  115. >Her horn glows, and the waxing moon crests the horizon, steadily rising into the sky
  116. >This is the first time you’ve actually gotten to see her do this
  117. >You’re stricken with a sudden feeling of vertigo
  118. >You’ve never seen something so massive and monolithic move so quickly
  119. >Somehow, in all your time in Equestria, you’ve never once seen the moon actually rise
  120. >You just looked up at some point each night and it was there
  121. >Now you realize why
  122. >She raises it quickly and with relatively little ceremony
  123. >When the great glowing orb is finally fixed in the sky, a ripple of light cascades outward through the stars around it
  124. “That was intense”
  125. >You release a breath you didn’t know you were holding
  126. >“Thank you”
  127. >“Now, what do you say we go rejoin the festivities?”
  128. >Upon exiting Luna’s chambers, you quickly realize that the previous night’s debauchery did not simply pause during the day
  129. >Not that there’s much of a “day” in these caverns
  130. >Two very drunk mares stagger past you in the dim hall
  131. >One of them bows before the princess
  132. >The other attempts to follow suit, but succeeds only in falling flat on her face
  133. >Luna addresses them cheerily
  134. >“Enjoying the celebration, my children?”
  135. >“Yush”
  136. >The slightly more sober of the two bat ponies manages to slur out a response
  137. >As you head towards the main hall, you see many others in similar states of intoxication
  138. >One of them, however, seems to have her wits about her, and she falls in beside the two of you
  139. >You realize it’s Nova, and you instinctively stick your hands in your pockets to suppress any potential spaghetti
  140. >“Good evening your highness, Anonymous”
  141. >“Good evening, Nova”
  142. “Sup”
  143. >You somehow manage to drool a little when you speak the single syllable
  144. >You quickly wipe your mouth with the collar of your shirt
  145. >Luna doesn’t see, but Nova does
  146. >She regards you with the same blank, bewildered stare that she’s come to reserve just for you
  147. >“Tonight’s entertainment is ready when you are, your excellency”
  148. >“Thank you, my child. Now stop attempting to work and go enjoy yourself. You look much too well-rested”
  149. >“But…”
  150. >“Away with you!”
  151. >The bat pony mare departs, but seemingly only because she was ordered to
  152. >When you reach the main hall of Luna’s sanctum, you’re awestruck by the absolute wreckage on display
  153. >The tables you were eating at have been flattened
  154. >Wasted food and drink coat the floor and a good portion of the walls
  155. >You can make out a few puddles of vomit here and there
  156. >There are unconscious ponies everywhere
  157. >The princess herself seems entirely unbothered
  158. >She leads you across the decidedly sticky floor and down another passage on the other side
  159. >Aside from the drunken stragglers and the unconscious, the caverns seem empty
  160. >A distant rumble meets your ears
  161. >It starts off slow but increases in volume as you follow Luna on a rather steep ascent
  162. >You take a single switchback, walking out into an open space, and suddenly it’s a deafening roar
  163. >You’re standing in a lavish private booth, looking down upon a crowd of at least a couple thousand bat ponies, all cheering wildly
  164. >One of them notices your arrival – or, more specifically, Luna’s arrival – and blows a long, clear note on an ornate-looking horn
  165. >The cheering increases in volume as hundreds of brightly-colored, slitted eyes turn toward you
  166. >Princess Luna waves to her subjects, but you’re more interested in what you see at the center of what you can only describe as a stadium
  167. >A stadium that seems to be carved out of a valley somewhere in the peaks of Canterlot Mountain
  168. >Below, there is a long, two-laned track lain out in sand
  169. >At its either end are groups of ponies in decorated armor, preparing themselves for the coming tournament
  170. “Wait…jousting?”
  171. >“Indeed”
  172. >Moons gives you an excited smile
  173. >Huh
  174. >How medieval
  175. >Not unlike everything you’ve witnessed up to this point
  176. >Even though Equestria is technologically backward compared to your own world, Luna’s entire domain is anachronistic, even by local standards
  177. >This entire celebration smacks of a bygone era
  178. >In the back of your mind, you begin to understand why her personality is so erratic
  179. >Why she looks simultaneously so ecstatic and at ease now
  180. >This is what she’s used to
  181. >She is almost as much a stranger to everyday modern Equestria as you are
  182. >Out there, she has to try and fit in with a society that left her in the dust
  183. >But here – especially during this time when tradition is the word of the night – she can be exactly whom she knows how to be
  184. >Her horn glows for just a moment, and then she speaks, her voice magically amplified
  185. >Well, not amplified, exactly
  186. >You’ve come to realize that Luna’s psychic ability is an opposing analogue to her sister’s
  187. >While Celestia can read minds, the moon princess can project her voice into the thoughts of others
  188. >“Welcome, my children”
  189. >The screeching, cheering voices of the vast crowd once again assault your hearing
  190. >“Welcome to the second night of this most prestigious and glorious celebration”
  191. >You have to plug your ears again
  192. >“It is my pleasure to bring you a spectacle that is, in this day and age, little known to Equestria but for the Empire to the north and the dark city of Hollow Shades, where many of you and your kin reside”
  193. >It’s like she was born for public speaking
  194. >You’ve seen Celestia give speeches, and while she is the very picture of regality and professionalism when addressing her subjects, Luna is in a league of her own
  195. >As the noise diminishes slightly, she continues
  196. >“Your forefathers took part in games such as this, and tonight we have a new generation of courageous and honorable noctae who wish to risk life and limb for your entertainment and the glory of the pale light”
  197. >She’s grandiose, eloquent, and forceful
  198. >She understands how to pander to the crowd and play off of their reactions
  199. >Her timing and delivery are masterful
  200. >Below, you can see the armored ponies jumping and stomping their hooves at her mention of their participation
  201. >“I implore you to eat, drink, and be merry! When you look back on these nights in your twilight years, you will not wish that you had exercised restraint”
  202. >“Nothing is sacred; everything is permitted. Let our games begin!”
  203. >You hear another piercing note from a horn and two bulky-looking bat stallions who stood at ready on either end of the track begin to charge at each other
  204. >Their lances are fixed to saddle-like armor on their backs
  205. >Their teeth hold both leather straps to guide the weapons, as well as shields
  206. >This looks…kinda dangerous
  207. >Then again so does rugby
  208. >A clatter echoes from the stadium floor as both lances connect
  209. >One stallion’s simply grazes the other’s shield, but his opponent’s strikes home, splintering the buckler into shards and toppling him backwards, head over hooves
  210. >The crowd goes positively batsh-
  211. >Nope, not doing that one, you have standards
  212. >But Christ, that guy could’ve broken his neck
  213. >He seems okay though, just dazed as he sits on his haunches, shaking his head
  214. >His triumphant counterpart raises a hoof to the audience, and they sing their praise in the form of shrieking and hollering
  215. >A challenger appears to be readying himself at the other end of the track
  216. “So”
  217. >You turn to Moons
  218. “What are the rules of this thing?”
  219. >“It’s simple, Anonymous. The victor of each round receives points”
  220. “How many points do they receive?”
  221. >“That is for the judges to decide”
  222. >She indicates a booth populated by ten bat ponies that sits at the side of the jousting lane
  223. >“Anypony can compete as many times as they like. When there are no challengers left…”
  224. >You wince at another jarring collision that sends one pony skidding through the sand on his back
  225. >“The game ends, the points are tallied, and a winner is declared”
  226. “So even if you aren’t the last man standing, you could still win by technicality?”
  227. >“Form is just as important as function, Anonymous”
  228. >Suddenly the din and cheering subside, replaced by oohs and ahs
  229. >You look down to see a new pony stepping up to the proverbial plate
  230. >The form is petite, and you understand what’s got everybody’s attention
  231. >All the competitors up until this point have been beefy stallions, but this is a mare
  232. >Her armor is gunmetal blue, and attached to the back of it is a standard
  233. >A spectrum of stars, each a different color of the rainbow, billowing in the cool evening breeze
  234. >“Intriguing”
  235. >Your princess is suddenly much more interested in the competition than her drink
  236. >So are you
  237. >When the horn blows, you can see the as yet undefeated stallion hesitate slightly before breaking into a gallop
  238. >You know that feel; you wouldn’t want to hurt a girl
  239. >Just before they strike each other, the mare angles her lance down just a hair
  240. >It shatters upon the lower half of the stallion’s shield while his strike only grazes hers
  241. >His forward momentum is preserved, and he somersaults in an arc and continues to roll as he hits the dirt
  242. >The crowd erupts at the unlikely victory
  243. >This shit is pretty intense, and you can’t deny you want to see this mare win
  244. >Your fear of her success being fluke is allayed when she annihilates the next opponent, and the next
  245. >She doesn’t possess the same brute strength as these stallions, but she knows just where to hit to throw them off balance
  246. >You know bat ponies can see exceedingly well in the dark, but her vision and reflexes must be exceptional
  247. >She keeps it up, too
  248. >Several stallions face her twice or more, but go down the same every time
  249. >As the game wears on, even Moons is rejoicing in her conquest
  250. >“I’ve not seen a jousting tournament like this in quite some time,” the moon princess tells you, “It was nearly fifteen-hundred years ago when last a mare won the night”
  251. “Do you know who she is?”
  252. >“Haven’t the foggiest”
  253. >When the waxing moon reaches its peak in the sky, only two jousters are left
  254. >The mare, and the stallion who won the first two rounds
  255. >You, Luna, and pretty much everyone present are plastered off your asses and well-fed
  256. >A few hours ago, the princess’s servants provided you with yet another god-tier meal
  257. >You and Moons once again share a chair, with her halfway seated in your lap
  258. >The midnight is pierced by brass, and you both tense as what may be the final showdown begins
  259. >The mare angles her lance down and to the side, striking a spectacular blow to the charging stallion
  260. >But his weapon catches her buckler at an odd angle and her head snaps back
  261. >Her body hits the ground like a sack of bricks and slides to a halt
  262. >The stadium is silent
  263. >There’s a shout, and one pony clamors over the bleachers and into the sand, rushing to the fallen mare
  264. >You can’t be sure from this distance, but he looks familiar
  265. >Several more follow him
  266. >You feel a heat against your skin and hear what sounds like a gunshot going off in reverse
  267. >Luna is gone from your side, reappearing momentarily below
  268. >The gathered audience murmurs in shock
  269. >You’re much too far away to hear anything, but you can see what’s unfolding down there
  270. >He’s begging the princess to help
  271. >She’s shaking her head and telling him she can’t
  272. >He’s sobbing over the limp body
  273. >You realize rather belatedly that the mare is dead
  274. “Moons”
  275. >She ignores you, pacing back and forth through her quarters in agitation
  276. “Moona”
  277. >She gives you no acknowledgement
  278. “Luna”
  279. >Her head snaps in your direction
  280. >Not once have you called her by her proper name
  281. >“Yes, Anonymous?” she snaps severely
  282. “Maybe you should just call the celebration off. Someone died”
  283. >“Do you not think I’ve considered this, Anonymous? She knew it was dangerous, but she competed anyway. It’s happened many times before, and it will happen again”
  284. “Yeah, but…”
  285. >“But what? Many of these ponies have waited their entire lives for this celebration. In nocturn tradition it is considered a blessing to live during the time of the eclipse. When I was gone, the festival did not take place for a thousand years, and the stories passed down from generation to generation only became grander and more impossible. Is this a tragedy? Yes, but whatever setback my people’s morale has experienced, ending the celebration here would be a finishing blow”
  286. “They need this, Anon. It is something that has been promised to them for centuries, and were I to rob them of it, they might forgive me, but I would not forgive myself”
  287. “Look”
  288. >You reach out and put a hand on her cheek as she passes you
  289. >She stops pacing
  290. “I get that, okay”
  291. “Just…maybe tone it down a little. Don’t let them do dangerous things”
  292. >“I will heed you where possible, Anon, but expectations are expectations, especially when they are high. This is a show I must put on, and I must not falter”
  293. >Her eyes are filled with fiery determination
  294. >You remember her words from the other night
  295. >All I can do is love them back
  296. >You don’t feel like it’s your place to tell her what to do
  297. >You’re not even sure what you would do in her position
  298. >You run your hand down her neck and over her back
  299. >Good gods she’s wound tighter than a steel spring
  300. >You pull her into a better position and begin massaging her neck, shoulders, and the base of her wings
  301. >You hear a few audible pops as she stretches under your fingers, releasing the tension in her spine
  302. >She gasps as you grip her wings and pull very gently
  303. >Their tips flutter and spasm as you relieve the tightness in those joints
  304. >You rotate them slowly in their sockets, and she moans and presses her rear into your crotch
  305. >You pull harder, knowing you can’t hurt her
  306. >Her eyelids dance for a moment and then close as she grinds against you, sucking air through her teeth
  307. >Unconsciously your hands move lower, over her ribs and down to her hind legs
  308. >You slide back over her flanks and your thumbs push up to rub the innermost parts of her thighs, kneading on either side of her rapidly moistening lips
  309. >The heat radiating off of her sex almost feels hot enough to scald you
  310. >“A-Anon, I have an address to make shortly,” she whimpers with such expert innocence that you know she’s faking it
  311. >The protest is obviously foreplay, so you decide to one-up her
  312. “Sorry, I’ll stop then”
  313. >You begin to pull your hands away
  314. >“I will strike you down where you stand,” she growls
  315. >That’s what I thought
  316. >You bring your fingers back to her, sliding both thumbs into her wetness
  317. >“Mmm…”
  318. >You work them in and out for a moment before pushing in as deep as you can
  319. >You slowly pull them apart, stretching her ever wider
  320. >Her midnight-blue lips part before you to reveal a pulsing, undulating pink chasm, from which radiates an impressive warmth
  321. >She looks back at you, eyes lidded, and smacks her lips, blowing you a kiss
  322. >You continue to massage her walls with your thumbs, relaxing them and stretching her further and further
  323. >Your other fingers wrap around her posterior, squeezing and mashing her cheeks
  324. >She lets out an “ooh” and a few spurts of honey
  325. >That’s the last bit of arousal you can take, removing one hand and wrapping it around her chest
  326. >You pick her up and carry her to the bed, throwing her down on her belly with her back legs touching the floor
  327. >You fall down on top of her
  328. >“Umf”
  329. >You can’t get your clothes off fast enough, and you plunge into her without hesitation
  330. >“Oh, Anonymous”
  331. >She bucks against you, biting her lip as you kiss up and down her neck
  332. >You stand up and pull out of her, and she whines
  333. >You can see her throbbing in protest of your absence
  334. >You place your tip against her little rose
  335. >She pushes back trying to take you in, but you pull away in turn
  336. >She gives a frustrated huff
  337. >You hold her down and slowly press into her pucker, easing off each time before you actually penetrate
  338. >She squirms every time you slight her
  339. >During happier times you might be able to play this game a bit longer
  340. >But considering her bad mood you don’t want to test your luck
  341. >You begin to slip into her welcoming cavity
  342. >If anyone ever asked you to describe what alicorn ass feels like…
  343. [spoiler]>Spoiler: no one ever does[/spoiler]
  344. >You would describe it as something akin to fucking a pressure cooker, without the associated pain
  345. >She’s so tight back there you can only make small strokes for fear of popping out
  346. >They’re clearly enough, though
  347. >You hear the hissing of her short, sharp breaths, and feel a sticky warmth as she squirts her nectar onto your legs
  348. >You barely last two minutes, and she relaxes, letting you thrust and climax into her
  349. >Despite plenty of restorative tonic, you aren’t fully recovered from last night’s exploits, and you’re starting to feel fatigued
  350. >You lie down on top of her, your head resting next to hers, and she kisses you on the cheek
  351. >It isn’t lustful, it’s grateful and tender
  352. >“Thank you, dear heart, I needed that”
  353. >She whispers those words into your ear
  354. >She sighs as you pull out and lie down beside her, and your already belabored heart beats faster as she rests her head on your chest
  355. >“I truly do hate to leave you, but I have to say something to the public about what happened tonight”
  356. >Your torso vibrates with the sound of her voice as she speaks with finality
  357. >You look down into her eyes
  358. “Aren’t I coming with you?”
  359. >“Please don’t, Anon”
  360. >That hurts more than you wish it did
  361. >“No, it’s not like that”
  362. >She plants a quick but decisive kiss on your lips
  363. >“I cannot – and do not wish to – stop you, of course, but I ask this as a personal favor”
  364. “Why?”
  365. >“Because there will be much sadness, and I want to have something happy to return to”
  366. >“Could you stay happy for me, Anonymous? I won’t be gone for too long”
  367. >You pull her close to you, the idea of her absence suddenly haunting to you
  368. “Yeah”
  369. >She nuzzles your face
  370. >“Thank you. Now, I must clean myself up if I am to appear before my subjects”
  371. >She gives you one more peck, then gets up and heads for the shower
  372. “Hey Moons?”
  373. >Luna pauses, looking over her shoulder at you
  374. “I think…”
  375. >You’re uncertain of what you’re about to say, but she waits for you
  376. “I think I…”
  377. >C’mon Anon, be smart
  378. “You know what, it can wait until you get back”
  379. >She nods, the smallest hint of disappointment flashing across her graceful features
  380. >“Very well”
  381. >Luna nobis providet
  382. >The moon provides for us
  383. >Luna provides for us
  384. >But what does she provide?
  385. >When you awaken, there is no sign of your princess
  386. >You were probably only out for an hour at most
  387. >You notice, with some measure of amusement, that there is a mug of mead resting on the bedside table
  388. >She really does know you better than you know her
  389. >After having a drink you put your pants back on
  390. >You’re pretty sure the past two days have been the first time in your life you’ve had them off more often than on
  391. >What are you even doing, Anon?
  392. >You nearly told a girl you’ve scarcely known for a week that you love her
  393. >You’re breaking your own rules
  394. >You decide you need to take a walk to clear your head
  395. “I swear I’m a crazy person,” you all but shout as you throw open the door of the princess’s private quarters
  396. >“Okay”
  397. >You look down at the source of the voice
  398. >Oh, of course
  399. >Hello, Nova
  400. >She stares up at you, looking a bit frightened, but she speaks
  401. >“Her excellency told me to wait here in case you needed anything”
  402. “You must think I’m insane”
  403. >She shifts uncomfortably
  404. >That’s a yes if you’ve ever seen one
  405. >That’s it, you’re going to sit her down right now and convince her that you aren’t a moronic spazzcase
  406. “Luna said to give me anything I want? Well, I want you to come in here”
  407. >She begins to tremble
  408. >Oh god, that didn’t come out right at all
  409. >You bury your face in your hands
  410. >This situation is already beyond salvageable
  411. >“O-Okay…j-just please be gentle”
  412. >What
  413. >What?!
  414. >She seriously thinks something like that could be part of her job?
  415. >That it should be?
  416. >That she should accept that?
  417. “What is wrong with you?!” you shout in vicarious indignation
  418. >“I don’t know!”
  419. >Tears are streaming from her eyes now
  420. “Why would you let me rape you?!”
  421. >“Please just get it over with!”
  422. “No! I would never do that! That’s fucking horrible!”
  423. >“I’m sorry!”
  424. “Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault!”
  425. >“I promise I’m not, just please don’t hurt me!”
  426. “I’m not going to hurt you!”
  427. >“Then why are you yelling?”
  428. “Because I don’t want you to think I’m crazy!”
  429. >“It’s not working!”
  430. “I know!”
  431. >She collapses into a confused, gibbering heap, sobbing into her hooves
  432. >You drag your fingernails over your face, shouting in frustration
  433. “Arrgh!”
  434. >“Aaagh!”
  435. >She echoes you, but with slightly more mortal terror
  436. >You slam the door closed
  437. >Welp, that was fucked up
  438. >After about ten minutes you open the door again
  439. “Sorry”
  440. >Nova looks like she’s calmed down, but she’s obviously not happy to see you
  441. >“Is there something I can get for you?”
  442. “Look, I promise I’m not going to hurt you or do anything crazy, will you just come in and have a drink with me?”
  443. >“I can’t, I’m on duty”
  444. “Hey, the princess told you to loosen up and have fun, and even if you won’t do that, you’re on duty because you’re attending to me, and I’m asking you to loosen up and have fun”
  445. >She glowers for a moment, trying to find a way out of that one
  446. >Finally she sighs and walks across the threshold
  447. >Score one for Anon
  448. >In the process of closing the door you stub your toe
  449. “FUCK!”
  450. >Nova raises her eyebrows
  451. >Score is back to zero
  452. >“So…”
  453. >The bat mare takes a sip of ale
  454. >“You’re not weird or crazy, you just accidentally act like that whenever I’m around?”
  455. “Yes, it’s been a baffling series of coincidences”
  456. >You’re finally relaxing as she seems to be buying it
  457. >“Anonymous, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you had a crush on me”
  458. >She giggles coyly
  459. “Nah, man, it’s not like that…I mean not that you aren’t pretty or anything, but I’ve kinda got a thing going on already with someone else”
  460. >“I’m not dumb, Anon. As I said, that’s what I would think if I didn’t know better”
  461. “Okay, yeah, with Luna”
  462. >You take a healthy swig of your drink
  463. “What about you? Got a boyfriend?”
  464. >“You mean coltfriend?”
  465. >You roll your eyes
  466. >Fucking ponies and their linguistic tics
  467. “Sure”
  468. >“I do”
  469. “So where’s he at?”
  470. >Her eyes fall
  471. >“He…doesn’t come around here much”
  472. >Oh god, is she one of those crazy chicks with the awesome boyfriend that nobody ever sees?
  473. “Yeah?”
  474. >“He’s a pegasus, you see”
  475. “Oh…ohhhhhh”
  476. >“He’s very accepting of me of course, but he gets a bit skittish around my kin”
  477. “Does he think they’re gonna bite, or what?”
  478. >You chuckle
  479. >“That’s…not as outlandish a concern as you might think…”
  480. “Wait, what?”
  481. >“I’m not implying anything ridiculous like vampirism, that’s legend, myth, and nonsense, but our diet consists of mostly meat. It’s a trait that evolved out of necessity. If you’ll notice, there isn’t much grass in these catacombs”
  482. “Yeah, well humans eat meat, but we don’t eat each other”
  483. >“Never? Is it unheard of?”
  484. “No, I guess not…but still, that’s a dumb reason to be afraid of people”
  485. >“So you’re saying that if you, as a human, suddenly found yourself among a race of strange-looking bat-humans that you had been told your entire life were evil, blood-sucking vampires that could hypnotize you or crunch through your bones with a single bite, you’d be entirely at ease?”
  486. >She’s got a point
  487. >Is that really how the rest of Equestria sees them?
  488. >You get the feeling this isn’t the first time she’s had to justify her coltfriend’s attitude
  489. “You got me there, bat horse”
  490. >She smiles, giving you a small nod and taking another dainty sip of her ale
  491. >She clearly doesn’t drink often
  492. >You find it odd that Luna, a girl who clearly advocates indulgence and practices what she preaches, would pick such a demure, straight-laced little pony as her right-hoof mare
  493. >Then again maybe that was the very intent
  494. >As the silence grows longer, you try to think of a topic of conversation to stave off any further pasta spillage
  495. >You realize you’ve never really noticed her cutie mark
  496. >Cutie marks
  497. >Ponies just love talking about theirs
  498. “So, how’d you get your butt tattoo?”
  499. >“Pardon?”
  500. “How’d you get your cutie mark?”
  501. >She shifts uncomfortably in her seat
  502. >“Oh…”
  503. >You’ve haven’t met a pony alive that doesn’t love to tell their cutie mark story
  504. >So of absolute fucking course it stands to reason that Nova would be the one pony on the planet that has some cutie-mark-related baggage
  505. >“There’s not much of a story there, I was born with it”
  506. “Is that a bat pony thing?”
  507. >“No, it’s just a me thing”
  508. >Well, this is interesting
  509. >“My parents told me that the night I was born, a new star appeared in the sky – a nova – and its image was emblazoned on my flank, so they named me accordingly”
  510. >“I don’t know what it means or why it was there from the moment of my birth, but I try not to think about it”
  511. >“My talents lie in organization and direction, hence my employment by her grace as an assistant of sorts. I just do what I’m good at and leave it at that”
  512. “Hey”
  513. >You try to sound jocular
  514. “At least you never got teased for being a blank flank, right?”
  515. >She is not amused, and gives you severe look
  516. >“No, Anonymous, I got teased for being the only filly in primary school with a cutie mark she didn’t know the meaning of”
  517. >You just can’t catch a break with her
  518. >No breaks can be caught
  519. >When they check the nets for breaks, there are none, and the break-fishers must go home to their wives empty handed
  520. “I’m sorry, that sucks”
  521. >“It’s alright, Anonymous, I did not mean to sound harsh, it’s just a bit of a touchy subject for me”
  522. >You give her an apologetic half-smile and fall silent
  523. >She nurses her drink and nibbles on a bit of leftover chicken that hasn’t been cleared from the table yet
  524. >After a moment she pipes up, clearly trying just as hard as you are to bridge the gap of awkwardness between the two of you
  525. >“So, how are you liking the celebration? We are fortunate to live during this time, are we not?”
  526. “I’m not gonna lie, dude, this is the craziest party I’ve ever seen in my life”
  527. >“I’ve never been to a party, but even if I had, I’m sure I could agree”
  528. “I’m kinda depressed about that jouster who died, though, not that I knew her”
  529. >She gives a heavy sigh
  530. >“Ah…yes. As am I”
  531. “Did you know her?”
  532. >“Everypony in the catacombs knows each other, Anonymous. Spectrum was my second cousin, as a matter of fact”
  533. >Wait
  534. >Wait
  535. >You know that name
  536. “Spectrum? As in Light Bender’s wife?”
  537. >Her eyes narrow inquisitively, searching your face
  538. >“How did you know that?”
  539. “I met them the other night, at the opening ceremony concert thing”
  540. >“Ah”
  541. >She looks quite forlorn
  542. >“We weren’t overly close, but certainly on good terms. I’m sad I will never be able to know her better”
  543. >You can’t believe this
  544. >That was her?
  545. >That tiny, tiny little mare with the big eyes
  546. “What in the seven hells was she doing competing against those guys? She was so small, even for you ponies”
  547. >“If you hadn’t already guessed it, Anonymous, tradition plays a large role in this celebration”
  548. >Yeah, you figured that out
  549. > “The stallions of our bloodline had a long tradition of taking part in the rebirth’s various tournaments. Yet the males in my family are all too young or too old. Rum took it upon herself to represent us this evening, and did so quite exceptionally in my opinion”
  550. >You take a long draught of your beer, trying to fight off the growing weight in your chest
  551. “You say that like you’re okay with it”
  552. >“I am”
  553. >She frowns slightly
  554. >“She was a noble competitor, and a fierce one at that. Rum’s talent was her perception and reflexes, she was practically born for something like this. I’m proud of her”
  555. >This feels wrong
  556. >Very wrong
  557. “You’re proud of her for getting herself killed?”
  558. >“I am proud,” the corner of her lip curls up in a snarl, “that she honored our family, and honored the princess”
  559. >You run your hand through your hair in exasperation
  560. “What is it with you people?”
  561. >“What is what?”
  562. >You can feel mounting fury radiating off of her, but you’re too sloshed and angry to stop your mouth from moving
  563. “All your talk about tradition…why would you cling to something like that at the expense of your own lives? Why would you let…”
  564. >“Because it’s all we have!”
  565. >Nova’s shout is accompanied by her hoof slamming down on the table
  566. >You shut up
  567. >“Look around you, Anonymous. What do you see?”
  568. “I…”
  569. >“Stone. Cold, gray stone. My people live and die in these caverns, and many of them never leave their walls. There are other pockets of bats around Equestria, and they are all just as isolated, simply because the day ponies fear us and avoid us. We are an entire society of recluses, living right under the nose of the rest of the world, unseen”
  570. >“Does that sound appealing to you, Anonymous? Is that a life you would choose? I certainly wouldn’t, and I’ll bet you bits to bridles that nopony else would either”
  571. >“All we have is our tradition. All we have is our pride. All we have is our princess”
  572. >“You have no idea what it was like before the princess’s return. After a thousand years of steadily fading into obscurity and isolation, we were languishing. Tradition and pride can…”
  573. >She’s blinking back tears now
  574. >“…can only take you so far in the face of the inescapable fact that you are a freakish, unwanted, unneeded outcast”
  575. >She stands up in her seat and leans toward you
  576. >“These past years since the princess’s return have been nothing short of a renaissance for us. We’ve returned from the brink of despair, and this celebration – the literal stuff of the legends that we have revered and remembered for a millennium – is a boon to my people”
  577. >“If a few of my kinfolk – even myself or my own flesh and blood – have to die to keep that spirit alive, then so be it, because I would rather die than have us return to the black depths of Tartarus that we had fallen into before”
  578. >Cold, determined fury smolders in her eyes
  579. >You see a touch of midnight blue beyond Nova’s irate visage, and she follows your wandering eyes
  580. >The night princess stands in the open doorway
  581. >“Your highness…I–”
  582. >Luna strides over and silences her with a hoof, gazing intensely into her eyes, her own brimming with sorrow
  583. >“Silence, my child”
  584. >She pulls Nova into a firm but tender embrace, gently stroking her mane
  585. >“I will not leave you ever again. You do not have to hurt anymore”
  586. >The little bat mare suddenly chokes and shudders
  587. >She lets out a mournful wail that sounds something like “I’m sorry”
  588. >She begins sobbing into Luna’s chest
  589. >The princess kisses her on the top of the head, then looks up into your eyes
  590. >Her expression is somber and speaks to you wordlessly
  591. >Now do you see?
  592. “Did it work?”
  593. >Moons looks up at you with a sweet smile, her eyelids heavy
  594. >“Mmm…yes”
  595. >She kisses your neck, the cool breeze that flows in from outside licking away the moisture
  596. >Needless to say, Nova was mortified at having a complete meltdown in front of the princess
  597. >After she was finally consoled, the bat pony mare quickly took her leave despite Luna’s insistence that she could stay
  598. >Your princess’s heart was heavy
  599. >This had been an emotionally taxing night
  600. >“Could you cheer me up, Anon?” she’d asked
  601. >You did the only thing you could think of and fucked her silly
  602. >You’re pretty sure that’s what she intended
  603. >A sudden gust of wind sends a chill through your body
  604. >You grab the down comforter that rests at the foot of the bed and pull it over the two of you, holding her close
  605. >She sighs and pushes her soft plot into you
  606. >You snuggle gratefully into her body heat, especially that radiating from between her legs
  607. >You kiss her on the cheek
  608. >She’s as much of a messed up hedonist as you are
  609. >Probably more
  610. >Definitely more, in fact
  611. >But there’s an oddly beautiful soul behind those lustful eyes
  612. >You lie there spooning her for immeasurable time, soaking in her warmth
  613. >At one point you feel your arousal building again, but after a few more quick thrusts you empty the last of your desire into her body
  614. >After a moment she shifts around to face you, nibbling on your lower lip and teasing your tongue with her own
  615. >You kiss her horn and then her forehead, and a little shiver runs through her frame
  616. >“How do you feel, dear heart?”
  617. “Sleepy”
  618. >“I’ve half a mind to wake you back up so we can have more fun”
  619. “Can’t we have quiet, lying down fun? Just this once?”
  620. >“Very well, I suppose I can’t expect a mere mortal to match my stamina”
  621. >She gives a tiny chuckle
  622. >Something twinges in the back of your mind, and you frown pensively
  623. >“Oh Anonymous, I was only joking”
  624. “Nah, it’s not that”
  625. >The severity fades from your expression and you boop her on the nose
  626. “I had a thought, though”
  627. >Her big, gorgeous teal eyes gaze up at you questioningly, but you can detect the barest hint of dread in them
  628. >She has to know what’s coming
  629. “You’re…going to live forever, aren’t you?”
  630. >That look of doubt changes to defeat, and she sighs softly, tiredly
  631. >“Yes”
  632. “I’m guessing this isn’t the first time you’ve had this conversation”
  633. >“No. Though it’s happened much less than you might think”
  634. >“There have been few with whom I’ve considered it worthy of discussion”
  635. >“I cannot assuage your concerns, Anon, for they are real and have no easy reconciliation”
  636. >“But what I can tell you is this: we’ve only just begun this journey; there is nothing to gain right now from contemplating its end”
  637. >You pull her closer
  638. “I guess you’re right”
  639. “For now”
  640. >She nuzzles into your chest and breathes deeply
  641. >“I know such reasoning can only ring true for so long, but…”
  642. >“Please, don’t make me think about it tonight”
  643. >She wraps all four legs around you
  644. >As though if she holds on tightly enough, even death might not take you from her
  645. >You’ve never felt anything like this before
  646. >A week ago, you didn’t know her
  647. >And now here you are, worrying about how short a time to spend with her your life seems
  648. >She came to you in dreams before you even knew you knew her
  649. >And though brief, your time together has burned brighter and more madly than anything you imagined life could offer
  650. >You could almost imagine this is true love
  651. >But for one undeniable fact
  652. >You aren’t the first
  653. >But that doesn’t matter so much
  654. >It’s that you won’t be the last
  655. >Her limbs move fitfully around your body
  656. >You have no doubt she can sense your unease
  657. >You look down into her eyes once again, and her expression speaks both an apology and a plea
  658. >I’m sorry I can’t grow old with you
  659. >Please try loving me anyways
  660. “I’m not worrying about it, Moons”
  661. >You kiss her again
  662. >“What possessed you to start calling me that, anyway?”
  663. “Your glorious ass”
  664. >She snickers
  665. >Then she gives you an expertly crafted pout, complete with sparkling eyes
  666. >“Do you only like me for my body?”
  667. “Of course not. You’re also rich and horny”
  668. >That earns you a good chuckle from her, as well as a tap to the back of your head
  669. >“Such a flatterer, Anonymous”
  670. “And a great dancer too, I know”
  671. >“No, you’re an atrocious dancer, though now I can see how all that practice at thrusting definitely has its benefits”
  672. >You reach down and give her plot a squeeze
  673. >“Mmf”
  674. >You both just lie there silently for a while, listening to each other’s breathing
  675. >You can feel her heart beating against your chest
  676. >Slow
  677. >Forceful
  678. >Reverberating through your own body
  679. “Can I ask you something?”
  680. >“Of course”
  681. “What is the Lunar Rebirth, exactly? I mean I get the concept, but what actually happens? What happens to you?”
  682. >She looks thoughtful for a moment, as though trying to put into words something that is second nature to her
  683. >“At its simplest, it is a spell, an ancient spell”
  684. >“It was crafted to aid me in my duties as princess of the night”
  685. >“When the eclipse reaches totality, it is cast, and I am renewed”
  686. “So, a healing spell?”
  687. >“Oh, it is much more than that, Anon”
  688. >“The Rebirth can heal injury and ailment, yes, but it also expunges corruption”
  689. >“That which is tainted is cleansed. If something is twisted or maligned, it is made whole again, recreated as what it is meant to be”
  690. >“Its purpose is to restore me to my purest state, so that I may rally and continue the battle to guide my subjects away from sin, and purge it from those who cannot be swayed by suggestion”
  691. >You can hear the fervor in her voice
  692. >The anticipation
  693. >She wants this
  694. >She needs it
  695. “I’m confused”
  696. >“What about my explanation perplexes you?”
  697. >She seems a little irritated
  698. “No it’s not that, it’s just…if you get this, uh…hard reset every two hundred years, why didn’t it fix you up when you went all queen of darkness a thousand years ago? There must have been like four or five of these things when you were imprisoned in the moon, right?”
  699. >She falls silent and avoids your eyes, blinking rapidly
  700. >“Because…”?
  701. >She takes a deep breath
  702. >“Because Nightmare Moon was not a daemon to be exorcised. She was me”
  703. “But Twi told me that you were possessed by some kind of ‘nightmare force’, right?”
  704. >She shakes her head
  705. >Her mouth turns down and contorts in an expression of immeasurable pain
  706. >When she speaks again, you can tell she’s forcing back tears
  707. >“No, Anonymous. That is a delusional narrative, masterfully crafted by my sister”
  708. >“The story, as she tells it, is that I went mad, stricken by grief and jealousy”
  709. >“And that in my darkest hour, I was overwhelmed and corrupted by an outside force that sought to exploit me for its own gain in my moment of weakness”
  710. >“This is a lie”
  711. >She grits her teeth for a moment before continuing
  712. >“Oh yes, it is true, I went quite mad, and I joined with and absorbed many fell entities to create the monstrosity that was Nightmare Moon. Her power and deeds were beyond the scope of what I myself am capable of”
  713. >“But that doesn’t change the fact that the entire travesty was shaped, orchestrated, and brought to fruition by my own will”
  714. >“I did not need to be possessed to commit the atrocities that I perpetrated; I wanted to do evil”
  715. >“There is a grave difference, Anon, between that which has been tainted by malice, and that which has willfully, deliberately embraced it. The rebirth was powerless against me during that time”
  716. >“This business about ‘nightmare forces’, while somewhat true by the barest definitions, is ultimately nonsense. It is a falsehood that Celestia tells her subjects, and – more importantly – herself. As strong as my sister is, I do not think she can face the fact that I attempted to murder her, usurp her throne, and bring ruin to our kingdom all of my own accord. It would break a part of her that might not be reparable”
  717. >You’re not sure what to say
  718. >She basically just admitted to at one point being a genocidal, megalomaniacal psychopath
  719. >What’s more, she takes full responsibility for it
  720. >You can see her attempting to divine your thoughts, so you press on
  721. “What finally stopped you?”
  722. >“Did Twilight not tell you this?”
  723. “Well, she said that she and her friends did it with the Elements of Harmony, but I don’t really know how that works”
  724. >“Yes, it was the first time the Elements had been used in a thousand years, and the first time in much longer they had been used properly”
  725. >“My sister and I used them to defeat Discord the first time, and she used them herself to banish me”
  726. >“But a mere two entities, let alone one, cannot unlock their full potential, no matter how powerful the bearers may be”
  727. >“It is only when six interconnected beings of pure heart and immaculate virtue wield the elements that they become more than a weapon”
  728. >“It is only then that they truly live up to their name”
  729. >She speaks of this great power with reverence and awe
  730. “So what happened?”
  731. >“A millennium ago, when Celestia used them against me, it was the most painful thing I’d ever experienced. They augmented her power beyond anything I had ever known, and she was able to strike the final, decisive blow in our battle. My physical body was torn apart, atom by atom, annihilated and imprisoned within the very moon that I refused to lower”
  732. >“But this time was different. It did not hurt, to the contrary in fact. The Elements forced no change on me, they simply spoke to me”
  733. >“Though I am told I was only under their effect for mere seconds, it felt like an eternity”
  734. >“They showed me two things: a feeling, and a vision”
  735. >“When the light of the Elements first engulfed me, I felt…peace”
  736. >The look in her eyes is distant and unreadable
  737. >“My aching heart was soothed, my fractured mind calmed. It was the first moment of tranquility I’d known since time immemorial”
  738. >“Then I saw images and flashes of countless ponies from the past, my sister and many others I knew, as well as many I didn’t”
  739. >“It was like a nightmare as I was shown how I had destroyed their lives, how by my own selfishness and lack of control, I had robbed them of the very same soothing peace that I was experiencing right then”
  740. >“Finally, I saw a glimpse of myself, and what I could be if I atoned and came back to the light”
  741. >“But I also saw what I could not be”
  742. >“I could not be Celestia”
  743. >“It was in that moment that Nightmare Moon died and her veil dissipated from my soul”
  744. >“It was when I realized that not only were my efforts under her name wicked and repulsive, but also futile, for I could never have the thing I wanted”
  745. >The tears she’s been warring with for so long finally win out and begin to flow freely, though her tone does not falter
  746. >“I accepted my place. I am not Celestia’s equal, but her complement. I am not just meant to live in her shadow, but to be her shadow. I will never be the beacon of hope and light that she is, because I am not supposed to be. I must be the princess of the night, because that is what Equestria needs”
  747. >“By the time I’d accepted these truths, I had awoken in the smoldering remnants of my fell regalia, and my sister was standing over me, already waiting to forgive”
  748. >Her voice finally cracks on the last word, and you feel her shudder against you
  749. “Luna…”
  750. >“I didn’t deserve it, Anon, I never will”
  751. >You kiss her damp cheeks and brush away her tears
  752. “Luna, that’s not true”
  753. >She whimpers
  754. “You said it yourself, nobody is beyond…um…”
  755. >You feel light-headed and sleepy
  756. >A delicious warmth is growing in your chest
  757. >There is a strange, pleasant tingling in your lips and fingers where you touched her face
  758. >She gazes up at you curiously, and even as your eyes begin to force themselves shut, hers go wide
  759. >She touches her own cheek, staring at the wetness on her hoof in a moment of realization
  760. >You try to say something, but your own voice seems like a distant echo, as does her muffled response
  761. >You feel so good and so tired that you can’t even bring yourself to worry about what’s happening as you slip from the waking world
  762. >You are Anon
  763. >Blearily you open your eyes and rise sluggishly from your repose, seating yourself on the edge of the bed
  764. >The sheets feel rough against your skin
  765. >You really need to invest in a higher thread count
  766. >You feel a twinge in your arm and look down to see a needle still lodged in it, the surrounding flesh bruised black and blue
  767. >Gingerly, you pull it out and undo the accompanying tourniquet
  768. >It’s just an instrument cable you tied above your elbow
  769. >You reach over to your night stand and grab a half-drained bottle of beer and a cigarette, taking a swig and then lighting up
  770. >You exhale the first drag of butane-flavored smoke, blinking and letting your room shift into focus
  771. >The walls are a lifeless, soiled gray
  772. >The absence of light streaming from the cracks around the shutters tells you night has already fallen
  773. >You pull on the wadded-up boxers that you left on the floor and shuffle over to the bathroom, kicking a few stray cans out of the way
  774. >The face that greets you is gaunt and covered in stubble, with huge bags under its eyes
  775. >You decide there’s no point in shaving or brushing your teeth, and head towards the kitchen, a trail of smoke lingering behind you
  776. >Steam rises and wakes you up a bit more as you crack two eggs over a pan and reheat a pot of coffee that should’ve been tossed out a few days ago
  777. >You finish your beer and then flip the sizzling eggs over
  778. >They’re already burnt on one side
  779. >“Why do you keep dreaming of this, Anonymous?”
  780. >You look to your right, where Princess Luna is suddenly standing
  781. >You’re hardly even surprised
  782. “At least this isn’t one of the bad ones,” you tell her, still going through the motions of cooking the food that you never ate and never will
  783. >Despite her presence, your mood stays with the somber atmosphere of the dream
  784. “I found a friend of mine right where you’re standing. It was just a few weeks before this night, I think”
  785. >You gesture broadly, indicating not an object, but the point in history itself
  786. >“I know, Anonymous, I’ve seen it a hundred times. One hundred and twelve, to be precise”
  787. “You keep track?”
  788. >Why do you feel so distant from her?
  789. >You’re asleep in her arms as you speak
  790. >“Yes”
  791. >The gloom separates you
  792. >The residual numbness of this memory deadens your love
  793. >“You needn’t be a prisoner in your own dreams, Anon”
  794. >Your arms move mechanically, carrying out motions dictated to you by the recollection you are currently living
  795. “I can’t control them, Moons”
  796. >“You can now”
  797. “No, I can’t”
  798. >“You can”
  799. “No I can’t!”
  800. >You shout at her, slamming your fist down on the stove
  801. >It strikes the pan, sending it clattering to the floor as you nurse your burn
  802. >But you forget the pain and look down at your feet
  803. >The pan is on the floor
  804. >Half-cooked eggs are strewn around it
  805. >That’s never happened before
  806. >True, sometimes you can move about freely in these recurring dreams when you achieve a certain measure of lucidity
  807. >But this is the first time you’ve physically changed anything aside from your movements
  808. >You reach over to the spatula you left on the counter and pick it up, snapping it over your knee
  809. >“Now do you see?”
  810. >You’ve been locked in this repetitive cycle of nightmarish flashbacks ever since you set foot in Equestria
  811. >Now, for the first time, something different is happening, however small
  812. “How?”
  813. >“Remember what I told you of alicorn tears?”
  814. >You pick up the fork you had laid out for yourself
  815. >With some effort, you bend it, something you could never have done to its real-life counterpart
  816. >“Think bigger, Anon; you can do so much more”
  817. >You look into her eyes and see gentle encouragement
  818. “I want to be free of this place. I never want to see it again”
  819. >She smiles
  820. >“Then tear it down”
  821. >You start as the walls of your apartment begin to rattle
  822. >Plates and glasses are knocked free of their perches, clattering and smashing upon the kitchen floor
  823. >You wheel around nervously, backing slowly towards Luna
  824. >The ugly gray drywall begins to crumble
  825. >Cracks are forming in the tiles beneath your feet
  826. >“Don’t be afraid”
  827. > Suddenly, the room shatters, cast away into the aether by an invisible blast of which you are the epicenter
  828. >Around you is a pure, white nothingness
  829. >You turn toward the princess
  830. >She is the only thing left in this world with you, her starry mane billowing in an unseen breeze
  831. >“I was planning on wait a bit longer for this, Anon, but fate and love decided differently, and I believe you are ready”
  832. “Ready for what?”
  833. >“I’ve seen you relive the same sorrows every night since I first began watching you, and it has gone on long enough. Believe me, you cannot change the past”
  834. >“It’s time to take back your dreams”
  835. “How?”
  836. >“However you wish”
  837. >Your eyes scan the emptiness around you
  838. >It is infinite, simultaneously oppressive and inviting
  839. >You don’t know what you’re supposed to do, but you take a small step in no particular direction
  840. >Something tickles the bottom of your foot, and you pull away, kneeling down to see what it is
  841. >A few small blades of grass have sprung from the blank canvas upon which you stand
  842. >You look back at Luna, and she nods
  843. >You touch your finger to the ground and trace it in a circle
  844. >Green sprouts follow its path
  845. >You stand and take another step, and then another
  846. >Patches of verdant growth spring up beneath you, snaking between your toes
  847. >A patch of violets springs to life in front of you
  848. >You begin to walk, each footfall bringing with it new life
  849. >The dreary fog of your memories lifts from your mind, and you grin as you break into a run
  850. >The princess keeps pace beside you, a lush path of green unfolding as you press on
  851. >You glance to the side as you move, heart pounding
  852. >Your gazes meet
  853. >“Don’t stop now, Anonymous”
  854. >You draw on both your own strength and that which she has given you, and put on a burst of speed
  855. >You feel wind whipping at your face, and the wild growth darts ahead and outward, expanding all around you
  856. >Gardens of flowers are raised, even as you dash past them
  857. >Faster and faster you go, moving at speeds you could never achieve in your waking life
  858. >Rolling hills consume the whiteness around you, and when they reach the horizon, a flash of light sends a clear, blue sky sweeping into the heavens, manifesting like a dome whose edges meet and complete at the point directly above your head
  859. >Luna is next to you, breaking into a full gallop to match your long, effortless strides
  860. >She laughs joyously, and so do you, barely noticing that the grass beneath your feet is thinning, giving way to cool, rough stone
  861. >When you once again train your eyes forward, you feel a pang of anxiety
  862. >The upward slope before you ends abruptly in a plunging cliff
  863. >You contemplate stopping, but you hear her voice
  864. >Not inside your head like usual, but echoing all around you
  865. >“Don’t be afraid”
  866. >Armed with nothing but trust, your feet leave the rocky surface, and you plunge into open air
  867. >You’re in freefall
  868. >But just for a moment
  869. >You will yourself to rise, and you feel your heart hammer in your chest as you arc upwards
  870. >A whoop of elation escapes your throat as the princess takes flight behind you, and the two of you soar over a vast, emerald ocean
  871. >Together, you ascend into the blue, speed limited only by that of your own imagination
  872. >The sky begins to darken, fading from azure to midnight blue
  873. >All around you, above and below, the twinkling pinpricks of stars emerge
  874. >A full moon glows in the distance, and you wonder if she is raising it, or if you are
  875. >Ahead of you, a single, rocky plateau juts up from the clouds, and you steer towards it, with Luna just behind
  876. >You land with a gentle tumble, falling on more soft grass, and she follows closely, landing on top of you when you finally roll to a stop
  877. >There is a radiant grin on her face as she peers down at you
  878. >You’re quite sure your own expression is the same
  879. >You pull her head down and kiss her deeply, and she sighs into your mouth
  880. >Once more you taste red wine and chocolate, losing yourself in her lustful, loving embrace
  881. “Hey Moons”
  882. >“Mmm?”
  883. >You feel the vibration of her response against you neck
  884. >You twist her ethereal mane around one hand
  885. “Can you move these stars?”
  886. >She follows your pointing fingertip upwards, then turns her soft, glimmering eyes upon your own
  887. >“No, Anon, these are your stars. Only you can control them”
  888. >You decide to test that hypothesis, and are astounded when the tiny points of light begin to move at your urging
  889. >Suddenly, the night sky feels like a canvas, and you are overcome with the desire to create something upon it
  890. >Luna’s heart quickens against your body
  891. >As you paint a picture in stars, you are feeling a sense of fulfillment that only she is supposed to know
  892. >You do not possess her expertise, but this is your dream, and the twinkling pinpricks slowly coalesce into an image
  893. >She watches with wonder as you work, gasping as the picture begins to take shape
  894. >It is nearly an exact copy of the constellation that she made for you
  895. >Two hands – complete with their tiny scars – cradling a heart
  896. >But there is one important difference
  897. >At the heart’s center is the same crescent moon that adorns each of her flanks
  898. >You turn toward her once more, caressing her cheek and raising her chin so that you are face to face
  899. >Your lips touch again for the briefest moment
  900. “Luna?”
  901. >Her wide teal eyes are full of hopeful anticipation and uncertainty
  902. >“Anon?”
  903. “I love you, my princess”
  904. >She sighs, her countenance bursting with so much joy that it almost looks like she’s in pain
  905. >Almost
  906. >“And I you, my dearest heart”

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